Well here’s your chance to let your voice be heard – a group calling itself the Suburban King County Coordinating Council on Gangs is taking a 19-question survey about community perceptions about gangs and violence.

The survey is aimed at residents living within the Tukwila School District as well as six others — Auburn, Kent, Federal Way, Renton, Highline and Bellevue.

Results of the survey will help officials diagnose the problem and come up with “a more coordinated and collaborative response to gang activity in South King County.”

Take it here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/KCGang.

Survey questions include:

• “Do you feel safer in your community than you did two years ago?”
• “Please pick the top three concerns that you have about your community, if any.”
• “How satisfied are you with the current response to gang activity?”

You can also request a printed copy of the survey by contacting Dan Carew at the Center for Children & Youth Justice at dcarew@ccyj.org, or 206-696-7503, ext. 14.

The state Department of Ecology, Washington State Patrol and Tukwila Fire Department responded to the incident.

The trucking company has hired a private cleanup contractor to remove the truck from the river.

Here’s the DOT’s traffic webcam of the scene (refresh the page to see the most recent image):

Tukwila Blog Advertiser Integrity Coaching & Training Systems is offering a new weight loss course; here’s more info:

Why feel guilty over Holiday indulgences? You can gain control of your impulses now and still enjoy the festivities!

Integrity Coaching & Training Systems is offering a timely way to head off those extra pounds in the coming weeks:

Have you had it with diets that only work for a little while? Have you tried everything and nothing seems to work? Losing weight can be one of the most challenging experiences in your life… if you let it.

Now, not only will you remove the barriers that hold you back, you will also learn to reprogram your mind and create the success you have longed for.

Using innovative and proven methods from Hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Life Coaching and Personal Fitness Training, you will discover that weight loss can be far easier than you ever imagined.

Wear comfortable clothing; bring a mat or blanket and pillow and pen and paper.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Weight Loss Course

WHERE: Tukwila Parks & Recreation Center: Call To Register!

12424 42nd Avenue South, Tukwila, 98168 (206) 768-2311

WHEN: Nov. 23, 30, and Dec 7 from 6-8 p.m.

Here’s the rest from Ecology’s press release:

The revised master program combines local plans for future shoreline development and preservation with new shoreline development ordinances and related permitting requirements.  Tukwila has shoreline along the Duwamish, Green and Black rivers.

“Tukwila’s shoreline master program helps protect the economic and environmental health of our waterways.  It addresses existing and future uses as well as protecting the shoreline ecology in the city.  People representing many interests worked on this, showing that we can protect treasured shoreline resources now and for the future,” said Geoff Tallent, who oversees Ecology’s shoreline management activities in northwest Washington.

Tukwila’s process brought diverse local interests to the table to work collaboratively. The shoreline master program process began with a thorough inventory of existing land-use patterns and environmental conditions, and was completed with consultant support. These groups included waterfront property owners, scientists, non-profit organizations, tribal government representatives, commercial interests, and state and local resource agency staffs.

Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton stated, “After a lengthy public review process, the city is pleased to receive approval of its shoreline master program and appreciates the involvement of local citizens, businesses and interested parties in helping shape the program.  We believe the new master program supports the efforts to restore shoreline habitat while allowing local businesses and property owners to continue their uses along the City’s highly urbanized shoreline.”

Tukwila’s shoreline master program:

• Provides an easily referenced listing of land uses the city will allow, conditionally allow or prohibit along shorelines.
• Includes aquatic environment standards for in-water development.
• Clarifies building height standards and establishes criteria for buildings that exceed 35 feet.
• Guides the size and location of signs needed in the shoreline area.

Shoreline master programs are a cornerstone to state’s 1972 voter-approved Shoreline Management Act. The law requires cities and counties with regulated shorelines to develop and periodically update locally tailored programs to help minimize environmental damage to shoreline areas, reserve appropriate areas for water-oriented uses, and protect access to public lands and waters.

The law requires Ecology review of each city and county shoreline program.  On approval by Ecology’s director, Ted Sturdevant, these become part of the state shoreline master program. The department will help defend approved local shoreline programs against legal challenges.

Washington’s cities and counties with regulated shorelines – about 220 in total – must update their programs by December 2014. They are following regulations adopted by Ecology in 2003. The regulations carry out a negotiated settlement among 58 different parties including business interests, ports, environmental groups, shoreline user groups, cities and counties, Ecology, and the courts.

The “Mitsubishi i 100% Electric Experience” Tour is in the Seattle area until Sunday.

