March 2023

HERBOLD: Soaring overdose deaths in King County

Information from District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold

King County reported on a grim milestone recently: so far in the first quarter of this year, 296 King County residents died of drug or alcohol poisoning.  This exceeds the total number of overdose deaths in all of 2012, all in a single quarter.  It also puts us on track to exceed last year’s record 1,003 overdose deaths by more than 18%, if deaths continue at the current rate.

Drug and Alcohol deaths

This is driven largely by a dramatic increase in fentanyl- and methamphetamine-involved overdose deaths.

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GoFundMe page set up for Riley Danard, West Seattle Bridge collision victim

A GoFundMe page has now been established for Riley Danard who lost his life in the collision with a wrong way driver on the West Seattle Bridge on March 22. 

Donate to the page here

The page reads:

Riley was killed on March 22nd by a drunk driver going the wrong way on the West Seattle Bridge. These funds will be used for his memorial services and excess proceeds will be used to support other victims of drunk drivers.

They hope to raise $25,000.

He and friend Khalea Thoeuk were both killed and a GoFundMe page for her has raised more than $29,000 of a $35.000 goal.

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SDOT: Construction to begin on West Marginal Way SW Safety Corridor in early April

Protected Bike Lane and other improvements will be built

Information from Seattle Department of Transportation

We have an opportunity to align with our Vision Zero goals, keep goods moving, and promote sustainable travel options by building Phase 1 of the West Marginal Way SW Safety Corridor Improvements Project

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Win a trip to Mexico with Bulldog Haven March 25 at Whisky West

Bulldog Haven NW  a rescue and adoption organization that provides a safe place for English and French Bulldogs, mental & physical rehabilitation, rehoming, breed specific shelter assistance and more is holding a special event at Whisky West on Saturday March 25 at 12 Noon.

Raffle tickets are on sale to win a trip to luxurious resort in Mexico.

One lucky winner will get a one-week stay at The Bliss at Vidanta Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico

October 28 to November 04, 2023

2 bedroom/2 bathroom Mini Suite that sleeps 4 privately or 6 maximum

https://www.vidanta.com/en/web/riviera-maya/the-bliss

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Boats and boat houses in Duwamish marina damaged in barge mishap

A crane barge collided with some covered boat houses at the Jim Clark marina on the Duwamish River Thursday March 23 damaging several boats. 

The barge is called the DB Bremerton out of Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Coast Guard and Seattle Fire Department responded to the scene.

Island Tug was running the tug and they were pushing upstream and may have lost control. The crane is now currently tied up.

The full extent  and cost of the damage has not yet been determined.

crane barge
This is the crane on the barge involved in the collision. Photo by Jack Miller

 

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West Seattle Bridge crash victim GoFundMe page offers support for family

The outpouring of support and grief about the deaths of Riley Danard and Khalea Thoeuk, 18 in a collision with a wrong way driver on March 22 has spread across all forms of media.

A GoFundMe page has been established aimed at helping the family of Khalea Thoeuk with the goal of raising $8000. 

Contribute to the GoFundMe page here

The page, established by Melody Ward reads:

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OP-Ed -Homelessness is a nuanced and delicate issue

 By Ruby Tuesday Romero

The ongoing crisis of homelessness is a delicate and nuanced situation. Regardless of how the person suffered housing loss, they did, and that alone, is a traumatic experience. 

The State’s  ‘RIght of Way Initiative’  is a partnership between Dept of Commerce, WADOT, KCRHA, and law enforcement to remove encampments from public rights of way. To date, the initiative has successfully closed four encampments in King County and are currently working in three others along public sidewalks, roads, overpasses, etc. 

 

So…What  does ‘Right of Way’ mean?

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