Two armed men speaking both Vietnamese and English robbed a restaurant near 12th and Main Sunday afternoon.

Nobody was injured during the hold-up, but the robbers made off with jewelry and cash from the employees and the two customers in the restaurant at the time.

More details from SPD:

The employees and customers of a Vietnamese restaurant in the 1200 Block of South Main Street were confronted and robbed by two suspects armed with handguns yesterday afternoon.  Fortunately, no one was injured in the encounter, but the victims were certainly shaken up as the gunmen robbed them of cash and jewelry before fleeing the restaurant on foot.

At about 3:40 yesterday afternoon, two Vietnamese men, ages 30-40, entered the restaurant and inquired about spring rolls at the front counter.  The suspects then left and walked to another restaurant.  About fifteen minutes later the suspects returned, each armed with a handgun.  They ordered the employees and the two customers into the back kitchen, where they demanded cash and jewelry.  After robbing the victims, the suspects then fled.  They were described as Vietnamese men, between the ages of 30-40, and both were wearing hooded sweatshirts.  The suspects spoke both English and Vietnamese.

After the suspects fled the victims were able to call 911.  Patrol officers arrived and conducted a search for the suspects, but they were not located.  Detectives from the Robbery Unit were called to the scene and interviewed all the victims and processed the scene.  This remains an active and on-going robbery investigation.  Anyone with information on this crime is asked to contact Seattle Police.

The Garfield High School Jazz Band I kicks off the season at 7:30 p.m. November 29 at the school’s Quincy Jones Performance Hall.

In case you were not aware, the Garfield Jazz Band rocks.

From the event poster:

Seattle’s renowned Garfield Jazz Band I performs under the direction of Clarence Acox, Jr., recently honored by Earshot Jazz for his 40-plus years leading one of the nation’s most esteemed high school jazz programs.

Enjoy an evening of Big Band standards, Latin, blues and a surprise or two as Garfield Jazz Band I launches its 2012-2013 season.

We appreciate your ongoing support of Garfield Jazz Band!

Free admission. Donations accepted. Families welcome!

Thanksgiving is getting started early at Yesler Community Center. The center is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner today (Friday) from 6-8 p.m.

Details:

Come and enjoy a great Thanksgiving meal with traditional and nontraditional holiday foods. Come for the food, folk, and fun!
Friday November 16th, 2012
6-8pm
Cost: $1.00 or food donations

A break-in at the Seattle campaign headquarters for the state Democratic Party, Jay Inslee and Barack Obama early on election day does, indeed, seem to be more than a “routine” burglary, the Associated Press reports.

The break-in at Rainier and S Charles St was discovered just 14 hours before the state polls closed. Though the burglars tried to make it seem like a random burglary, they seemed to target items belonging to key campaign staffers.

From the AP (via the Seattle Times):

“Unless we know who the suspects are, it’s kind of hard to figure out a motive,” spokesman Mark Jamieson said Thursday.

Workers arriving about 5:30 a.m. Nov. 6 found the front door smashed. Police secured the building and found offices ransacked. In addition to the Democratic Party, the building held offices for Jay Inslee’s campaign for governor and Organizing for America, the campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama.

A window had been broken to get into a director’s office and confidential files were rifled through and moved. Other offices that were hit included the media coordinator and fundraising section. A trash can was dumped and used to haul away the stolen property.

The majority of items taken belonged to people who “were of major importance to the campaigns,” the report states.

Several computers and alcoholic beverages were left untouched, according to the report.

Here’s a look at some of the recent crimes in the area. Information is from Seattle Police reports.

Several robberies near 23rd and Madison

There have been a string of robberies near 23rd and Madison in the past month or so. We reported previously on a pair of violent robberies near the intersection in October, as well as a business robbery. Our sister site Capitol Hill Seattle reported last month that the Subway near Safeway was held up October 18.

A man waiting for the bus at 2 p.m. November 9 was robbed at gunpoint after having a conversation with another person who appeared to be waiting at the same stop.

A suspect grabbed a woman’s iPhone while she was talking on it around 10 p.m. October 30 at 22nd and E John.

A group tried to rob a woman of her purse around 8 p.m. November 4 at 22nd and John. She struggled even with an apparent gun pointed at her.

 18th and Pine, 2:38 p.m. November 2

A woman was robbed by three men, two of whom were wearing ski masks. The presence of masks sounds similar to the November 4 robbery at 22nd and John reported above, but there is no indication in the police reports that the incidents are connected.

