White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Whether you love them, hate them, or don’t care about them, it’s notable that this might be the last 4th of July with legal personal fireworks in White Center and the rest of unincorporated North Highline, since they are illegal in Burien (as they are in Seattle), and if annexation is approved in November, it may be in effect by this time next year. We are reminded of this because the annual week of pre-4th sales is days away; by county law (as outlined here), stands can open at noon June 28th – this coming Thursday – and can be open 9 am-11 pm daily thereafter, through July 4th. However, fireworks can only be used on the 4th itself.

We got a few calls/notes about a SWAT standoff near the Evergreen campus late Wednesday night/early Thursday. Sorry that it’s taken a while to get the details, but we now have them, thanks to King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West: She says a 47-year-old woman was held up while walking in the 11600 block of 8th SW, headed for a bus stop after leaving a friend’s house. The victim told police a man “pointed a gun at her and told her to give him everything she had,” according to Sgt. West. After she did that, the robber ran off. She walked in the same direction in which he had fled – southbound – and saw him go down SW 117th and up the steps to a house. She still had her cell phone and used it to call 911, which brought deputies, including a K-9 team that tracked the suspect to the house the victim had seen him enter. The suspect didn’t come out voluntarily, but a search warrant was finally obtained, at which time SWAT officers went in and found and arrested him. Sgt. West says he was jailed for investigation of robbery, and it’ll be up to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to decide on charges.

If you couldn’t make it to tonight’s first White Center informational session about November’s North Highline vote on Burien annexation – you can watch our video of the entire hour-long meeting, starting with the introduction by Burien city staffer Nhan Nguyen, describing it as a homecoming of sorts, since he worked previously for the WC Community Development Association.

Some toplines:

Most of the basic information was presented by Burien’s city manager Mike Martin, who said that if annexation is approved by a majority of North Highline voters in November, the area could be part of his city by this time next year. What would that mean? He addressed a variety of points – as well as what it would NOT mean. Referring to the sudden appearance of a raised divider down 16th SW in the heart of downtown WC, and a short-lived county proposal to sell Puget Sound Park, he declared, “We don’t do things that way.” He also touted Burien’s permit process as much better than what unincorporated-area residents and businesses have had to deal with through King County.

The first audience question answered by Martin was a pointed one: What would happen to the marijuana dispensaries in the North Highline area if it’s annexed? Burien doesn’t allow them, replied Martin (as he has said at previous community meetings); joining the meeting later, Police Chief Scott Kimerer addressed the topic again, saying that state and federal laws would be enforced – and acknowledging they may change. He also said that White Center would retain its law-enforcement storefront.

Martin sought to reassure White Center/North Highline residents and businesspeople on hand that they respect and appreciate WC’s unique character and don’t want to change it, but instead, just to support it. He also had harsh words for Burien residents who oppose annexing White Center and vicinity, calling them “small-minded and mean-spirited.” One concern that was raised about the annexation plan: Burien resident Chestine Edgar sought to challenge the issue of how much money Burien would get from the state sales-tax credit made available for annexation situations like this.

As first reported here earlier this week, the second informational meeting in White Center is scheduled for July 12th at Dubsea Coffee in Greenbridge … and Nguyen told tonight’s audience that Burien will have a presence at Jubilee Days (July 21-22) to answer questions and provide information.

Meantime, Burien’s info page – including the official FAQ in five languages, among other resources – can be found here. Our archive of WCN annexation coverage, newest to oldest, is here.

On partner site West Seattle Blog, we just published a story that includes information of interest for the Delridge Triangle just across the line from White Center: The Seattle Department of Transportation is planning to “rechannelize” Delridge from SW Orchard southward, when it’s repaved/resurfaced next year. That would include a parking change in the last block – SDOT proposes changing the head-in angle parking to back-in angle parking. (Asked if that would include a road divider like the controversial one a block south in WC, SDOT reps only said they didn’t have anything like that anywhere in the city right now.) You can read the full story here.

Burien leaders are promising informational forums at least once a month between now and the November North Highline annexation vote, and tonight is the first official public event – 6 pm at 3.14 Bakery in downtown White Center. (For a sneak peek at what it might be like, here’s our coverage of their presentation last month at Glen Acres.)

This afternoon, we found Mike on duty behind the counter at Full Tilt Ice Cream in White Center – on the fourth anniversary of the shop’s grand opening. And once again on this birthday, Full Tilt is giving the gifts rather than receiving – making donations to White Center Food Bank based on your purchase/s. (For a trip into the past, here’s our June 2008 story from grand-opening day – White Center Now was launched shortly afterward, but wasn’t even in soft-launch yet, so the story was on our partner site West Seattle Blog.)

