White Center Now: The blog about White Center

(Photos by Nick Adams for WCN)
Closely fought football-season opener at Southwest Athletic Complex in West Seattle tonight – but in the end, the Evergreen High School Wolverines lost to the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks, 26-20. Before that, though, it had been a 20-20 tie, and the Wolverines kept fighting.

Two events of note: The White Center Community Development Association‘s White Center Promise celebration is today, 4-6:30 pm at Greenbridge – full details on the WCCDA website. Also, high-school football season opens – Evergreen is in West Seattle at the Southwest Athletic Complex to play Chief Sealth, 7 pm.

(Photos by Nick Adams for White Center Now)
White Center Heights Elementary kindergartener Roeesah Thanh not only started school today – she met new Highline Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield. WCH was the first of three schools Dr. Enfield visited this morning; for White Center Now, photojournalist Nick Adams joined the tour. Dr. Enfield rode the bus to get to the first stop:

Lots of smiles as students including Ana Marie waited:

WCH 4th grade teacher Megan Foster‘s class got a visit:

And Dr. Enfield talked with parents in a community room at the school:

Amid the back-to-school clamor, there were quiet scenes too:

Mount View Elementary in White Center is where Edwin Campbell read to 1st grader Angelita Espinoza while waiting to finalize enrollment. Mount View students are wearing uniforms today; at least one teacher also showed up for school in something distinctive:

That’s fifth-grade teacher Jamie Ewing, one of 16 educators in the nation honored by Microsoft’€™s Partners in Learning U.S. Forum earlier this year.

Accompanying Dr. Enfield on this morning’s tour was the district’s communications director, Catherine Carbone Rogers:

You can keep track of district news this year via the HPS website.

(Photo by Nick Adams for White Center Now)
Be careful out there! It’s the first day of school for Highline Public Schools. In our photo, that’s new Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield at a bus stop this morning, headed for White Center Heights Elementary; she’s also scheduled to visit Mount View Elementary and Shorewood Elementary. More later.

P.U.S.H. Radio (Positive Urban Sounds of Hope) will be hosting a Last Day of Summer Street Fair in White Center this Saturday (September 1st) from 5-9 pm, at Greenbridge Plaza, 9800 8th SW. All ages welcome – there will be games, face art, live DJ, food – and a free movie (and popcorn) for children ages 3 and up. Learn more about P.U.S.H. Radio on their Facebook page here.

Just in:

We found 2 young golden retrievers this morning by our store. No collars on them.

Sandy Simmons
White Center
McLendon Hardware
206-762-4090

We’re at the scene of a shooting that caused a lot of commotion – then turned out to be accidental. A man has gone to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg, according to King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who talked with us at the scene. She says it appears he was walking with a gun in his pocket; he reached into his pocket, and the gun accidentally went off, with a bullet hitting him in the leg. The wound is not believed to be life-threatening.

Cleanups come in all sizes. The most important thing is who participates – and that means you. This invitation is just in from Lea at Neat Street (featured here on WCN back in June):

My business Neat Street is having a neighborhood clean-up event to be held on Saturday, September 8th from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Gloves, garbage bags, and litter grabbers will be provided. We will be picking up the litter and garbage along the sidewalks and streets in the White Center neighborhood. Join us to show some love to our amazing neighborhood! Meet us in the alleyway behind 9229A 17th Ave SW between 9:45 -10:00 a.m. to get your supplies!

Before this week is out, thousands of Highline Public Schools students will be back in class. Thursday is the first day of school. Last day: June 13, 2013.

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

With two and a half months to go until the annexation vote, there was something of a “let’s get it over with already” mood to tonight’s informational meeting, the latest in a series of monthly gatherings.

“Annexation veterans,” as Burien city manager Mike Martin called them -half-filled the room at the White Center Food Bank. Martin said he noticed only two faces at the meeting that weren’t people “intimately familiar” with the details of the proposal, and admitted he was a little disconcerted about that.

Nonetheless, forward the meeting went, though Martin first warned that he wouldn’t stand for the supporters and opponents trying to turn it into “a debate.”

Burien management analyst Nhan Nguyen then offered some information about the WC Food Bank itself. He’s on the board, and pointed out that it served 66,000 people last year alone.

Martin then launched into his opening remarks. Burien will grow to 65,000 from 47,000 if the annexation goes forward, making it the 15th largest city in the state – “a major, major city.”

Taxes will go up about $140 a year for the “average, average citizen” under annexation, Martin said. Zoning will not change – immediately, anyway.