A witness saw them run toward an apartment complex at 19th and Pine. Police were investigating possible surveillance footage there.

Lake Washington Blvd in the Arboretum, 9 p.m. October 25

A man fixing a work truck in the Arboretum fended off an attempted robber with a wrench.

Meeting hosts King County Councilmember;  also hears from City on progress of new park

Following recent redistricting, a neighborhood that has been represented at different times in the last ten years by either Larry Gossett or Larry Phillips is now represented by King Council Councilmember Joe McDermott who met with the 12th Avenue Stewards on Tuesday, November 13.

McDermott started his remarks by recognizing that there is no north/south public transit route on 12th Avenue, something that the community has pressed for a long time.

Much of the conversation focused on the community’s hopes for the redevelopment of the Youth Services site at 12th and Alder.  Planning is just beginning on building two new buildings on site to replace the existing Youth Services Courthouse and Juvenile Detention Center.  Once those two new buildings are in place the existing buildings will be demolished and the County will proceed to develop the remainder of the site with new residences and, on 12th Avenue, commercial space. See previous CD News coverage.

Community members urged that the new development be less “monolithic” and reintroduce the street grid that was destroyed several decades ago when the current campus was developed.  McDermott stated that he was sympathetic to the community’s request that planning for the site put more emphasis on improving and encouraging the use of public transportation and less on building a parking garage that is up to twice as big as the one currently on the site and he is “not yet convinced” that twice as many spaces are needed.

The conceptual plans for the new site show that open space will be included, although the location is not certain.  Currently, the northeast corner of the site is occupied by the Marvin Oliver sculpture “Spirit of our Youth” consisting of a bronze whale fin and surrounding sculpted earth.  The importance of  significant open space in a neighborhood-serving location was conveyed to McDermott.

The Councilmember was asked whether or not the County had plans for moving towards a more active use of the space that is currently occupied by the County Archives on Yesler just across the street from Bailey Gatzert School.  McDermott said he didn’t know, but was glad to be made aware of the issue.

The group, consisting of about thirty neighborhood residents, business owners, and institutional representatives also heard from Patrick Donohue of the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation with an update on the planning and development of the new City park to be built at 12th and James Ct, to be known as 12th Avenue Square Park.  It’s expected that the park will be built next year.  The current task of the neighborhood is to raise the final amount of money making it possible to put in place the artwork that all agree is essential to the park.  Approximately $70,000 is needed.  Strategies were discussed.

All who are interested in 12th Avenue are invited to take part in 12th Avenue Stewards meetings held monthly.  The current schedule is the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 P.M. at the Seattle U. A.and A. Building, 12th and E. Marion.   12th Avenue Seattle on Facebook.  for more information

For years, police, neighborhood activists and property owners fought what they saw as an open-air drug market at 23rd and Union. Soon, with the passage of I-502, you might be able to drop by the corner for a legal bag of weed to go with your liquor. Maybe.

There is a long road ahead of the state in the next year, which is how long the Washington Liquor (and Cannabis?) Control Board plans to take in order to craft the rules for growing and selling marijuana for recreational use. Existing medical marijuana laws are unchanged by the new law. Before the Board can decide to allow liquor stores to sell pot (if that’s the direction they go), the state and the federal government will need to work around their differences (marijuana is still illegal under federal law).

However that process works out, one provision kicks in December 6: Possession of an ounce or less is no longer illegal unless you run into a federal officer. Since rates of marijuana-related incarceration disproportionately affect people of color, many law backers presented the initiative as a social justice issue. For example, if police search someone and fail to find evidence they were looking for, they can no longer arrest them for the bag of weed in their pocket.

Sale and production of marijuana outside the existing medical marijuana law remains illegal, and smoking in public could get you a ticket similar to tickets for drinking in public. 

Jonah with SPD (formerly of SeattleCrime.com fame) wrote a fantastic guide to the new law that has garnered attention all over the country. From SPD:

The people have spoken. Voters have passed Initiative 502 and beginning December 6^th, it is not a violation of state law for adults over 21 years old to possess up to an ounce of marijuana (or 16 ounces of solid marijuana-infused product, like cookies, or 72 ounces of infused liquid, like oil) for personal use.  The initiative establishes a one-year period for the state to develop rules and a licensing system for the marijuana production and sale.

Marijuana has existed in a grey area in Seattle for some time now. Despite a longstanding national prohibition on marijuana, minor marijuana possession has been the lowest enforcement priority for the Seattle Police Department since Seattle voters passed Initiative 75 in 2003. Officers don’t like grey areas in the law. I-502 now gives them more clarity.

