Harrell in front of his campaign headquarters in the MidTown Centre at 23rd and Union

City Councilmember Bruce Harrell announced his candidacy for Seattle mayor Tuesday, and his campaign set up shop at 23rd and Union next to Earl’s Cuts & Style.

Harrell has housed successful political campaigns at 23rd and Union in the past, but this time he is entering an already-crowded mayoral race with several other heavy hitters vying to the job.

Declared candidates so far include incumbent Mayor Mike McGinn, City Councilmember Tim Burgess, real estate broker Charlie Staadecker, state Senator Ed Murray, former Greenwood Community Council President Kate Martin, former City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck and, as we reported previously, Omari Tahir-Garrett. Continue reading →

Hey you! Yes, you. Have you ever wanted to learn the tools of the professional journalism trade? Do you want to tell the stories behind the people, places, issues and events down the block and around your neighborhood?

Then you should register for the first ever free Central District Journalism School course, hosted by CDNews Editor Tom Fucoloro.

The class is designed for journalism beginners who live, work or play in Seattle’s Central District. You’ll learn the basics of reporting and crafting a compelling news story, and classes will meet in the comfort of 25th and Union’s Cortona Cafe.

The six-week course—which may be among the first of its kind—starts Monday, February 18 and will meet from 5–6 p.m. every Monday through March 25.

There are only six spots available, so register now.

See you in class!

The Bullitt Center is on the edge of our typical coverage range, but its inventive design will likely have a big impact not just on future buildings in the neighborhood, but all around the world.

Slog posted this video earlier today, and it’s a good chance to see inside the 15th and Madison building that is starting to come together:

Living Proof: Building the Bullitt Center from Brad Kahn on Vimeo.

From Phyllis Fletcher: Unbeknownst to me in 1986, a boys’ basketball team in Seattle, mixed race-wise and class-wise by design, had one glorious championship season on the regional circuit. The boys were my age and included some of my classmates from Washington Middle School. Now, for the past month, a group of Seattle bus riders has been reading a book that documents the team and the “whatever happened to” stories of the teammates. Tonight I have the privilege of moderating a discussion among the readers and and three of the team members–one of whom authored the award-winning book, _The Hustle_. Free, open to all, tonight, 7PM. CC Garfieldclass Nineteenninety: the book chronicles the life and untimely death of Tyrell Johnson, whom we have honored at reunions as a classmate; the author dedicated the book in his memory. — with Carla Saulter and Doug Merlino at Elliott Bay Book Company.

From ITO’s map of traffic fatalities, 2001-2009

With millions of dollars in federal, state and local funds behind them, the city is beginning outreach for a repaving, transit efficiency and complete streets redesign of 23rd Ave stretching all the way from Rainier Ave to E John Street. If everything goes smoothly, work could begin in mid 2014 and wrap up in 2015.

You have a chance to hear from project planners first-hand tonight (Monday) at the Jackson Place Community Council meeting, 7:30 p.m. at the Hiawatha Place Lofts. Also on the agenda: Judkins Park Light Rail Station planning.

23rd Ave is the last remaining four-lane street through the heart of the Central District, and is the site of several of the most dangerous intersections in the neighborhood for all road users. The intersection of 23rd and Jefferson is one of the most dangerous intersections in the entire city for people walking. Five people were struck by cars there between 2009 and 2011.

Between 2001 and 2009, four people were killed in collisions on 23rd Ave—two people on foot, one person in a car and one person on a motorcycle. This makes 23rd Ave by far the most dangerous street in the CD. Continue reading →

A man in his 50s was biking near 18th and Jefferson Friday afternoon when he suddenly had a cardiac event and collapsed, according to the Fire Department, which sent a large response to the location.

A person nearby saw him fall shortly after 4:45 p.m. and started administering CPR until medics arrived. They were eventually able to revive him, and the man was transported to the very nearby Cherry Hill Swedish Medical Center.

Here’s to the passerby who went to his aid and started CPR.

School Board Member Kay Smith-Blum and School Levies, Jackson Street Commons and  the 23rd Avenue Complete Street Project are on the agenda.

Meet up with your neighbors on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Squire Park Community Council Quarterly meeting at Centerstone, 722 18th Avenue from 10:00 AM to noon. Get to know each other, become informed and consider joining the Board.

In January we will be welcoming Kay Smith-Blum who has been recently elected as President of the Seattle School Board. She will be joined by the Schools First Campaign to present the upcoming school levies that will appear on the February 12, 2013 ballot. Knox Gardner will lead a discussion about Jackson Commons, and the Seattle Department of Transportation will present on the 23rd Avenue Complete Streets Project. Current Board members and attendees will discuss the needs of the Squire Park Community Council Board and nominate and elect new Board members, along with reelecting some whose terms have expired. Continue reading →