The SPD blotter says that the assault last night at Waid’s near 12th & Jefferson was a result of domestic violence and self-defense using a “legal knife”:

On July 31st at 8:37 p.m. the female victim was sitting inside a bar when the male suspect (known to her from a previous dating relationship) approached her. The suspect began harassing and threatening her. The victim changed seats in an effort to stay away from the suspect, but he continued harassing her. At one point, the victim armed herself with a legal knife and held it by her side. The suspect continued to harass the victim and then attempted to punch her. The victim raised her knife hand to block the punch and defend herself and subsequently struck the suspect in the neck with the knife. The suspect then chased the victim outside; she ran into a nearby establishment where the employees closed and locked the door. The suspect banged on the door until it started coming apart.

They also found crack on the male suspect when he was being treated at Harborview, so he’ll get to spend some time in the King County Jail once his injuries heal.

The Planning Commission wants to hear from you about the status of our neighborhood plans, and what’s happened since the plans were adopted in 1998. They had a meeting for the Central Area plan (and a few others) but it was last Monday and coincided with our election forum, and very few people turned up (3, I’m told!). We asking the City to put on a “make-up session” for the Central Area, Capitol Hill, 12th Avenue and Pike-Pine neighborhoods, which may happen in the next week or two (E-mail Barbara E. Wilson, Planning Commision Director, [email protected], to help make that happen).

In the meantime, you can take part in a “Virtual Meeting”, by going to http://www.cityofseattle.net/planningcommission/, where you can watch a video introduction, read the draft status reports for your neighborhood, and then answer the same questions that the participants in the actual live sessions answered. You’ve got till Wednesday, August 12th to do so.

Below are links to some background information, and the official explanation of the process, from the August 2009 Department of Planning and Development newsletter.

Background information:

• Neighborhood Planning Overview
• Public Involvement process
• 1998 Central Area Plan
• The Pike-Pine Plan
• The Capitol Hill Plan
• The Madison-Miller plan (part of the Central Area Plan)
• Recent information about Madison Street redevelopment plans

Please take a few minutes to read up on what’s happening in our neighborhoods, and tell the City your thoughts. Now here’s the City explanation:

From the August 2009 Department of Planning and Development newsletter :

This year’s Umojafest continued to grow and was the most entertaining one I can remember. Here’s some photos of the fun:

PNW “Southernstyle” Drumline

Platinum Plush Drill & Drum Team

A view down 23rd

A tired member of the Little Steppers March Team

Super Steppers Marching Team

It hops!

Zionettes Drill Team

Sold Out Song & Dance Team

The Elephant Project to free them from Woodland Park Zoo

Wyking Garrett, Candidate for Mayor

Mike McGinn, candidate for Mayor

Robert Rosencrantz, city council candidate

Bobby Forch, city council candidate

It’s hard to think of a better example of how many people knew, loved, and will miss Aaron Sullivan, the teenager shot and killed in Leschi on July 22nd. His funeral today was attended by an overflow crowd of hundreds of people at St. Therese Parish in Madrona, so many that people struggled to squeeze in and scores had to listen to what they could hear from outside. There was a large number of kids, other people of all ages and backgrounds, and very few dry eyes.

Aaron’s priest, who knew him best during his middle school years, said that he was a bright, charming kid who thought he knew everything, like many kids of that age. The priest said that tears were being shed because Aaron will never get to do and learn all those things that he should have. “That is wrong!”, he thundered.

In addition, the priest said that he learned of Aarons death the day after the shooting, the same day that the National Rifle Association announced that any senator that voted to confirm Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor would end up on their enemies list due to her perceived support of gun control. “We will never achieve the kingdom of God on earth as long as teenagers have access to guns. It is wrong!”, he said.

Aaron Sullivan is survived by his mother Debra, brother Porter, sister Siobhan, grandmothers Ruthie Porter and Shirlee Sullivan. Donations may be made to the Aaron John Sullivan Memorial Scholarship at St. Therese School, 900 35th Avenue, Seattle 98122.

Looking for an indoor event to supplement the sun-drenched fun at Umojafest and the parade this weekend? If you’re a basketball fan, you might want to check out the Adonai Hood Classic at the Garfield gym. A promoter is bringing a group of NBA players who grew up in the Seattle Area back to play each other in a series of exhibition games.

The players are organized by team based on the high school they attended. Here’s the schedule:

Saturday at 5pm: Rainier Beach vs. O’Dea, with Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford*

Saturday at 7pm: Garfield vs. Franklin, with Brandon Roy, Terrance Williams, and Tony Wroten Jr*.

Sunday at 4pm: Consolation Game

Sunday at 6pm: Slam Dunk Contest & 3-Point challenge, with Isaiah Thomas and Justin Dentmon*

Sunday at 7pm: Championship Game

Price is only $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 13. The Garfield High School gym is at 400 23rd Ave.

*- Note: Evidently not all players are 100% confirmed at this point

The newshound escorted us on a trip to the Leschi Natural Area today (#3 on our list of best spots to watch) to see the Blue Angel’s practice session. Here’s some photos of the show:

(BTW – Got some shots of your own? Upload them to the site or email them to us)

While hoping for a non-irritating grocery trip to the Madison Safeway this afternoon, I was reminded by a P-A announcement in the store that the branch there is shutting down today. BECU workers told me the prized ATM “will” stay open. For those of us who are BECU members, it’s a bit of a bummer. The closest branch where you can have human contact for your banking needs is now over on Broadway.

The Seattle Times has a good article this morning on our local school board race, where three candidates are challenging incumbent Mary Bass.

Regarding candidate Kay Smith-Blum, who is rated “Very Good” by the Municipal League, the Times says:

She has a long list of ambitious ideas for Seattle Public Schools. She wants, for example, to require foreign-language instruction in elementary school, and to revamp middle schools.

She calls herself a “doer” and says she’s always wanted to run for school board. Now that her children are grown and she’s arranged to spend less time at her clothing store, she says, she has the time.

For CDNews member Andre Helmstetter, who is rated “Good” by the Municipal League:

Helmstetter, if elected, says his first order of business would be to ask parents in District 5 what they want. The job of a board member, he said, is to carry out the will of the public.

Helmstetter used to own Café Vega, a coffeehouse on East Yesler Way that he built into a community gathering place. He now co-owns another cafe but wants to return to the software business, where’s he’s been a quality-assurance manager.

For CDNews member Joanna Cullen, who is rated “Adequate” by the Municipal League:

Cullen says she’s running because she was outraged by what she considered the rushed and chaotic way the district closed schools this year and wants to work to rebuild the trust of families in the Central Area, which had more school closures and moves than any other area.

And finally, regarding incumbent Mary Bass, who is also rate “Adequate” by the Municipal League:

Change is harder to achieve than her foes think, she said. And she says she has been effective in influencing policy, even if she’s often on the losing side of important votes.

…

But some say it’s time for someone new.

“Mary always talks about these plans and initiatives, but they never come to the light of day,” said parent and blogger Melissa Westbrook, who backed Bass in the past but says she won’t this time.

Also refer back to our previous coverage of this race at a recent neighborhood forum.

From Seattle’s Easr Precinct, Friday, July 31, 2009