White Center Now: The blog about White Center

We thought we noticed something different when we walked out of 88 Deli in South Delridge after lunch the other day. We’d heard about the new banners but this was the first time we’d seen them. And now this update from White Center Community Development Association confirms that they are newly installed – north of Roxbury for now, but WCCDA says they have money for putting up banners south of Roxbury, too.

Out of the WCN inbox:

A big THANK YOU ! to the kind White Center good neighbor named Keith and his friends.

My car stalled out on 16th Ave. by Blockbuster, about 2 mils from home. I managed to pull over to the side, but it still was stuck in in a traffic lane.

Two men appeared out of nowhere, started pushing, and got my old Toyota safely into the Albertson’s parking lot. Minutes layer Keith and a friend with a car returned with a smile and a can of gas (yeah, I had foolishly run out of gas) and made sure I got my engine started.

I only had $3.00 cash with me, but he insisted on giving me all the gas.

Kindness makes the world go round! I promised to pay it forward.

Dina Johnson

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Rodriguez Secondhand Store has just opened in South Delridge, next to 88 Deli. It’s owned by Juan and Marla Rodriguez.

They began selling at the Starlight Swap Meet in Lakewood, then moved to an outdoor location on the parking lot of Jack’s Payless Auto Parts on Martin Luther King Way, but being outside under a tent is tough during bad weather, and Juan was pretty tired of hauling their goods in and out every day.

The couple live in Tukwila but decided to find an indoor space for the first time, to run their mom-and-pop business. They say they chose to lease in White Center because it is affordable. The 600-square-foot space is filled with “stuff” from the kitschy to the practical. Magazines are stacked on shelves, coats, pants and purses hang above lawn mowers, or they can even fix the lawn mower and weed-eater you might already have.

One of their first customers in the store was an older gentleman who has lived in WC for most of his 70+ years. He told the Rodriguezes that it has been many years since there has been a secondhand shop in WC. Some years ago, there was a Goodwill in the area – right now, there’s one further south, in Burien – but as far as they know, they are the only one currently in the South Delridge/White Center neighborhood.

They are looking forward to introducing themselves to their neighbor businesses and to serving the neighborhood.

Rodriguez Secondhand Store will be open Mondays-Sundays, 9:30 am-6:30 pm, to begin. They are located at 9416 Delridge Way SW; phone 206-280-5064.

(Photo by Deanie Schwarz)
Seattle City Light has published another update today about its ongoing systemwide streetlight inspections in the wake of “contact voltage” that killed a Queen Anne dog and spooked one in West Seattle’s High Point neighborhood – and this time, a White Center problem was found, according to City Light’s online update. It’s at 1721 SW Roxbury Street [map] – photo above (right outside the Salvadorean Bakery building) and was found with 111 volts. The utility says a faulty ballast assembly was replaced; its contractors have finished inspecting more than a third of the streetlights and associated facilities in the system

As of 5 pm, the burn ban that’s been in effect throughout King County is canceled, per the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

As always, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets the first Thursday of the month, and that means this Thursday, 7 pm. From the official agenda, received via e-mail:

*7:05 p.m. Public announcements*

*7:10 p.m. Public comment – 3 minutes for individuals*
* 5 minutes for groups*

*7:15 p.m. KCSO Capt Joseph Hodgson – Crime Stats*

*7:25 p.m. Lucy Auster & Emery Bayley – Brownsfield Update*

**

*7:45 p.m. Paul Reitenbach, King County Comprehensive Plan *

*8:00 p.m. Treasurers Report *

*8:05 p.m. Corresponding Secretary Report*

*8:10 p.m. Committee Reports*

* 1. Governance *

* 2. Arts and Parks *

* 3. Public Safety*

* 4. Housing and Human Services *

* 5. Public Outreach*

* 6. Transportation*

* 7. Steve Cox Memorial*

*8:20 p.m. Unfinished Business** *

* Priority List*

*8:45 p.m. New Business*

* North Highline Housing Assessment *

* UAC President’s Meeting with Executive Constantine*

The meeting’s at the usual location – North Highline Fire District HQ, 1243 SW 112th (map).

We heard this pursuit on the scanner last night but didn’t realize it had begun in White Center. Just in from King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. John Urquhart:

The New Year is starting with a bang as one car chased another car while firing several shots at the fleeing vehicle. Apparently no one was hit.

Then it got interesting. A Sheriff’s deputies found the suspect car twice, and the chase(s) was on!

It all started about 10:50 PM last night (January 2nd). The Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call about a black Acura chasing a red SUV in the White Center area at speeds up to 80 mph. The driver of the Acura was leaning out the window shooting a handgun at the SUV.

