White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Thanks to Gill for the photo – on Monday, he spotted that repaving project in progress on SW 107th between 22nd SW and 25th SW. He says a nearby resident told him the surface is meant to improve traction in a crash-prone stretch. The King County Road Services website says this was a one-day project and that it’s over.

A few days before Sunday morning’s White Center murder, crime concerns were in the forefront at the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council‘s May meeting.

A King County Sheriff’s Office gang expert was rescheduled for the meeting but was sidetracked again, this time because of an incident shortly before the meeting, an incident in Burien that was reported to have turned up five guns.

KCSO was represented at the meeting by Major M.G. Johanknecht and Capt. Scott Somers, right and left in the photo above, as well as storefront Deputy Bill Kennamer.

In the crime stats, “Part 1” crimes – from homicide to burglary to arson and more – are down from this time last year, 62 in the area this April, 75 in the area last April. “Part 2” crimes, a longer list, are up, 114 this April compared to 96 a year earlier. Auto theft is up a bit, 18 in April 2017, 15 in April 2016. Burglaries are down – forced-entry residential burglary, for example, 4 this April, down from 10 a year earlier.

The major mentioned that she’ll be working to start a Citizens’ Academy for the White Center area soon.

PREVENTING YOUTH MARIJUANA USE: Vilia Wang and Maddison Story started off the night. They got a $10,000 grant to work with kids to deter early marijuana use, based on some stats they gathered talking to Cascade Middle School 8th graders. Their responses indicated more had tried marijuana and alcohol in comparison to statewide averages. The program plans a 3-5:30 pm open house at White Center Library to talk about resources for youth and to show the phone app they’re working on – here’s the flyer.

QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNTY MEETING: As mentioned last month, King County’s unincorporated service-area town halls are coming up, including 7-9 pm June 7th at Seola Gardens. NHUAC president Liz Giba reminded those in attendance that it’s an excellent opportunity to bring up concerns with county leaders – Council Chair Joe McDermott, Sheriff John Urquhart, and Deputy County Executive Rhonda Berry are scheduled to be at this one. Here are some of the issues NHUAC wants to hear about from county reps:

– Economic diversity and housing policy so that there’s no further concentration of poverty in the area. –

– Regarding marijuana policy – how much tax money has been taken in overall and from the NHUAC area specifically; how much was generated in North Highline and what’s coming back

– What’s happening with the county’s share of Myers Way?

– What’s happening with the proposal for safe-injection sites?

– Gangs

– The West Point sewage spill

– What’s happening with annexation from the county’s side?

– How can the Sheriff send more officers, especially with new big developments – especially with the big development in Top Hat?

FAMILY SHELTER: Mary’s Place announced that the shelter has reached the first-phase capacity, 30 people – eight adults and 22 kids. As the community wanted to see, those who have arrived so far have kids in Highline Public Schools. So they’re taking “the next step,” it was announced, to increase the number of people served to 70.

They’ve arranged with the Evergreen Aquatic Center to use showers there, since there’s still a shortage of those facilities at the shelter building itself, though they’re working on that. An open house for the public is also planned, and they’re looking for volunteers – you can stop by to ask about opportunities. The Mary’s Place website is the best source for lists of what donations are needed but it was mentioned at the meeting that plus-size clothing and hygiene products are needed.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets first Thursdays most months, 7 pm, at the NH Fire District HQ.

Update just in on the Sunday morning murder, from King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West:

Detectives said a birthday party was being held at a bar in the 9800 block of 16 Ave SW Saturday night into Sunday morning. About 1:30 am a fight broke out between two groups of women inside the bar. The fight ended up outside and numerous people were either watching or participating in the disturbance.

After the altercation was over, the victim, a 31-year-old Seattle man, walked across the street with a woman who had been in the altercation. He stood with a group of people for moments before a man in the group pulled a gun and shot him in the head, killing him. The suspect then ran southbound, got into a vehicle and drove off.

Detectives believe the suspect vehicle is a white, 99-01 BMW station wagon. The suspect is described as a black male, and was last seen wearing a dark colored hoodie.