Marijuana legalization creates some challenges for the Seattle Police Department, but SPD is already working to respond to these issues head on, by doing things like reviewing SPD’s hiring practices for police officers to address now-legal marijuana usage by prospective officers, as well as current employees.

While I-502 has decriminalized marijuana possession in Washington, the new state law does not change federal law, which classifies marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic. All Seattle Police officers have taken an oath to uphold not only state law, but federal law as well. However, SPD officers will follow state law, and will no longer make arrests for marijuana possession as defined under I-502.

The Seattle Police Department and Mayor Mike McGinn have already begun working with state officials to navigate this conflict, and follow the direction of Washington voters to legalize marijuana.

In the meantime, the Seattle Police Department will continue to enforce laws against unlicensed sale or production of marijuana, and regulations against driving under the influence of marijuana, which remain illegal.

TL;DR?

Here’s a practical guide for what the Seattle Police Department believes I-502 means for you, beginning December 6^th, based on the department’s current understanding of the initiative  Please keep in mind that this is all subject to ongoing state and local review, and that it describes the view of the Seattle Police Department only. All marijuana possession and sale remains illegal under federal law, and Seattle Police cannot predict or control the enforcement activities of federal authorities.

Can I legally carry around an ounce of marijuana?

According to the recently passed initiative, beginning December 6^th, adults over the age of 21 will be able to carry up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use. Please note that the initiative says it “is unlawful to open a package containing marijuana…in view of the general public,” so there’s that. Also, you probably shouldn’t bring pot with you to the federal courthouse (or any other federal property).

Well, where can I legally buy pot, then?

The Washington State Liquor Control Board is working to establish guidelines for the sale and distribution of marijuana. The WSLCB has until December 1, 2013 to finalize those rules. In the meantime, production and distribution of non-medical marijuana remains illegal.

Does I-502 affect current medical marijuana laws?

No, medical marijuana laws in Washington remain the same as they were before I-502 passed.

Can I grow marijuana in my home and sell it to my friends, family, and co-workers?

Not right now. In the future, under state law, you may be able to get a license to grow or sell marijuana.

Can I smoke pot outside my home? Like at a park, magic show, or the Bite of Seattle?

Much like having an open container of alcohol in public, doing so could result in a civil infraction—like a ticket—but not arrest. You can certainly use marijuana in the privacy of your own home. Additionally, if smoking a cigarette isn’t allowed where you are (say, inside an apartment building or flammable chemical factory), smoking marijuana isn’t allowed there either.

Will police officers be able to smoke marijuana?

As of right now, no. This is still a very complicated issue.

If I apply for a job at the Seattle Police Department, will past (or current) marijuana use be held against me? The current standard for applicants is that they have not used marijuana in the previous three years. In light of I-502, the department will consult with the City Attorney and the State Attorney General to see if and how that standard may be revised.

What happens if I get pulled over and an officer thinks I’ve been smoking pot?

If an officer believes you’re driving under the influence of anything, they will conduct a field sobriety test and may consult with a drug recognition expert. If officers establish probable cause, they will bring you to a precinct and ask your permission to draw your blood for testing. If officers have reason to believe you’re under the influence of something, they can get a warrant for a blood draw from a judge. If you’re in a serious accident, then a blood draw will be mandatory.

What happens if I get pulled over and I’m sober, but an officer or his K9 buddy smells the ounce of Super Skunk I’ve got in my trunk?

Under state law, officers have to develop probable cause to search a closed or locked container. Each case stands on its own, but the smell of pot alone will not be reason to search a vehicle. If officers have information that you’re trafficking, producing or delivering marijuana in violation of state law, they can get a warrant to search your vehicle.

SPD seized a bunch of my marijuana before I-502 passed. Can I have it back?

No.

Will SPD assist federal law enforcement in investigations of marijuana users or marijuana-related businesses, that are allowed under I-502?

No. Officers and detectives will not participate in an investigation of anything that’s not prohibited by state law.

December 6^th seems like a really long ways away. What happens if I get caught with marijuana before then?  Hold your breath. Your case will be processed under current state law. However, there is already a city ordinance making marijuana enforcement the lowest law enforcement priority.

I’m under 21. What happens if I get caught smoking pot?

It’s a violation of state law. It may referred to prosecutors, just like if you were a minor in possession of alcohol.

Pratt Fine Arts is kicking off the holiday season with an art sale. Because locally-made art is way cooler than the mall.

The week-long sale starts Saturday. If you have a chunk of extra cash lying around, you can also go to the opening night party Friday.