Ten minutes later a deputy found the Acura, now in the Top Hat neighborhood and a short pursuit ensued. But the suspect vehicle got away.

A few minutes later a 2nd deputy found the car again, this time on SR 599. Another pursuit ending up on southbound I-5. The chase was ended when the deputy lost sight of the car at about the Kent-Des Moines Road.

At 12:15 AM a White Center woman called to report her 1997 Acura Integra stolen. Deputies believe this was the vehicle involved in the shooting and the chase. The license number is 403ZJG (Washington). The car is distinctive because it is black but with red and silver wheel rims.

So far there are no reported injures. No one is in custody. Neither the stolen vehicle nor the red SUV, possibly a 4Runner, have been found.

Anyone with information is asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 9-1-1.

10:32 AM UPDATE: According to the scanner, police have found the stolen car. No word if they found a suspect with it. It wasn’t in West Seattle or White Center – someplace else in Seattle city limits, couldn’t quite pick that up from the radio transmissions.

Thanks to WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz for reminding us about this – it’s been in effect since yesterday afternoon but we hadn’t mentioned it yet. A Stage 1 burn ban is in place right now for King County, which means you’re not supposed to use your fireplace or woodstove unless you have no other way to keep warm. It also means no outdoor fires. More information here.

It happened within the past hour at Alki Beach in West Seattle, but it’s the White Center Polar Bear Swim too; the invitation was issued by WC Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes, who’s long been inviting anyone and everyone to start the New Year with a splash. The sunny weather brought out more than 100 “swimmers” – even The King:

We wish you and all of White Center (and beyond) the happiest of New Years!

Received from King County Executive Dow Constantine’s office today:

2010: a year of accomplishment and reform

After one year, tangible progress made toward protecting community values and returning King County to financial stability

After his first year in office, King County Executive Dow Constantine says his agenda for reform has put the County on a path to financial stability, bringing fundamental change and significant accomplishments consistent with the values of our community.

“In one year we’ve made dramatic strides toward putting the County on sound financial footing, while handling emergent issues in a methodical and responsible way,” said Executive Constantine. “Thanks to our strong leadership team, and dedicated King County employees, we have accomplished much to protect what matters most to the people of King County.”

Among the accomplishments of his administration in the first year, the Executive cited:

* Full funding for the long-awaited replacement of the South Park Bridge, in collaboration with federal, state and local leaders.
* Federal funding for long-term interim repair of the ailing Howard Hanson Dam to reduce the flood risk in the Green River Valley, in collaboration with federal, state and local leaders.
* A regional partnership with cities on a new model for animal services.
* A regional partnership with cities on jail planning, to avoid unnecessary construction of new city jails.
* A consensus with regional leaders on reforms in the provision of Metro bus service.
* The purchase of 250 acres of Maury Island, including a mile of shoreline, that completes the Executive’s 12-year effort to preserve the longest remaining undeveloped Puget Sound shoreline in King County.

* Completion and adoption of the first-ever countywide strategic plan.

* Completion of the first phase of an upgrade to the County’s human resources business processes, replacing manual practices from the 1970’s with more efficient automated workflows that provide critical access to real-time data.

* Creation of a new County energy policy to achieve even greater energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and curtail greenhouse gas emissions.

* Reform of DDES permitting to a fixed fee model rather than hourly rates, and creation of a customer service unit for rural owners.
Adoption of a new King County budget, one week ahead of schedule, achieved several of the Executive’s goals by:

* Consolidating his effort to put County government back on sound financial footing by creating annual efficiencies of three percent, leading to budgets that will be sustainable over time,
* Sticking to his principle of maintaining reserves without resorting to one-time gimmicks,
* Working with more than 90-percent of the County’s employees to preserve services to the public by forgoing a cost-of-living adjustment for next year, and
* Preserving the principle of restoring services, to the extent possible, in those areas where employees have sacrificed their COLA.

Prudent management of county finances and realistic budget planning contributed twice in 2010 to reaffirmation by the major rating agencies of King County’s AAA credit ratings on the sale of county bonds. The high ratings enable the county to save taxpayer dollars by obtaining the most favorable interest rates on financing for major projects, despite unprecedented budget challenges.

“We’ve changed the calculus on what had been an unsustainable rise in costs, and more closely matched our expenditures with our revenues,” said Executive Constantine. “We are putting King County on the right track, and I look forward to what we can accomplish in the year ahead.”

