Rally and march near Montlake, University Bridges this afternoon (updates)

This afternoon, the 99% are coming north of the cut.

A rally and march are planned for the University of Washington area, starting at 3:30 this afternoon.

From Working Washington’s facebook page for the event:

On November 17, people from across the area will converge at the functionally obsolete Montlake Bridge to demand our political leaders build bridges to good jobs, not make more cuts. This is part of a national day of action for jobs that’s happening in dozens of cities across the country.

The schedule of events today appears to be:

3:30 PM – Gathering at the grassy area just west of the intersection of Montlake & Pacific

4:00 PM – Rally

4:30 PM – March

One possible route the march could take we’ve gleaned from the website The Stand, a project of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (WSLC) and its affiliated unions. The Stand describes the march route as starting near the Montlake Bridge, but ending at the University Bridge to the west, due to “safety concerns cited by the Seattle Police Dept.”

A call to the front desk at the North Precinct reveals no final march route plans in place at the time of this writing; however, the officer on the phone said “they’re having a big summit on it right now.”

Capitol Hill Seattle echoes the march route move to the University Bridge, citing a Thursday Day of Action itinerary (at the bottom of the post).

UPDATE (12:14 PM): The Seattle Times’ Today File confirms the move to march to the University Bridge instead of to Montlake, citing the information on The Stand’s website that we mentioned earlier.


View November 17th rally and march in a larger map

UPDATE (12:21 PM): The Seattle Department of Transportation has sent out the following traffic advisory (via email):

SEATTLE  An Occupy Seattle rally and march today has the potential for creating major delays on all arterials leading to and from Ship Canal bridges during the afternoon commute.

The rally is scheduled to take place between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. on the University of Washington campus and then is expected to march west on NE Pacific Street to the University Bridge at roughly 4:30 p.m. The demonstrators plan to block the bridge during the afternoon rush hour so their presence will likely cause traffic delays throughout the afternoon commute until after 6:30 or 7 p.m. Demonstrators may also block the Montlake Bridge during that timeframe.

Seattle Police Officers will be on hand to minimize traffic congestion but the blockage of any one bridge could impact other nearby Ship Canal bridges. Commuters should allow additional time for detouring to another route. Motorists who must get to the University or Children’s hospitals should plan for extra time to reach their destination.

The protests could be very disruptive to transit service this afternoon. For information or questions about transit service, please call Metro Transit customer service at 206-553-3000, and sign up to receive Transit Alerts at www.kingcounty.gov/metro/alerts.

UPDATE (2:44 PM): The Seattle Department of Transportation has a network of traffic webcams across the city, and there just happens to be one at Montlake Blvd NE @ NE Pacific St (first picture revealed after you click the camera indicated by the picture below).

This rally and march is part of a larger “Mass Day of Action” planned for today, with events happening all around the country.

Suspects sought in local armed robbery

The Seattle Police Department is looking for information regarding an armed robbery that took place at 3:05 am on Sunday, October 31 in the 5500 block of 25th Avenue NE.

From the Notification of Criminal Incident (received via email this morning from a Ravenna neighbor and by the UW/Seattle Police Department’s Watchdawg mailing list):

Two male UW students were walking home northbound when a small late 1990s model sedan drove past and stopped a half block north of them. A male exited the passenger side of the vehicle and ran towards them pointing a black handgun. The male suspect demanded their wallets at gun-point.  One of the victims reported that his wallet was taken in the robbery. The suspect ran back to the vehicle, which drove eastbound on N.E. Ravenna Blvd. and out of sight. The victims were unable to see the driver or provide a make or color of the vehicle.

The suspect was described as a white male, 5’10”, skinny build, wearing a dark ski mask, blue jacket and black pants.

An area search was conducted by officers with negative results.

The case number for this incident is 2010-380151. If you have any information regarding this incident, please call the Seattle Police Department at 206.625.5011.

Huskies take to the streets AND the field this weekend

UW

Two chances to see Huskies in action and/or get stuck in Husky traffic this weekend:

FRIDAY NIGHT

Husky Band Friday Night Rally and Procession: 8:55 p.m. – 10 p.m.
600 participants
Husky band and supporters will follow a procession through Greek Row (17th Avenue NE between NE 45th and 50th Streets, approximately).  Seattle Police will escort.

SATURDAY

University of Washington Huskies vs. Nebraska Football Game:  12:30 p.m.
Husky Stadium (3800 Montlake Blvd)
70,000 expected
Plan on congestion on I-5 and SR520 approaching the University District and on arterials surrounding stadium.

That Husky Stadium Football Game Day Traffic Information link is right here, if you need it.

Thanks again to Peg Nielsen at the Seattle Department of Transportation for her Event Traffic Advisory releases. (This one was titled, “Wallingford Goes for the Wurst and Huskies Aim for their Best” — she’s good!)