Story and photo by Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

Lea Kuchan and her 9-year-old daughter have been picking up litter and cleaning away graffiti as a labor of love – both in small day-to-day efforts and as part of big events like White Center Spring Clean.

“It’s an instant-gratification thing,” she smiles – the results are visible immediately.

That was especially true during this year’s Spring Clean, Lea says, when she was on a team “in charge of washing windows,” and someone came by to suggest it would be great if that happened on a regular basis. “At that point, I decided to get some business cards and a business license so I could hand them out to say, ‘I’m available’.”

And so, Lea is on the road to turning her passion into a business – Neat Street. “It came from seeing a need in the community and seeing that there might be an idea for a business at the same time.”

After finding out about it via Facebook, we asked Lea if she could spare some time to sit down and chat about her new business. We chatted one recent night at Company in downtown WC.

She will offer local business and property owners the opportunity to contract for a regular service package “where I would come around once or twice a week and keep an eye on the property – eliminate graffiti, pick up litter, scoop up cigarette butts, (deal with) illegally dumped items like shopping carts …”

Lea has a vested interest in this: Two years ago, she became a White Center homeowner, moving from the West Seattle neighborhood of North Delridge after seven years there, and noticing that her new neighborhood seemed to have a problem with litter and tagging. “I don’t think I would have paid as much attention before becoming a homeowner.”

She’s steadily amassed the tools of the trade – litter grabbers, graffiti remover; she is also passionate about making sure that the remover is earth-friendly, so that there’s no ground/water pollution even as visual pollution is being removed. It requires a fair amount of research, though: “Some graffiti is more stubborn – spray paint on metal, for example, is harder to get off.” Cleaning fluids aren’t the only way to handle it, Lea notes – pressure-washing and even methods involving dry ice and nutshells are all on her list for investigation. “I don’t like the idea of using chemicals.”

Neat Street also will handle litter in an environmentally friendly way, she promises – whatever is picked up that can be recycled, will be recycled.

And she expects to patrol the gutters on the street in front of clients’ businesses/properties, too. “A lot of people throw litter in the gutters.”

Whatever she does, Lea vows there will be “a significant difference from the time I get there to the time I leave.”

She doesn’t plan to abandon her volunteerism; “a lot of (this), I’ll probably honestly do as community service,” she acknowledges, especially as a “neighborly” favor for new businesses as they start up.

Hers, in turn, is ready to get going once she starts finding clients, and she thinks value will be found in it, even beyond the clients themselves: “Litter affects property values, the reputation of a neighborhood. Businesses are affected. We’re hoping to benefit the community.”

And as things get going, Lea’s open to working outside White Center, too.

In addition to community benefit, she’s setting an example for her daughter, though sometimes, she says, it works the other way around – “She’s much more thorough than I am. She’ll see a little tiny rollup of tinfoil, gum wrapper, or something, and she gets very meticulous about it. She insists ALL the litter must be picked up.”

Maybe because she’s seen positive feedback, even from strangers – “My daughter and I were out with our pickup sticks and somebody went by and honked,” Lea explains, “and gave us a thumbs-up. Somebody (else) told my daughter, ‘good job,’ and she said, ‘I feel really good about this’.”

Like many small-business owners, Lea expects this to start as a sideline. She works in the accounting department of a law firm and says she enjoys that work too. But – “I’m an energetic person, and the idea of being outside doing something physical” is attractive too.

You can reach her through her website, NeatStreetSeattle.com.

As previously reported, the next annexation-information session presented by the City of Burien is at 6 pm this Thursday (June 21st) at 3.14 Bakery, 9602 16th Ave SW. And now we have a date for the one that will follow it – 6 pm July 12th (also a Thursday) at Dubsea Coffee, 9910 8th Ave SW. This is from the info packet for tonight’s Burien City Council meeting, which also notes:

Informational brochures are being printed and will be available for the June session. All North Highline residents and businesses will receive the June edition of Burien City News, which includes details on the informational sessions. Information about the proposed annexation is available at: www.burienwa.gov/annexation or send an email to annexation@burienwa.gov.

Pending final ballot approval by the county, the annexation measure is scheduled to go before voters in November.

1:52 AM: First, Seattle Police and King County Sheriff’s Deputies have been looking for a driver who fled the scene of a crash on Roxbury near the Safeway store. Now there’s word of a shooting in the 9700 block of 12th SW – this is according to Seattle 911 traffic, so we don’t know much yet, but there is a search reported under way for a suspect. More as we get it.