Anyone with information or who may have taken cell phone video before, during or after the shooting is asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311. Additionally anyone who may have been driving in the area or picked someone up from the area is asked to call. You may also be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 and remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477)

6:49 AM: 16th SW is closed between 98th and 100th as King County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigate a deadly shooting early today. Our crew says the Medical Examiner is there right now as is the victim’s family.

More information to come.

7:25 AM: We’ve just talked with another KCSO investigator at the scene. She says the victim is a man believed to be in his 30s. They found him after responding to a “shots fired” call around 1:40 am. He was near the sidewalk on the west side of 16th by the former restaurant space just south of the future Beer Star. No arrests reported so far.

8:33 AM: Checking our archives, this is the first shooting-with-a-victim case in the area in more than a month, since this one (which was not fatal).

9:13 AM: Just heard back from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who says this is reported to have started with a conflict at Taradise Cafe:

Details are sketchy.

Started out as a fight among women in the women’s bathroom that was pushed out into the main front area of the bar and then out into the street.

A man at the bar who went out to talk to one of the women involved in the altercation was shot.

Witness said the suspect calmly shot the victim in the head as he stood out on the street. We don’t know if the suspect had been at the bar or not.

Very little suspect info. Wearing a hoodie but no other details.

As of just before 9 am, the street was still closed.

NOON UPDATE: We just went back to check again; the street is now open again and investigators are gone.

7:23 PM: A tribute to the victim, who friends say was known as “Bookie” and actually went out to try to stop the fight, is in place at the scene:

Friends and family gathered there this evening for a vigil.

Still no word of an arrest.

(Adapted from original as-it-happened coverage on partner site West Seattle Blog – smoke was visible for miles around)

Thanks to Colby for that photo, the first we received from a house fire this afternoon near 26th SW and SW 109th.

The smoke had subsided by the time our crew arrived at the fire scene – thanks to those who tipped us via text and voice on our hotline (206-293-6302). This is in the North Highline Fire District’s jurisdiction; other departments including Seattle Fire sent units as mutual aid (including Engine 11):

Big response overall.

One person suffered minor injuries, we’re told, and was treated at the scene. By 3:45 pm, the fire (at 10907 26th SW) was out or close to it, our crew reported, and investigators were on the way to try to find out how it started.

Got a text about a sizable response of deputies and medics this afternoon. Checked with King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who explained that it started around 3:15 pm as a “report of a male trespassing at a business in the 1700 block of SW Roxbury. He was described as possibly being high.” One of the deputies who responded radioed that he was fighting with the suspect; other deputies arrived and made an arrest, but Sgt. West adds, “Apparently one of the deputies was poked with a needle too.”

Just in, North Highline Unincorporated Area Council president Liz Giba‘s announcement for the May meeting, coming up next Thursday:

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Meeting

When: Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 7 pm

Where: North Highline Fire Station at 1243 SW 112th Street in White Center. (Parking and Entrance are in the Back of the Station)

Please join North Highline’s volunteer community council at our May 4, 2017 meeting.

The Opportunity to Be Informed, Be Involved and Be Heard!

Neighborhoods Matter: Eighth graders in the Highline School District have at higher risk of drug use than students in King County overall. The Coalition for Drug-Free Youth addresses youth drug use by educating, inspiring and empowering us to create a healthy environment in North Highline. Maddi Story and VeeVee Wang will introduce us to the Coalition’s “I Know What’s Right for Me” marijuana and vaping prevention campaign.

The Bad News: Detective Joe Gagliardi of the King County Sheriff’s Office was not able to make last month’s meeting.

The Good News: Detective Gagliardi will be joining us this month. Detective Gagliardi is an expert on gangs. Have you wondered whether the graffiti you’ve been seeing is gang related? Have you heard stories about local gang activity? Join us on Thursday and you’ll surely learn somethings about gangs.

More Good News: Deputy Bill Kennamer of the White Center Storefront will be joined by Captain Somers and our new Precinct 4 Commander Major Mitzi Johanknecht. Join us in welcoming her!

Good of the Order: Do you have a suggestion for King County’s upcoming Community Service Area meeting? Something of community import on your mind? Join us and share!

See you Thursday, May 4th at 7 PM – Because Knowledge Is Power!

(Photos by Gill Loring)

If you haven’t been there yet, you have until 5 pm to get to this year’s Cambodian New Year Street Festival in downtown White Center.

