Coal: What Does Lake Whatcom, Waterfront Redevelopement & The Olympic Pipe Line Have to Do With It?

This lengthy title precedes a more lengthy blog, with lots of moving parts and a call for action.

Even if the reader does not agree with the position taken, perhaps you will appreciate the importance of the challenge we are now facing as a direct result of the Coal Terminal -and its accompanying extra trains, large seagoing vessels, unanticipated costs -without funding, and everyday inconveniences coming to pass.

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Mysteriously, an old and forgotten Chinese fortune -from a cookie- appeared as I was cleaning out old stuff.

For some reason, I picked it up, read it and saved it for future reference.

It said: "Before the beginning of great brilliance, there must be great chaos."

Wow, that seems to fit the world we're living in, doesn't it? And why not expect great brilliance later?

Today's headlines also featured at least two lead stories containing the word 'chaos'. One pertained to the 'Occupy' movement, which now seems to be more about what people don't like, rather than what they are for; I hope that changes. The other referred to the situation in Greece, where fiscal austerity seems very necessary for that country to save itself -and maybe Europe- from a fate worse than debt. [Yes, that pun was intended]

Point is that major chaos does exist, must be dealt with skillfully and effectively, and is up to people to force their chosen leaders to help them do something about it!

Is there ever any other way? Think about it.

That intro brings me to the meat of today's subject, which I'm just gonna put out there; the proposed GPT Coal terminal has galvanized chaos in our community; what are we going to do about it?

Pout? Fulminate? Complain? Point fingers [you pick which one]? Jawbone each other? Blame our corrupted Constitution? Blame corporations? Blame organized labor? Blame the ancient & vested 'right' of railroads to ship whatever they want to anywhere without asking permission? Blame Warren Buffet, Bill Gates for being unable to curb their appetite for big profits? Blame our elected members of Congress for daring to support such a project? Blame the State government for not nixing this idea out of hand? Blame Whatcom County for having a do-nothing Executive & Council that continues to lean hard right? Blame those idiotic planners of the past for suggesting Cherry Point be a terminal site? Blame each other? Blame China? Blame big Coal? Blame history that actually sought to make Bellingham a leading west coast rail terminus? Blame God for making the waters off Cherry Point deep enough for the largest vessels afloat? Blame WTO, NAFTA and other world trade agreements for greasing the skids for -gasp- world trade? Blame the current economic situation on creating an atmosphere conducive to grabbing any new job opportunity that comes along? Blame the Obama administration for whatever comes to mind that displeases some of us? Blame the previous administration for running up the national debt from unfunded wars & rebates to the rich, then sticking to us to pay for? Blame the Founders for being business friendly? Blame the Courts for interpreting the Constitution such that corporations have now achieved actual person-hood? Blame all the big money that appears around virtually every political contest or proposed change? Blame George Washington for not living long enough to continue being our President? Hell, blame everybody else but ourselves!

Get serious, people!

We have met the enemy, and it is us!

So, how do we go about corralling this churning chunk of local chaos and turning it into energy for positive change -or in the case of GPT- no change?

Let's see; we could buy the property and turn it into a park! You know, like the City did when it splurged and went into unfunded debt on the overly densely zoned area euphemistically known as Chuckanut Ridge.

Maybe that property could be traded back to its former owners -once or twice removed- in exchange for the Cherry Point property currently owned by the same people?

And, if that weren't enough, we could sweeten the pot by agreeing to rezone their other property known as Governor Point, provide them sewer & water and waive all impact fees so they can build an exclusive marina & living spot for the very wealthy.

That ought to jump-start our local economy and create more jobs than GPT, don't you think?

What say you, wealthy owners? A deal? Where do we sign?

Experts say that just by acknowledging it, one solves half the problem. If that's true, maybe a little Resolution -but preferably an Ordinance- along the lines suggested further below, will get us to the halfway point. Of course, our erstwhile Mayor and -as he is quick to point out- the lazy and irresolute Council would have to raise the tempo of our local chaos by getting off their collective keisters and doing something to demonstrate the dire mood of the populace on this issue!

Surely, that would be no problem, would it?

Don't kid yourself, Bellinghamsters, our fearless leaders aren't fearless when it comes to this sort of thing at all!

Ask me how I know.