1:57 AM UPDATE: Seattle Police now report, over the radio, that there is “no shooting.” … but a few minutes later, an officer reported finding an “assault victim” in the 9600 block of 15th SW.

Just out of the WCN inbox:

Members are being sought for Pro and Con Committees to prepare statements on the proposed
annexation of North Highline that will be included in the King County Local Voters’ Pamphlet.

At its April 2 meeting, the Burien City Council adopted Resolution No. 330, placing Proposition
1 on the November 6, 2012, General Election ballot. Proposition 1 is the North Highline Area “Y”
Annexation Area proposed annexation to the City of Burien.

This proposition seeks voter approval of the annexation into the City of Burien of an
area commonly known as the North Highline Area “Y” Annexation Area. The area consists of
approximately 2,045 acres and 17,392 residents. The area is generally described as lying north of
the corporate boundaries of the City of Burien, south and east of the corporate boundaries of the
City of Seattle, and west of SR-99 adjacent to the City of Tukwila and the City of Tukwila corporate
boundaries. The area is legally described in Resolution No. 330.

Each committee’s statement must be no more than 200 words in length and must be submitted to
King County Elections no later than 4:30 pm on August 15, 2012. Any rebuttal statements are due by
August 17, 2012. There is a limit of three members per committee, but committees may seek advice
of any person or persons.

Committee member appointments will be made during the open public meeting of the Burien City
Council on July 16, 2012, sometime after 7:00 pm. Candidates need not be present to be appointed.
Persons interested in applying for one of the committee positions should submit their name,
contact information, and a brief statement as to why they would like to serve on one of the
committees. Submittals are due no later than Friday, July 6, 2012, at 4 pm to Monica Lusk, City
Clerk, Burien City Hall, 400 SW 152nd Street, Ste. 300, Burien, 98166, call (206) 248-5517, or email
monical@burienwa.gov.

Just might be the most interesting thing you do all weekend – check it out:

You are invited to the monthly TRUSTED ADVOCATES Storytelling Program

OUR STORIES, OUR VOICES

Date:
Friday, June 15th

AT:
The White Center Community Cultural Center
9421 – 18th Ave SW
(& SW Cambridge) – Hillborn Room

Time:
5:30 Light meal from presenters culture/heritage
6:00 Storytelling Program
– followed by Q/A segment

Our Special Guest this month:
ABUZAR KACHIYEV (an Ahiska or Meshketian Turk)
and translated by YASEMIN SAN

Abuzar Kachiyev arrived in the city of Kent as a refugee from Russia seven years ago.

He and other Ahiska (or Meskhetian) Turks living in the Krasnodar region of Russia suffered significant human rights violations until the US government reached out to this community. A limited number of Ahiska Turks, like Abuzar’s, were granted the right to resettle in the US. Abuzar, has worked as a civil engineer and has a large family that is very attached to their cultural norms.

Abuzar will talk about the unheard story of a community, the Ahiska Turks of Russia; people without a land, people with no documents, families hiding from ruthless authority … AND their journey to an unknown land, the USA.

Yasemin San moved to Seattle from Turkey in 1979. Upon her arrival, she was immersed in the Turkish community and created a folk dance group, which still performs in festivals and other special events. She was also one of the pioneers of the Ethnic Heritage Council, an umbrella organization for ethnic communities and arts organizations. Yasemin works as a legal interpreter and is an active volunteer in the Turkish immigrant and Turkic refugee communities. She has organized cultural events for the last 32 years.

Yasemin will briefly talk about the Turkish and Turkic peoples (who they are; where they live) and their immigration stories going back to the very early times. She will refer to the cultural aspects of Turks, including some folk customs and rituals.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW!

EAT SOMETHING NEW!

Get out of your house and venture into the neighborhood and meet new people.

They really are quite interesting.

WE’LL SEE YOU ON JUNE 15TH!!!

Any questions call: Nancy Calos-Nakano 206.795.0833 or trustedadvocates@gmail.com

Stay tuned, next Month: Sam Mitsui on Japanese Internment – Friday, July 20th

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

“The monthly Chamber luncheon’s been happening for over 60 years … but I don’t think we’ve had this many people in a long time,” White Center Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes said as today’s lunch began at Salvadorean Bakery, with more than 40 people on hand.

The big draw – several longtime local businesses voicing concern over the Chamber’s new website potentially including use of the neighborhood’s longtime nickname “Rat City.” First, here’s our recording of the entire discussion (note that it works better as audio than video, due to a discrepancy between the backlighting of the speakers at the front of the room and those commenting from the other half of the room):

Now, the story:

Before opinions were sought, there was a long preface.

