While the City of Seattle has taken effective measures to control the spread of Dutch Elm disease, the Department of Transportation is warning residents that many new infected trees have been discovered across the city.
Dutch Elm disease was first discovered in Washington in 1974 but was not seen across the mountains in Seattle until 2001. That year three infected trees were identified followed by five more in 2002.
Modern town homes have become a common complaint from many neighbors who argue that their design disrupts the character of Seattle neighborhoods.
In response, Mayor Greg Nickels is proposing to update the city's Multifamily Zoning Land Use Codes for the first time since 1982 and is scheduled to deliver his revisions to the Seattle City Council early next year.
City Council member Sally Clark, chair of the Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee, is unsure of what to expect from Nickels' legislation.
The Seattle City Council is expected to receive legislation from Mayor Greg Nickels this week that could assign developers the responsibility of providing affordable housing if they chose to build higher than existing zoning allows.
The policy is known as incentive zoning, and it was first implemented in Downtown Seattle in 2006. That year, much of the area was rezoned, allowing for greater building height.
Money the city set aside in March to help renters displaced by apartment-to-condominium conversions has sparsely been used, but the program has been extended two months to aid those not eligible for assistance from a new state law.
The state Legislature passed earlier this year a bill requiring developers to provide relocation assistance equal to three month's rent to households earning 80 percent or below the median income. The new law went into effect August 1.
On Saturday, Sept. 27, tens of thousands of Americans will mobilize for "Green Jobs Now: A National Day of Action to Build the New Economy." Green Jobs Now is a national day of action designed to empower everyday people to stage hundreds of grassroots events throughout the country. Special emphasis is being focused toward low-income communities and communities of color.
Meanwhile the Moontown Foundation is spearheading the largest Day of Action event in the state of Washington.
The King County Jail notified police that a man with a history of assaulting his girlfriend had not returned from work release as scheduled. Given the man's history, jail officials were afraid the girlfriend might be in danger. Officers went to South Park to check on her welfare, but she was hesitant to let them in. When she finally opened the door, they could see the suspect trying to escape. He jumped from the third floor balcony, suffered serious injuries, and was taken to Harborview. Upon recoveryhe faces charges for violating a no-contact order.
Thank you to the West Seattle Herald for hosting a lively exchange of opinions on the proposal to tax plastic grocery bags.
As the debate continues, I find it quite heartening to hear from so many people who suddenly care so much for the less fortunate among us.
But I do wish this new sense of compassion extended farther than self-justification about plastic bag use.
Woman seriously injured in pit bull attack
Sept. 8-Huong Le, 71, was mauled by two pit bulls outside a residence in the 3000 block of South 150th St. As of the Times/News deadline, Le was being treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The two dogs were shot and killed by SeaTac police officers responding to the emergency call.
Two other pit bulls were taken by King County Animal Control officers from the owner of the dogs who attacked the woman but were later returned.
In 1950, the main street of White Center was only two paved lanes in the middle of eight blocks of huge mud holes whenever it rained. The county territory was ruled by Republican Bill Sears, who probably never got a vote from the hugely Democrat citizenry.
We got frustrated with governmental neglect.
Kennedy girls swimming appears to be heading toward another super showing at state for Nov. 2008, led by identical twins Allie and Nikki Vetterlein, seniors, along with young freshman diver Paige Greely, who is doing things to put the Lancers over the top.
Defending state champion Kennedy swam in a dual meet against their nemesis and rival, Mount Rainier, and beat them, 126-60, at the city of Tukwila pool on the Foster High School campus Thursday.