OK, glad you asked: here's an instant replay of a little scenario that took place over 10 years ago, regarding what everyone said they thought was important, but had done very little walking of that talk. Yes, I'm talking about the Lake Whatcom Reservoir, our public water supply that needed more than talk. Fortunately, the City Council did take action to establish the Watershed Acquisition & Preservation Ordinance, but only after a vigorous public initiative demanded it, and over the objection of the Mayor and 2 or 3 Council members that were too lazy or timid to act!

Read about it here.

That, folks, was a struggle, but one that resulted in action that was badly needed and has been pretty effective.

Something like that will be needed again, but maybe without the luxury of an actual public initiative?

Tell me, why the City Council can't -or won't- represent citizens' interests and agree to pass a simple Resolution -not even a law- that clearly states Bellingham doesn't want the GPT, all those coal trains and the enormous tangible and intangible expense this proposal will burden us with?

Could it be that without a public initiative, they just don't pay attention? Does that mean they disagree with the widely held opinion that GPT is a really bad idea? Or, just lazy, risk adverse or simply clueless?

Maybe, you, -gentle reader- will agree to tell the City Council what you would like for them to do?

And, if they resist, tell them again and again until they get the message.

Tell them individually and forcefully. Tell them publicly and privately. Tell them you mean it!

If that doesn't work, then remember that during the next election; which unfortunately, may be too late to influence the decisions that others will undoubtedly make - whether Bellingham speaks up or not.

• Tell Terry Bornemann, the longtime henchman of organized labor, that you want him to think for himself, but this time to represent your wishes, not only those of his good buddies!

• Tell Gene Knutson, longtime union laborer, populist, sound-byte quipster and sometimes unreliable idol of lazy folks, that you want him to do something that gets him off his ass, and might make him unpopular to some in his audience!

• Tell Stan Snapp to get serious about something besides Lake Whatcom and the Budget while he's still in office!

• Tell Barry Buchanan, come on, what do you really have to lose? Make a lasting statement on an important issue before you go!

• Tell Seth Fleetwood, hey, your South Hill, Edgemoor & Fairhaven constituents need you to speak up on this issue, and with unaccustomed force - that they hope you do have!

• Tell Michael Lilliquist, wrap your carefully coiffed intellect around this issue all you want, but also follow the will of most all the citizens of Bellingham, and hurry up about it!

•Tell Jack Weiss to do what he knows is the right thing and resist this GPT scourge with every ounce of his considerable energy & wit!

And while you're at it, tell our current Mayor, and our new Mayor-to-be, to lead the parade only with the full backing of citizens -we've got your back- and get the hell out of the way if the trombones goose you, or the Majorettes want to strut their stuff, which they can always do better!

And, for god sakes, don't use the predictable advice the City Attorney will surely offer to cover your ass, because what will be proposed may seem slightly outside the bounds of what some may call 'legality'!

Remind this person that she really works for you, comfortably or not.

And, bullshit to any goal-line defense by 'Legal Man', that fictitious Super Hero who loves to stall, stymie and sink any action that doesn't fit pre-ordained protocol!

Hell, we fought a revolution over that crap!

Now, we need to do it again, if we are to regain our rights over a ridiculously stupid project designed to enrich a very few while impoverishing the rest of us.

I have never -at least rarely- been more serious about something in my entire life!

So, without further preamble, here's a few basic points that could be the gist of a Resolution our Council needs to pass, say, by the day after elections? That would be Wednesday, November 9, so next Monday would be a good time to publicly discuss and pass this subject Resolution and post-date its effective date by 2 days. Oops! My bad, today's the deadline for packet agenda items, but there's always the requirement for a mere 24 hours notice if the Council Pres is up to it.

Title and premise could include something like the following:

Bellingham's concern relates to direct impacts likely from tripling of train traffic through its entire shoreline which will create what amounts to an almost constant nuisance and safety hazard that will affect almost 40% of Whatcom County's population and over 60% of its jobs.

Then, the customary litany of whereases [feel free to add your own, see below for comparison to Lake Whatcom]:

• nuisance & noise expected to be tripled from current levels to a projected average of one train every 48 minutes

• safety hazards at all road & trail crossings and water channels [from ships]

• expensive costs of grade crossings & grade separations

• depreciation of public & private property values along Railroad Right-of-way, also affecting current jobs, and future jobs related to waterfront redevelopment and long planned for improved public access

• endangerment of surrounding marine waters, coastlines, aquatic life and inherent exceptional scenic beauty and jobs dependent on same. [tourists, fishers, watercraft, etc]

• arbitrarily wasting the thousands of hours this community has spent in envisioning a higher and better use for over 200 acres of prime waterfront property, plus the accrued expense to date, as well as depriving the City & Port of a viable means of recouping their substantial investment and achieving their anticipated goal of a vibrant mixed use area of universal appeal and value.

