White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Not only is it Disaster Preparedness Month, we’ve also just been reminded – by news of the Northern Mexico earthquake – that we’re in quake country and need to do everything we can to be prepared to get through something big. There’s news from the King County DDES today about one way the county’s trying to help – here’s the announcement:

King County’s Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) is helping citizens in unincorporated King County to prepare for an earthquake emergency with free home earthquake retrofit permits on homes that meet specific criteria.

DDES Customer information Bulletin #50, Obtaining A Voluntary Home Earthquake Retrofit Permit, is available online here and outlines criteria for securing a free retrofit permit from DDES. In general, the homes must:

o be of wood-frame construction;
o have a light-weight roof;
o not be irregularly shaped;
o have a reinforced concrete foundation;
o not exceed two stories in height; and
o be on a relatively level lot.

Free earthquake retrofit permits at DDES can usually be issued over the counter if a complete application has been submitted. (Homes that do not meet these criteria can still secure an earthquake retrofit permit, however the process involves more review time and permit review fees are charged.)

“I hope more people will take advantage of this important program,” said DDES Director John Starbard. “Our region dealt with the impacts of the Nisqually earthquake in 2001 and, although that event was not of the same magnitude as more recent international earthquake disasters, modern building codes minimized the physical and economic damage of the 2001 quake for the benefit of the entire region.”

Thanks to Rebecca for the Facebook tip on a crash that closed Ambaum between SW 116th and SW 122nd (map). According to a tweet from KIRO-TV, a car hit a barrier, went airborne, but landed “right side up.” Needless to say, if you have to head that way, good idea to avoid the area for now!

Notes from last night’s White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting at the WC DSHS office: King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock told the group he’ll be out working temporarily as a patrol officer to deal with a KCSO short-term staffing gap, but WC remains his primary duty. For Seattle Police, Community Police Team Officer Jill Vanskike didn’t have updated crime stats overall but said there was some good news for the West Seattle side of the line – a burglary arrest in Highland Park seems to have a put a stop to a spree of break-ins and car prowls; the suspect can’t make bail and remains in jail awaiting trial. … The State Liquor Control Board plans emphasis patrols at local bars and stores soon; a nighttime bar check earlier this year, the group was told, turned up a few problems in Burien but none in White Center (both communities are in the same territory for enforcement officers) … White Center Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes made flyers available for an event coming up March 31, a White Center Business District Forum co-sponsored by the Chamber and the WC Community Development Association, addressing “Options for Managing Homeless, Chronic Alcoholics in White Center,” 6:30 pm. at Triangle Pub … The WCCSC, which has been operating as an all-volunteer, no-staff group for several months now after its funding grant for staff ran out, talked about its focus and organization. Co-chairs Sean Healy and Angela Rambo want group members to consider whether its purpose is more advocacy-oriented, or more information-oriented. No conclusion was reached, so more discussions is ahead … The coalition meets at 6 pm on the fourth Thursday of each month, so its next meeting is scheduled for April 22.

Chair Sean Healy has just sent around the reminder – this Thursday is the next monthly meeting of the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition, a great way to learn about crime trends and efforts to make the community safer. The meeting’s at 6 pm, DSHS White Center, 9650 15th Avenue SW, 2nd floor (Sycamore Room).

By Randall G. Hauk
Reporting for White Center Now

Deputy Gerald Meyer of the King County Sheriff’s Office opened tonight’s White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting with an update on recent crime trends, reporting “a pretty good month without a lot of crime.”

“There were no homicides, shootings, stabbings, armed robberies, bank robberies, home invasion robberies, kidnappings, rapes, or carjackings in King County’s Weed and Seed zone of White Center,” according to the printed report distributed to attendees at tonight’s meeting.

From the city side, Officer Kevin McDaniel of the Southwest Precinct Community Police Team echoed Meyer’s sentiments, reporting that “burglaries are down significantly,” citing a high-profile arrest that took place on the West Seattle Bridge, believed to have taken a prolific burglary suspect out of circulation.

Beyond that, McDaniel reported five robberies last month, three of which took place on the street, prompting him to encourage residents to remain cautious when walking in the area and taking steps to avoid any people who may appear suspicious. He also said there was a recent increase in auto thefts, which seem to be primarily targeting Hondas to be taken out for joyrides.

According to Meyer, there has also been a recent focus on suppression of gang activity in the downtown White Center area, particularly on Saturday nights, which have traditionally seen the most problems.

One successful result of the Saturday night efforts came when Meyer and another officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by several known gang members, who were ultimately taken into custody upon the discovery of a pair of handguns.

“We will never know for sure what this arrest stopped from happening. This stop and arrest may have saved lives and for sure made our community a safer place.”

Meyer’s message for the group was simple: “Whenever you see something suspicious, call.”

Coalition members raised concerns about recent increases in graffiti around the area. Once member had even taken a photo of a particular ‘tag’ he’d been seeing around and showed it to the officers in attendance.