For a complete list of Executive branch accomplishments for 2010, see www.kingcounty.gov/exec

Cafe Rozella is open this morning, 7:30 am-noon, per proprietor Leticia – that’s the only open-on-Christmas-Day White Center coffee shop we know of. 9434 Delridge Way SW.

Following up on the King County Sheriff’s Office announcement that remains of another likely Green River Killer victim had been identified, seattlepi.com tells more of her story tonight, in an interview with her sister. The photo of Becky Marrero , who disappeared in December 1982, is courtesy of KCSO. In case you missed the earlier coverage, here’s their official announcement:

A skull found in an Auburn ravine on Tuesday (December 21st) was positively identified as Rebecca “Becky” Marrero. The remains were identified by Dr. Gary Bell, who performs forensic odontology for Medical Examiner’s Office and the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab.

Detectives believe Marrero very likely a victim of serial killer Gary Ridgway, the so-called Green River Killer.

Marrero was last seen on December 3, 1982 when she left a motel room at S. 168th and Pacific Highway South. She was 20 years old at the time.

Marrero was reported missing to the Sheriff’s Office by her mother on July 20, 1984. Her disappearance was investigated by the Green River Task Force, and she was believed to be a Green River victim.

Ridgway was arrested on November 30, 2001. Two years later he pleaded guilty to the murder of 48 women and was sentenced to 48 consecutive live terms. He was not charged in the Marrero case.

The remains of Marie Malvar on September 28, 2003 in the same general area where Marrero was found. Malvar was last seen in 1983 at S. 216th and Pacific Highway South. Ridgway was convicted in the Malvar homicide.

Ridgway was questioned extensively in 2003 about Becky Marrero’s disappearance. However by policy, the Sheriff’s Office does not discuss what suspects say or don’t say during the investigation of open cases.

For White Center Now, Deanie Schwarz went to today’s North Highline Fire District board meeting to see what would be said about the newly released state report (see our story from earlier). Here’s what she reports:

As spokesperson for the Board, the Fire District’s lawyer Brian Snure told WCN that the Board’s response is contained within the Auditor’s Report, but went on to say: “The Auditor concluded that the Board, essentially, made bad discretionary decisions. There’s nothing that the Board needs to do.”

He then went on to qualify that comment by saying, “One of the incidents happened five years ago. The other incidents were discussed in the report is contractual in nature. One of those incidents is being addressed in the collective bargaining agreement right now. And the Board is going through policies which Chief Marstrom has now worked on, to prevent future issues from arising.”

Asked what the specifics of that would entail, Snure said, “The response of the Board is to work hard to make sure that future decisions don’t generate the type of issues prior decisions made, “ adding that means the revisions of policies and making sure (administration) contracts are in place. “I think, part of the problem, as reflected in the Auditor’s Report, is that there were different versions of different contracts which created problems. … You prevent that in the future by paying a bit more attention to the details and making sure management has got a handle on the contracts and making sure policies are in place, so you don’t end up having to decide between competing contracts when you are dealing with a personnel issue.”

Regarding the Fire Chief’s salary change, Snure said, “The salary change was based on the desire to avoid the wage compression between the battalion chiefs who earn overtime and what the chief was earning at that time. So, the Board adopted the salary schedule based heavily on longevity.”

Asked about the timing of that decision, Snure replied, “The thinking of that decision, at that time, was to solve the wage compression issue between the chiefs and the BCs. The timing of it, because the Chief was retiring in the future, the Board had to basically document that that was a salary schedule for the future and that’s what it did. It went through the Retirement Board and it said it was perfectly legal to do that and it wouldn’t violate their rules. …If Retirement chooses to review that again, we will respond to their questions just like we responded to the Auditor’s requests.” Chief Marstrom is an interim chief and his contract is different from the normal fulltime chief, the district says; his task is for the transition, he’s not a full-time or full paid employee, his official designation is administrative chief.

Put another way by Snure, the take-away strategy based on the Auditor’s Report is: “The game plan is to make sure that all employment contracts are clear in terms of what happens when they end.”

The office of state auditor Brian Sonntag has finished its investigation into citizen complaints about the North Highline Fire District, submitted through the “citizen hotline.” The report says this investigation dates back almost one full year, when the state was “contacted by two citizens with concerns regarding a Commissioner’s potential conflict of interest, possible gifting of public funds and abuse of sick leave policy.” The concerns are detailed in the report, which you can read in its entirety here. The first claim investigated was:

A conflict of interest exists between the former Fire Chief and a District Board Member. The former Fire Chief was a Board Member for a local water district. That water district’s manager was a Fire District Board Member. The Board gave the Fire Chief a 57.5 percent pay raise three months before his retirement.

