Tag Archives: election

Crime, Health and Safety, Local Events, Urban Planning

Parties, crime, and alcohol touched on at NBHC meeting

May 7, 2009 Jason 1 Comment

The North Beacon Hill Council met tonight at 7 at the Beacon Hill library. Very briefly, here’s what went down:

Reps from DPD present talked about outreach and prep for the next planning meeting May 30th.
An ad hoc committee and an outreach subcommittee of the Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee is seeking a six month delay in the DPD neighborhood planning process to get outreach to more of the community and focus more closely on neighborhood issues specifically instead of Southeast Seattle issues generally.
Beacon Mountain Playground is moving forward with phase 1 of the project.
An SDOT representative will be at the June meeting to provide an update.
Some background on the Sound Transit tunnel voids was given by Roger Pence. There are believed to be only two unfilled voids remaining and they are being actively worked on.
Some discussion of the pedestrian safety, zoning, and environmental issues around the new car wash occurred, leading into a proposal to form a committee to work on attracting additional businesses to the hill and a motion to write a letter to the DPD concerning the zoning conflict with the transit overlay area.
Police updates included notice that staffing hours will likely change soon, focusing more bodies during the times of day when they’re needed. Also brief discussion of car prowls, burglaries, graffiti, car accidents, prostitution, etc.
Asian Express’s liquor license renewal is mentioned to be coming up soon, and it may be an opportune time to work out a “good neighbor” agreement to reduce the sales of high-alcohol beverages.
Volunteers were sought to staff the NBHC booth at the Jefferson Park festival on June 6th.
Michael Richmond mentioned the possible upcoming city council and mayoral candidate forums this fall. Previous candidate forums are said to have been especially well attended here on the hill.
The Piñata Party will be on July 18th this year — the same day as the Sound Transit Link Light Rail grand opening. This may be both good and bad.
Newly elected board members:
- Matthew Stubbs
- Sara Hasan

Did I miss something or get something wrong? Let us know in the comments.

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Election day montage

November 6, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Election day rose along the fence at El Centro de la Raza. Roses in November are one of the great things about living here. Photo by Wendi

The Strange Bedfellows blog recently ran a short interview with Grant Johnson and Illume Miller of Grown Folks Coffeehouse, in which they discuss Barack Obama, the costs of health insurance, and the transformation of American society — P-I
Dan Bertolet tells a tale of the sounds of sadness versus the sounds of hope in the CD — hugeasscity
Check out these wonderful photos of our neighbors in Columbia City on Election Day — Columbia City Blog

Life on the Hill

How was your Election Day?

November 5, 2008 Wendi Dunlap 1 Comment

It’s 3:00 am, and according to the Slog (one photo at that link has very rude language; you have been warned), at 2:30 people were still partying on the streets of Capitol Hill. For all I know, they are still out there now. Wow. There were street parties in the U District and near the Showbox as well–lots of happy, celebrating people. I haven’t seen anything like this since the Mariners beat the Yankees in the ’95 playoffs.

Unfortunately I wasn’t on Beacon Hill this evening to see how folks on the Hill spent their Election Day evening; we were up in Greenwood at a house party. So how did it go down here? Where did you all watch the election returns?

Life on the Hill

It’s not too late to vote

November 4, 2008 Wendi Dunlap 3 Comments

El Centro polling place welcomes you. Photo by Wendi. — El Centro polling site welcomes you. Photo by Wendi.

We stopped by El Centro de la Raza, our precinct’s polling site, shortly before 5 pm. There were a lot of people there (in a fairly tiny room) but no lines, and a lot of happy energy. If you haven’t voted yet, polls are open until 8:00 pm, and if you are in line before that time, you get to vote even if it’s after 8:00. So, no excuses — get out there and vote! If you have an absentee ballot in hand that you forgot to mail, you can drop it off at your local polling site.

I will miss these polling sites when we switch to all-mail voting next year. There was always something special about going in to vote next to your neighbors, and exchanging a few words with the poll workers. It was a great bit of Americana, and I think we’ll have lost a piece of our community’s soul when it is gone.