Detective Aaron Thompson, who works on the gang unit of the King County Sherriff’s Office, explained that gang-related graffiti can be differentiated from that of “taggers” in that the work of a tagger, who is likely trying to build their own notoriety by putting their “tags” in highly visible places, tends to use a lot of curves and “artistic” elements in how they write, whereas a gang “tag” tends to be a little more basic and is meant to be an indicator of claimed territory.

Meyer emphasized that citizens who find new graffiti should call the Sheriff’s Office to report it so it can be documented before any action is taken to remove or obscure it.

A reminder – the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meets in two nights, since it’s the fourth Thursday! 6-8 pm, DSHS building at 9650 15th SW (map). You can expect to hear from King County Sheriff’s Office and Seattle Police reps as well as the group’s volunteer leadership – be ready to hear about and talk about what’s up in your neighborhood.

Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officers Adonis Topacio and Jill Vanskike were both at the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting Thursday night to pass the baton, in a way. She’s taking over the CPT work in the precinct’s southeastern turf; he’s moving to the west. With them, but not pictured, was Lt. Norm James, who also is in a new role at the precinct, that of Operations Lieutenant, since Lt. Steve Paulsen is transitioning to the West Precinct downtown. As we’ve reported on partner site West Seattle Blog, Lt. James has been with the precinct for several years, so he knows the area and the issues. He also introduced John McGoodwin, who’s taking over as SW Precinct city attorney liaison since Beth Gappert has moved to Vice.

All those introductions took up most of the discussion involving the Seattle side of the Community Safety Coalition’s turf, aside from a few items that also came up last night when Officer Topacio was at the Highland Park Action Committee meeting – including graffiti in Highland Park (last night’s questions involved 12th SW between 8200 and 8400).

Officer Topacio was asked about an e-mail going around from a West Seattle burglary victim claiming police were trying to catch a gang of teen burglars that was striking multiple times each day; he pointed the inquirer to our WSB story debunking that part of the tale.

On the King County Sheriff’s Office side of the line, Deputy Jeff Hancock was late to the meeting – said he’d been in a foot chase with someone wanted by the state Department of Corrections; the suspect was caught after running into Brewsky’s in downtown White Center. The only other update he offered was that “person-to-person” robberies are way up over this time last year, and no one yet knows why.

The rest of the meeting focused on a presentation about the Strength of Place Village affordable-housing project, 30 units planned for 13th SW/SW 100th (right behind Big Al Brewing). Architects Roger Tucker and Vlad Oustimovitch, with Kate Stineback from project overseers Capitol Hill Housing, gave a presentation and answered questions. We first reported plans for the project on WSB more than two years ago; according to a handout circulated at last night’s meeting, they’re hoping to break ground on the 30-apartment project this June, wiht the first families moving in a year later.

White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meets at 6 pm the fourth Thursday of the month, now at DSHS offices, 9650 15th SW.

White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition chair Sean Healy sends a reminder of the group’s next meeting – coming up in less than a week. As his note points out, the group’s gone through some changes; no official Seattle Neighborhood Group staffers now, so it’s entirely volunteer-run – executive committee members Healy, Angela Rambo and Barbara Liberache are in charge. The meeting location is new, too – instead of St. James Place, you’ll find the coalition at DSHS offices, 9650 15th SW (map). Regular meeting time/location remains 6 pm, fourth Thursday of the month – that’s next Thursday 1/28, and everybody’s welcome.

Crime/safety concerns? This is the meeting not to miss – one week from tonight. Here’s the draft agenda just made public today:

The White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition Meeting
Thursday, October 22, 6-8 pm,
St. James Place, 9421 18th Avenue SW

6:00-6:10 Welcome, introductions
6:10-6:25 Police Reports – KCSO and SPD
6:25-6:50 Collaborative Actions (formerly Crime & Nuisance Hotspots)
7:00-7:40 Guest Trainer: Nancy Amidei, “Influencing legislative change: WE can make a difference!
7:40-7:50 Announcements
7:50-8:00 Open Forum

For those who missed it, KUOW today broadcast an interview with, King County Executive, Susan Hutchison.  You can find the interview at KUOW Weekday.  In a prior post I had made the following observation which sparked a fair amount of discussion:

Ms. Hutchison has never held public office.  She has never had to struggle with the political realities of governing a complex political entity whose ambits include not only roads and sewers but social services, neighborhoods and law enforcement.  It is difficult to see how her experience on the board of the Seattle Symphony prepared her, in the slightest way, for such a weighty role.

