March 2009

Mayor Greg Nickels has announced that Deputy Chief John Diaz will serve as acting chief of police pending Chief Gil Kerlikowske’s confirmation by the U.S. Senate to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Diaz will also serve as interim chief upon Kerlikowske’s resignation from the Seattle Police Department.

“John’s outstanding reputation and deep knowledge of the department make him an obvious choice,” said Nickels in a statement. “As a Spanish-speaker and former East Precinct commander, John knows the importance of public safety to our neighborhoods. He is the right person at the right time, and I appreciate his willingness to serve as acting chief of police.”

A San Francisco native, Diaz joined the Seattle Police Department as a night patrol officer in 1980 and worked in the South Precinct. He was later commander of the gang section and the violent crimes section. He worked in the East Precinct as a sergeant, lieutenant and captain, and from 1995 to 2000, he served as the East Precinct commander, overseeing approximately 160 patrol officers and fostering a close relationship with one of the city’s most diverse communities.

Seattle soccer fans have finally got what they’ve been waiting for, a professional team.

Tomorrow night, March 19, the Seattle Sounders Football Club will play their first regular season game in Major League Soccer. They will face the New York Red Bulls at 6 p.m. at Qwest Field. The match will also be televised on ESPN2.

Some of the best soccer players in the world have come to play for the Sounders. Starting goalkeeper Kasey Keller has played in four World Cups and was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year three times.

Another player coming in is Swedish star Freddie Ljungberg, who was his country’s captain in the 2008 Euro Cup. In that tournament he played every minute of every game. He has played 11 seasons in the English Premier League, arguably the best league in the world. He scored 72 goals in that time.

The Sounders will be getting even more winning experience from their new coach Sigi Schmid. Schmid was recently named the coach for the 2009 season. He led the Columbus Crew to the league championship last year, and was given the MLS Coach of the Year Award.

The West Seattle Wildcats boys came in third overall last year at the state meet and track coach Tom Burggraff led the Wildcats to the SeaKing district championship.

Burggraff was named spring coach of the year last year by the Seattle PI.

“I was honored, but really was a result of being blessed with a talented team and some great performances,” said Burggraff.

The Wildcats were undefeated in the 4x100 meter relay ran by Aaron Grymes, Markeem Adams, Christian Crain, and Brandon Brown. The group won by an unbelievable margin of 0.01 seconds.

Grymes and Adams are returning, leaving the other two spots up for grabs. Grymes took fifth place in the 100 meter dash at the state meet, while Adams took fifth at 200 meters.

The girls who are returning this year are seniors Tanya Tarabochia, Lizzie Perkins, Chandler Dennison and sophomore Kendall Kielbon. Senior April Johnson is currently recovering from knee surgery. Burggraff refers to her as one of the premier track athletes in the state, and a centerpiece of the team.


The returning boys are seniors Grymes, Jeremy Darden, Jules Guay-Binion, Ian Kiethly, Kyle MacDonald, juniors Adams, and Caleb Fisher.

Caprice Kitchen
1418 N.W. 70th St.
Breakfast & Lunch: Wednesdays – Sundays, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Set Menu Dinners: Fridays and Saturdays, 6 – 8 p.m. (reservations encouraged)
371-2886

Caprice Kitchen is Chef Anne Catherine's own homey café. Dedicated to providing local, seasonal, fresh ingredients, the restaurant is a creative experiment in supporting regional economy, eating responsibly, and conserving resources by dining close to home at the same time as eating delicious food. How can you lose?

Nestled into a quiet residential neighborhood, Caprice sits in the same location as the well-loved Treed Café. Cozy and unassuming Caprice Kitchen shines with its bountiful breakfasts.

Not the usual "two eggs, hash browns, toast and bacon" fare, these sumptuous items are more thoughtful and imaginative, while delivering on the volume goods. Sometimes these "special" places lay out portions fit for birds. Not here.

While the omelets change with the seasons, and a cheese plate and house made granola stand up as a welcome surprise, the true morning stars are the skillets.

At the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting on March 17 Officer Darin Chinn reoprted to the community that a pair of suspects have attempted to burglarize several homes near Southwest Thistle Street between California Avenue and 35th Avenue Southwest.

Chinn said that two suspects have been knocking on the doors of various homes between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. and breaking in if residents don't answer.