The FAQ/info sheet (see the long version here on the city website) has a new addition – “Code Enforcement.” Martin described the city’s policy as “reactive” – summarized in the new FAQ line as “we don’t go looking for violations but will prioritize and respond swiftly to complaints.”

Regarding police services, he reiterated what’s been said before – the White Center storefront will stay. And the last FAQ highlight – “will my address change?” – as long as the zip code is correct, Martin said, you can use Burien or Seattle, though “the correct address will be a Burien address.”

He described Burien’s government – city manager who “run(s) the daily operations of the city,” 70 full-time-equivalent staff members, and an elected City Council. (At that point, he mentioned that Deputy Mayor Rose Clark was on hand.)

When he handed the figurative baton to Police Chief Scott Kimerer, the chief also acknowledged the room’s domination by those who have long been vocal on the issue. Nonetheless, at least in honor of those two people who hadn’t been seen at meetings before, he too recapped his department’s key points, and plans for annexation.

While the King County Sheriff’s Office “has gotten a lot smaller,” Burien itself has not

“B.J. Myers worked for me in Burien before he came (to White Center), and I would love to work with him again… he’s an outstanding young officer,” said Chief Kimerer of the White Center storefront deputy.

Asked if Burien has a gang unit, Kimerer mentioned a two-person team that works as part of a team with the county’s gang specialists.

Traffic enforcement came up as a question – speeding, in particular. One attendee asked if anything “technological” could be done.

“Let’s talk about red light cameras,” joked the two leaders at the head of the room. “No, let’s NOT talk about red light cameras.” Martin then explained why that was a sore spot – Burien had installed three, and “people hated it, hated it, hated it. … It signaled to us that people are kind of all right with people sliding through intersections.”

Overall, though, Martin acknowledged that it sounded as if many things would stay the same for the unincorporated area – same policing level, same school district, etc. “So, you might wonder, what’s the point?” Martin asked rhetorically, and answered with an explanation of how the state expected the counties to eventually no longer have to provide urban services.

And, he said, “what local government brings, whether it’s Burien or anybody else, is people who will stand up for the things that people in the community want.” As an example of that, Martin recounted some of the advocacy that the city had engaged in – remembering the controversies over Puget Sound Park, for example.

He also listed some of Burien’s achievements, such as its vision for property near Sea-Tac Airport, with an offramp and relocated auto dealerships, freeing up space on 1st Avenue South. “It’s a big vision, it’s going to take years, but that’s what we do. … If I was going to explain what changes because of annexation, that’s what changes” – somebody to stand up for a vision. Martin said he wasn’t clear about that before the first annexation vote.

Asked next about the county-owned White Center bog/pond area, Martin said there would be talks to resolve status and responsibility after “a successful annexation vote.” Same for the county-owned parks, most of which, Martin said, would become city-owned.

Some history came into play there: Clark told the story of Seahurst Park in Burien and how it had been a county park, and how the city was adamant about bringing funding into the city as well as the land, when the city first incorporated. The park previously was unsafe, she said.

What about people who don’t want to be annexed to Seattle or Burien? Martin then was asked. What about a study, as a comparison, how much would taxes go up under Seattle vs. under Burien? North Burien resident Greg Duff asked.

“Seattle’s not on the ballot,” Martin said. “And we really don’t want to be the least of two evils based on taxes. … We believe there are other good reasons to want to annex to Burien.”

Burien resident Chestine Edgar brought up the Hicklin Lake area in the potential annexation zone and concerns about how much the cleanup of its polluted water might cost. Would it become part of the city? she asked. Yes, said Martin. Edgar then went on to say she disagreed that taxes would only go up $140 under Burien annexation. “We disagree,” Martin said.

Another attendee brought up a reservoir under a park along SW 112th, returning the discussion to parks. Martin eventually acknowledged that the city never has as much as it would like to spend on parks. “We’re not a rich city. We’re not a poor city. We’re a good city,” he said.

In response to another concern voiced by an “annexation veteran,” Martin stated flatly that the city has enough money to cover annexation-related expenses for many years ahead, “period, end of story. … Ask yourself, why in the world would we want to go forward with an annexation that was not revenue neutral?”

One of the non-veterans then asked a question, and Martin all but fell on a knee to thank her. She wondered about a vacant parcel of land in her neighborhood and what its future might be under Burien governance. Someone else in the room said they believe that site belongs to the King County Housing Authority. Martin said it would remain in their control – annexation wouldn’t change that. “They would continue to own that property, just like any private (owner).” That segued into a discussion of overall land-use strategy, big picture.