It’s brought out hundreds of people for performances, food, and fun at and around 16th/98th:

This is the festival’s 15th year.

Seven months after we first told you Drunky’s Two-Shoe BBQ was opening a second location in White Center, it’s opening night. We stopped in for photos around 7:30 pm.

The wait was already an hour, we were told. If you haven’t been to downtown WC in a while, this is the old DK Café site on the northwest corner of 16th and 98th.

Lots of unique decor, as they’d told us back in September:

See a photo of the menu here. Grand-opening festivities are promised all weekend; while they didn’t open the doors until 4 pm today, regular hours will be 11 am-11 pm, we’re told.

Lifelong‘s annual Dining Out For Life fundraiser is today/tonight, and there’s one White Center restaurant on the list: Noble Barton (9635 16th SW).

Just two days away!

Friday afternoon, be at the White Center Library (1409 SW 107th) to support the guild and get your gardening season into gear!

From the White Center Food Bank:

Community garden plots are available at White Center Heights Park, open to White Center residents who need garden space.

Please contact Mara Bernard – Community Garden Manager at the White Center Food Bank for more information.

All ages and experience levels welcome! – Mara@WhiteCenterFoodBank.org

(Cross-posted from partner site West Seattle Blog)

(Camp Second Chance, photographed last month)

Just in from the City of Seattle director of homelessness George Scarola – a third “community conversation” about the now-sanctioned encampment Camp Second Chance on the city-owned Myers Way Parcels and the non-sanctioned campers in the area:

At the community meeting on February 1st, there was a request to arrange a third meeting that would focus on public-safety issues related to homelessness along Myers Way South:

*Issues relating to the RVs parked along Myers Way and the unsanctioned encampments east of Myers Way;

*Concerns raised by community members regarding 9-1-1 calls;

*The City’s ongoing efforts to remove the trash along Myers Way; and,

*A progress report from Camp Second Chance.

That will all be part of this:

3rd Community Conversation re: Myers Way Homeless Encampment

Monday, May 15th

7:00 – 8:30 PM

Joint Training Facility, 9401 Myers Way South

West Seattle Blog coverage of the February 1st meeting is here; coverage of the December meeting is here. Scarola, meantime, briefed Seattle City Councilmembers two weeks ago (coverage here) and CSC’s population was listed as 33 at the time, just under half its current capacity.

Last month, we brought you the story of new owners for Village Green Nursery – and today, it’s their official reopening day. We stopped by for a photo of Noah and Sarah in the rain – after all, April showers bring May flowers. They’re open until 6 pm, and again 10 am-6 pm tomorrow, at 10223 26th SW.

Last Friday, we got a few questions about the King County Sheriff’s Office Guardian One helicopter searching in White Center. We weren’t able to reach KCSO for details at the time but did get information today from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West. She says a burglary attempt was reported in the 1200 block of SW 112th around 1 pm Friday: “The homeowner told us that when they returned home, they saw the suspect attempting to get into their garage. Deputies arrived quickly and set up a perimeter to try to catch the suspect. K-9 and Guardian 1 also assisted with the search. The suspect was found hiding in the back yard of a house nearby. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Residential Burglary.” The suspect is 44 and, Sgt. West adds, lives “not too far from the area” of the crime.

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

The King County Sheriff’s Office gang expert who was supposed to speak to the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council tonight had to cancel due to a last-minute emergency – look for him next month instead – but it was an info-packed meeting anyway:

CRIME UPDATE: King County Sheriff’s Office storefront deputy Bill Kennamer presented this month’s update. “Everything is down pretty significantly except for assaults,” he began. “We’ve had a lot of shootings in the past two months … 6 in the White Center area in the past month … There are two gangs who are going at it, one lives in Burien, one lives in South Park, and they have been shooting each other up from Lynnwood to Kent.” Part of the problem, he says, is that “gangsters” who have long been in prison are now getting out. By shootings, he meant shots-fired, no-injury cases as well as ones where someone was hit.

One attendee said her husband was near one of the recent gunfire exchanges and wondered what more could be done to help deputies not just find shell casings, but find suspects. The more information witnesses can provide, the better, including getting the license plate numbers, Deputy Kennamer said. “It’s hard to do that when you’re ducking,” she retorted. Another attendee suggested taking a picture if you possible can. The deputy said, “we have some really, really smart detectives who are working these cases,” and they are very overworked, but doing the best they can.