Details from Pratt:

November 17-24, 2012, 10am – 7pm Closed on Thanksgiving Day
Pratt Fine Arts Center, 1902 S. Main Street, Seattle, WA 98144 Admission FREE

Find unique holiday gifts for all of your friends and family or invite them along to explore the fabulous selection of fine art and artisan wares at Pratt Fine Arts Center. Featuring the works of local artists in glass, jewelry, painting, wood, and sculpture, you are sure to find something for everyone on your list! 

Opening Night Party
Friday, November 16, 2012, 6-9pm
Building 2 (Yellow Building = Printmaking. Painting & Drawing Studios)

Spread a little cheer and enjoy an evening filled with good food and great art as you support Pratt Fine Arts Center! Be the first to see what our artists have to offer this year at the Opening Night Party. You will be treated to hearty seasonal appetizers and holiday cocktails while watching live art making demonstrations and can add that personal touch by creating your own holiday cards (a selection of designs provided by local artists). As our guest you will be automatically entered to win a $100 shopping spree during the event.   

Admission to the Opening Night Party is $50.

RSVP for the Opening Night Party by Clicking Here

The ongoing debate over the mission and funding model for the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center played a key role in the summer resignation of the city’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs Vincent Kitch, The Seattle Times reports.

As we reported in September, the Mayor proposed some organizational changes to the LHPAC in his 2013-14 budget. Though the budget amount would remain the same for now, the organization would move from the Parks Department to OACA. The Center operates on a $740,000 annual budget, but only brings in $71,000. The Council wants the LHPAC to bring in more of its funding or to consider operating as a separate non-profit.

Though the Times did not get a hold of Kitch, they pieced together some of the biggest disagreements he had with the Mayor’s office through internal emails:

Emails released to The Seattle Times under a Public Records Act request reveal a rocky end to Kitch’s tenure, as he clashed with the budget office over use of admissions taxes and prepared to surprise directors at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center with what one member of his staff called “drastic changes” to its mission, vision and funding structure.

“From Kitch’s point of view, he ended up getting into a job that was not what he expected,” said Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata, who spoke to Kitch about his resignation.

At the center of Kitch’s disagreement with the mayor is Langston Hughes, a historic, African-American-focused theater and community center in the Central Area. It is the only Seattle theater with an operating budget funded entirely with city money. It is to receive $740,000 in 2013.

Two years ago, the mayor redirected about $1 million a year in admissions-tax money away from Kitch’s department so the parks department could use it to fund Langston Hughes and other programs. In 2013, Kitch’s department was scheduled to get back its admissions-tax money, but the mayor’s staff decided that along with the money, Kitch’s department would take over Langston Hughes.

Read more…

A $1 million high-tech gunshot locator system was among the cuts the City Council is planning to make to Mayor McGinn’s proposed 2013-14 budget. The budget changes were announced Friday, and the Council will make their final budget vote November 19.

The gunshot locator uses microphones and cameras located in gun violence hot spot areas that help the city quickly identify the exact location of a gunshot. The system is also capable of discerning the difference between gunshots and other sounds commonly mistaken for shots (such as fireworks and backfiring car engines). In lieu of the nearly $1 million gunshot locator system, the Council added $1 million worth of violent crime prevention emphasis patrols in 2013 and funding for additional SPD officers in 2014.

The mayor’s budget included $1.68 million to expand the Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, which was started after an uptick in youth gun violence in 2008. The Council is planning to hold $1 million of that funding until the City Auditor completes an evaluation of the program. The Council does not expect the changes to affect current program operations.

Funding in the mayor’s proposed budget for additional hours of operation at Yesler Community Center appear to still be intact.

While the Council plans to cut funding for two high capacity transit studies (a likely streetcar extension to the U District via Eastlake Ave and a potential transit/bike/walk bridge across the Ship Canal somewhere between Fremont and Ballard) they have added $150,000 to boost the Madison Street Bus Rapid Transit project.

Though Madison is too steep for a streetcar, it is a high-potential corridor for faster and more frequent transit, according the recently-approved Transit Master Plan. The line would go between Colman Dock and 23rd Ave, and buses would run every five minutes for most of the day. The plan could include streetcar-like features such as bus-priority travel lanes, widely-spaced stops for faster movement, loading platforms that allow for fast loading even for people with mobility issues, and perhaps even the ability to pay at the stop platform instead of on the bus.

Here’s a look at the Council’s proposed changes to the mayor’s budget:

CouncilBudget2012Table