Money

I experienced a boom of activity in the fourth quarter, and it is only anticipated to get busier since 1st quarter months are traditionally the best time to sell in our local West Seattle market. The boom I experienced is confirmed when you read the activity that is reported from the Associated Press.

The Associated Press reports good news on the economy front as we saw a 2.2% growth in the 3rd quarter. The US Commerce Department was slightly off in their estimations, previously estimating a 2.8% growth rate. Officials attributed this discrepancy to consumer caution, saying that consumers simply didn’t spend as much. But many analysts still believe the economy is likely to improve in the current quarter, growing at an estimated 4%, or perhaps, even 5%. Those Fourth quarter results will be released on January 29, so we won’t have long to find out.

Conventional wisdom leads us to pity the person who chooses to open a business in the midst of the current recession, but there are small retailers who thrive in a risky economic climate — traditionally bars, repair shops, education and other services where demand increases as general societal thrift grows.

Ballard has its own collection of businesses that have opened in recent months, well into the current economic downturn.

Sustainable, which sells furniture and home décor imported from southeast Asia, opened three weeks ago at 20th Avenue Northwest and Market Street.

Owner Wanna Keawnapaporn said she chose Ballard as the location for her new business because the neighborhood is both artsy and sustainability-focused.

Keawnapaporn, who is an interior designer, opened the store with the hope that the economy is improving.

She reasoned that when money is tight, customers will choose to buy pre-made furniture rather than design their own and a store like Sustainable would fare better than a custom-designed furniture business.

With 2009 coming to a close, here is a look back at some of the biggest stories of the year. Click the image above for a slideshow of the year in photos.

JANUARY

Ballard thief arrested
By Michael Harthorne

A 46-year-old man suspected of stealing from numerous businesses in Ballard in the past weeks was arrested Dec. 31 near 20th Avenue Northwest and Market Street for an outstanding warrant in Missouri.

According to victims, the man is suspected of entering businesses on Market Street and Ballard Avenue during business hours and taking money from back offices, safes and employees’ purses.

“I’m glad he’s been caught,” said Kylee Harris, owner of Cugini Café on Ballard Avenue. “But, I think the real thing we need to figure out is how to bust him for what he’s stolen.”

Macefield house to be sold
By Michael Harthorne

The house once belonging to Edith Macefield that has stood empty in a cocoon of new development since her death in June will be sold by its new owner, Barry Martin of Ledcor Construction.

(Editor’s note: This article comes from our sister publication the Ballard News-Tribune.)

The last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 were the worst ever for sales tax returns in Seattle, which is having a dire affect on the city’s 2010 budget, said City Budget Director Dwight Lively during an Oct. 14 presentation to the Ballard District Council.

That, combined with losses in the B and O tax, has crippled the city's general fund, which relies on the two taxes for 40 percent of its budget.

To close the budget gap in 2010, Mayor Greg Nickels has proposed widespread cuts and the depletion of the city's rainy day fund.

Dively said public safety and direct human services were the mayor's top priorities when making cuts.

There will be no reduction in firefighters, 21 additional police officers will be hired and no direct service programs will be cut, he said.

"What that meant is we had to cut basically everything else," Dively said.

One of the major impacts of the cuts will be on Seattle Public Libraries. Most branches will see their hours reduced to 35 per week.

With things looking as grim as they do for Seattle's 2010 budget, it was probably best for City Budget Director Dwight Dively to start off with a little levity during his Oct. 14 presentation to the Ballard District Council.

"I'm going to sit next to Warren (Aakervik) because he offered me money, which we could really use at the moment," Dively joked.

After that, the budget talk got a little more serious.

The last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 were the worst ever for sales tax returns in Seattle, Dively said.

That, combined with losses in the B and O tax, has crippled the city's general fund, which relies on the two taxes for 40 percent of its budget.

To close the budget gap in 2010, Mayor Greg Nickels has proposed widespread cuts and the depletion of the city's rainy day fund.

