Author Archives: jseattle

About jseattle

Justin is publisher of CHS. You can reach him at [email protected] or call/txt (206) 399-5959. Follow @jseattle on Twitter or be best pals on Facebook.

After string of settlements, Seattle’s response to CHOP goes on trial: Proceedings begin in Mays Jr. wrongful death case

Posted on by
Reply

“The police, their purpose is to serve and protect right? And we agree with that purpose but we do not agree with them because of what they have been doing,” Mays, wearing the white mask, said during the newly unearthed interview (Image: Converge Media/Q13)

A jury trial in the wrongful death lawsuit over a teen shot and killed in an unsolved slaying inside the CHOP protest zone was slated to begin in King County Superior Court Monday morning.

New video found among the hours of reporting by Omari Salisbury and Converge Media has also shined new light on what drew 16-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. to the camp and the 2020 protest in Seattle.

The deadly shooting — one of two killings of Black teens in the camp — came early on a Monday morning amid a night of drive-by shooting fears around the protest zone. Mays was shot inside a Jeep Cherokee that had been driven at high speeds through the streets around the CHOP camp and died as camp security and medic volunteers worked to save him while Seattle Police and Seattle Fire refused to enter the protest area.

His teen companion in the vehicle survived but suffered a brain injury. It was a final straw as Seattle Police stormed the protest encampments and cleared the area two days later.

No suspects have been publicly identified in the case. Continue reading →

Seattle Fire investigating after 12th Ave apartment blaze

Posted on by
Reply

The Seattle Fire Department was investigating after a fire damaged an apartment building at 12th and Spruce early Saturday morning.

SFD reports it was called to a fire inside a 6th floor unit of the Plymouth Housing Building around 2:30 AM Saturday. Continue reading →

911 | Players say pick-up opponents pulled guns on Cal Anderson basketball court

Posted on by
23

See something others should know about? Email CHS or call/txt (206) 399-5959. You can view recent CHS 911 coverage here. Hear sirens and wondering what’s going on? Check out reports from @jseattle or join and check in with neighbors in the CHS Facebook Group.

  • Cal Anderson pick-up robbery: Police were investigating after a pick-up basketball game on the court at Cal Anderson Park turned nasty Sunday when two players pulled guns on their opponents. According to the SPD brief on the 5:30 PM incident, two players told police they had finished a game and said they were done playing when their opponents strongly objected to the end of the night’s competition:
    The suspects reacted angrily and threatened to take their portable speaker, claiming they would shoot the victims if they did not comply. One suspect grabbed the speaker, prompting the victims to defend themselves, leading to a physical altercation with one of the suspects. At that point, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at one of the victims, threatening to shoot. The victims, fearing for their safety, backed away. The second suspect then pulled out another handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the victims.
    Police say the suspects were last seen headed toward Broadway. There were no arrests and no reported injuries. Continue reading →

For first time since pandemic and staffing crunched services, Seattle Police will roll out DUI squad for holidays

Posted on by
10

A driver was busted for DUI after crashing their car into a construction site at MLK and Union in 2016

The Seattle Police Department has announced it will roll out a DUI emphasis team for the first time in the city since 2019.

SPD says the effort will run through the holiday season in December and will mean a DUI squad active on the city’s streets nightly from 6 PM to 4 AM.’

“We hope our community makes safe driving choices this holiday season. Make a plan, use rideshare or a taxi, or use a designated driver,” supervisor Sgt. Tom Heller said in the announcement. “Pro tip: the designated driver needs to be actually sober, not just the least intoxicated person in the car.”

In late 2020 facing staffing issues, SPD disbanded its DUI squad, which had been in operation for 50 years. The officers from the unit were reassigned to regular patrol duties. Continue reading →

Once a hotel at the base of Capitol Hill above downtown, Avia Apartments on Pike is now open

Posted on by
7

(Image: Avia Apartments on Pike)

Three years ago, CHS broke the news on a company’s $60 million bet against the future of business travel to convert a hotel at the base of Capitol Hill into apartments.

New residents are now moving into Avia Apartments on Pike.

