July 2021

First-time home buyers, sellers face crazy competitive market
Bridge closure, inventory and appreciation all shape the landscape of West Seattle real estate

By Olivia Palmer

For first-time buyers like Miranda Dancik, the process of finding a home is a maze of rising prices and bidding wars. After half a year, her search in West Seattle has still yielded only dead ends. 

West Seattle has traditionally been one of the least expensive parts of the city to live in. Dancik said its affordability and location between her and her husband’s workplaces were two of the biggest factors in their decision to start looking for a house there. But heavy competition has meant they’ve gotten outbid on every offer they’ve made.

“Now is the time where we have enough money saved up for a down payment,” Dancik said. “We’re excited. We want to buy a house. And this was kind of a rude awakening when we saw the reality of the situation.”

 

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Pat's View: We need better guns

By Patrick Robinson

If you like and use guns you are not going to like this. That’s ok.

You have a right to your beliefs too. Which is sort of the point. 

Guns themselves, as proponents always assert are not the problem. They are just objects after all. It’s the way they are used, or misused, that is the problem. 

But you have to wonder what if they did not exist? 

Let’s do a thought experiment:

What would happen in a place that is wracked by gun violence like Chicago if we could 

 

1. Remove all guns 

or

2. Give everyone a gun

 

What do you think might happen?

Bear in mind.. I am not suggesting we ban all guns, or confiscate them or anything like that. Nor am I suggesting that we arm everyone. As always it’s about what makes sense. Where is the middle ground?

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Domestic violence possible in shooting incident in Des Moines; Male victim in critical condition

On July 5th, 2021 at 9:06am, Officers from the Des Moines Police Department were dispatched to the 25400 block of 16th PL S. for a reported domestic incident. As officers arrived, dispatch provided an update that an individual had been shot inside the residence.

As officers approached, they witnessed a 70 year old male walking toward them from the residence.

Officers entered the residence where they located a 50 year old male who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Officers provided medical aid to the victim until King County Medics arrived and continued life saving measures.

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Fireworks are banned in Seattle, but this is the last year in King County
$5000 fine and a year in jail potential punishments are meant to send a serious signal

The City of Seattle passed a ban on fireworks inside City limits that is now the law. But that doesn't mean anything goes. In fact many of the fireworks commonly seen in unincorporated King County are in fact illegal. 

To clarify here's what the Seattle Police Department says about fireworks in Seattle.

"The possession, manufacture, storage, sale and use of fireworks (meaning everything but pop-it caps) is prohibited in Seattle, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. 

911 call centers are typically inundated on the 4th with reports of fireworks-related injuries and house fires.

Because of that influx of calls, please only use 911 to report life-threatening emergencies. We are also unable to respond to fireworks complaints (or any other crime reports, for that matter) sent via Twitter.

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Native Americans gather on Alki Promenade to honor children who died

By Patrick Robinson

Over the past month 1,148 unmarked graves of children from indigenous people have been found at the sites of three former residential schools in Canada. Some of remains are believed to be of children as young as three.

Across that nation and on Thursday July 1, Native Americans and others gathered on the Alki Promenade to remember, mourn, call attention to, and honor all those lost. 

Led by Roxanne White & Ixtli’s Whitehawk and their Ceremony family, speakers took the microphone to sing, lead other voices in song, offer stories, poems and testimony about their own feelings and experiences throughout the event.

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Joy on 84 legs; A dog parade and party celebrated a beloved friend

By Patrick Robinson

As we exit the days of the pandemic, it seems like everyone is searching for reasons for joy. 

Heather McConnell hit on just such an idea for her friend Rachel Fram. Rachel loves Golden Retrievers. She does not own one. But for her, they are a source of wonder and happiness. Hence Heather's idea to stage a Golden Retriever Parade and Party as a surprise for her friend.

She put out the word on Facebook, asking anyone with the right dog, enough time and love in their heart to come down and surprise her friend. 22 dogs with their owners organized across from the business area near 63rd SW and then formed a short parade over to Rachel's house. 

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