Dively said public safety and direct human services were the mayor's top priorities when making cuts.

There will be no reduction in firefighters, 21 additional police officers will be hired and no direct service programs will be cut, he said.

"What that meant is we had to cut basically everything else," Dively said.

The Seattle City Council wild hold three public hearings on city budget issues to give residents the opportunity to share opinions and offer input for the council’s 2010 budget process.

According to a release from Jean Godden, chair of the council's Finance and Budget Committee, the public is encouraged to let their voices be heard, particularly during a time when the city is facing a $72 million budget shortfall.

Public Hearings are scheduled for:

Wednesday, Oct. 7 - Whitman Middle School, 9201 15th Ave. N.W., 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct 14 - Northwest African American Museum, 2300 S. Massachusetts St., 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 26 - Seattle City Hall Council Chambers, 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2, 5:30 p.m.

Sign-up to speak starting at 5 p.m. The public hearings will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. More information on the budget can be found at www.seattle.gov/council.

The Seattle City Council wild hold three public hearings on city budget issues, including one in Ballard, to give residents the opportunity to share opinions and offer input for the council’s 2010 budget process.

According to a release from Jean Godden, chair of the council's Finance and Budget Committee, the public is encouraged to let their voices be heard, particularly during a time when the city is facing a $72 million budget shortfall.

Public Hearings are scheduled for:

Wednesday, Oct. 7 - Whitman Middle School, 9201 15th Ave. N.W., 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct 14 - Northwest African American Museum, 2300 S. Massachusetts St., 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 26 - Seattle City Hall Council Chambers, 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2, 5:30 p.m.

Sign-up to speak starting at 5 p.m. The public hearings will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. More information on the budget can be found at www.seattle.gov/council.

Mayor Greg Nickels said that the city of Seattle will receive $1.4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to enhance the city’s fleet of green vehicles and install electric car charging stations throughout the city.

The funding is part of a $15 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act awarded to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s Clean Cities Coalition. The grant is specifically for alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles.

Seattle will receive:

- Fifteen diesel/electric work trucks, which will save more than 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year and reduce carbon emissions by more than 112 tons annually. This will also help the manufacturer ramp-up production and drive down the price of hybrid systems in the mass market.

- $500,000 for installation of electric vehicle charging stations at city-owned properties.

Dear Editor,

Well, it’s time to start saving money. First, there’s the trees you ordered for the parking strip that Mayor Greg Nickels thought we should have. Should be watered by property owners.

The city could reduce the water bill a little for that. Instead, we have two men and a big water tank to do this. What is it costing the taxpayers for this? Two men’s pay, gas, wear and tear on the trucks …?

I like the new idea about the parks closing some and the town that have chosen to be cities of their own should care for the parks. That will cut all these taxes that Seattle taxpayers have to shoulder. It will bring their town people closer if they keep up their own parks.

Give some of the parks back to the wild and the poor animals will get back to the woods. Where would you go to eat if someone took all your berries, trees, bushes, living places? You would go to find food and a new place.

So, please don’t blame our wild life. They were here before any of our houses!

Kathleen Vogel
Delridge Way

As the national recession continues, a new economic forecast for the city of Seattle projects a $72 million revenue shortfall in its 2009-2010 biennial budget. 

The city has built up a $30.6 million rainy day fund, but will still need to identify at least $42 million in further cuts for 2010, according to the mayor's office.

Mayor Greg Nickels will propose adjustments to the city’s 2010 budget next month, but said today that he will address the revenue shortfall without impacting direct human services and public safety programs.

“I will deliver a budget for 2010 that continues to protect funding for direct human services and public safety, and in this historic economic downturn, it is significant that we are able to preserve our core services—the result of years of careful budgeting and work with the city council,” said Nickels in a statement. “There are more difficult decisions ahead, but Seattle is in a better position because we have kept strong fiscal discipline and built up a substantial rainy day fund.”