Renton, WA

The sobriety checkpoint plan continues to be unveiled. The first step, in order to squeeze it into legality, is to rename it as “administrative checkpoints”.  The next problem is that the state high court in 1988 ruled that our state constitution doesn’t permit motorists to be routinely stopped without suspicion or probable cause to believe the individual is doing something wrong. So law enforcement will have to get a warrant from the local Superior Court after giving the judge a plan for a specific location and time period. Then, there will be public notice of when and where the checkpoint will be.

This is where they loose me. I’m fairly confident that this information will be regularly broadcast on the internet, and checked by those in the habit of drinking and driving. So the plan looses much of it’s effectiveness there. Or an inebriated person could panic and decide not to stop. A person who failed to stop could be prosecuted for a gross misdemeanor. That could carry a maximum penalty of a year in jail and $5,000 fine. Which could easily beat the alternative of a repeat DUI offense.

It remains to be seen how well this will hold up in court. Washington state is one of only 11 states which does not already have this type of thing, and it has been upheld by the US Supreme Court. So the matter comes down to the Washington State constitution, which is very strong on personal privacy. One thing is certain - the paperwork involved will be extensive, so I hope it’s worth it. Within twenty days after the checkpoint program is completed, the warrant must be returned containing information on what hours the checkpoint was actually operable, the number of vehicles stopped, and, to the extent such information is available, the number of drivers investigated and arrested for DUI violations.

If you have any thoughts on the issue, for, against, or indifferent, please leave me a comment and let me know.

According to King5, Gov. Christine Gregoire is announcing legislation this afternoon allowing Washington law enforcement to set up sobriety checkpoints to crack down on drunk drivers. There is no mention of this (yet) on her official web page.

There is a question, based on previous U.S. and state Supreme Court rulings, as to whether the checkpoints are constitutional. A spokesperson for the governor says she has consulted with the attorney general’s office and she believes her plan will follow the rule of the law. I don’t see how, but I am definitely following this story.

If the outcry over traffic cameras was any indication, there is no way this could fly. I hate drunk drivers as much as anyone, but if I wanted to deal with traffic check points “ensuring my safety” I would move to Eastern Europe.

American Gladiators, a show from the mid-90’s is being resurrected and new shows in this vein are on the air again. And we have a cast member from Renton on the show. Tanji Johnson is a personal trainer, and one of the regulars who will try to hold back the contestants. I have checked out her myspace page, and while she doesn’t seem as tough as her alter ego on the show, she is certainly no tender flower.
I watched a little of American Gladiators last night, and have to admit I didn’t last long enough to see the women’s section. My impression was the American Gladiators combines the low-budget of reality tv, with the showmanship of Professional Wrestling. It did not even hold my attention in the train-wreck kinda way. I changed the channel to Desperate Housewives.

The BNSF Railway Company, in cooperation with the City of Renton, will be replacing railroad bridges in downtown Renton to allow for future transportation improvements and to provide reliable rail service to The Boeing Company. This week, two main-span girders will be installed for the BNSF railroad crossing of Hardie Avenue between SW 5th and 7th Streets. Detours will be in place during the construction. Alternative routes are available for residents and businesses in the area that typically use Hardie Avenue.

• Thursday, January 3, 2008, 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.: Hardie Avenue will be closed between SW 5th and 7th Streets for the delivery and installation of the two main-span girders for the BNSF railroad crossing:
• Friday, January 4, 2008, 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Hardie Avenue will be closed again between SW 5th and 7th Streets for the installation of the cross-beams and deck, as requested by Scarsella Brothers, Inc., contractor for the BNSF Railroad Company.
• Monday, January 7–Thursday, January 10, 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.: Hardie Avenue will be closed.

This is a small thing that probably wouldn’t show up on the traffic reports, but for major traffic updates you can always call 511 on your cell phone.

