I am a merchant in the Alaska Junction area. California Avenue is torn up for several blocks right in the heart of the junction.

We were told that it would take eight weeks for this project to be completed. That means it should have ended by yesterday. Now they are saying it won't be finished until Thanksgiving!

There good hardworking dedicated people serving our community who cannot maintain their businesses because the road is messed up and what little parking we had is now gone. Our street is packed with folks who are doing business on California Avenue, which takes away the parking necessary for our store.

But, I am not just worried about our business being driven away for lack of parking - it's happening to all of the merchants, restaurateurs and businessmen and women trying to do business and make a living in or around the Alaska Junction shopping district.

Here are some questions for good investigative reporter to check out:

No. 1- Why did they do this project in the first place? If there was a problem area it surely wasn't three blocks long!

No. 2 - Why didn't they do this project one block at a time?

No. 3 - Why is it taking so long?

No. 4 - Why isn't anyone i.e.; the mayor who lives in West Seattle doing something about this?

No. 5 - Why is it that Gary Merlino seems to have a monopoly with all the road work for the city and always seems to take longer than projected?

I would appreciate it if you would have someone look into this for the citizens of West Seattle.

Shirley Geller

The Good Book_

4204 S.W. Oregon St.