You get the idea, see how easy this is?

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Now, we get to add what we want to happen, or in this case, what we don't want to happen.

Like, maybe a prohibition against trains over a certain frequency, length, weight, timing.

And, the precondition of paying for grade-separated crossings at all existing and planned traffic or trail crossings; sound walls & barriers, track & switching gear relocation and improvements.

And, secured insurance against damage from accidents, injuries, spills, excessive air particulates, etc

And, schedule assurance that AMTRAK trains will have priority access over freight between Portland, OR and Vancouver, BC, and all stops in between.

And, BNSF will assign an individual to be personally responsible for handling community concerns and resolving them on a timely, fair basis, without additional costs to the community, local businesses and property owners.

SSA, BNSF & partners will agree to share its profits from additional trains -full or empty- with Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham at a rate to be determined.

While these examples are meant to illustrate what could be demanded, a more inclusive approach could also be sought by asking the project owners & sponsors to agree to submit a proposal covering & committing to all the benefits, mitigations, infrastructure costs, dispute resolution mechanisms, insurable items, payments/penalties, job opportunities they offer our community.

Once in writing -and only then- can we have a real basis for negotiation, much like what we demanded before allowing the Olympic Pipe Line to be re-installed through City property and restarted under more stringent regulatory and management rules.

Note: That process took 18 months, and required active support from all levels of government agencies, citizens and the entire range of elected officials.

Something like that will also likely be necessary to bring the railroads under more reasonable control; this is not the 1800's, when the government opened the box that turned out to become Pandora's!

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{Early excerpts from the draft Watershed Acquisition Ordinance from the year 2000, which became effective on 1/1/2001]

WHEREAS, protection of the Lake Whatcom Reservoir, the drinking water source for the City of Bellingham and others, is of the utmost public health importance to the citizens of Bellingham and others who obtain water from the lake; and

WHEREAS, a proven and effective method of protecting municipal water supplies, such as the Lake Whatcom Reservoir, is to acquire, for public ownership, lands within the watershed and protect them from development; and

WHEREAS, the City, County, and Water District 10 Joint Resolution No. 92-68, signed in 1992, recognized the importance of protecting Lake Whatcom and its watershed as a Reservoir and the major drinking water source for the County; and

WHEREAS, the City's Comprehensive Plan requires that before-the-fact prevention take precedence over after-the-fact mitigation or treatment; and

WHEREAS, a Citizens' Task Force of the Lake Whatcom Reservoir Management Program is currently developing criteria to prioritize land for protection, determining options for preserving & enhancing high priority lands, and mechanisms for integrating these options with identified priority areas; and

WHEREAS, preserving and enhancing the quality of our drinking water supply has been identified as the top priority for the City Council for the past three years; and

WHEREAS, recognizing that a truly comprehensive program of education, land use regulation and enforcement, monitoring, and review as well as land acquisition is essential to preserving water quality in the Lake Whatcom Reservoir; and the City Council will continue its active support and encouragement of the Lake Whatcom Reservoir Management Program with Whatcom County and Water District #10. Therefore ........

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CONCLUSION:

We can do something to help at least condition and cope with the GPT proposal!

In fact, we are the only ones who can - but only if we will.

Our leaders desperately need us to tell them what to do; actually, we'll probably need to command them to do it! That is because most of our elected leaders are a lot like us, they wait until they have to do something to actually do it.

Unless, of course, they want to do something - with or without our advance approval.

This is a time when we need to give our leaders advance approval to stand up for what is essential to keep Bellingham a livable, welcoming and viable community.

Long past are the days when a few robber barons -or wannabes- could take over an area and strip it of its resources, beauty and livability!

Yet, something like that could be in the offing if the current crop of robber barons get their way.

It's time, folks!

It's getting close to past the time for us to get involved, other than jawboning.

We've got to do more than talk; we've got to speak up and take the names of those willing to actively help, and those better suited to laziness and bitching!

A really good way to get started is to pick on those we allow to call themselves elected officials; the City Council & Mayor of Bellingham, the County Council & Executive of Whatcom County, the State Representatives & Senator, the Federal members of Congress.

Get their attention! All of them, and take names of what they propose and what they oppose.

Then, we will have identified not only our enemies, but our allies!