Local Events

It’s time to vote!

November 4, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

If you didn’t vote already by early voting or absentee, this is the day, folks. Not sure where your polling place is? Here is a list of every polling place in the county, but if you don’t remember your precinct number, go here instead, fill out the form, and the page will display your polling place information.

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: donuts (free), turkey (not free), gas (cheap)

November 3, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Did you vote yet? Krispy Kreme in Sodo will give you a free donut on Election Day. Starbucks will give you free coffee. And other folks have giveaways too, even though it’s technically against the law — The Big Blog, the P-I
Culinary Communion is brining and applewood-smoking heritage Narragansett turkeys for your Thanksgiving meal. Want one? $75 per turkey, and you should reserve it now — Devouring sEATtle, the P-I
A couple of weeks ago we mentioned gas at the Arco on 4th was (barely) under $3/gallon. Now, the cheapest gas near Beacon Hill is at the Costco on 4th: $2.39! The average price of Seattle gas has dropped more than $1/gallon in the last four weeks — SeattleGasPrices.com
Police seek your help in finding a suspect in a sexual assault at Swedish Hospital. A very clear security camera photo is here; do you know this man? — Central District News

Getting Around, Local Events

Transit measure discussion forum, 10/26

October 22, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Grown Folks Coffee are hosting a community forum to discuss the Proposition 1 mass transit expansion measure, this Sunday afternoon from 1:00-3:00 pm. Lara Fowler is organizing this, and says “We’re working to see if there might be people available from the
campaigns, but regardless, there will be people in attendance who can address the issues.”

Grown Folks is at 4878 Beacon Avenue South, and there is parking available. If you are planning to attend or have specific questions, please let Lara know at lfowler AT gth-law DOT com.

Thanks to Lara, who posted this to the Beacon Hill mailing list!

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Buses, Chinese food, and crime

October 21, 2008 Wendi Dunlap 2 Comments

Beacon Bits are collections of useful or interesting links that weâ€™ll post periodically.

Erica C. Barnett weighs in on the proposed SE Seattle bus changes — The Stranger Slog
Nancy Leson at the Times is asking readers to post about their favorite “old-school” Chinese restaurants. At least one reader has posted a comment about Beacon Hill’s late, lamented Perry Ko’s South China Restaurant — Seattle Times
Columbia City residents met with Councilman Tim Burgess on Monday to discuss their concerns about crime and a lack of police presence in the area — Seattle P-I
If you’re an absentee voter and you want to drop off your ballot early without having to put it in the mail, you can — but not in Southeast Seattle. Downtown, Renton, Delridge, and the U District are your options until Election Day, when you can also take the ballot to your local polling place — King County Elections

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Detours, coffee, and voting

October 17, 2008 Wendi Dunlap 1 Comment

1960s postcard sent by the city to warn residents -- thanks Seattle Municipal Archives!

Beacon Bits are collections of useful or interesting links that we’ll post periodically.

If you use Spokane Street between First Avenue and Fifth Avenue, you’re going to have to deal with some rerouting for a while — Rainier Valley Post
Coffee is 5 cents a cup at the Krispy Kreme down on Fourth and Holgate! — Seattle P-I
It’s not too late to register to vote! and early voting is open if you want to vote in person, but it’s in Renton — The Stranger Slog
Crowds swarm local restaurants and coffee houses on presidential debate nights (Beacon Hill coffee house Grown Folks is mentioned) — Seattle Times, a few days ago
We already posted about changes in the local bus routes, but the topic has also generated a big discussion in the P-I’s Sound Off discussion section — Seattle P-I

Local Business, Local Events

Presidential debate watching party at Grown Folks, 10/15

October 14, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Grown Folks Coffee House is hosting a viewing party for the third and final Presidential debate this coming Wednesday, October 15th, 5:30pm to 7:30pm. They are located at 4878 Beacon Avenue South. They will be hosting election returns viewing all day on Election Day as well–plan ahead!