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This year through October, 3,011 cars have been stolen in the City of Seattle. That is an average of 9.9 a day. While Seattle certainly isn’t the stolen car capital of the United States – Laredo, TX has that distinction – the number of auto thefts has kept auto theft prevention a priority.
The Seattle Police Department has begun to tweet stolen car information in the hopes that victims of auto theft will be able to get their cars back sooner and to let thieves know that their stolen rides just got hotter.
When a car is reported stolen in Seattle, the 911 Center will tweet the color, year, make, model, body style and license plate of the stolen car. Twitter followers who spot a car that has been tweeted as stolen on “Get your car back” should call 911. Citizens are directed not to make contact when coming into contact with a previously tweeted stolen car and any potential occupants. All 911 calls will be screened to ensure that the car information is correctly matched and to verify that the car has not been returned to its rightful owner. If the car is still listed as stolen, the information will be broadcast so that officers can respond to the area. Stolen cars that have been recovered will not be tweeted – in other words, leave the sorting of what is stolen and what is not to the experts at 911.
To sign up, go to http://twitter.com/getyourcarback.
At this month’s NPAC meeting, the police reminded us of some crime prevention tips:
- Lock the doors and windows of your home. A lot of reported home thefts were *un*-forced entry. These could have been opportunity crimes that wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t so easy to enter.
- Don’t leave things in sight in your car. Car prowlers love to look to see if there’s anything valuable in a box or bag left on the car seat.
- If you want to leave valuables in the trunk, put them in the trunk BEFORE you park. Criminals sometimes hang around parking lots looking for people to put things in trunks. It only takes 60 seconds to break open a trunk.
- Northgate Mall and other places that have large parking lots have high car prowl and theft rates, even during daylight hours. That said, the theft rate in the north end is on a slight downward trend.
- For more tips on auto theft, visit http://www.seattle.gov/police/prevention/Auto/default.htm
- Call 9-1-1 if you see suspicious activity. The police would rather respond and have it turn out to be nothing than for you not to call.
Minutes from the December meeting are here.
From the SDOT Blog: http://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2010/11/19/volunteers-needed-for-citywide-pedestrian-and-bicycle-counts/
In 2011, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will begin counting pedestrians and bicyclists using the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project methodology, and we need your help!
This is an exciting step forward in SDOT’s data collection efforts. Following a consistent, nationally recognized methodology will improve the quality and consistency of our data, and also increase the frequency with which we collect this type of data. The information we collect will document current levels of walking and biking, help us measure our progress towards increasing the number of people who walk and bike, and help make the case for additional investments. More information about the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project is available at http://bikepeddocumentation.org/
SDOT has traditionally relied on volunteers to help us count pedestrians and bicyclists, and we have been grateful for the enthusiastic participation in the past. With the new and improved methodology, we will need even more volunteers than before. We would like to recruit approximately 120 people to assist with the quarterly counts and hope you will be one of them.
Each volunteer will be asked to:
- Attend a short training (either in person or by viewing the training materials on line)
- Conduct counts for a two-hour period on a weekday or Saturday (or both!) once per quarter, starting in January.
Counts will take place January 11-13, May 10-12, July 5-7 and September 13-15, and the Saturday preceding. Count periods are 10 am to noon and 5 to 7 pm on weekdays and noon until 2 pm on Saturdays.
There are count locations throughout the city and we will make every effort to match volunteers with their preferred area.
I hope you will join us for this important effort. To volunteer, please send an e-mail to walkandbike@seattle.gov with your name, e-mail address, phone number, preferred neighborhood, and whether you are available weekdays or weekends or both.
Thank you and please feel free to pass this along to others who might be interested.
Seattle reLeaf is offering free trees for your yard! The application (PDF) is at the bottom of this post.
The Seattle reLeaf Trees for Neighborhoods program is pleased to offer you free trees to plant in your yard. Planting trees is a great way to lower your carbon footprint. An average city tree will absorb about a ton of harmful carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Urban trees also help keep our water clean, our air breathable, provide habitat for birds and other wildlife and make Seattle a vibrant place to live and work.
Tree supply is limited, so it is first come, first served. Applications will not be accepted after Dec 6. Program participants will receive up to 4 free trees per household, watering bags, a bag of GroCo compost, and training on proper tree planting and care.