Then suddenly, about 50 minutes into the meeting, a woman who didn’t even know the city manager’s name asked a question, wondering about the situation in Burien with unfinished development in the city center, and gentrification. She was referring to the Town Square development, though she didn’t know its name, and Martin went into a thumbnail retelling of its story and how it fell apart in the 2008 crash. “Everybody in this room owns 60 percent of those, because the U.S. government bought 60 percent of it” he noted, also saying that 16 of the 124 units have finally sold, and 16 more are under contract.

One hour in – as Martin told this story – people continued to arrive, and the room continued to fill. He promised that wouldn’t happen here because “we would ask people” what kind of development they wanted to see, balancing the need for “upscale” development with “workforce housing … The trick is having diversified housing stock. The council would go berserk if I said let’s make this Bellevue. It ain’t gonna happen. It’s not our culture.”

Would the City Council grow in size under annexation? Martin then was asked. No, he said, unless there was a proposal to change the form of government.

Another question went to a member of that current council, Deputy Mayor Clark. What does the city as the benefit of annexation? “We will all be what we used to be – one community,” said Clark, noting that the area is all part of the same school district, for example, and saying that there would be a loss of control if for example the potential annexation area became part of Seattle, while staying in the Highline district. Burien would benefit by being in control of this area “on its border,” she also said.

Martin then picked up the fact that the annexation area is so close to so many important parts of the area, that “it MUST change, it cannot stay the same.” He also brought up the hot-button issue of what happens if it stays unincorporated – “will low-income housing be dumped (there)?”

That veered into a way to encourage even more community involvement, though as Martin noted, “this community is about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, and they’ve been doing that so long …”

At that point, Boulevard Park-area resident Bob Price declared that if the area remains unannexed, it will be “destroyed. … We’ve got to do something to save ourselves now before we get trashed by big business coming in and destroying the area.”

“Thank you for that question, Bob,” Martin quipped.

Something resembling the ‘debate” he had said he would not tolerate erupted at that point, with some squabbling over Martin’s suggestion that the city could encourage PTA involvement and other forms of parental participation in the schools. Once that ebbed, he said that he felt people would look back years from now and wonder why the city didn’t work more closely with the school district and other agencies, when it was for the greater good.

What’s Burien’s policy toward homeless camps? Martin was asked.

While the city has a high tolerance level, it won’t tolerate camping in parks, he said.

The ensuing discussion about human services brought up some funding issues, and some observations such as Burien’s lack of homeless shelters and soup kitchens. “We don’t have any of that stuff,” Martin acknowledged. “We have food banks. We have a strong faith-based community. … We try to be sensitive in the winter, we understand that the game kind of changes for people.”

Barbara Dobkin, president of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council but not speaking for it, shared observations of homeless people wandering in Seattle, where she works. Another attendee talked about veterans on their way home from war, and “what are they going to do, where are they going to go? … We’ve got to address this.”

Martin mentioned Navos‘s presence in Burien and said “we are thrilled” with its presence.

Woven throughout the questioning, pro- and anti-annexation advocates continued trying to make their points, and Martin continued to refute or deflect them.

As the hour-and-a-half session wrapped up, he said “Vote up or vote down – we need to move this along, it’s time to do this or not do it, and I’m hoping we get a clear decision from the people of the White Center (etc.) area. Get your neighbors to vote, whether for or against. Let’s get a clear signal so we really know what folks want to do.”

And yet – regarding the only other potential annexer – Martin said, “Seattle’s not hell.”

Two more informational sessions are scheduled before the November 6th election – from the Burien website:

September 13: Beverly Park Elementary School, cafeteria, 1201 S. 104th Street, 6 pm

October 18: Cascade Middle School, cafeteria, 11212 10th Ave SW, 6 pm

Something you want to know about the Burien annexation proposal before you vote? Tonight is your next chance to ask questions and get answers, in person – the traveling presentation/Q&A session comes to the White Center Food Bank (108th and 8th). 6 pm.

Just announced by the Salvation Army – new White Center leadership:

The Salvation Army Northwest Division announces the appointment
of Captains Raymond and Jennifer Erickson-King, to the Seattle White Center Corps. Prior to this
appointment, the Captains managed the Youth & Young Adult Programs at The Salvation Army
Intermountain Division (Denver, CO). In White Center, they replace Majors Maynard and Kathy Sargent,
who retired.