At that point, we'll know who's got our back and who's acting behind our back -to our mutual detriment.

Choose sides wisely, then work to achieve your objective!

The world won't revolve around our little problem, but if we don't find a way to fight it, it may have us revolving around it!

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Coal: Location, Location, Location - For Whom?

A friend forwarded this draft OpEd, intended to attract sufficient support to be published as some sort of policy statement.

To date, it has not appealed to enough community-minded realtors to gain wide approval. Go figure! For a bunch who trumpet the virtues of location, location, location, one wonders if they really mean it.

Maybe, they had rather take their chances on 'tricking & treating' this Halloween?

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Whatcom Real Estate Professionals Against Coal Trains

When people buy a home or locate their business they look for good neighborhoods, strong schools, clean environments, accessible services, healthy local economies and appreciating property values.

They do not seek noise, pollution, traffic and major industry that negatively impacts the single largest investment they are ever likely to make.

As real estate and financial services professionals on the front-line of our local economy, we implicitly understand what makes for a strong quality of life and vibrant economy.

And chief among these is stable employment. Indeed, our very industry and livelihoods

depend on it.

As such, we do not take lightly our opposition to the proposed coal train terminal at Cherry Point.

While the promise of job creation in this struggling economy is very compelling, we are

gravely troubled by the undetermined costs of which our entire community will have to pay for these jobs, estimated at 89 to 213 at various stages of operation.

In addition to the 14 cargo and passenger trains currently running through Whatcom

County, the proposed additional 18 coal trains per day (perhaps more depending on

market demand), each estimated at one and a half miles long, will amount to upwards of

32 trains per day – one approximately every 48 minutes (if evenly spaced).

Excessive noise pollution from train horns and engines, dangerous air pollution from coal

dust and diesel fumes, and stifling traffic and pedestrian delays along our developing

waterfront and downtown Fairhaven will hugely detract from our quality of life, property

values and business opportunities at a time when we can least afford it.

Although a few people will benefit, it is clear to us that this project will be a net negative for the rest of us.

We implore our elected officials, policy makers and candidates for local office to join us

and countless numbers of concerned citizens in courageously standing against coal trains

and a sole source or multi-purpose coal train terminal at Cherry Point.

We simply can’t afford it!

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Whatcom Real Estate Professionals Against Coal Trains is comprised of residential and

commercial brokers, mortgage lenders, contractors and affordable housing advocates.

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Coal: Where Does Bellingham Really Stand?

'All hat and no cattle' is an expression I've heard that describes perfectly a person who consistently can't walk his talk.

Lately, I've been wondering if some of our elected leaders don't fit that definition in regard to reflecting our community's collective wishes on the proposed GPT Project and the exceptionally mixed - and mostly bad - impacts it might bring.

Hey, I know the so-called EIS hasn't been finished - or even completely scoped - yet, but what is your gut feeling about how it will benefit or harm you?

I'm not issuing a challenge for more campaign rhetoric here, so wait until after election results are known before expressing opinions oriented toward short term political gain.

No, what I'm seeking is the unvarnished thinking of people who live here, are invested in our community, and want to keep it a great place for people -not trains & huge foreign ships- to live!

Maybe we ought to think about acting the way some folks did up in Alaska recently when confronted with being forced to accept a huge, foreign-owned mining proposal that wants to extract easy profits from public mineral assets while degrading their livelihood from salmon and related biological resources?

Consider this headline: "The state of Alaska on Friday sued to invalidate the results of a voter initiative that could stop a massive gold and copper mine near one of the world's premier salmon fisheries."

Read on to discover the kind of jurisdictional dispute we could also experience here in Bellingham, whether we decide on a voter initiative or not.

We probably should have some sort of voter initiative on this matter, and likely will at some point.

But, don't you think our local government could help jump start this effort, whether they think its within their responsibility or not?

Explain to me why this would not be possible, or why it would be a waste of time!

It is something of a mystery to me why organizations like unions can persuade the City Council to pass stupid, feel good ordinances like banning Big Box Stores [couldn't just single out WAL-MART] and imposing the costs of providing 'Living Wages' on taxpayers for unskilled, out of town sub-contractors; and ordinary citizens can't get them to do squat about something with truly adverse impacts like allowing nearly continuous trainloads of coal to endanger, degrade and foul our roads & waterfront areas while supplying coal to monstrous foreign registry ships so they can clog our coastal waters to provide 18th century fossil fuel to our main competitor and creditor?