I had someone ask me if it was a fact that Renton was going to get a Trader Joe’s at The Landing. I haven’t seen any signs up for it yet, unfortunately. The closest thing I have to “fact” is this Community Fact Sheet in my hot little hands. It is marked as “Last Updated July 2007″ …

The Landing First Wave Store Openings (Fall 2007):
225,000 sq feet
Anchor store: Target (check)
Junior anchor stores: PetSmart and Staples (check)
A variety of smaller retail offerings including: Sleep Country, Verizon Wireless, and Golf Galaxy
Family dinning restaurants and cafes including: Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Jimmy Johns, Panda Express, Panera Bread, and Red Robin
L.A. Fitness, a full-service health club

The Landing Second Wave Store Openings (Spring 2008):
375,000 sq feet
675-car parking garage and 2,630 parking spaces offering free (I would hope so!) short-term parking
One or two additional anchors
Three junior anchor stores including Confetti Junction
Residential complex

The District at the Landing is included in the Second Wave. “The District” has:
14-screen, stadium seat Regal Cinema
Variety of specialty retail shops
Unique restaurants and cafes
Outdoor seatings

The rest of the fact sheet is more marketing than actual facts. I’m not a scientist, but I don’t think it can be considered an objective “fact” that The Landing “will provide convenience, comfort, and charm in an exciting outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment environment”.

If anyone has more current facts regarding The Landing, and, most importantly, the future of a Trader Joe’s in Renton, please leave me a comment and let me know.

The repairs that were supposed to start last night were delayed, because the equipment broke down. A piece of equipment used to fuse pipe sections is what broke. Crews need the machinery to install a 2,000-foot pipeline that will divert Thunder Hills Creek around I-405.

Crews reopened the lane at 6 p.m. but plan to resume work at 6 a.m. Saturday. The lane is scheduled to stay closed until 5 a.m. Monday. The right-lane closures between 10 and 5 a.m. could continue for up to two weeks.

They continue to display a gift for understatement. State Department of Transportation spokesman Greg Phipps said Thursday that he realizes the closure creates an inconvenience for drivers and holiday shoppers. About 70,000 cars travel the northbound lanes in a week. Engineers do not have a total cost estimate for the work, but repairs alone are estimated at $5 million.

This project has been off and on, so check traffic conditions by using the web or by calling 511.

Other expected traffic delays this weekend:

- 6 a.m. until noon, Saturday: West Mercer Street is to be closed to through traffic from Second Avenue West to Third Avenue West.

- Early mornings, Saturday and Sunday: Inspectors to check bridge decks, expansion joints and ramps on Interstate 5 between state Route 520 and Interstate 90, and on I-90 east of I-5 to west of I-405. Drivers should expect possible single-lane closures on ramps, rolling slowdowns and shoulder closures in both directions on both interstates.

405 closures are beginning now. Crews are beginning work to build a pump that will divert water around 405. To install this drainage system, crews will close one right northbound lane 20 hours a day for up to two weeks. The round-the-clock lane closures are scheduled to begin Saturday. WSDOT “recognizes the significant amount of traffic in the area” (great understatment) and will make every effort to open all lanes in the northbound direction during the peak morning commute.

Once the pipe is in place, crews will begin the long-term repair work. This work involves replacing this 48-inch culvert under the freeway. Although engineers haven’t exactly settled how they will get the new pipe into place, they know it will likely NOT involve closing lanes on I-405.

Because this is emergency work, the nature of the lane closures is changing. WSDOT advises drivers who use this freeway to stay on top of the closures by:

* Checking the 511 drivers information line before they head out
* Checking the WSDOT travel page
* Checking the Web page specifically for this project

On Dec. 3, heavy rainfall overwhelmed a culvert beneath I-405 in Renton. The resulting rush of water created a sinkhole beneath the road surface, resulting in a collapse of a section of the culvert and threatening the stability of this section of the freeway. Crews have made temporary repairs to fix the sinkhole, but permanent repairs must be made to replace the culvert to prevent significant damage to I-405 in the next storm.