The news of their appointment didn’t surprise the Captains Erickson-King. As Salvation Army Officers,
they expect to be reassigned throughout their careers. The commitment of being an Officer includes
moving your family frequently, and accepting reassignments based on career development and filling
the needs of The Salvation Army locations. The assignment at White Center is an acknowledgement of
their ability to manage a large community center and congregation.

The Seattle White Center location is among the largest and most active Corps in The Salvation Army
Northwest Division. It serves more than 6,000 individuals per month. Among the variety of programs
and services offered to the community are community lunch for seniors; food pantry; rent/utility
assistance; after-school tutoring, athletic leagues, and music lessons for kids and teens; summer
overnight camp; summer day camp for kids, and holiday assistance.

Originally from Dallas, Oregon, Captain Raymond received an Associate of Arts degree in Ministry from
The Salvation Army College for Officer Training in Crestmont, CA, in 1998. Throughout his career, he has
managed many Salvation Army locations, including Waimea and Honokaa, HI; San Pedro, Long Beach,
and Merced, CA; and Tri-Cities, WA. He is an alumnus of Corban University (Salem, OR), and holds a
Master of Business Administration and has earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology:
Family Studies and Business Administration: Management and Communication.

Captain Jennifer was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Los Angeles. She received an Associate
of Arts degree in Ministry from The Salvation Army College for Officer Training in Crestmont, CA, in
2005. She served with Captain Raymond at the appointments in Tri-Cities, WA; Merced, CA; and Denver,
CO.

(Dave Duff, right, takes the oath of office, read by Ray Austin)
By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

The North Highline Board of Fire Commissioners has a new chair – who’s also one of its former chairs.

Last night, Dave Duff was appointed to fill the vacancy created when Wayne Alishokis resigned in May.

Wayne Alishokis had been on the board since 2006, when he succeeded … Dave Duff.

This probably explains why the public interview for Duff, the only person to seek the job, lasted less than 10 minutes.

The executive session in which commissioners Ray Austin and Liz Giba discussed Duff’s merits lasted a little longer. And then, when back in public session, they voted unanimously to appoint him, and then to make him chair, with Austin as vice chair.

Chief Mike Marrs had explained that a second potential candidate had expressed interest, but “pulled out,” leaving Duff as the lone applicant.

During the aforementioned brief interview, Duff recapped some of his history with the district, including leading a bond campaign to replace engines and upgrade stations, and ultimately so much involvement that he, his late wife Judy, and their daughter Deanna were, he noted, “voted as honorary members” of NHFD.

Deanna, a journalist, was in attendance last night as her father was appointed and sworn in.

But obviously this is a far different time for the NHFD than when Duff served a decade ago. Most of the remaining unincorporated area is less than three months away from deciding in the November election whether to approve annexation by Burien.

During the interview, when Giba asked Duff what he would like to see happen with the district, he acknowledged this is a “transition” time, and that if the annexation proposal should be rejected, it would mean “hard changes,” but whatever happened, he wanted to be part of it, “to ensure that services are provided here, no matter which way it goes.”

First, and shortest, of three reports from tonight’s North Highline Board of Fire Commissioners meeting, led by newly appointed (more in report #2) commissioner Dave Duff, a former board chair who was elected tonight to serve in that role again:

Chief Mike Marrs told board members Duff, Ray Austin, and Liz Giba that both districts he leads are participating in the state’s mobilization to the Taylor Bridge Fire in Central Washington – with one firefighter from NH, two from Burien. They are expected to be there at least a few more days, he said. There may be future needs, the chief said, with the possibility that more “type 1 structural engines” would be requested.

(Here is the latest on the fire from our partners at The Seattle Times.)

(WCN photo from July 2011’s White Center Promise celebration)
Once again this summer, White Center Community Development Association is hosting a celebration of the White Center Promise initiative – which is about to get into full swing. Here’s the official announcement of the event that’s now two and a half weeks away:

The Promise Summer Celebration 2012 is the second annual event focused on the White Center Promise (WCP) Initiative.

The Promise Summer Celebration will be Friday, August 31, 2012 from 4:00PM-6:30PM and will take place at the Greenbridge Plaza on 8th Ave SW and SW 99th St. in White Center.

Similar to last year’s event, the celebration will feature local delicious food and live performances at no cost. This year’s feature acts will include: Seattle Kokon Taiko Drummers, Au Lac Vovinam Lion Dance Team and the EriAm Sisters. There will also be a giveaway of book bags to the first 250 K-12 grade students who sign up and the first 150 parents that register will receive a special gift.

