#2026-227778/Southwest Precinct/Second Watch/F2
At noon on Monday, GIU detectives and Southwest Patrol Officers conducted a joint organized retail theft operation at Ulta and Marshals in Westwood Village.
Detectives teamed with loss prevention representatives to identify and apprehend suspects.
Five suspects were arrested for shoplifting.
$750 in stolen merchandise was recovered.
By Tim Clinton
Sports Editor
Seattle's professional sports teams are gearing up for a packed stretch from August 19 to August 26, featuring a mix of crucial homestands and challenging road trips.
Among the most notable events is a busy week for the Mariners, who wrap up their brief road trip in Milwaukee before returning home to T-Mobile Park for an extended eight-game homestand. This stretch features back-to-back home series against Chicago and Philadelphia, offering local fans plenty of opportunities to catch live baseball action in Seattle.
By Liz Steen
Less than a week ago, residents packed the Delridge Community Center to complain about gun violence, open-air drug use, and property crimes in West Seattle.
At one intersection on SW Alaska, where a neighbor reported a “gigiabyte of visuals” of “open-air drug use… you name it,” complaints rose from 180 two years ago to 649 last year, and are on track to meet or exceed that number by the end of this year.
West Seattle is represented by Rob Saka, vice chair of the City Council’s public-safety committee, who campaigned on public safety three years ago. Faced with skyrocketing safety complaints during his three year term, the city reminded community leaders today of one public safety initiative that is in place: teaching residents how not to become victims.
By Liz Steen
For two years, a nearly six-figure cyber-harassment campaign consumed our family’s time, money and ordinary life while Seattle failed to stop it.
Most people who hear the story start with the mayor for understandable reasons. Wilson faces a possible recall over public safety. Blaming Wilson,or “communism” or “left-wing politics”, is satisfying.
It just doesn’t explain what happened.
“Have You Checked the Website?”
Three months into Wilson’s term, and two years into our cyber harassment situation, I went to the information booth at City Hall. One staffer ignored me while another answered my questions by reading from the city website. I explained that I had already read it. “I’m not reading the website,” she said, looking at the website.
By Liz Steen
A photo earlier this week showed the wrong lot for Glassyard Commons, the $3.3 million RV Park and Tiny Home village coming to West Seattle this November.
Our photographer had assumed the city was using the only lot on the block that appeared large enough to accommodate dozens of RVs while meeting fire-code requirements. The city is not using that lot.
The city is using the other lot, a triangular piece, pictured, where the city plans to fit three rows of RVS for a total of 70 RVS, together with laundry and kitchen facilities, 30 tiny houses, and bathrooms for 100 people.
Questions and rumors have been swirling around the future of the Westside Neighbors Shelter in West Seattle for the last few weeks. With some community members speculating that its director, Keith Hughes, would be leaving and operations likely curtailed, local residents have expressed growing concern over what will happen to the area's vulnerable unhoused population when the cold weather returns.
In an in-depth interview, Hughes offered to clarify the facts, debunk local rumors, and outline the extensive operational and legal strategies being prepared to address community concerns regarding crime and disorder.
Brace yourselves, south-end commuters. What has been a months-long headache is about to become a full-blown regional bottleneck. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has announced a major blow to the south-end commute: all northbound lanes of the 1st Avenue South Bridge (SR-99) will be shut down for two consecutive weekends in August 2026.
The emergency closures are scheduled for the weekends of August 15–16 and August 22–23. The bridge will be completely dark to northbound traffic from 5 a.m. Saturday through 11:59 p.m. Sunday on both occasions. For those living in West Seattle, White Center, and Burien, this represents a significant disruption to the city's already strained traffic arteries.
The City of Seattle and the Mayor’s office have shared new details regarding a planned RV and tiny home safe lot at Glassyard Commons, located at 7200 2nd Ave SW in the Highland Park neighborhood. However, the initiative faces growing scrutiny from outreach groups who argue the city is repeating a "failed playbook."
Developing Glassyard Commons
The site, which is scheduled to open in November 2026, is currently owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). WSDOT has leased the land to the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) to operate the safe lot. Although visitors to the property have noted an immediate lack of sewage infrastructure or restrooms, the Mayor's office stated that hygiene facilities will be installed on-site as development progresses, matching the standards of other authorized encampments.
People in West Seattle are preparing to head to Morgan Junction Park this Saturday for a massive community coordination exercise designed to test the city’s resilience. On August 15, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the "Quake, Rattle & Roll!" event will bring together over 400 community members to practice the essential skills needed to support one another following a major earthquake.
The West Seattle activation, located at 6401 California Ave SW, is one of four hub locations across the city participating in this large-scale annual exercise. Other participating neighborhoods include Roosevelt, Madison Valley, and Rainier Beach. You can view a full map of the locations here.
Sound Transit announced a major dual update for the West Seattle Link Extension today, shifting the projected start of light rail service to 2035 while simultaneously unveiling a breakthrough design refinement in the SODO segment that will save over $100 million and significantly reduce construction impacts on local businesses.
The update follows 18 months of intensive technical coordination between Sound Transit, the City of Seattle, Seattle City Light, and local community stakeholders. While the timeline shift represents a delay of approximately two to three years, officials emphasize that the updated schedule is a realistic delivery plan backed by both internal and independent third-party reviews.