“Live where Seattle’s energy meets effortless sophistication,” the pitch goes. “AVIA Apartments brings you newly renovated, pet-friendly homes with chic modern design, luxe finishes, and the option to go furnished or unfurnished. Perfectly placed near everything you love — from buzzing coffee spots to Lake Union views — our First Hill Seattle apartments make upscale living feel natural, comfortable, and totally you.” Continue reading →

Knee High Stocking Co. — the quiet end of a speakeasy’s 16 years on Capitol Hill

Posted on by
2

(Image: Alex Garland/CHS)

Capitol Hill bars with 16 years of business in the neighborhood don’t usually close without loud lamentations but it is probably not surprising that E Olive Way speakeasy joint Knee High Stocking Co. has come to a secretive end.

The online listings show the venue as “permanently closed.” The Seattle Times included the bar in its most recent morbid countdown of recent city food and drink shutdowns.

Knee High’s owners didn’t call the Times back, either.

The bar debuted in 2009 as a pioneer in Seattle’s speakeasy revival with secret doors and buzzer-door locked entry at the street level of the 1914-built Belvedere Apartments. Reservations were highly recommended. At the time, CHS called Knee High’s founder Jack Valko “a retired tech IT guy.” Continue reading →

43rd Rep. Scott unveils ‘Well Washington Fund’ proposal that would spread Seattle’s JumpStart tax across state

Posted on by
7

(Image: @scott43ld)

43rd District Rep. Shaun Scott has unveiled his proposal for a new “Washington Wealth Tax” modeled on Seattle’s JumpStart payroll tax that would raise more than $2 billion a year across the state.

Scott said this week his “Well Washington Fund” proposal is needed to counteract the latest budget cuts and federal tax package “passed by Congressional Republicans and Donald Trump.”

Under Scott’s proposal, Washington companies with more than 50 employees, payroll above $7 million, and gross receipts of more than $5 million would be taxed 5% on workers who earn more than $125,000 a year.

Seattle employers who already pay the city’s payroll tax would be exempt. Continue reading →

After November election loss, Nelson bill takes swing at paid political consultants at Seattle City Hall

Posted on by
2

Lame duck Seattle City Council president Sara Nelson is introducing new legislation as she heads for the door that takes a swipe at the city’s professional political consultants — and possibly reveals some of the fractures between Nelson and Mayor Bruce Harrell as they both prepare to exit City Hall.

Nelson’s proposed ethics bill is set to be debated Thursday afternoon in a special meeting of the council’s Governance, Accountability, and Economic Development Committee. Continue reading →

Broken glass, plywood, and security doors — 23 burglaries a day in the East Precinct

Posted on by
47

Monsoon added new security doors on 19th Ave E (Image: CHS)

It might feel like there is a rash of broken glass at Capitol Hill and Central District restaurant and shops but, unfortunately, the numbers show it is business as usual this fall for burglars.

Attention has been raised by break-ins targeting favorite area venues including a burglary before the Thanksgiving holiday in which a masked thief busted glass and stole the cash register at Golden Wheat Bakery in the Central District. Fans and neighbors rallied to raise money to help the bakery overcome the break-in.

On Capitol Hill, La Cocina & Cantina suffered a damaging recent burglary that a CHS reader says cost the Broadway favorite thousands in damage and stolen booze. Continue reading →

After a year in Capitol Hill’s tumultuous street food scene, Tacos Cometa will open on Broadway in 2026

Posted on by
6

(Image: Tacos Cometa)

(Image: Tacos Cometa)

Tacos Cometa is moving inside. The street taco venture from brother chefs Rey and Osiel Gastelum that has grown a devoted following this year at Nagle and Pine on the edge of Cal Anderson Park as part of the neighborhood’s wild — and delicious — nightlife street food scene will open as a brick and mortar taqueria on Broadway in 2026.

Rey Gastelum tells CHS Tacos Cometa isn’t leaving Capitol Hill’s street scene behind.

“There should be a better path. I wish there had been a better path for us as well,” Gastelum said. Continue reading →