September 2007

Spurred in part by the potential conversion the Lock Vista Apartments to condominiums, Ballard residents expressed anger and frustration last week over the depleting pool of affordable housing here.

Seattle's director of housing joined City Council members Sally Clark and Tom Rasmussen at last week's Ballard District Council meeting to discuss Mayor Greg Nickels proposal to expand a tax break for developers, which aims to encourage the construction of more units affordable to moderate wage workers.

Mayor Greg Nickels made a recent on-foot inspection of the Crown Hill neighborhood, but it was not a walk through the path of least resistance.

He appeared gracious and receptive as organizers of the Crown Hill Neighborhood Association and Crown Hill Business Association, along with residents, filled his ears with three major concerns as they ushered him through a problem obstacle course.

The walk started in front of Edward Jones, on 15th Avenue Northwest near Northwest 85th Street.

Mayor Greg Nickels wants to keep commercial and retail development off industrial land.

Nickels has announced an initiative to strengthen zoning protection for industry and manufacturing in Seattle. The purpose, Nickels said during a press conference, is to protect existing industrial jobs and encourage new ones.

Over 120,000 jobs in Seattle are in industry and manufacturing, according to the Employment Security Department.

Throughout this month, community initiated projects that would add sidewalks and make other improvements to many Ballard streets are vying for a piece of the city's neighborhood street fund from the "Bridging the Gap" levy.

The projects are being presented at a series of community open houses, where members of the public have the opportunity to cast their vote on which projects should be prioritized by the city.

The project rankings will be considered along with a series of criteria by a Seattle Department of Transportation team and narrowed down to the top 50 projects, s

Mayor Greg Nickels plans to increase spending for neighborhood transportation projects to enhance public safety, and improve neighborhood streetscapes.

Following a city outreach effort, Nickels responded by adding $2 million to the city's Neighborhood Street Fund (NSF) in his proposed 2008 budget. This addition means the fund will grow to $10.1 million over the next three years.

"We listened carefully to neighborhoods, and expanding this program was clearly a top priority," Nickels said.

Work is again underway on the Burke-Gilman Trail extension from Northwest 60th Street to Golden Gardens, following a three-week pause to finalize permitting requirements.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) was needed from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. The permit is required for construction activities that disturb five or more acres of land to regulate the amount of pollutants discharged into waters.

Cable internet and television provider Comcast chose Robinson Newspapers as one of the subjects of an upcoming testimonial advertising campaign.

Quisenberry Marketing and Design, working with the Wylen Group from New York conducted interviews, shot photographs and filmed the presses and offices of the Robinson Newspapers the week of September 10th. The campaign theme, "Situation Critical/Solution Comcast" will appear in a print campaign beginning in November emphasizing how Comcast Workplace Internet helps solve real world issues for businesses.

Team comes in with experience

By Dean Wong

With eight seniors and a playoff run from last season, the Ballard Beavers are optimistic about the upcoming girls soccer program.

Last season, the Ballard Beaver girls' soccer team surprised the league, making the playoffs for the first time and earning Val Seid Kingco Coach of the Year honors.

"We will have a lot of experience," said Seid.

Meet John Rayback

The high school dropout who luckily had a tough love mother.

This long-time pillar of the community, who is best known for his years as an attorney from Des Moines, went to Highline High until he got restless in the 10th grade, quit and went to work at 16 doing muscle buster work in Seattle.

His mom, Mabel, who served as Desimone Postmistress from 1953 to 1966, got tough with him and got him back in Highline.