Available species include:
- Shore pine (Pinus contorta ‘Contorta’)
- Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
- Red oak (Quercus rubra)
- Western red cedar (Thuja plicata ‘Excelsa’)
- Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
To receive a free tree, you must meet these guidelines:
- Live in Seattle, and plant the tree on your property (renters must have their landlord’s permission)
- Plant the trees in your yard, and not as street trees
- Do NOT plant the trees under power lines (these are large trees that will eventually grow into the lines)
- Commit to caring for the tree in the future, including watering for the first 3 summers
To get your trees, send in the application ASAP. Questions can be directed to:
Jana Dilley
Seattle reLeaf
jana.dilley@seattle.gov
206-615-1668
2010 Trees for Neighborhoods Application
From Michele: “Celebrate the union of sweet and salty this weekend at Treehouse Coffee with a crispy Belgian waffle smothered in syrup and chopped bacon baked right inside. Today is a good day to get outside to walk off some of Thursday’s gluttony, so why not stop in for a piece of coffee cake and a latte?”
Read more about Treehouse Coffee here and here.
It’s a bit of an info dump (and a bit late) but there’s a lot of useful stuff here…
Emergency Operations Center to remain active through evening commute
SEATTLE – The City of Seattle Emergency Operations Center will remain open through the evening commute. Seattle Department of Transportation crews will continue their response efforts through the night. The EOC will re-activate tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m.
The following is a status update on the City’s response to the severe weather as of 2:00 p.m.:
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (SDOT)
- If travel is essential, please consider using public transit. King County Metro is encouraging riders to check route info on the Metro website: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/rr/adverseweather.html. Sound Transit recommends riders check http://www.soundtransit.org/ for Link Light Rail service updates.
- Residents and businesses are advised they are responsible for clearing the sidewalks in front of their homes or businesses.
- SDOT currently has eight plow/spreader trucks operating in the north end and eleven operating in the south end. One brine flush truck is operating in the north end and two in the south end.
- SDOT staff will continue to monitor elevated structures all day and apply salt before the evening commute.
- SDOT cautions that although a road may look clear, there is a risk of black ice. Most major arterials are open and have at least one passable lane.
- Please click the following link to view an updated list of road closures in Seattle. This site will be updated as conditions change: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/winterweather.htm#closed
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
The city is responding to temporary housing needs for the homeless.
Day Centers include:
- Family and Adult Service Center (FASC) Day Center at 2015 3rd Ave is open until 10:00 p.m., and will open four hours early on Wednesday, at 6 a.m. and remain open until 10:00 p.m.
- The Seattle Center House is open as a warming center from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Overnight Shelters include:
- The Seattle Center Pavilion near Key Arena is open tonight; The Rainier Room (upper Northwest Courtyard) will be open as a shelter on Wednesday, Nov. 24 and Thursday, Nov. 25. Doors open at 9 p.m. each evening and the shelter closes at 6:00 a.m.;
- City Hall, 4th Avenue between Cherry and James Streets., is open from 9:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.; people should not arrive before 8:30 p.m. The City Hall shelter will remain open in the evening through Thursday the 25th;
- Frye Hotel (women only), 3rd Ave. and Yesler Way, opens at 8:00 p.m.
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
- Garbage, yard waste and recycling collection have been suspended in Seattle for today, Tues., Nov. 23, due to road conditions. Missed customers will be collected next Tues., Nov. 30, and allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage at no additional charge.
- Customers missed Mon., Nov. 22, will be collected next Mon., Nov. 29, and also allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage at no additional charge.
- When setting out extra waste, customers are encouraged to place perishable food items in their collection containers and set bagged, non-perishable items next to the containers.
For Wednesday, Nov. 24, Seattle Public Utilities will make a decision whether to suspend garbage, yard waste and recycling collection once road conditions have been evaluated for safety.
If Pipes Break or Freeze
Freezing weather is here. That means frozen and broken pipes are a possibility. If a water pipe breaks follow these steps:
- Immediately close the main shut-off valve to stop flooding. The shut-off valve can be indoors or outdoors – usually in a basement, crawlspace or garage. If you cannot turn off the main shutoff valve, Seattle Public Utilities customers can call (206) 386-1800 and a crew will turn off the water at the meter for a standard service charge.
- Call a plumber to repair or replace the damaged section of pipe as soon as possible.
- Don’t use hair dryers to thaw frozen pipes — you face the risk of electrocution!
- Learn more about how to protect yourself at http://seattle.gov/util/Services/Drainage_&_Sewer/Emergency_Weather_Tips/WinterWeatherTips/index.htm
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will continue to post service updates on www.seattle.gov/util. Customers can also reach SPU for information by calling Customer Service at (206) 684-3000.