While the report concludes that no “legal conflict of interest” was found, it notes, “Due to the Department of Retirement System’s previous interest in these actions, we will be forwarding the results of this investigation.” The second claim investigated was:

The District Board granted the Training Secretary a severance package she was not entitled to.

The state’s conclusion was:

The District’s severance payment to the former Training Secretary did not follow the District’s policy. This former employee did not have an employment agreement that allowed her to earn this amount of severance pay. The District stated the severance was paid in exchange for a release of claims; however, the District did not document the employee had reasonable claims, or that any claim would be as large as this severance payment amount.

The third claim was:

The District is granting a Fire District employee time off under Family Medical Leave Act that he may not be entitled to.

The state’s conclusion:

The District has allowed this employee to take an unlimited amount of paid time off which may not represent a reasonable accommodation as intended by the state law.

Also included in the report is the Fire District’s “general response”:

While the Board disagrees with the conclusions both express and implied the Board does recognize that it needs to do a better job of defining and managing the employment relationships that it has with its management employees to avoid the situations addressed by the report.

More specific rebuttals can be read in the report; the first two contend that the payments made to the (now former) employees in question also had to do with release from district liability for any potential future possible claims/legal action.

(WCN photos by Deanie Schwarz)
White Center will be in the spotlight on KING 5 TV twice in the next few days. We’ll talk about the second one first: That’s West Seattle resident Jim Dever in the top photo, taken at Big Al Brewing this morning as he prepared to shoot segments of the show for which he reports, Evening Magazine. They were at Big Al because of the poll Jim took via Twitter two nights ago, asking for votes on where to record those segments. Big Al was suggested by @sudsymaggie – Maggie Sudduth of Vashon Island, seen in this next photo with KING 5 photojournalist Darrell Benedict:

Big Al won the poll in a landslide. Maggie tweeted photos during today’s shoot – you can see them on her Twitter stream; this episode of Evening Magazine is on channel 5 at 7 pm Monday.

Before then, a KING 5 News story is scheduled to profile another popular White Center business, Full Tilt Ice Cream – we talked with FT’s Justin Cline back on Wednesday, when a crew not only visited his WC flagship store, but also at least one of FT’s other shops. We’re told that story will likely air around 5:40 pm tonight — but keep in mind that if big breaking news happens, it could get pre-empted, in which case we’ll let you know when it’s rescheduled.

ADDED 10:46 PM: The Full Tilt story did indeed air – if you missed it on TV, here it is again (p.s. it may be preceded by a commercial, which is added to the video clip by KING, not us – WCN is a noncommercial site):

The White Center Food Bank just put out the call for volunteer help. From volunteer coordinator Audrey Zemke:

The White Center Food Bank needs help this coming week handing out food to clients. The most urgently needed shift is 3:30 to 6:30 pm Monday, December 20. In addition we could use help Wednesday, December 22 from 12:30 to 3:30. Please contact me by e-mail (audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org) to sign up.

An announcement we were invited to share:

Greenbridge Community Active Together Forum” is coming up…

What? Bring your ideas to make Greenbridge an even better place to live.
When? This Friday December 17 from 5:30 to 8:30pm
Where? Greenbridge Library/YWCA, 9720 8th Ave SW

Local entertainment, food prepared in Greenbridge, childcare and interpretation will be provided.

Hosted by Greenbridge Community Action Team, Be Active Together, and the King County Housing Authority.

Questions? Jen Calleja (206) 832-9656 or jcalleja@nwha.org

Mai Son (206) 331-7147 Thinquoc.son@gmail.com

Yes, the power that was hooked up just the other day worked perfectly tonight for the lighting of the White Center Community Christmas Tree in the Delridge Triangle. It’s only been a week since White Center Chamber of Commerce announced plans for the tree. Video/photojournalist Cliff DesPeaux was there for WCN and partner site West Seattle Blog. If you haven’t followed the backstory, the “power” to which nearby pub owner “Mac” McElroy refers in the clip is electric power – with the help of Seattle City Light, the area got connected earlier this week, which also makes lighting possible for the flag that flies over the triangle as part of a veterans’ memorial.

Followup on our report that Seattle City Light planned to inspect Greenbridge streetlights and poles after a “contact voltage” discovery in West Seattle’s similarly built High Point neighborhood: Tonight, SCL says the inspections didn’t turn up anything in Greenbridge. Here’s the full story from partner site West Seattle Blog.

The short burst of hammering rain and roaring wind around 12:30 am was “isolated,” according to the National Weather Service, but it will remain windy at times through the night, with showers until midmorning. The Seattle City Light outage tracker shows some power outages in and around White Center.