The tour allows attendees to experience and test drive the Mitsubishi i and learn about the vehicle from an on-site team of Mitsubishi i experts. The breakthrough Mitsubishi i is the most affordable 100% electric-powered mass-market production vehicle available in North America. Its starting MSRP IS $29,125 and the net MSRP* after federal tax credit is a very affordable $21,625 for the standard ES model and only $23,625 for the upgrade SE version, making the starting price for the all-new Mitsubishi i several thousand less than other mass produced electric vehicles available in the market.

The Mitsubishi i may be compact in its overall dimensions, but this EV’s clever packaging and design make for very roomy and comfortable accommodations for four adult-size passengers. With its relatively tall roofline, rear-mounted electric motor and battery pack placed safely and securely in a watertight, stainless-steel safety cell underneath the floor of the passenger compartment, even the rear passengers will experience an exceptionally satisfying degree of legroom. There’s even a small cargo area at the back of the vehicle that is more than capable of carrying numerous bags of groceries or purchases from the local mall. And with the 50/50 rear seats folded flat, the cargo capacity expands greatly, allowing the Mitsubishi i to become the preferred vehicle for weekend trips for bulkier items at a discount warehouse or home improvement retailer.

For more on the Mitsubishi i, visit http://i.mitsubishicars.com and www.facebook.com/imitsubishi.

Upcoming Seattle-area stops include:

• Wednesday, October 19
  Best Buy Bellingham
  11am – 7pm
  4281 Meridian Street
  Bellingham, WA 98226
• Thursday, October 20
  Best Buy Puyallup
  11am – 7pm
  4102 S. Meridian Ste. A
  Puyallup, WA 98373
• Friday, October 21
  Best Buy Bellevue
  11am – 7pm
  457 120th Avenue Northeast
  Bellevue, WA 98005
• Saturday, October 22
  Best Buy Issaquah
  11am – 7pm
  6000 E Lake Sammamish Pkwy SE,
  Issaquah, Washington 98029
• Sunday, October 23
  The Landing
  11am – 7pm
  828 North 10th Place
  Renton, WA 98057

However, as this Reporter experienced first-hand, there have been some changes that Drivers should be aware of:

• When turning right (south) from Klickitat Drive onto Southcenter Parkway, you will be funneled straight ahead. You cannot turn left onto Strander Blvd. as you could prior to the construction.
• This “funneling” may confuse and upset some Drivers trying to get to the mall. This Reporter ended up turning left into the parking lot of Outback Steakhouse, then heading north and turning east on Strander.
• Many Drivers have been seen performing u-turns in this area to access Strander Blvd. and the mall.

We don’t yet know the reason for this change in traffic control, but we do know this – it’s confusing and can upset some. Drive carefully in that area until people get used to it, or the powers that be change it back to the “old way.”

Here are some pics of the re-opened interchange:

As you turn right, the new interchange looks nice and smooth...

...until you realize you're being funneled straight ahead. Be aware of a u-turn frenzy ahead!

Here’s more on the re-opening from the city’s website:

After the roads open, the contractor will continue to wrap up some of the final construction elements of the project. Please expect some temporary lane closures within the project limits as these final elements are completed. These temporary lane closures will occur on up to ten days spread over the next month, with as much work being completed at night as possible. During this time, depending on weather, some of the work that will continue after the roadway opening may include:

• Paving of the final layer of asphalt.
• Turning on the new traffic signal just south of Strander Boulevard.
• Construction of concrete crosswalks in the Doubletree Hotel vicinity. The crosswalks will require a minimum of 24 hours of cure time before vehicular traffic can cross them. Consequently, both directions of traffic will be routed to one side of the parkway while the first half of the crosswalk is curing, followed by the reverse process to complete the second half. These lane shifts may occur on up to four days spread over the next month.
• Installation of a large sign structure across southbound Southcenter Parkway near the new tunnel. This work will most likely occur at night during late October. The new sign structure will have signs with arrows indicating which lane to be in for accessing I-5/SR 518, Strander Boulevard and Southcenter Park way.
• Continued landscape maintenance throughout October. The contractor will provide this service to ensure the plants are established throughout the coming year. Some slopes may be temporarily protected against erosion using plastic or special matting.
• Replacing all temporary wood pedestrian railings with new steel railings.
• Continued monitoring and optimizing of the new traffic signal timing.
• Installation of permanent striping. Some striping materials require a minimum cure time on asphalt pavements before they are installed. Permanent striping is also weather dependent.
• Painting of concrete retaining walls. This will be completed as weather permits.