April 2010

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images of the Lady Raiders' 11-0 victory over the Eagles on April 20. CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

Two Burien residents who reportedly operate a massage parlor on Ambaum Boulevard Southwest are in custody after agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Burien police officers executed federal criminal search warrants at the establishment as part of an investigation into a prostitution and money-laundering scheme.

Tham Nguyen, 48, and Suong Tran, 51, were arrested April 22. They face charges of conspiracy to transport individuals in furtherance of prostitution and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. A federal grand jury handed down a two-count indictment against them Wednesday, April 21.

Investigators said they operate the Bamboo Sauna at 14021 Ambaum Blvd. S.W.

According to court documents, the defendants also owned and operated massage parlors in Auburn and Kirkland, three similar businesses in California and a legal brothel in Nevada. It is alleged the massage parlors were, in fact, fronts for prostitution.

For Sea-Tac International Airport's western neighbors, it will be deja vu all over again this summer.
The center runway will be closed in July and August, switching more of the jet traffic onto the third runway.

Last summer, the airport's first runway was closed for pavement replacement at a cost of $85 million. The runway was built in 1944 and the runway had never been replaced. The closure meant more jets took off and landed using the third runway.
Beginning in July, deteriorating concrete panels on the second runway will replaced. The project is estimated to cost $5.65 million.
Port of Seattle officials originally planned to replace the second runway in 2012, but airlines asked for the cheaper repair job instead, according to Port spokesman Perry Cooper. The airlines will pay the repair costs.

The repairs are expected to delay a complete replacement for another six years. The second runway was built in 1969 with a 20-year life expectancy.
About 400 concrete panels have been replaced since 1993, but another 150 must be replaced to prevent airplane damage, according to Port staffers.

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods announced the 2010 Neighborhood Matching Fund Small and Simple grant winners April 22. The city gave $56,895 to five projects in Ballard and Crown Hill.

Recipients of the Small and Simple grant receive up to $20,000 in funding to improve their neighborhoods and communities through various projects, either physical or less tangible but equally significant educational, cultural and relationship-strengthening activities.

The goal of the Small and Simple-funded projects is to build stronger and healthier communities through driven participation centered on a neighborhood or community, according to a Department of Neighborhoods press release.

Greg's Garden P-Patch, located on 14th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 54th Street, received $3,000 to strengthen its gardening community and add physical improvements, such as new compost bins, replanted perimeter gardens, an herb garden and a donation garden.

Mount Rainier continued its strong team tennis season with a 7-0 match victory against visiting Highline in Des Moines on Monday, April 19.

The Rams hold down second place in the Seamount League standings at 7-1. John F. Kennedy leads at 8-0 whiles Evergreen is 7-1.

Mount Rainier's only loss was 4-3 to the Lancers and includes a marathon win against Evergreen. The Wolverines have not faced Kennedy, yet.

"Our girls have been strong all year and the doubles team has been consistent," said long-time Ram head coach Tim Lee. "We're tough. With Leeds at No. 1 singles and Desmond at No. 2, we have a strong 1-2 punch."

Junior Jim Leeds quickly passed the Pirates' Jacques Gordon, 6-0, 6-0, by outgunning his opponent from the baseline and taking the net when clear opportunities came up in No. 1 boys singles to get the Rams into high gear immediately.

Next came the results from mixed doubles. Overcoming a slow start, the Mount Rainier pair of junior John Heckel and senior Brooke Luchau passed the Highline duo of Alana Lopez and Bao Vin, 6-4, 6-2.

Westside School at 10015 28th Ave. S.W. needs to move. The school has been operating in the space since the fall of 1993, and shares space with Explorer West, an independent private middle school. All the lease options for the inventoried Seattle Public School buildings were presented at the School Board meeting on April 21, and the vote will take place May 5.

CLICK THE PHOTO TO SEE MORE IMAGES

Westside School has put in a proposal to lease the E.C. Hughes building on 7740 34th Ave SW, and hopes to start the 2010-2011 school year in this new location. It's looking likely this will happen, according to school officials. Westside has been growing since 2006, and has outgrown its current location.

Head of the school Jo Ann Yockey said, " We have had a strategic plan which we began in 2006 to add one section at each grade level, before that we were one section at each grade, preschool through 5th grade. We started by adding another kindergarten class and then another 1st (grade) and so this year we have two 3rds."

On March 30, a 15-year-old male was walking in the 9000 block of Mary Avenue Northwest with several friends when he was confronted by several males in a car.

The occupants of the car demanded that he give them his money. The victim believed he recognized one of the suspects. The victim, not wanting a confrontation, gave them some loose change from his pocket.

The suspects then demanded that the he hand over his cell phone and cash or they would assault him. The victim refused to cooperate. One of the suspects pulled out a black handgun from his backpack and the victim immediately handed over his phone and some cash.

The suspects fled the area in their car. The victim was later able to identify one of the suspects.

On April 6, robbery detectives arrested the 18-year-old suspect in Ballard. He was interviewed by detectives and later booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery.

On April 16, the victim in this case was confronted by one of the suspects. The suspect informed him that he was involved in the robbery but that he wanted him to know that there was not a gun in the car that day.

In a tribute to its 1982 establishment in Ballard, Redhook Ale Brewery will host a release party for its Big Ballard Imperial IPA from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 22 at The Old Pequliar.

The Ballard News-Tribune was invited to learn about and sample the new beer April 21 in preparation for the official release.

The April 22 party, which is open to the public, will provide IPA lovers with some of the first sips of Redhook’s new imperial IPA.

The Big Ballard Imperial IPA release party will feature happy hour pricing, live music and prize give-aways, including a grand prize of a $1,000 Redhook Ale Brewery Gift Certificate.

For residents unable to attend the release party, Big Ballard Imperial IPA will be available in 22-ounce bottles and on draught in the area beginning in late April.

The Old Pequliar is located at 1722 N.W. Market St.

By Nick Licata, Seattle City Council

Ed. Note: This piece originally appeared in Nick Licata's newsletter, "Urban Politics."

The City Council voted 5-4 April 19 to approve the aggressive solicitation ordinance (C.B. 116807).

After the vote, I thanked Mayor Mike McGinn for his agreement to veto the bill.

According to the City Charter, if the mayor disapproves the bill, he must do so within 10 days of the council's passage of the bill. After that, the council, not less than five days nor more than 30 days after the mayor's veto, must reconsider and vote. If the bill, at that time fails to receive an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the members, it shall be deemed finally lost.

In addition to thanking the mayor, I thank my council colleagues and the many organizations and members of the public that have engaged so thoughtfully on this debate.

The City Council voted 5-4 Tuesday, April 19 to approve the aggressive solicitation ordinance (C.B. 116807). In my previous Urban Politics #289 I gave a lengthy description of it: http://licata.seattle.gov/2010/04/08/panhandling-legislation/

After today's vote I thanked the Mayor for his agreement to veto the Bill.

According to the City Charter, if the Mayor disapproves the bill, he must do so within 10 days of the Council's passage of the bill. After that the Council, not less than five days nor more than 30 days, after the Mayor's veto, must reconsider and vote. If the bill, at that time fails to receive an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the members it shall be deemed finally lost.

In addition to thanking the Mayor, I thank my Council colleagues and the many organizations and members of the public that have engaged so thoughtfully on this debate.