October 2021

White Center resident Mia McFarland who is the ED Program Coordinator at the White Center Community Development Association has posted a petition on MoveOn.org to attempt to gain support for White Center businesses and the community at large after a series of fires struck the community, destroying businesses and damaging the business interests of others. 

Sign the petition here.

The petition reads:

Crime in White Center gets a lot of headlines and for good reason. Some of it has been dramatic in the form of shootings and murder that get widely shared and published.

Damaged in the recent fire at the Locker Room Tavern on 16th SW, Bizarro Italian Cafe has seen repeated burglaries. One of the owners Jaedra James shared this via Facebook on Oct. 6, "Bizzarro was broken into AGAIN last night, they’ve gotten in twice, they have attempted EVERY SINGLE NIGHT (not exaggerating) since the first successful attempt on September 26th.

We have camera’s, lights, an alarm, and 911 is called every time … we’re basically under siege …"

The Sheriff's office noted that over the last 90 days they've gotten three calls regarding the Bizarro Cafe and one, at 3:48am was responded to within 6 minutes.

#IAmLivingNorthwest: Discover, recover and coexist

Update 2:50 pm

Nucor Steel in West Seattle has been suffering from a nearly non-stop number of break-ins and thefts related to the RV's parked on Andover Street just outside their south fence. WestsideSeattle news partner Q13 Fox News reported this morning:

A spokesperson for the council got back to Q13 Fox News Wednesday night

They shared an email exchange between Herbold's office and a constituent who was concerned about the same RV encampment.

 In the email, the office explained that the 72 hour parking ordinance was suspended due to the pandemic. They say Herbold raised concerns with an SPD captain noting the reports of criminal activity that people have shared with her. 

In another part of the email, Herbold's office said this.

The King County Department of Local Services (DLS) has been in the process of developing what is known as the Sub Area Plan, for Skyway-West Hill and North Highline which includes White Center. That plan has been in the process of collecting community input since 2019 (with a significant interruption due to COVID) but in recent months has taken on renewed vigor. Part of that plan is about one of the larger fears of the residents of the area. That of gentrification and displacement. On Oct. 6 King County DHCS and DLS are presenting an Anti-Displacement Report in the form of an online briefing. The event has been publicized before but the county shared a reminder today in the form of a letter to the community. 

Sound Transit via their website shared that they are seeking people to serve on community advisory groups for the West Seattle and Ballard Link light rail extensions. Applications will be accepted through 5:00pm on October 27th.

Their webpage states:

Sound Transit is forming Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) to provide another forum to share information and to collaborate with community members around issues and tradeoffs as we work to deliver a project on time and within scope. The feedback from these groups taken together with all the comments received from the public comment period will be provided to the Sound Transit Board before it confirms or modifies the preferred alternative for the WSBLE project early next year.

information from King County Metro

October welcomes many West Seattle transit improvements by land and sea. Numerous bus routes have been restored or beefed up, and water taxi service will continue day service uninterrupted this winter. We hope this improves your mobility choices around the region!

Transit service changes started Oct. 2. Check out the complete countywide schedule of service additions and updates at kingcounty.gov/ServiceChange.        .

West Seattle service highlights and changes include:

Service Frequency Improvements