It’s been about a year now, Ufkes recalled, that the Chamber decided to figure out ways to “better market the businesses that are here and better promote the area.” The goals included “every business owner in White Center has the opportunity to tell their story and share their story.” Redeveloping the website emerged as a priority, “to try to figure out how to present the diversity and complexity of this community to the rest of the world.” And it brought in a grant. That led to the creation of an advisory committee to help create the website. Brittany Trujillo from the website committee (which also includes Kathi “George” Wheeler, Leticia Martinez, and Aileen Sison) then spoke to the group: She read from a statement, saying “This is still in the early stages of coming together” and noting that they have done extensive research. “At this time we are not necessarily directing our energy at Rat City … but Rat City has been revitalized in our community at this time,” and with that she listed off a variety of ways the name “is here right now – people are using the name, they love it.”

Trujillo said “visitratcity.com” was an “alternate domain name” they had set aside, but the main domain name “will be visitwhitecenter.com.” She talked about the vitality of the new businesses coming into the area, and people using “hey, c’mon up to Rat City … it’s not always come up to White Center.” She said the “kick it in Rat City” that’s currently on the main page is something that will frequently change up.

Designer Wheeler then spoke about their efforts to “look at all the aspects of White Center,” including history and “reclaiming the rat a little bit – it’s not about rats eating out of garbage cans, but about the regional military training” in the area. She too talked about the “hip” new businesses. “We’re not trying to push anybody or anything out.” The rat on the website front page, she said, was inspired by the “Asian Year of the Rat,” and they’re hoping that perhaps when the “Year of the Rat” really arrives (the next one is in 2020), there might be a big party. Seventy businesses have been photographed for the website already, she said, and only a few have opted out.

She also talked about collecting information on countries of origin – wherever in the world businesspeople are from. The result will be a business directory, she explained in response to a question, broken down into five categories – including “eat,” “play” (nightclubs, bars, parks, roller rink), “shop,” “medical” (including medical-marijuana dispensaries, she noted), and “organizations” (including local nonprofits). Trujillo reiterated that there is an option to opt out, or to be included but not photographed. Wheeler said they’re trying for an “editorial look” to their photography – “warm and inviting,” not “here’s a photo of our staff … we’re going case by case to each business, assessing what’s the story to be told” by that business.”

According to Wheeler, the goal is for the website to be at least partly launched by Jubilee Days – not the business directory but the rest of it – with the rest to go live by the end of summer.

Chamber vice president “Mac” McElroy then noted that the goal of this is to bring people together.

Mikel Davila, neighborhood revitalization program manager for White Center Community Development Association, said that marketing has been an emphasis for WCCDA going back several years – the “growing a global village” brand, for example. They partnered in the web-grant seeking, to build on that branding. “In terms of other branding,” he said, they hope to “get the community voice … and see where the majority of the community wants to go … We’re just, like Mac said, trying to bring people together.”

One prominent voice of Rat City support chimed in then.

“This IS Rat City; we’re not going to change it into Wallingford,” said Justin Cline, Full Tilt Ice Cream entrepreneur and Rat City Business Association co-founder, followed by Jesse Lovell of Company, another co-founder, who said “this came together pretty organically because we (business people in downtown WC) see a lot of each other, check in with each other and it came to be based on those organizations.” They have a website which includes “Ratty,” its mascot.

Then, the voice of opposition that emerged last week:

Alan Homestead, who expressed his concern at the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting last Thursday (WCN coverage here), was first to speak, acknowledging he hadn’t been active in the Chamber for a while, and saying he has continued to gather information from the community. He says he is glad that WC is being promoted. But he’s wondering, “Have rats become cool? … Rats have had a negative connotation for thousands of years; can a rat change that?”

As he did during the NHUAC meeting, Homestead worried aloud that it would reinforce perceptions of uncleanliness. He said he didn’t want to stifle enthusiasm, but “I hope this marketing energy will maintain its speed and energy … but with a different mascot.” He said he spoke with 57 people in the community over the past few days, “a combination of business owners, managers, and employees,” and found 2 who supported Rat City, 11 neutral, and 44 opposed. He is requesting that the Chamber “make a determination of whether or not it supports Rat City and the rat icon … so that the Chamber’s viewpoint is clear to its members, the White Center community, and the White Center residents.”

Cline suggested “it’s a generational thing … I talked to a lot of the business owners around me, including Asian business owners, where it’s a good luck thing … I don’t think it has to be either/or. … There’s no reason we have to change the sign when you drive in.”

Website designer Wheeler pointed out that the RAT acronym has a military origin. Ufkes noted that the rat’s been on a banner “flapping in the wind,” for more than a year.

