September 2011

Mulugeta “Mulu” Abate will bring all the training he received from his mother and his mother too to the operation of the new Pan Africa Grill opening Sept. 27 at 5905 California Ave. s.w. near Juneau Street.

It is the next step for Abate who already owns the similar Pan Africa restaurant and bar on 1st Avenue near the Pike Place Market where it has thrived for the past eight years.

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Abate's mother, named for their African nation home, Ethiopia will assist him along with his sister Ruth and at least at first one of the chefs that works downtown, Abraham Enbaye. .

The restaurant has been completely redecorated in warm tones of red, brown gold and black, the bathrooms rebuilt and made modern and tasteful African art from the light fixtures to the art and decor complete the theme. It will have no booths but comfortable tables and chairs with African table runners. Maximum capacity will be 75 people.

Update for Oct. 3
The Burien City Council voted tonight to declare the city's intent to annex White Center and the remaining unincorporated North Highline area.

The vote was 5-2 with council members Lucy Krakowiak and Jack Block Jr. voting against it. Deputy Mayor Brian Bennett voted with the majority after opposing a resolution Sept. 26 that called for consideration of the declaration at the Oct. 3 meeting.

Councilman Gerald Robison, a north Burien resident who has been the most vocal council member in pushing toward annexation, said the issue "has been talked to death.

"Some will never believe the numbers but we must base our decision on the evidence and accurate analysis," Robison declared.

Robison said it is clear Burien will need to negotiate with King County and, possibly, the state for additional mitigation funds. Burien is slated to receive a state sales tax credit of up to $5 million a year for 10 years if it annexes the area.

Councilwoman Rose Clark laid out the case for annexation previously voiced by several lawmakers.

Update for Oct. 3
The Burien City Council voted tonight to declare the city's intent to annex White Center and the remaining unincorporated North Highline area.

The vote was 5-2 with council members Lucy Krakowiak and Jack Block Jr. voting against it. Deputy Mayor Brian Bennett voted with the majority after opposing a resolution Sept. 26 that called for consideration of the declaration at the Oct. 3 meeting.

Councilman Gerald Robison, a north Burien resident who has been the most vocal council member in pushing toward annexation, said the issue "has been talked to death.

"Some will never believe the numbers but we must base our decision on the evidence and accurate analysis," Robison declared.

Robison said it is clear Burien will need to negotiate with King County and, possibly, the state for additional mitigation funds. Burien is slated to receive a state sales tax credit of up to $5 million a year for 10 years if it annexes the area.

Councilwoman Rose Clark laid out the case for annexation previously voiced by several lawmakers.

From South Seattle Community College President Gary Oertli:

What a way to start the first day of fall quarter …

The Department of Labor announced awards today under the Trade Adjustment Act – Community College Career Training Program (CCCTP). The competition was an unprecedented investment in community colleges, the largest since the GI Bill. South Seattle Community College was a part of four proposals, two local and two national consortiums. Two of the four projects were funded for a total of $2.4 million headed our way over the next 3 years for our aerospace program and our STEM initiatives with composites. Only 32 grants were given out across the nation. South received two!

Air Washington, a state-wide consortium of 11 community and technical colleges, will build capacity in the aerospace sectors. South will increase and enhance our delivery of Composites and Airframe & Powerplant programs. South will receive $1.4 million under this partnership.

Windermere Real Estate is now in the process of moving 30 brokers from their Fauntleroy office to their West Seattle Junction office. The move is underway, if a bit slowly, but should be completed soon according to the company.

Update for Oct. 11
Duane Starkenburg, the man accused of attacking female joggers in Lincoln Park, pleaded not guilty to an unrelated charge of first degree child rape on Oct. 11, according to the King County Prosecutor's Office.

Starkenburg is charged with the alleged sexual assault of a 9 to 10-year-old female victim 10 years ago. The allegation arose while Seattle Police detectives were investigating the jogger attacks.

Starkenburg remains in jail on a $500,000 bail and has a case setting hearing on Oct. 25 for the child rape charge.

He is set to go to trial on Nov. 29 for charges related to the alleged jogger attacks.

Update for Sept. 27
King County Prosecutors have charged Duane "Eddie" Starkenburg, in the news recently for allegedly tackling women joggers at Lincoln Park, with first-degree child rape.

Mayor Mike McGinn today presented his Proposed 2012 budget with the goals of preserving direct services, transforming how the city does business and investing in infrastructure and the future.

According to the Mayor's Office, the mayor’s proposed budget is grounded on the principles of shared prosperity, race and social justice, effective and open government, and public safety and health. The total proposed budget is $4.2 billion, including the city’s $910 million General Fund.

“We are working to not just balance the budget, but to take concrete action on priorities: education, jobs, transit, public safety and protecting the most vulnerable,” said McGinn in a statement.

The mayor’s proposed budget preserves direct services by reforming and reorganizing how the city provides services.

“Our focus is on outcomes for the community, which leads us to come up with new models that reduce costs, and refocus our tax dollars where they are most effective,” said McGinn.

The mayor's 2012 Proposed Budget:

- Maintains the current firefighting strength and preserves companies assigned to neighborhood fire stations.

Press release:
New Futures has appointed veteran board member and management professional Jenn Ramirez Robson as its Interim Executive Director, beginning Oct. 1.

She replaces outgoing Executive Director Mario Paredes, who recently resigned for personal reasons.

While the agency is saddened to lose such a tireless supporter of New Futures and wish him the best, the Board moved forward with its succession plan and selected a strong and capable leader in Jenn Ramirez Robson.

Jenn Ramirez Robson has served on the board of director of New Futures since 2007. She brings a thorough understanding of the organization's mission, programs to help children and families, and its donor base. Ramirez Robson has served on the board's governance and development committees and as its vice president.

Along with her commitment to New Futures' mission, Ramirez Robson brings 20 years of management experience in the private sector and in local government.

During her career, she has served as a management analyst for the city manager of Burien, as well as a policy advisor, legislative analyst, project manager and technology professional with the City of Seattle.

Just after midnight on Sept. 24, a West Seattle couple living on the 4400 block of 50th Ave S.W. in the Genesee Hill neighborhood awoke to commotion outside their home.

Both of their cars had been vandalized - all the tires slashed and rocks thrown through the rear windshields, according to police.

Attached to one of the rocks was a note that read, “ “God hates Fags, get the f**k out of our neighborhood. The Bible says, ‘God forbids men committing indecent act(s) with other men.’ Pack up your s**t and get your gay s**t out! KKK.”

While the physical damage is considered a property damage crime, the anti-gay note adds malicious harassment to the charge if suspects are apprehended.

Malicious harassment is Washington State's hate crime statute, and a "person is guilty of malicious harassment if he or she maliciously and intentionally commits one of the following acts because of his or her perception of the victim's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or mental, physical, or sensory handicap.”

When the weather turns grey in the early mornings I think of all the activities that I am involved in and it cheers me up. Even though I don’t travel worldwide anymore there is a myriad of interesting places to visit close to home. Our local Chinese Gardens are beginning to take shape and lunch out at the South Seattle Community College is still a treat. And if you Google eating places in West Seattle you would come up with over 140 of them.

If you want to venture a little farther from home there is always the Frye Art Museum which is free with free parking. Once I had a ball criticizing a traveling exhibit there. The artist’s collages of human parts of the anatomy reminded me of Salvador Dali who really enjoyed chopping women up and calling it art. And in one corner there was a platform with a ladder leading up to a huge tape recorder with tape falling down to the floor in a pyramid. I asked someone what that was called and was referred to the title on the wall. It simply read, “Tape Falling.” Duh! Oh well, it takes all kinds.