The suspects have been described as two males, possibly Hispanic and African-American, in their early twenties, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build, wearing dark hooded sweatshirts.

Chinn said if any unknown persons knock on your door you should keep the door closed, firmly demand they leave and call the police.

Residential and property crimes rates dropped during February, reported Lieutenant Steve Paulsen at the latest West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting on March 17.

While car prowls spiked during January with 127 incidents, Paulsen said that officers arrested some suspected thieves, and in February there were only 83 reported car thefts. Incidents of auto theft also decreased from 33 in January to 26 in February.

Paulsen said that on average West Seattle has about 50 residential burglaries a month, but in February there were 37.

He also reported just two incidents of armed robbery in February compared to five the previous month. Paulsen attributes the change to recent arrests after several convenience store robberies in the area.

Nonetheless, strong arm robberies are on the rise, with seven incidents last month. Paulsen said most of these crimes occurred at schools and involved electronic devices like iPods.

Paulsen said that Block Watches have contributed to lower crime rates and that the more residents keep an eye on their neighborhoods the fewer crimes occur.

The King County Budget Director has announced a possible $40 to $50 million general fund shortfall for 2010.

The 2009 county budget started with a $93.4 million gap.

The revenue forecast was heard in the King County Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee meeting, prompting the committee chair to again call on the state Legislature to provide counties across the state with the revenue tools they need to provide essential services.  

“King County—and counties throughout Washington—are facing hard choices,” said Council Budget Chair Larry Gossett. “Declining revenues are forcing us to decide which of the programs that protect the lives, health and safety of county residents will be reduced or eliminated. The state Legislature is still working on a proposal that would provide counties with the revenue options that will allow us to fund these programs. Without those options, the only choice we may have is to stop providing the services.”  

Bob Cowan, Director of the County’s Office of Management and Budget, today told the committee that he is forecasting a drop in property tax revenue and up to a 5.3 percent decline in sales tax revenue.

The Washington State Department of Transportation has issued a request for bids to further prepare for removal of the southern mile of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. This project is one of several contracting opportunities during the next several years to remove the earthquake damaged viaduct.
 
Construction will begin this June and will sustain an estimated 150 jobs, according to the state. The first contract is expected to cost approximately $15 million. A second contract, estimated to cost more than $300 million, will be advertised this fall.
 
“This contract gets us one step closer to removing the viaduct, which begins in earnest this fall,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “In addition, it will create jobs, which is a top priority during these difficult times.”  
 
The project is a safety priority because the southern mile of the viaduct rests in unstable soil that could liquefy in an earthquake and cause the viaduct to be permanently closed. The foundations of the replacement structure will reach down into stable soil, making it more resistant to large earthquakes.
 

Yesterday, March 16, Martin Kaplan, an architect and member of the Seattle Planning Commission, announced he will run for Seattle City Council, seeking the position currently held by incumbent Nick Licata. 

Licata, a past president on the council, also recently announced he would take another run for Position 6. He first took office in 1998.

Kaplan is a third generation Seattle resident who currently lives in Queen Anne with his wife and school age daughter. He calls himself an advocate for neighborhoods and historic preservation.

“We are facing unprecedented challenges to our economy and downtown vitality, our neighborhood character, and our cherished quality of life," said Kaplan in a statement releases announcing his cadidacy. “I’m driven by a strong commitment to help Seattle diversify, prosper and grow responsibly.  I want our city to be a regional and world wide hub for business and place for families of all incomes to call home-- today and when my daughter grows up.”

Licata had considered briefly running for mayor, until his announcement last week, when he said he could serve residents better as a maverick on the council.

The Parks Department is looking for proposals for the "improvement, operation and maintenance of the West Seattle Stadium," a publicly owned facility at 4432 35th Ave. S.W., and the deadline is March 26.

According to city reports, the facility has operated for the past 70 years and has hosted countless high school football games, track and field meets, as well as other public events.

There are 2,700 seats in the stands and the facilities athletic amenities include a 400-meter track, a grass surface field dedicated for football, high jump, steeple chase, long jump, hammer throw, javelin, shot put, support facilities, such as restrooms and a concession building.

But its aging and has many structural and support systems that are nearing the end of life, which will require major upgrades and renovations. The 1936 north stands, bleachers, locker rooms, restrooms, fire sprinkler system and existing field are currently not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other building codes.