Former Chamber president and NHUAC president Russ Pritchard said he was speaking on behalf of past Chambers: “We spent tons and tons and tons of time over the years trying to change the Rat City image,” he recalled. “… Now I’m not so involved in this area any more, but when I tell people I’m from this area, they say, ‘Oh, you’re from Rat City’.” He said his main advice was to do a better job – which he said he and his colleagues had NOT done long ago – about what RAT really stands for.

Trujillo noted that the website will include White Center history – they’ll also be archiving and featuring some of the historic documents and materials in existence – and promised they’ll do a better job of educating people about the name’s history and meaning. Homestead, though, said the rat symbol would do “the opposite.”

Other opinions: “It’s not going to be a ‘scraggly rat’,” pointed out one attendee, who said “To take this ball and run with it is a great idea. It puts us on the map.” Company’s Jesse pointed out that while WC is changing, the rat is just not going away. “It’s all about branding,” said another attendee. “Clean, safe and appropriate – what does that say about White Center? … Just not that compelling. … Sometimes the more controversial a brand the more attention you get.”

Frank Cantwell of Holy Family School said his informal polling was reinforcing the generation gap. “If it’s done right, go with it,” he said a friend had told him, and he agreed. Another opinion: The rat image is “cool … I’d like it on a T-shirt .. .but everytime I run into someone, I have to explain ‘Rat City,’ and if you have to explain it, that’s not such great branding.” She noted that even the Rat City Rollergirls’ name had to be explained, when she was a Seattle-area newcomer some time back. “I also love the ‘not so centered, not so white’ (White Center slogan),” she noted, leading to a ripple of laughter through the room.

“Whether you call yourself Rat City or White Center, they both have negative connotations,” said another attendee. “Fremont has its statue of Lenin, which attracts tourists … but has negative connotations.” That brought a reaction from one attendee who said she lives in Magnolia, and points out that Fremont has “marketed its (quirkiness) quite successfully. … This ain’t your mama’s White Center any more – it’s a different community today. And the more you spend time in this community, the more you recognize, this is the next Columbia City, this could be the next Fremont.”

Ana Castro, owner of the site of the meeting, Salvadorean Bakery, said she originally opened here because it was affordable, but her business now draws people from all over the area “because it offers good products – and if you offer a good product, people are going to (come for it, wherever you are).”

Yet another attendee said “Rat City” seems younger and hipper to her, and that “White Center” seems to have a worse connotation to some from outside, “What a racist name!” she’s heard some say. She says she doesn’t see how “rat” has a more negative connotation than “white.”

“I’m old, and I’m for Rat City,” said North Highline resident Gill Loring, as the last word before Chamber president Ufkes summarized. “I’m going to call the board together and have a conversation – this conversation is not over by any means .. the key is we’re trying to tell the story of a whole bunch of businesses here and the great stuff that they have.”

P.S. If you are a Chamber member, you are invited to get involved in the website committee.

Other updates from the meeting:

UPDATE ON MURALS PROJECT – AND A COMPETITION: President Ufkes talked about some of what’s in progress right now, including the mural that students have been working on every afternoon for the past 2 weeks – “dozens and dozens of high-school kids from Evergreen are involved” – at Super Saver Foods (WCN coverage here). And that’s just one of several buildings where murals have been created or are planned. Not only are the murals art in their own right, they’re also a deterrent to tagging/graffiti vandalism, as Ufkes pointed out. Others he mentioned: One at 9811 17th SW next to Malo’s Auto Body. And he announced a competition – artists are welcome to take on the blank panels 1 through 7 at the SW 107th site, with $100 prize available to the artist whose vision for one of those seven panels is declared the winner. Artists and Chamber members will judge the creations. (Later in the meeting, Ufkes also invited any business owners who want murals on their buildings to call him.)

KING COUNTY P-A-L IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Head coach Tony Rago from King County Police Activities League‘s White Center boxing club (a member of USA Boxing), based in White Center for eight years, talked about his program, saying about 40 kids (generally between 10-18 years old) are involved right now – not just to box, but to get “physically fit and mentally fit” and to “provide a safe place (to be) after school.” Some kids first show up “so quiet and shy … you didn’t even know they were there,” and blossom as part of the program, which is for girls as well as boys, he pointed out. And he ticked off a variety of honors – including trophies for the boxers, and “Best Boxing Gym” honors from Seattle Weekly last year. He says they live by three mottos: “Leave No Doubt”; “Box to the Bell”; “Take It Like a Man” – whether you’ve won or lost, be gracious, be determined, “keep coming back.” He says they have a show coming up on August 25th at the Evergreen Campus, one of several they present each year. They’re accepting sponsors for the bouts, too (tax-exempt donations).