[That sentence was longish, but did say most of what I'm trying to convey.]

You know, Bellingham could also be a David and challenge the authority of a few senior Goliath jurisdictions, too, like Whatcom County, Washington State, the US Federal Government.

It shouldn't matter that Bellingham doesn't have the jurisdiction over this matter!

Hell, what other way would be as effective in clearly communicating what this community wants?

But, maybe it's too easy to not go there; to listen to the predictable legal advice; to avoid the certain escalation of controversy; to blame others; to tuck tail and hide?

I say we need better reasons than these to do nothing but sit on our hands like good little subjects!

My habit is usually to speak my mind, and sometimes this has affected unintended things to my detriment. But, what is the alternative? Really.

Recently, a little course I attended illustrated the potential of taking actions that are not expected, welcome, or technically legal.

Those actions can take the form of extraordinary ordinances, resolutions or voters initiatives.

Sometimes, they actually work; but always, they force questioning existing authority, practices and decisions.

It forces those existing authorities to listen, react, reconsider, try to intimidate, take legal action, listen to inputs unlikely to have been fully heard, wonder what is going on, expend unplanned energy & resources , delay taking routine action, inform and rally other stakeholders, etc, but never ignore them!

You know, our beloved Constitution was NOT carved in stone and carried down from the mountain.

Instead, it was hashed out the hard way, with compromises where possible, silence where prudent at the time, changes through Amendments, including the Bill of Rights.

All that stuff was not miraculously hatched in a bolt of lightening, and it is still subject to changes that fit the progress of humanity.

And, the way we change our Constitution hasn't changed either; it takes conviction, advocacy, courage and hard work. Period.

So here's what I'm asking;

The City Council -currently a moving target, I know- needs to address this issue very soon, since it has come to dominate community concerns and will likely continue to have enormous impacts whether the current GPT proposal succeeds or not.

There has been a great deal of information generated on this, as well as questions and concerns.

So far, the benefits of it proceeding have not been convincingly presented, and neither have its hidden costs been identified thoroughly or matched with funding sources.

We seem to be in some kind of holding pattern, where everything is in limbo except for jawboning, waiting for something called the EIS to be scoped, deliberated and decided upon -largely by others, non-citizens of Bellingham.

That idle, contentious and stressful waiting needs to be replaced by active debate and communication of Community expectations before it is too late.

Back in 1999, we had such a community discussion, when the Olympic Pipe Line disaster occurred.

Then, as now, other jurisdictions had responsibility for remedial action, including assessment of damages & reparations, creating mechanisms for restarting the pipeline, oversight and future regulations & enforcement.

Then, Bellingham & Whatcom County did not simply wait for 'others' to do their jobs and stick our community with whatever results that entailed.

No, instead, the community took charge and gave the various agencies in charge the clear and forceful idea of how we wanted the problem addressed and resolved!

We demanded -and got- the changes that were important for us to accept a replacement pipeline, including changes to State & Federal regulations, safer pipeline design, better management oversight, and reparations for damages to persons & property.

In short, that result was a testament to what communities can do to protect their citizens and livelihoods!

We can do this again, this time before the terrible, inevitable accidents actually happen and real impacts are felt.

As Ben Franklin said 'A stitch in time, saves nine'.

Preventing harm ought to be easier -and less costly- than reacting to predictable problems.

And, all those coal trains & huge colliers will undoubtedly produce problems, so don't kid yourself!

But, elected officials already know this stuff; they just don't want to try and do anything about it, except talk, wait and blame others.

Our Mayor was quoted not long ago as explaining why the City had not come up with a Resolution opposing the GPT proposal; it was that he didn't have enough support from the current Council to even get it on the Agenda.

Imagine that; couldn't even get such a thing on the Agenda for public discussion!

Amazing.

Of course, he did hold a public meeting at which many citizens were able to voice their concerns.

As a result, the Mayor got the clear message and modified his position -and campaign- accordingly, becoming a lightening rod in the process.

So, now, why not just draft up something for the Council to consider on his own initiative?

Or have a community group do it?

That has been a pretty normal method by which topics are introduced.

And, the Mayor and at least 3 Council members [Bornemann, Weiss, Lilliquist] are well aware of what methods the 'Democracy School' advocates, yet none of them seems to have bought into those ideas enough to do much that is visible to me.

Why not?

And why haven't the other 4 Council members bothered to find out what they could do, either?

If something has a chance of succeeding -or even being heard by the community- why not get it out there?

