I’m running for the Board because I want to do the work. The Board’s duties of making policy, overseeing the management of the District, providing accountability and representing the public aren’t getting done. If the voters let me, I’ll do the job.
I want the District to walk the talk. Standing up for accountability and community engagement are positive and supportive of the direction the District is trying to take.
You can find out more about Charlie through his campaign website.
The top-line summary:
…there has been an overall increase in Major Crimes in South Precinct for the first four months of 2009, when compared with the same period in 2008. Robberies and aggravated assaults in South are both up through April in 2009, when compared with 2008, resulting in an overall increase in Violent Crimes.
Among Property Crimes, larceny/thefts have increased from the same period a year ago. Burglaries and vehicle thefts, on the other hand, are at the same level in 2009 through April as they were in 2008 in South Precinct.
…despite increases in specific crimes, the trend line for crime in South Precinct is downward, with total Major Crimes declining each month in 2009 compared to the previous month and falling below the monthly April total from 2008. This is a different pattern from that seen in 2008, when Major Crimes increased in each of the first four months of the year.
Comparative, historical precinct stats are also available for each month individually as PDF and Excel files. We’ve also made them available as Google Docs spreadsheets.
Be sure to check out the Events calendar for more upcoming activities nearby!
At a community event in nearby Columbia City:
Today Mayor Greg Nickels presented funding awards totaling $128,384 to 22 Neighborhood Business District Associations throughout Seattle to continue the city’s investments in building healthy communities and supporting our local economy.
Some of the projects funded include the creation of new business organizations, business district promotion (branding, marketing campaigns, farmers market start-up), physical improvement and enhancement projects (leaf clean up, curb bulb landscaping and banners), etc.
The 2009 Neighborhood Business District Awards recipients were:
Total Amount of Awards: $128,384
And what about Beacon Hill? How much money did our business associations receive? Continue reading BH business district misses out on $thousands
This morning around 10:30, there were reports of a bear sighting near 17th & Ferdinand, and motorcycle officers were dispatched to search southward along the Chief Sealth Trail from about 5000 Beacon Avenue.
KING5 and KIRO-TV have preliminary reports.
If this turns out to be the same bear that made the news up north earlier this week, that bear really gets around!
11:50 Update: The P-I reports paw prints and a gnawed-on ice cream container found near the Beacon Hill P-Patch. And KOMO now has initial coverage.
12:45 Update: The P-I adds that Department of Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Kim Chandler doubts the credibility of the reported sighting and that “wildlife agents will not be responding unless additional, more credible reports are received.”
1:30 Update: The Weekly on the false bear alarm.
2:15 Update: The P-I now has pictures of the P-Patch tracks.
6:00 Update: The Big Blog has a photo of the ice cream evidence and Blogging Georgetown breaks out the hazard stats for black bear attacks.
Several neighbors on the mailing list have mentioned a small group of nervous young men going from door-to-door pitching GE alarm systems. They may just be inexperienced at their job, but their demeanor, lack of brochures and business cards, and hard-sell tactics are causing concern.
Sara from the mailing list mentioned she’d seen them a few years ago when she lived in Queen Anne, and that she’d learned they are BYU students recruited by an alarm company every summer for door-to-door selling.
Reports from Monday and Tuesday have placed them canvassing homes east of Beacon Avenue from 18th to 25th Avenue South.
Contacted via telephone, Tim Burdick of Burdick’s Security on Rainier Avenue relates that he’s received a number calls about these hucksters lately; they were also around Columbia City yesterday. He too mentions that they appear to be some sort of summer program hired by an out-of-area alarm company that hits the region every year.
One of these men actually jammed his foot in the door when the homeowner attempted to close it, according to a caller Tim had spoken to, and they had also mentioned they represented “Platinum Security”. Interestingly, the Beacon Hill Neighborhood Watch crimelog had a report Monday afternoon from 24th & Spokane: “Attempted burglary. White male posing as alarm installer tried to push his way into the house. White hat, blue jeans now headed east on So. Hanford.”
Some digging online turns up Platinum Protection, LLC based out of Orem, UT. A telephone representative confirmed that they do summer door-to-door sales nationwide. While they have a Seattle summer office, contact information for that office was not provided.
In any case, if you feel threatened or in danger, do call 911. Call in your complaints to Platinum Protection as well: 801-223-6500.
Update: They’re active all over nearby; this sounds like them in Hillman City, too.
Thanks to Alex, Joyce, David, Hazel, Ezra, Sara and Sandra from the mailing list, and also to Tim from Burdick’s Security!
The Seattle Post Globe fills us in on the filling of an eighth “void” along the tunnel excavation route at 18th and Lander. Another potential void is also being examined at 17th as well. Crews are expected to complete investigation and repairs by May 22nd.
After the initial report of the sinkhole that rose all the way to the surface, subsequent voids were identified by reviewing records of excavation spoils for abnormally high readings originally attributed to mismeasurement, accuracy, or instrument calibration issues.