If anyone had any doubt about Ms. Hutchison’s lack of specificity on issues, policies or even advisors, it is worth a listen (available on podcast).  Pressed by the moderator to name a single advisor who she consults, or who she would bring to her administration, she flatly resisted naming anyone, except to say bus drivers.  Her conclusion was “trust me” they will be great people.  I have nothing against bus drivers, but maybe she could have named a couple of the guys that she intends to bring to the Hutchison administration that will “bring people together.”  I’m sorry but calling Hutchison a “lightweight” does not begin to describe the chasm that is her lack of qualification to hold such an important post.  Listen for yourself.

We’ve published the story at West Seattle Blog – read it here.

Here’s the official invitation, from Karen Greene at Seattle Neighborhood Group:

The White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition Meeting
Thursday, August 27, 6-8 pm,
St. James Place,
9421 18th Avenue SW

Guest Presentations:

* Code Enforcement – from both Seattle DPD & King County

And: If you have a specific concern, you may email or call me and let me know before the meeting and I will pass on the information to SPD or KCSO or the appropriate city/county department. With advanced notice, law enforcement officers are able to find out more information about specific incidents and concerns and share that information at the meeting. Everyone is welcome to bring up concerns at the meeting, but if we know the concerns ahead of time, we may be able to find out more information for the community. Thanks!

Dinner will be provided. Please call Karen at 767-0760 if childcare or interpretation is needed.

You can also e-mail Karen, karen@sngi.org

In the Northwest we are not used to prolonged heat.  As such, we are unprepared to take measures to stay healthy under such conditions.  Cliff Mass puts it succintly:

Anyway, this is a very serious weather event, and the National Weather Service has upped their predictions to the century mark. People don’t think about heat waves in the same vain as storms, but heat kills more people around the world. So drink lots of liquids and check on the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable. Another risk is for kids in sports camps, where heat prostration can strike even the young. I am going to bike to work as usual, but will go early and my route is in the trees.

By Jonathan Stumpf
Reporting for White Center Now

Thursday night’s White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting at St. James Place was the first without group facilitator Kathy Kaminski, who left for Chicago — and it also was revealed that the lone full-time staffer with a role in assisting the group, Karen Greene, will be cut back to half-time this September, with the possibility of her position ending entirely by December due to budget cuts.

The group also was visited by two Washington State Liquor Control Board officers. Officer John Wilson and Lieutenant Susan Blaker (at right in top photo) were met with a flurry of questions, concerns and frustrations from the approximately 20 attendees.

King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock presented an unusually quiet crime round-up: No car thefts, two felony assaults, 15 misdemeanor assaults (13 reported as domestic-violence-related).

One incident he mentioned involved a heroin-overdose call in a homeless camp in the 10100 block of 12th Avenue SW. Upon arrival, the deputies found the victim blue, with no pulse or sign of breathing. They recognized the victim as a well-known arrestee in White Center. Beginning CPR, they managed to regain a pulse until medics arrived and he was transported to the hospital. Two days later, he was arrested for the 10th time. Commenting on Hancock’s story, one resident chimed in and said “they picked the wrong day to do successful CPR.”

Also, attendees voted unanimously to request an increased presence of bicycle officers in the White Center business district. Deputy Hancock will send in the request this week.

For the Seattle side of the coalition’s coverage area, Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Sergeant Jeff Durden reported ten burglaries — all residential — and emphasized to “even lock your house when you’re mowing the lawn.” Durden added, “If I lived in Highland Park, I would have an alarm.”

The situation with the abandoned, fire-damaged house in the 9000 block of 17th Avenue SW is moving forward, but the group of residents was told by the Sheriff’s Community Service Officer Vary Jackson to “have patience.”

The bulk of the meeting concerned liquor license renewals. Officer Wilson and Lieutenant Blaker — a former officer in the White Center neighborhood — fielded the questions and concerns from residents. The hotspot in discussion was the market on the corner of 16th SW and Henderson Street. One resident said, “I’m disappointed you’re here after the fact,” referring to the constant collection of bottles, cans and suspected illegal activity that residents say happens around the establishment. Additionally, the liquor license has changed hands and most residents consider it detrimental to the neighborhood.

The market in question has been a hotspot for four years and this is the first time any officer from the Liquor Control Board has visited the meeting in that period. Wilson, the new officer for the White Center area, told the meeting they are his eyes and ears for the neighborhood. He emphasized that in order for changes and reform to happen, residents must contact him with complaints. Call him, leave your name, number and complaint, and he will then open a formal investigation. “If you take away one thing from this meeting, take my card,” said Wilson.

The White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meets the fourth Thursday of every month from 6 – 8 pm at St. James Place (9421 18th Ave SW). Dinner is provided and all are welcome. For more information visit http://www.sngi.org/dfc/dfc.html.

If you’re in unincorporated King County, personal fireworks will be on sale starting at noon today. We noticed a few stands-in-the-making in White Center on Friday, including the one above at 100th/16th. But even though you can start buying them today, setting them off is only legal 9 am-midnight on the 4th (next Saturday) – and remember they are banned in neighboring cities Burien and Seattle. Here are all the King County rules.