Rat City Rollergirls.

Rat City Business Association.

They, among others, have embraced the rat in White Center’s nickname “Rat City” (the origins of which are still argued to this day).

As first reported here in WCN coverage of last week’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, the White Center Chamber of Commerce‘s new website (see the current front page here) is on the verge of embracing the rat, too. But one longtime business owner was so upset about that, he came to NHUAC to make his case (though they have no involvement with the website).

And, as also mentioned in our story, he plans to take it to the WC Chamber at their lunch meeting today. Chamber President Mark Ufkes sent around an updated announcement asking members to come prepared to discuss it, as well as making them aware they can expect to hear from rat opponents.

So just a reminder, if you are interested – noon today, Salvadorean Bakery (Roxbury just west of 17th).

Tomorrow night, two and a half hours, two DJs at White Center’s Southgate Roller Rink, 8:30-11 pm. DJ FeenX tells us that for her and DJ McLovin‘, “It’s our first of what we hope will be many DJ events. The theme of the night is ‘Come Roll With Us!’ and there will be games and prizes, as well as VERY cool screen fx that we are scratching on site with the music.”

Last fall, an independent film titled “Eden” shot some scenes in White Center. It’s complete and has just received an award at the Seattle International Film Festival, according to this news release we just received from KCTS:

KCTS 9 and SIFF are pleased to announce that Eden—directed by Seattle filmmaker Megan Griffiths and starring Jamie Chung, Matthew O’Leary and Beau Bridges—is the winner of the first annual Reel NW Award, presented to a distinguished feature-length film with Pacific Northwest connections appearing in the 2012 Seattle International Film Festival.

Eden shines a light into a sinister corner of our nation’s culture with an emotional drama based on the harrowing true-life story of a teenager who was abducted and forced into sexual slavery in the American Southwest. Shot almost entirely in Washington State, the film was the unanimous choice of the jury, which issued the following statement:

“From the assured vision of its director to the committed performances by its cast, this film displays strong cinematic craftsmanship. Unpredictable and therefore truly suspenseful, Eden explores a largely unknown issue with sensitivity and without preaching. In short, this is a powerful story that delivers on all levels. We’re very proud to recognize Eden with this Award.”

“This film represents exactly the kind of quality and creativity that we value and celebrate at KCTS 9,” said KCTS 9 President and CEO Maurice “Moss” Bresnahan. “We are delighted that this first recipient of the Reel NW Award exemplifies, both in content and in execution, the type of high quality story-telling that is independent filmmaking at its best.”

Jurors included Scilla Andreen, CEO and co-founder of IndieFlix.com; Randy Brinson, Executive Director of Programming for KCTS 9; and Robert Horton, film critic for KUOW and the Everett Herald.

The winning film was announced on Friday, June 8, at SIFF’s Northwest Connections party, and the Reel NW Award will be presented at SIFF’s annual Golden Space Needle Awards brunch (today).

This afternoon at 1 pm, Annette Cottrell, the author of “The Urban Farm Handbook” will be at Village Green Perennial Nursery (10223 26th SW) to sign books. Full details are on this Facebook event page.

(Looking north through 98th/16th intersection, after last night’s meeting)

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

Will surveillance cameras enhance safety in White Center – and residents/visitors’ perception of it? Two are on the way, and that was the biggest news from Thursday night’s meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council:

SHERIFF’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS FOR DOWNTOWN WC: Deputy BJ Myers announced that the King County Sheriff’s Office has purchased two video cameras for installment in White Center, a first for KCSO. But they aren’t meant to be secret; Deputy Myers described them as “overt” cameras with “signage indicating this area is being taped, to let people know this is an area we are watching.” He said it’s an “investigative tool” – both to look back at recorded video if needed, and to potentially deter crime. They’ll be installed “on county light poles, high enough that they hopefully won’t be vandalized,” and can be moved if necessary. The initial locations will be 98th/16th and Roxbury/15th (the latter is where Sweetheart Failautusi was murdered last August, and near the scene of a deadly May 2010 shooting). The recordings “will be kept for a reasonable amount of time, to look back and see if there’s anything worth investigating,” he said.

After the meeting, we asked a few followup questions: He says they not only will transmit live as well as record, they are remote-controllable – he will even be able to access them by computer. The timetable for installation is “sometime this summer,” possibly as soon as a few weeks, as the procurement process is well under way. The cameras will record only video, not audio (recording audio without consent is against state law).