If all those little Townships in Pennsylvania can write ordinances opposing corporate pig farms, why can't little Bellingham oppose its own world-class dirty pig farm?

Inertia? Duplicity? Lack of Courage, Simple laziness?

You can decide what the hang-up is, and whether you can do anything about it.

From where I sit, a few of these folks have strong allegiances to organized labor, and we know pretty well where those organizations stand by what we see and hear in the media.

They are in favor of whatever gains they can make, whether it is at the overall expense of our community or not.

Let's just check the list of current Council members to see what the problem might be:

Bornemann - long time active advocate of whatever unions advocate; close connections with Labor Council {no opponent this election}

Knutson - long time union member and sympathizer

Snapp - long time union member [fire dept]

Buchanan - long time union sympathizer {has opponent this election}

[let's see, that's a majority, isn't it?]

Weiss -? {no opponent this election}

Lilliquist -?

Fleetwood -? {has opponent this election}

[a clear minority that could get even smaller if the right pressure is applied]

Well, I guess we can't count on our erstwhile Council to do much more but sit on their individual and collective keisters.

Guess somebody else will have to rally Bellinghamsters to join in some sort of cooperative effort to advertise to the real authorities what is expected to happen in the seemingly rigged process of determining how much expense, safety hazards, pollution, and general degradation of quality of life will be forced onto us.

Besides legitimately concerned citizens, local advocates & organizations that can provide wider expert legal advice, we may be out of luck.

What about you?

Think we're stuck with an unwelcome, dirty, corporate pig farm of international proportions?

Wait and see, or do something about it.

Big Coal meets Cherry Point's tiny herring

Bob Simmons' latest offering on Crosscut deserves a read.

Alternatively, Hart Hodges' effort seems to favor forces that discount fish.

John Stark also chimes in reporting claims of transparency.

Here is my response to Stark's article:

jwatts Says:
October 28th, 2011 at 1:55 PM

By the explanations given, this deliberative process does seem somewhat more open than did the Constitutional Convention back in 1787, which is not saying much.
Maybe about the same as current ‘Executive Sessions’?
Transparency does beat translucency, which in turn beats opacity, but so what?

The process to be followed likely has a pre-ordained outcome, in favor of the so-called ‘commerce clause’ in our current Federal Constitution, which, has now been incrementally interpreted to mean that corporations are actually ‘persons’.
So, good luck with getting what you might expect to be a fair & impartial hearing, without resorting to extra-legal tactics on behalf of real people and existing taxpayers.

At least, this process may present the opportunity to identify the heretofore hidden social costs associated with egregious corporate greed masquerading as ‘jobs’. This entire proposal is nothing more than a ‘jobs bill’ for a few that is being forced upon the many by private interests, not the government.

Care to venture how much of these costs will be externalized for the citizenry to pay for?
Hint: Much more than any elected politician would ever dare advocate!

Coal: NPR Weighs In With Two Articles

Lots of diverse activity lately has been stimulating; CarbonMasters course @ Cooperative Extension, Democracy School, books on Lincoln [Team of Rivals], James Madison [Richard Brookhiser] & pre-Columbus Americas [1491].

Follow that up with a flying trip back east to NC to visit son, Tom & to Tennessee to visit Brother-In-Law Richard.

Nice Fall weather everywhere, football season in full swing, good food, good rest equals good time.

But, the Internet just won't go away, which tends to bring me back to a reality I don't always enjoy.

For example, today's Internet provided two articles on Coal to China.

Here's the first link, and here's the second.

Read 'em and weep; but at least the word is getting out widely about the latest big scam of shipping coal to Newcastle -er, I mean China.

Too bad Dan Pike gets his kisser shown again free, this close to elections, but that goes with the territory I guess.

Wonder what he'll do once he's out of office as Mayor?

Probably, just use that as another 'skill set' to help find new work.

I do wish him well -in some other line of work..

Out.

PS - Another related link

And another, over at Crosscut, compliments of Floyd McKay

Coal: National Geographic Article

This article appeared recently in a National Geographic publication.

It is worth a read since it also addresses this as a global issue.

Coal: Green versus Gold?

This U-Tube speech deserves our undivided attention because it clearly spells out the phony battle now going on between well-established truth and the cleverly deceptive untruths being spun about climate change.

Would you seek 99 'second opinions' from Doctors on your child's health condition?

BTW, here's an article I posted in Whatcom Watch, the April, 2003 issue.

Similar arguments on a slightly different subject, growth management.