From Tuesday, Dec. 11 through Friday, Dec. 14, crews may close the right lane of northbound I-405 overnight between SR 167 and SR 169 in Renton for repairs. Around-the-clock right-lane closures could begin as early as Saturday, Dec. 15 and last up to two weeks while crews complete necessary repairs. WSDOT will keep the right lane open during the morning commute.

Repairs will take approximately eight weeks to complete in total. Starting on December 11, that puts us at the end of February (February 26th).

This weekend’s burn ban has been lifted. You can now return to your regular fire bug habits.

December 11, 2007 – Effective immediately, the Stage One Burn Ban issued on December 9, 2007 for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties is cancelled. The current weather pattern has brought improved mixing and dispersion of the fine particle pollution, which reached unhealthy levels over the weekend.

For current conditions use this link to determine if there is or is not a burn ban in effect.

As a reminder, when you are using your wood stove, check the exhaust coming out of your chimney. The smoke level is a good indicator. If you are burning properly, you should only see heat waves. The darker the color of the exhaust, the less efficiently you are operating the appliance. It may be necessary to adjust the operation of your wood stove to decrease the opacity of the exhaust (that is, the density of the smoke). A 15% opacity level indicates efficient operations, while a 20% level reflects unacceptable polluting conditions. You can be cited by inspectors if the smoke from your chimney exceeds 20% opacity.

I am so glad we purchased a certified wood stove last year, because we love our wood stove! You will notice that an EPA certified wood stove is exempt from a burn ban.

A Stage One Burn Ban is being called for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, effective at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 9, 2007. No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. No visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.

Why?

A stable weather pattern with very light winds is limiting the mixing of pollutants being generated in communities where wood burning for home heating is common. Air quality levels are above the federal standard for fine particle pollution (PM2.5). These conditions compel the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to issue a Stage One Burn Ban for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. These conditions are expected to persist through Tuesday.

Now begins the first round of grants for the 2008 Neighborhood Grant Program.

A total of $50,000 in grant funds is available to residents who plan and implement projects for the purpose of improving the viability and livability of their neighborhoods. Eligible organizations include organized neighborhood associations that draw membership from a commonly recognized geographic neighborhood in Renton, or ad hoc groups of neighbors who form an organization to work on a specific project.

Eligible projects include physical improvements that build or enhance a feature of the neighborhood or benefit the general public. Projects to produce and distribute newsletters are also eligible for neighborhood grants.

The amount of matching funds allocated to a neighborhood is based on a project’s merit and will be determined by the Renton City Council. Potential grant projects are evaluated and selected based on a series of criteria including planning, neighborhood support, “sweat equity,” need, final project maintenance, and benefit to the general public. There is no limit on the amount of matching funds available per grant project. The typical grant award is $3,000 - $5,000 per project.

Examples of neighborhood projects eligible for funds include:

* Improvements and/or identity signage for neighborhood entries and gateways
* landscaping of traffic islands and streetscapes
* beautification of trails or play areas
* neighborhood clean-up
* community gardens
* projects that involve and/or benefit youth
* newsletters
* neighborhood events

For more information about applying for a neighborhood grant, come to a workshop on January 23rd at City Hall, 7th floor, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Grant applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 29, 2008. Awards will be announced in April 2008.

You can download the application in PDF format from this link for the neighborhood grant or this link for the newsletter grant. For more assistance contact Norma McQuiller, Neighborhood Coordinator, at 425-430-6595.

Many of the areas affected by the heavy rains earlier are now are returning to normal operations. In addition to responding to higher than normal service call volumes, fire crews responded to a three-alarm commercial blaze at the McDonald’s on Rainier Avenue in Renton.

* Crews repaired the water main break at 39th and Oakesdale and water has been restored to customers in the Valley.
* Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has reported that power has been restored in all areas in Renton. For Puget Sound Energy updates call 1-888-225-5773.
* Firefighters were able to control the fire that broke out at the McDonald’s on Rainier Avenue.
* Renton Municipal Airport is back to normal operations.
* The Renton Senior Activity Center will resume normal operations Tuesday.