Overall, though, things are better in many places, Deputy Kennamer said. No more dopers hanging around at Steve Cox Memorial Park, for example – “there are families using the park.”

The topic of marijuana retailers also came up; the deputy says there’s a new one where Lawless used to be on the west side of 16th. Someone wondered about what was happening with the taxes generated. “I think the county is really letting us down,” said NHUAC president Liz Giba. One place to convey that message: The Community Service Area meeting in June (see info at the end of this story).

And myriad community concerns were surfaced, including how to deal with abandoned vehicles, on private as well as public property (and if it’s private property, what constitutes an abandoned/derelict vehicle?).

COUNTY SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT UTILITY: From the King County Water and Land Resources Division, deputy director John Taylor spoke about the fee for the service they provide – dealing with water quality and water quantity. His presentation was full of facts about flooding, runoff, and more. Among other things we learned: About half a billion dollars worth of “drainage facilities” in King County right-of-way needs to be replaced in the next 10 years.

Single-family homeowners pay $171/year for surface water management. It generates $27 million that covers “maintenance of existing assets, programs that support agriculture and rural residents, habitat restoration, best-run government (programs).” They have developed a capital-facilities program “that’s going to deal with the stuff most likely to fail first,” Taylor said. The fee money is leveraged to generate more, including, for example, federal grants – he acknowledged those might be in question in the not-too-distant future.

The fee is going up this year – $70 more for each homeowner, a 40% increase (and he acknowledged that was less than they had asked). It will bring in another $8 million. It is a flat rate regardless of how big your property is. The commercial rates go as high as $3,669 per acre (if covered in impervious surface). The new rates will eliminate the backlog of urgent maintenance needs over 10 years, he reiterated. “By dealing with problems now, we will keep rates down in the future,” he added.

Also this year, there’s a special rate for low-income property owners, for the first time. And they’re going to increase grants “for community projects that protect water quality.”

Questions included, what happens if heavy rain brings a stream running past your driveway? The county can take a look at it “to figure out what’s going on.” Discussions of springs, soil, and even The Bog ensued. (“It was the community that turned The Bog around,” Taylor said, “and I think it’s better than it’s been in years – not perfect, but better than it used to be.” And he noted that just moving “the homeless problem” from The Bog “didn’t solve (it), just moved it.”)

Got a question for him? john.taylor@kingcounty.gov and 206-477-4602.

Announcements at the meeting:

KING COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICE AREA MEETING: The annual town hall is set for June 7th, 7-9 pm at Seola Gardens, with County Council Chair Joe McDermott, Deputy County Executive Rhonda Berry, and Sheriff John Urquhart expected to be there.

WHITE CENTER LIBRARY GUILD: NHUAC secretary Pat Price said the guild’s plant sale is set for noon-4 pm April 28th. (1409 SW 107th)

COALITION FOR DRUG-FREE YOUTH: Rudy Garza will conduct cultural-competency training noon-1:30 pm April 12th at Seola Gardens.

JUBILEE DAYS: Price said that July 19th will be the fireworks and carnival kickoff this year, and the festival will run through the 23rd. Giba noted that the street fair will expand into part of 16th SW this year. Jubilee Days will run through July 23rd.

MARY’S PLACE VOLUNTEERING: NHUAC board member Roslyn Hyde said they especially need people in mornings and evenings. She also said that dropping off donations unannounced is discouraged so let the shelter know in advance if you would like to donate something. She said the shelter is apparently up to about 30 people now.

CAMP SECOND CHANCE ADVISORY COUNCIL: The new advisory council for the Seattle-sanctioned encampment is still taking applicants and expecting to meet in early May.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets first Thursdays most months, 7 pm, at the NH Fire District headquarters (1243 SW 112th). Between meetings, check for updates at northhighlineuac.org.

