September 2022

Mayor Bruce Harrell announced on Tuesday, that he will appoint interim Chief Adrian Diaz as the next permanent Chief of the Seattle Police Department, following an extensive national search and robust community engagement.

“Throughout this process, we’ve heard Seattleites’ clear expectations for the Seattle Police Department: effective public safety, meaningful community engagement, and a commitment to accountability and continuous improvement. I am confident that Chief Adrian Diaz will provide the leadership necessary to advance these critical priorities and make Seattle safe for all residents,” said Mayor Harrell. “We looked for candidates across the department and across the nation, elevated the voices of the community, and closely examined applicants’ qualifications and skills. Chief Diaz was the clear choice to respond to concerns about crime and safety and to drive the effective response that will make a real impact.”

Information from King County

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced a set of proposed investments in his biennial budget across multiple departments aimed at reducing crime, gun violence, and behavioral health crises. 

After 909 days the West Seattle Bridge is at long last open. It came as a bit of surprise since Seattle Department of Transportation staffers had said for weeks that it would open on Sunday Sept. 18. 

But at 9:07 after some last minute street sweeping to clean up a bit of debris, SDOT crews took down the barriers and the road was clear.

Information from the City of Seattle

 As the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) prepares to reopen the West Seattle Bridge on Sunday, elected officials and other dignitaries gathered at Terminal 18 Park on Harbor Island to commemorate the end of construction and return to service of the stronger, safer West Seattle Bridge. 

Several attendees from all levels of government and the community were invited to reflect on the closure and repair process and give remarks before the bridge reopens this weekend.  

information from Seattle Department of Transportation

We have completed our analysis of strength tests conducted earlier this week on the West Seattle Bridge, and the bridge has passed its final safety test. This data confirms the bridge is strong, safe, and ready to reopen on Sunday, September 18, as planned.

Earlier this week, we conducted load testing on the bridge to confirm that it is structurally sound and able to reopen thanks to the repairs we’ve completed over the past 2 ½ years. This testing process involved driving up to a dozen 80,000-pound trucks on the bridge deck, then actively measuring the bridge’s response to the added weight using the new sensors.

Information from Seattle Parks and Recreation

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and the Morgan Junction Community Association invite the community to celebrate the renovation of Lowman Beach Park!  Please join us on Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 10 a.m. to noon at 7017 Beach Dr. SW, Seattle, WA 98136 in West Seattle. The morning will be fun and filled with opportunities to learn more about the beach restoration and the animals that depend on it.