OTHER SHERIFF’S OFFICE UPDATES: Deputy Myers started his briefing by mentioning how KCSO is looking into concerns regarding the Northwest Cannabis Market in downtown White Center; he said he had worked with Code Enforcement to see what they might look at, as well as noise complaints (for which they are pursuing equipment that’s required). “We’re working on it .. so I hope that within weeks and months we’ll be able to enforce some of those noise ordinances we have for the commercial district.” … NHUAC president Barbara Dobkin brought up a problem she had while calling 911 to report something recently, and getting a dispatcher who insisted she was in the Seattle city limits, though she had given a specific address; KCSO’s new area Capt. Pat Butschli – who now runs this zone – apologized. … More than half a dozen businesses are giving “great cooperation” to the voluntary initiative not to sell single-serving alcohol products between 6 am and 1 pm, Deputy Myers replied when asked by council vice president Pat Price, but … “It’s been a little challenging over the last week to keep those businesses on board” since other businesses aren’t participating and are still selling those products during that time frame. “We’re trying to encourage them and encourage the distributors to keep asking for more participation.” He says the fact those larger stores – which are the ones still selling, generally – are now selling liquor (like Super Saver Foods), and that has added to the pressure. Council member Ron Johnson requested a list of those that are participating, so they can be supported. … Capt. Butschli discussed KCSO’s recent reorganization in the unincorporated areas; there are no longer “precincts,” he said. “Because of annexations and budget cuts,” he said, they can no longer operate like four separate police departments, so now staff is “being shared between all four zones” when personnel challenges require it. (North Highline is now in Zone 4.) “The police buck in this region stops with me,” said Capt. Butschli. He elaborated on the marijuana-sales concerns, saying the current state of the law, or lack of same, has put law enforcement in an difficult position, waiting “for some clear direction … about how we’re supposed to go about enforcing this.”

HICKLIN LAKE: Dick Thurnau and Marcia Wollam from Friends of Hicklin Lake took the podium for an update on the “floating islands” system his group has been recommending to handle the lake’s water-quality problem. Wollam said that in April, they took questions to Floating Island International, and then in May, had a meeting including Burien city government rep Nhan Nguyen. A county water engineer pointed them to yet another company, said Marcia, and they met with a rep last night . They’re getting cost estimates, she said, adding that they also have contacted a state Ecology Department person who suggested a research project involving both “floating islands” and a system based on aquatic plants, to see which one would clean the water better. Wollam said they’re hoping to move quickly, because if they don’t do something by fall, “we’ll be out another year.” The “floating islands” are made out of recycled bottle plastic, according to Wollam. They passed around a sample of the material:

(That’s president Dobkin examining the sample, with council member Ron Johnson at right.)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: State House Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon mentioned that redistricting next year will lead to him representing “more of North Highline.” He joked, “So, you’re stuck with me.” On a more serious note, he said it seems the state budget crisis is “under control,” which allowed legislators to avoid slashing the annexation tax credit, as had been proposed by Governor Gregoire at one time. “We were able to keep it … with help from our friends in other cities that have annexation issues, Renton, Kirkland,” he said – a big deal since Burien had said that the loss of the tax credit would end its bid to annex the rest of North Highline. He says he “doubt(s)” that will be revisited in future sessions. “If it survived these last couple years, it’s hard to imagine the situation in which it comes back on the table.” In particular, he said, if annexation is passed by voters, it would be politically even more difficult for legislators to take it away. … Rep. Fitzgibbon said Capt. Butschli’s comments about the marijuana law, or the lack of it, were right on the mark; the legislature had hoped to “set up a regulatory framework” but, because of the legalization measure that’s on the ballot, “the feeling in the Legislature was that it wasn’t an opportune to take another crack at the issue …” – they will instead wait to see what happens with the legalization measure, and then potentially try to resolve the problem in January. It’s not just a North Highline problem, he said; other jurisdictions are grappling with it too. … He says they’re hopeful that next year’s legislative session will NOT start with “what are we going to hack away at this year?” … In Q/A, Rep. Fitzgibbon was asked about cuts in higher education; he said unfortunately, it’s one of the few educational areas where legislators CAN cut if needed, since there are constitutional protections on K-12 funding.

