Cindi Barker Resident of the Morgan Junction

What I would like see happen in West Seattle in 2009 is that we continue to build up community involvement. There are so many talented, skilled and knowledgeable people who live here, and we can do so much for and in the neighborhoods when people get involved in their local community organizations. Youth oriented, lending a helping hand, civic affairs, all of them do important things for the benefit of everyone. Volunteerism reached great highs under JFK, perhaps we'll see a return to that way of thinking in the coming year.

Dow Constantine

King County Councilmember

I hope that in 2009 West Seattleites will support our local businesses like never before so that they can survive and thrive in a down economy. One of the biggest changes of the past decade has been the renaissance in the Junction and our other business districts, which had fallen on hard times during the '70s, '80s and early '90s. That vibrancy benefits us all. Even in a recession we will shop, dine and socialize a bit. If we focus that spending on our neighborhood entrepreneurs, we should be able to see our local business community through to better times.

Mike Dady

North Delridge Neighborhood Council Co-Chair

I would suggest that everyone who drives to please obey the posted speed limits, stopping for pedestrians and no tailgating. Same goes for pedestrians and bicyclists, obey the laws. The public sphere of streets and sidewalks seems to be the defacto town square these days where everyone interacts and a little more civility in this arena would go along way towards West Seattle's quality of life and well being.

Aaron Goss

Owner and master mechanic at Aaron's Bicycle Repair

I would like to see fewer people driving cars and more people walking and bicycling. For those that are left on the road, I would like to see fewer confrontations and more cooperation. Just because someone does something illegal, does not give you the right to retaliate by yelling, honking, flipping the bird, throwing things, etc. With the effects of peak oil looming, we all need to conserve and be nice!

Matt Johnson

Skatepark Advisory Task Force

I would love to see the Delridge skate park project back on its feet after the resent economy woes. We're at a deficit for skate parks, but times are tough and we've got no resources to work with. What would be really cool is if locally we were able to fund and keep this project moving with our own community resources.

Matt Von

Owner of Easy Street Records

(In the Junction) We have accomplished a lot over the last few years. I'd like to see that we don't get metered parking. We've got to all work towards not having pay parking on California Avenue. It's made for a more vibrant shopping district.

Lora Lewis

Owner of Hotwire Coffee

What I've noticed in the past few months is more people that are rediscovering their local community. For the New Year what I'd like to see is a continuation of that trend, people being more aware of others in need, contributing to the food bank and doing more volunteer activities.

Randy Engstrom

Founding Director Youngstown Cultural Arts Center

I would like to see more connections between different neighborhoods. People that live in Delridge going to Alki, people living in the junction going to Delridge [...] There are a lot of different communities and I'd like to see them interact more.

Mark Wainwright

President Admiral Neighborhood Association

In Admiral we've got some interesting things going on with a bunch of neighborhood folks getting involved in a park project at California. I hope whatever comes of that process that it's something the community can be proud of and that it is able to bring the community at large together.

For West Seattle, I hope that the opportunities that are presented by a lot of the development and transportation challenges we're going to face are realized and looking at that from an optimistic standpoint.

Rose Egge can be reached at Rosee@robinsonnews.com