Coal: The Role of Politics

Bob Simmons has done it again in publishing an article in Crosscut that explores the history of proposed development at Cherry Point.

This one refers to the CBI proposal back in the early 1980's that sought to produce large modules for drilling oil in the Arctic.

Much debated and as contentious as our current challenge, the proposed SSA Coal Terminal, this earlier battle raged and teetered on approval until a courageous Republican Governor -Spellman- vetoed a special legislative measure and killed it.

Imagine that, a high elected official actually listened to his conscience and then followed it!

That kind of scenario could happen again, at least in parts.

Depending upon our current process for examining such proposals -there are more ecologically justified hurdles to jump- a special measure may again gain sufficient support to approve it.

When, and if, that happens, who will be our Governor?

More importantly, will that future Governor have the courage to follow his conscience?

Our choices for next Governor seem to be between Mssrs Inslee and McKenna, with the former a Democrat and the latter a Republican.

How will these two view a Coal Terminal at Cherry Point?

Is one more likely than the other to support it?

Think about it before you vote -please!

Remember, there are links between how we vote and what we get.

Voting is important, not only in the Governor's race but in others!

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For those interested, here are my choices in contested local elections:

County Executive: Jack Louws [over Doug Ericksen]

County Council:

Alan Black [over Barbara Brenner]

Christina Maginnis [over Sam Crawford]

Pete Kremen [over Tony Larson]

Sheriff: Bill Elfo [over Steve Harris]

Auditor: J Lynne Walker [over Debbie Adelstein]

Treasurer: Steve Oliver [over Brian Smith]

Bellingham Mayor: Kelli Linville [over Dan Pike]

City Council:

Cathy Lehman [over Barry Buchanan]

Larry Farr [over Seth Fleetwood]

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God Save The Queen!

Since we are now fully into Silly Season, maybe there are some candidates in need of a platform, motto or giggle.

If so, here's a Memo from Queen Elizabeth:

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An important announcement regarding the USA

To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty

Queen Elizabeth II.....



In light of your immediate failure to financially manage yourselves, and
also in recent years your tendency to elect incompetent Presidents of the
USA and therefore not able to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of
the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look
up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary).



Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over
all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas, which she does
not fancy).



Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America
without the need for further elections.



Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be
circulated sometime next year to determine whether any of you noticed.



To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules
are introduced with immediate effect:....



1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour', 'favour,'
'labour', 'neighbour' & so forth. Likewise, you will learn to spell
'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be
replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally, you will be expected to raise
your vocabulary to acceptable levels (look up 'vocabulary').

------------------------

2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as
'like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of
communication. There is no such thing as US English. We will let
Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be
adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination
of '-ize'.

-------------------

3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

-----------------

4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or
therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows
that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used
for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or
speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse.

----------------------

5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more
dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if
you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

----------------------

6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start
driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will
go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion
tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the
British sense of humour.

--------------------

7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been
calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

-------------------

8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries
are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are
properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and
dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

-------------------

9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer
at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as
beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred
to as Lager. New Zealand beer is also acceptable, as New Zealand is pound
for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to
the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth- see what it did
for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine,
so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

---------------------

10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good
guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play
English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialogue in
Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears
removed with a cheese grater.

---------------------

11. You will cease playing American football. There are only two kinds of
proper football; one you call soccer, and rugby (dominated by the New
Zealanders). Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play
rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not
involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body
armour like a bunch of nancies).

---------------------

12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host
an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of
America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your
borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will
let you face the Australians (World dominators) first to take the sting out
of their deliveries.

--------------------

13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

-----------------

14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's
Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies
due (backdated to 1776).

---------------

15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers,
and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus
strawberries (with cream) when in season.



God Save the Queen!



PS: Only share this with friends who have a good sense of humour (NOT
humor)!__,_._,___

Greenways: Herald Article Reprise

Right“"I don't see much sense in that," said Rabbit.

"No," said Pooh humbly, "there isn't. But there was going to be when I began it.

It's just that something happened to it along the way."” - Winnie the Pooh

==============================

Today's Gristle got it right, again, in assessing the Chuckanut Ridge acquisition.

Don't have the money, no problem; just leave that little detail to those who will follow to sweat through!

==============================

Here's the Herald Article link I thought I'd reprise, and here's the same article reprinted, with my comments -and emphasis- interspersed in red at intervals:

Bellingham council sees partial Chuckanut Ridge sale as last resort

JOHN STARK - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

BELLINGHAM - The City Council is taking steps to clarify its strategy for covering the $8.2 million cost of the 82-acre Chuckanut Ridge purchase.