White Center Promise is a long-term initiative aimed at eradicating poverty in White Center through a continuum of educational results that bring about social change. The goal is that all children in White Center will graduate from high school and earn a post-secondary credential that leads to a living wage career.

WCP’s cradle-to-career range of solutions was developed beginning in 2010 with the help of local residents and supported by local core partners Highline Public Schools, Southwest Youth and Family Services, and the White Center Community Development Association.

A roll-out plan has been created and implementation will take place in phases over the next 5 years beginning in January 2013.

The first story ever published here on WCN, on August 7, 2008, was about the grand opening of Big Al Brewing in White Center. This weekend, Big Al’s has been celebrating its fourth anniversary, including a “Family Day” celebration today, with Eric Ode performing live till 5:30 pm.

Just in from King County:

King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert today urged the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) to conduct a thorough investigation into missed garbage, yard waste and recycling pickups in the unincorporated areas during a recent strike by haulers who work for Waste Management of Washington, Inc.

“I’m glad that Waste Management and its drivers were able to reach agreement, but we received many complaints from residents about missed pickups,” said Executive Constantine. “I urge the WUTC to conduct a thorough investigation and to use its regulatory authority to ensure that residents and businesses whose collections were disrupted are made whole.”

In separate letters to the WUTC – the governmental entity with legal authority over solid waste collection in unincorporated areas – Executive Constantine and Councilmember Lambert noted that Waste Management is entrusted with the vital public service of garbage, yard waste and recycling collection, and that thousands of residents, including those in unincorporated areas, were left without garbage and recycling pickup.

“It is important for customers in the unincorporated area to understand that King County doesn’t control waste collection services, because the State of Washington has the regulatory authority,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, who represents northeast King County areas served by Waste Management.

“We need to work very closely with the state Utilities and Transportation Commission to make sure our unincorporated area citizens have the same protections as those in cities, and that the same accountability measures can be applied to waste haulers. It also is important for those affected by service disruptions to get better information, and they need it right away,” added Lambert.

Drivers represented by Teamsters Local 117 who collect recyclables and food and yard waste, and who are employed by Waste Management, went on strike for eight days beginning July 25. Drivers represented by Teamsters Local 174 who collect garbage honored the picket lines and garbage also went uncollected.

Customers of Waste Management will be able to comment to state regulators at a public meeting Thursday on the impacts of the company’s recent labor dispute on solid waste and recycling collection services.

The WUTC will hear a presentation from the company regarding its strike response strategy at 4 p.m. and will take comments from customers at 5 p.m. on Aug. 9, in the Woodinville City Council Chambers, 17301 133rd Avenue NE, in Woodinville.

Thanks to North Highline/White Center neighborhood advocate Gill Loring for sharing photos from one of Tuesday night’s Night Out block parties – 20th SW between 102nd and 104th. The host was another neighborhood advocate, Ron Johnson (who also serves as a member of the all-volunteer North Highline Unincorporated Area Council). Here’s Ron chatting with one of the King County Sheriff’s Office team members who visited, Community Service Officer Peter Truong:

Also spotted at this party, White Center Storefront Deputy B.J. Myers:

Neighbors got a chance to talk with the officers as well as with each other:

Gill reports the party went on until dark.

One more big event Tuesday night besides Night Out – thousands of people invited to the annual hunger-fighting summertime mega-barbecue at Greenbridge Plaza, with partners including the White Center Food Bank and the Vertically Integrated Partnership to End Hunger.

The menu included summer-barbecue favorites, even corn on the cob:

The partnership includes food-service companies, distributors, farmers, processors, and others collaborating to fight hunger in ways big and small – and as with the previous two years, this was definitely big, with fun as well as food:

This gets bigger every year; here’s our coverage of the first one back in July 2010.

It’s so big now, KING 5 even sent a crew Tuesday night! Here’s photojournalist Lorenzo at work:

(Here’s the online version of their story.)

Don’t skip voting in today’s election – two major ballot measures, and the judicial races (as explained here), will be settled today. You can take your ballot to the dropoff box at Burien City Hall (400 SW 152nd), or the “dropoff van” at West Seattle Stadium (off 35th SW south of Avalon Way). Or, if you’re mailing your ballot, make sure it’ll be postmarked today. For your online sample ballot and last-minute info about candidates and races, here’s the official pamphlet.