TRASH TROUBLE? Q/A WITH KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH: Yolanda Pon from the county talked about solid-waste rules, requirements, and complaint processes, as well as how the complaints are investigated. There’s a new number for reporting problems – 206-296-SITE (provided you have collected all the necessary information, including complete addresses – all the way to whether it’s a S. or a SW – and the type of property, whether owner-occupied, renter-occupied, etc. – also, she notes, you cannot file an anonymous complaint). The process starts with a letter, then moves on to a notice of violation, and fines. Pon noted that “everyone seems to call Public Health first” and they “triage” it from there, to figure out whether they or some other agency is accountable for handling a complaint/problem. According to Pon, weekly trash service is required, so if curbside service has not been contracted by, for example, a business, they need to haul it themselves to the transfer station. (P.S. They do NOT handle rat complaints.)

BURIEN CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE: Mike Martin joked that they’re worried about the Wild Strawberry Festival because of the cool, gray weather – though he also noted it’s “30 degrees colder” in Eastern Washington, where his wife is currently visiting. … There’s new play equipment up in Puget Sound Park, he noted, and “the park looks great,” with other new components of a $125,000 renovation project including new benches and tables. “It looks better than low-income housing, than a fire station, than a library,” Martin said, alluding to past discussions about the site’s future … Regarding annexation, he said “I don’t have a lot to add week by week or month by month,” but he did mention the upcoming 6 pm June 21st forum at 3.14 Bakery in downtown White Center. He said the forum will start with some remarks from him, from Burien’s police chief, and then move on to public questions. “Please encourage people to come and get facts – they seem to be in short supply these days.” Back within the current Burien boundaries, he said they are embarking on “aggressive redevelopment” of the Burien Town Square property, and believes it “signals the next phase” for downtown Burien. Might it include a theater complex? asked council member Doug Harrell. Martin mentioned “they had been approached.”

PUBLIC COMMENT/ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mikel Davila from the White Center Community Development Association talked about the 470-plus people who participated in WC Spring Clean on May 19th (WCN coverage here, and photo above from the post-cleanup celebration) – his first with WCCDA. He’s hoping to hear directly from people about addressing ongoing litter/trash issues in WC, since so much – more than 100 bags – was picked up during the event, and is welcoming ideas. He introduced WCCDA’s new community builder Marquise Roberson … Community member Gill Loring talked about the 40-plus REI volunteers who came to North Shorewood Park recently (WCN coverage here) to do maintenance, cleanup, and planting work; he said, among other effects, the trails feel safer now, and suggested community members go take a look for themselves: “It’s a little pocket park for this area but it’s a really nice place.” … Alan Homestead, a 30-year White Center businessperson (the Vision Source eye clinic) and 60-year resident, spoke to the group.

He said he was at first glad to hear about the new White Center website at visitwhitecenter.com, but expressed concern that it includes the longtime nickname “Rat City” and a stylized image of a rat. “I was ready to support it as a business owner but I have difficulty being associated with rats,” he said, suggesting it might be the “biggest PR blunder” he has seen, and that rats have a “filthy connotation” that a website cannot change. “Is this our finest effort?” He worries that newcomers will not choose to do business in an area using a rat as a mascot, and urges anyone else concerned to contact the White Center CDA and White Center Chamber of Commerce to voice their opinion. He also suggests that those concerned attend the next WC Chamber lunch (June 12th, noon, Salvadorean Bakery on Roxbury). President Dobkin noted, “It’s unfortunate that this council is not included on that website and has not been invited to participate.”

COUNCIL’S SCHEDULE THIS SUMMER: At meeting’s end, council member Richard Miller suggested the August Public Safety Forum be postponed in favor of a later meeting when, for example, they’d be able to get the King County Sheriff candidates to come, and his fellow council members agreed … NHUAC will again be at Jubilee Days, and is putting together informational material to have available … Their next regular meeting will be the first Thursday in September, but they will call a special meeting in the meantime if something has to be addressed.

From White Center Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes:

The White Center Chamber of Commerce will have its June luncheon next Tuesday, June 12th at noon at the Salvadorean Bakery located on the corner of Roxbury and 17th Ave. SW. Agenda items will include the status of the Chamber/CDA mural project to date, an update on our new website, discussion on the status of the Homeless Summit effort, Jubilee Days update, and discussions on how Chamber members can assist local youth programming. Traditionally, Chamber luncheons are not held in July or August, and begin again in September, so this is the last Chamber luncheon for the summer.

The new website is in the works at visitwhitecenter.com.

One year after the longtime White Center mailbox (and more) business Pony Express closed, the name and services are back. Jeri e-mailed us to announce that “the services provided by the Pony Express of White Center are now available at a new address. S & L Realty LLC at 9849 17th Ave. SW is now providing private mailboxes, mailing services, UPS shipping, money orders, pay bills, faxing, and copying.”

Help the White Center Library Guild provide special programming – especially for kids/teens – by supporting its sale on June 22nd and 23rd!