BHB reader Heidi wrote this morning about having seen crews working at these repair sites (and being a bit hesitant about answering questions) and pointed out the crumbling retaining wall nearby. Interestingly, in the Post Globe report Sound Transit spokesman Bruce Gray states no structural damage has been reported from these voids and that only a quarter-inch of settling has been measured, and none of that near the void sites.
Thanks Heidi!
I-5 Reduced to One Lane for Re-striping
On Saturday, May 16 at 9:30 p.m. crews working for Sound Transit will begin reducing northbound lanes on I-5 between S. Spokane Street and Olive Way. Drivers should plan ahead and expect delays. This work is being done in preparation for the University Link Light Rail construction which includes closing the Olive Way off-ramp on Monday, May 18.
Drivers should expect to see the first lane closure on northbound I-5 at 9:30 p.m., the second at 10:30 p.m., the third lane closure at 11:30 p.m., with all traffic shifted to the far right lane by midnight. All northbound lanes of I-5 will reopen by 6 a.m. on Sunday, May 17.
Crews will also close ramps to and from downtown Seattle on northbound I-5. The University Street on-ramp will close at 9:00 p.m., the Cherry Street on-ramp at 10:00 p.m and the Seneca and 4th Ave off-ramps at midnight. All ramps will reopen by 6 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should follow the signed detour during the closure.
For more information about this project, contact Erin Hunter at (888) 298-2395 or erin.hunter@soundtransit.org.
Project information online: http://www.soundtransit.org/i5undercrossing
S. Spokane Street Viaduct Project
There is currently a temporary closure (approximately seven weeks) between Airport Way South and 6th Avenue South on South Spokane Street, to allow placement of a water quality vault underneath the Spokane Street Viaduct. This surface closure does not affect vehicles approaching Spokane Street from northbound I-5 (via exit 163) or from Beacon Hill (via S Columbian Way). Vehicles from these directions will make a slight jog to the left as they proceed west through the intersection at Sixth Avenue South.
Eastbound lower Spokane Street remains closed between First and Sixth Avenues, with a detour route north on First or Fourth to Lander. This eastbound closure will continue into mid-2010, although the section between the E-3 Busway and Sixth Avenue S will reopen this summer.
SR 519 Intermodal Access Project
In this WSDOT project, crews are building a bridge over the railroad tracks on Royal Brougham Way and connecting a new off-ramp from I-90 and I-5 to the Edgar Martinez Way overpass near Safeco Field. Crews have completed widening of First Avenue S and S Atlantic Street. These improvements will enhance safety and traffic flow for people heading to and from the Port of Seattle, the waterfront, sports stadiums and destinations in the SODO neighborhood.
S. Royal Brougham Way will be open with one lane in each direction at least two hours before all Mariners games between Occidental Avenue S. and Fourth Avenue S. Left turns from northbound Fourth Avenue S. to westbound S. Royal Brougham Way will be prohibited. When S. Royal Brougham Way is closed, access to the Qwest Field Events Center garage will be provided from First Avenue S. and Occidental Avenue S. Pedestrian access will be provided at all times on the north sidewalk of S. Royal Brougham Way.
Thanks to Sound Transit, Steve Louie, and WSDOT for the information.
My name is Erin Musser and my family and I have lived on North Beacon Hill for over 12 years. I rode my power wheelchair as usual to pick my 6 year old son up from Beacon Hill International School at 4:45 pm on Friday, May 8. I signed him out, descended the dozen or so stairs balancing myself with a cane and was puzzled when my chair wasn’t there.
I called the police and 2 different squad cars came after making a few sweeps around the neighborhood to no avail. I spoke with one of the teachers who said he saw my chair heading north on 13th Ave South ridden by a young male with dark curly hair and dark skin. He could only see a short tuft of curly dark hair above the back of the seat which indicated the alleged suspect was most likely fairly young.
The entirely black chair is a Jazzy Power Chair Model 1122.
Any information can be e-mailed to me at: epoly@aol.com or you may call our home number at (206) 860-6928. Thank you for any leads you can give.
KIRO TV has a video report.
Thanks Sara for the video link.
(Editors’ note, May 21: Chesnut has now been found. Thanks for your help, everyone!)
Saber Head writes, looking for a lost cat:
Hi there-
I lost my cat last night on Saturday, May 9th on 12th and Atlantic. He is a male domestic silver tabby and goes by the name Chesnut. When called he does come to the sound of his name. His stripes are very faint, and barely visible, he has lighter coloring on his chin and has white lines around his eyes (looks like white eyeliner). He is quite friendly, but I dont know what his behaviour might be outside. He likes shrubs and bushes, if you happen to see this cat around, please call us! He is an indoor cat and has been outside once or twice. Please let us know if you see him. I am so worried about him!
Last seen: May 9th, 10 PM
Name:Chesnut
Type: Silver tabby-Faint stripes-lighter color around mouth and underbelly