For media calls regarding Seattle Public Utilities operations after 7 p.m., please contact Karen Reed at (206) 396-8885, Karen.reed@seattle.gov.
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Due to the weather, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) will not cite routine parking violations or overtime/peak violations. However, if SPD receives a complaint for a safety or access issue – blocked roadway, driveway, or a specific issue for SDOT/Metro – an officer will respond. If the vehicle’s driver is not available to move the vehicle, a ticket will be issued and the car impounded. If SPD calls for a car to be impounded, the vehicle will be taken to the tow yard.
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Seattle Fire reminds residents that fires are frequent during cold weather. The majority of the fires are due to furniture, bedding, and other materials placed near baseboard heaters and portable heaters.
Here are a few tips to keep homes safe during cold winter weather:
- Give your heaters space – Do not put anything next to a heater.
- Turn portable heaters off before leaving the room or before going to bed.
- Never use an extension cord with a portable heater.
- If light is needed during a power outage, use a battery-operated light source instead of candles.
- Always keep burning candles within sight. Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or before going to sleep.
- Wood stoves and fireplaces not only need space around them for safety, they should also have their chimney cleaned regularly to reduce the chance of a chimney fire.
- And just in case, make sure you have working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and a fire escape plan that has been practiced by everyone in the home.
For more information on seasonal fire safety, visit http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/homesafety/november.htm
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION
- The following community centers are open until 4 p.m. today: Ballard, Green Lake, Northgate, Queen Anne, Miller, Magnolia, Garfield, Delridge, South Park, Southwest, Rainier Beach, Hiawatha, High Point and Alki. The Lake Union Park Armory is open as a warming site.
- Jackson Park Golf Course is open for sledding and other sliding!
- Other Seattle Parks and Recreation program updates:
- Athletic fields are closed today and tomorrow.
- All pools are closed.
- Amy Yee Tennis Center is open for drop-in tennis; scheduled programs are cancelled today.
- Carkeek Environmental Learning Center is closed today; Discovery Park and Camp Long Environmental Learning Centers are open regular hours for drop-in activities.
- School age programs are cancelled both today and tomorrow.
- Scheduled community center programs are cancelled today and tomorrow.
- The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center is closed.
- Seattle Parks and Recreation School Age Care day camp programs are canceled Tuesday, Nov. 23.
- School Age Care program operation updates are available on the child care hotline at 684-4203.
- Canceled School Age Care day camps include the following locations: Alki, Delridge, Hiawatha, High Point, South Park, Rainier Beach, Rainier, Van Asselt, Jefferson, Yesler, Garfield, Montlake (at McGilvra Elementary School), Magnolia, Queen Anne, Ballard, Bitter Lake, and Meadowbrook Community Centers, and the Montlake Community Center program at Mcgilvra Elementary School and the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center program at Wedgewood Elementary School.
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
City Light is estimating about 640 customers currently are without power, mainly in West Seattle and Burien areas. The estimated time of restoration is 3:00 p.m. City Light had a total of 1,500 customers without power at the height of the storm about 10:00 p.m. last night. More than half of those customers were restored by 7:00 a.m. For updated information, please go to www.seattle.gov/light and click on the “Outage” icon on the left hand side.
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The Green Lake branch is closed today. Due to inclement weather, all other libraries opened at 1:00 p.m. It is expected that Library locations, including the Seattle Central Library, that opened today will have the staffing capacity to remain open until 5 p.m. this evening.
This information will be up-dated as new information is available. For details, please contact the Emergency Operations Center PIO at (206) 233-5072.
KOMO’s North Seattle blog is reporting that power lines fell on a car in Pinehurst, in the 500 block of NE 127th St.
Seattle City Light recent added a real-time map of outages across Seattle. Here’s a screenshot of the current map, showing that the nearby area is still without power.
From Michele: “This weekend at The Treehouse we will be serving Eggs Benedict. Fresh peach passionfruit scones will be delivered on Saturday and we have a number of seasonal drink specialties. Thanks for suporting your local coffee shop!”
Read more about Treehouse Coffee here and here.
The homeless encampment at former Fire Station 39 is having an open house on November 26, the day after Thanksgiving, from 1 to 5 p.m. All are welcome.
Please see the flyer for more information. The group also has a web site: www.nickelsvilleseattle.org.
This is great news for improving Northgate Way! I’m particularly excited about improving the intersection with 5th Ave NE.
Continue reading City receives $4.5M grant to improve Northgate Way
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