You’ve probably seen the sign, if you haven’t been in already. Now we have confirmation that Zanzibar has opened at 9609 1/2 16th SW. From Sarah Friesema:

New bar with food has opened in White Center – Zanzibar features local craft beer on tap, wine, full liquor license, and food including panini sandwiches and some street food favorites. Live music, no TVs, and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Open 3 pm to 11 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

(Click image to go to full-size map on City Light’s website)

Those locations in White Center, Top Hat, and other parts of North Highline are where Seattle City Light is about to begin a six-week project “to upgrade electronic equipment on 35 existing utility poles.” More details:

This project is an expansion of existing communications networks. The equipment modifications will increase public safety and enhanced-911 capabilities. The work will also improve wireless services to areas, allowing for enhanced connectivity and faster 4G service.

During this project, City Light crews will also have the opportunity to upgrade its infrastructure and replace utility poles that are in poor condition.

There are no maintenance power outages planned for this work. Some traffic and parking impacts are expected in the immediate work areas. Crews will be careful to maintain access to driveways.

From the King County Housing Authority – this starts today:

With a record number of low-income households around King County struggling to pay the rent, the King County Housing Authority will be re-opening its waiting list for Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers for only the second time since 2011.

From Wednesday, April 5 through Tuesday, April 18 at 4 p.m. PDT, households in need of rental assistance can apply for KCHA’s Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program waitlist. Registration for the lottery is free and available only at www.kcha.org.

The program currently provides rental subsidies to over 11,300 low-income households with more than 28,400 family members in King County outside of Seattle and Renton. Fifty-seven percent of participating households have at least one elderly or disabled member. More than 11,000 children are currently housed with these subsidies, most of which flow to the over 2,500 private landlords participating in the program.

“The region’s extraordinary increase in rents is leaving far too many community members behind. Housing Choice Vouchers – rental assistance ─ is an essential resource for our most vulnerable neighbors – low-wage families with children, elderly households, people with disabilities, and veterans. Without this resource many of these households would be homeless,” said KCHA Executive Director Stephen Norman. “Having stable housing is critical to other important community issues, including school success for children and better health and reduced health-care costs for seniors.

According to the American Communities Survey (2011-2015) 47 percent of rental households in King County are considered cost-burdened and pay more than they can afford for housing. During the 2015-16 school year school districts in King County reported 8,486 homeless school children. King County’s 2016 annual point-in-time-homeless census reported over 10,000 people living unsheltered or in emergency or transitional housing on a single night.

The Housing Choice Voucher program enables low-income families to find a home in the private rental market. Generally, KCHA pays the difference between the rent charged by a landlord and the assisted family’s rental contribution, which is set at approximately 30 percent of the household’s income.
The need for this program has far exceeded available resources. In 2015 when the waiting list was last open, KCHA received 22,000 applications from eligible households from which 2,500 families were randomly selected by lottery for the waiting list. KCHA has now served nearly everyone on that list.

KCHA expects thousands of families to apply for the openings. It will conduct a computerized lottery among qualified families to select 3,500 households which will be placed in random order on the waiting list.

How quickly households will be served depends in large part on where Congress goes with the funding of this program. Cuts proposed by the current administration would reduce this program by some 200,000 households nationally over the next year.

The chances of being selected for the waiting list are the same no matter when households apply during the open registration period. KCHA will notify families by the end of May if they are being placed on the application list.

More information about applicant eligibility, free online computer access, or assistance with the application process can be found at kcha.org/housing/vouchers/questions/

Crime and safety are always hot topics and this month, they’re at the center of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council‘s monthly meeting. From NHUAC president Liz Giba:

When: Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 7 pm

Where: North Highline Fire Station at 1243 SW 112th Street in White Center
(Parking and Entrance are in the Back of the Station)

Please join North Highline’s volunteer community council at our April 6, 2017 meeting.

The Opportunity to Be Informed, Be Involved and Be Heard

Detective Joe Gagliardi of the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) will be joining us this month.

Detective Gagliardi is highly regarded as an expert on gangs in the Sheriff’s Office. Do you know there are different types of graffiti? Have you wondered whether the graffiti you’ve been seeing is gang-related? Have you heard stories about local gang activity? Join us on Thursday and you’ll surely learn some things about gangs and how they operate from Detective Gagliardi and Deputy Bill Kennamer, our storefront deputy.

Knowledge is power. Come learn, share and help make our community a better place.

Thursday, April 6th at 7 pm – Bring a Neighbor