Current Road Closures:

* The road is closed at NE 31st St. at May Creek due to a culvert that is washed out and exposed
* Lake Washington Blvd. is closed between N 41st and N 48th
* Ripley Lane is closed at the 4300 block
* The Cedar River Trail is closed from Bronson Way Bridge to the Logan Street Bridge.

I’m not the type to give my cats vitamins. They are remind me to feed them, but I doubt they would remind me to give them vitamins, so it’s not happening. However, some people do stuff like that, and if you are one of them, take a closer look at the label on that bottle.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –Baconton, GA — November 2, ,2007 —The Hartz Mountain Corporation is voluntarily recalling one specific lot of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats due to concerns that one or more bottles within the lot may have been potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Hartz is fully cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration in this voluntary recall.

The product involved is 3600 bottles of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats, lot code SZ- 1637 1, UPC number 32700-97701, which was manufactured by a third party manufacturer, UFAC (USA), Inc., in Baconton, Georgia. While normal testing conducted by Hartz and UFAC has not revealed the presence of Salmonella in any Hartz products, sampling conducted by the FDA did detect the presence of Salmonella. Hartz is aggressively investigating the source of the problem.

Consumers can contact Hartz at 1-800-275-1414 with any questions they may have and to obtain reimbursement for purchased product.

It’s election day, have you voted yet? Head to your local polling place, or if you are like 90% of the area voters, to your mailbox. There are lots of important issues on the ballot today.

Next year, with presidential and governor’s positions up for grabs, we should see a far greater voter turn-out. This year, we are going to be lucky to get half. 51% was the estimate made by our Secretary of State Sam Reed. And now he is wondering if he over-estimated. Come on, people, you have no right to complain if you don’t vote. And I’d say that more than half of our population is complainers, so more than half of them should be voters!

In case there is any shortage of information, there is a MySpace page at www.myspace.com/secstatewa and a Facebook group called Washington State Elections for voters who want elections information via the social networking sites. If you are really desparate, you could refer to that voters pamphlet you received via snail mail.

On the ballot today …

-Tim Eyman’s Initiative 960, the only citizen initiative on the ballot, deals with how Olympia handles tax and fee voting. It would reassert the two-thirds supermajority requirement for passing taxes.

-A constitutional amendment generated by the Legislature, HJR4204, meanwhile, would do away with the supermajority for voters to approve local school levies. Instead of 60 percent to raise property taxes, a simple majority would suffice.

-Another constitutional change, SJR8206, would create a “rainy day” savings account, with the state required to sock away 1 percent of its revenue every year, primarily for use during a recession or disaster.

-The largest transportation tax package ever placed on a Washington ballot, Proposition 1, would boost sales and car-tab taxes in the congested tri-county area of King, Pierce and Snohomish. It would pay for more roads, light rail and other projects.

The most expensive battle, though, involves Referendum 67. The measure would make it illegal for insurers unreasonably deny claims or violate unfair practice rules, allowing up to triple damages. It does not apply to health benefits.

Polls in King County open at 7 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. A piece of identification is required. Mail ballots must be postmarked Tuesday or dropped off at a designated site. For details on where you should go to vote, visit www.vote.wa.gov

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Annex Mexican Food Co. is voluntarily recalling more than 4,000 pounds of cooked beef and chicken products distributed to restaurants and institutions in Oregon and Washington.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the Portland-based company recalled the food because it may be “adulterated” due to inadequate verification and documentation of processing activities.

There was no retail distribution of the products that were produced between Oct. 11 and Oct. 30. No illnesses have been linked to the food.

The Agriculture Department says the recall applies to seven products, including bags of taco beef, enchilada meat, Mexican meatballs, Chili Verde, Chili Colorado, and white chicken taco filling.

Bags of the affected food have the establishment number “EST. 5880″ inside the USDA inspection mark.