Right, after-the-fact from the action already taken!

On Monday afternoon, Sept. 26, the council finance committee met to discuss the matter and all seven council members attended. The key issue is finding a way to repay as much as $3.3 million of the purchase price that is being covered with a loan from a city parks Greenways endowment fund that is supposed to be used for maintenance, not land purchases.

If less than $3.3 Million is repaid, how will the balance be paid?

Even more importantly, how will the maintenance be paid for! Think that doesn't count? Why was it ever designated in the first place?

Attempts at verbal jujitsu seems in evidence here.

Councilman Seth Fleetwood said it was incorrect to say the council has no plan for repayment of that loan. Ultimately, Fleetwood said, the property itself serves as collateral for the loan, and some portion of it could be sold for residential development to pay the loan back, if no other revenue sources can be found.

Huh?

Of course some portion could be sold; that should be Council's first option!

"Nobody hopes that this happens," Fleetwood said.

I do, and so do many others who take City fiscal matters seriously!

Mayor Dan Pike agreed.

"The ultimate fallback plan is we sell off as much of the land as we need to," Pike said.

Huh?, again!

Does ultimate fallback mean the same as last resort?

Didn't these guys figure all the deficit monies would have to be paid back?

Go ahead, kick that last resort into the dim future and hope no one is watching!

Good luck with that.

Council members agreed to consider adding language to that effect to the ordinance authorizing financing for the Chuckanut Ridge purchase. The seller is Washington Federal, the bank that obtained the property through foreclosure. The property had previously secured loans made by Horizon Bank, and Washington Federal took over those loans after regulators shut down Horizon in early 2010.

The ordinance was slated to come before the full council for a final vote late Monday, with an addition that reads, "Until paid in full, the 82 acres of real property shall serve as collateral for any unpaid balance" from the $3.3 million loan from the endowment fund.

Big deal, stating the obvious; although with this bunch, just getting that into the ordinance was a step they could take and maybe save more criticism.

How's that working out?

The council has six years to repay the money.

Who says so? Why they do, of course! You see, they, and only they, are the deciders!

Don't forget that, especially at election time.

BTW, how many of these guys will still be in office 6 years hence?

Also at the Monday committee meeting, council members appeared to be backing away from any insistence that loan repayment could not come from a new Greenways IV levy that would, if voters approve, replace the current Greenways III levy that expires at the end of 2016.

Is that really surprising?

After all, that was their first option in the thin air of Council's exhilaration after the 'buy it all now' decision was first made.

At a Sept. 22 finance committee meeting, committee members recommended that the city not rely on potential Greenways IV revenue for Chuckanut Ridge, since that reliance might turn some city voters against the future levy.

You think? Count on it!

Pike said the content of the next Greenways levy would be up to a future Greenway advisory committee and City Council, and said the current council has no business trying to dictate that levy's possible uses, years in advance.

Huh? The first part of that almost sounded kinda - right!

But, notice he left any mention of his -or a future Mayor's- role out of this statement?

And, oh sure, a future Greenway advisory committee could be just as ignored as the current one has been!

But this is the kicker: ...the current council has no business trying to dictate that levy's possible uses, years in advance.

What is he saying by analogy?

Is it that the previous Council had no business trying to dictate what the current Council has now undone?

Well, that certainly clarifies this Mayor's thinking about things, like binding commitments, duly passed ordinances, carefully considered procedures, and all the heavy lifting done by those who have set the table for this current bunch to mess with, any way they want to, doesn't it?

No wonder Pike is having troubles; he doesn't even know what he's saying from one mouth-opening to another!

But, maybe my interpretation has more to do with semantics?

Like, the reporter didn't get it just right?

I don't think so!

The reporter got it right, but Pike often seems to need the last word, just to clarify what he means to those who weren't there to hear it for themselves!.

Bye, bye Pike!

Both also said they thought it was up to the mayor to develop a financing plan for the land purchase and to bring the plan to the council for review and approval.

Shouldn't this have happened before the Council voted to buy CR?

Where's the Council's due diligence in this?

And, why are they pointing fingers in any direction except the mirror?

Pike agreed, suggesting that the matter was becoming a political issue. [Yeah! It's always been a political issue!] He faces a re-election challenge from former state legislator Kelli Linville.

"I think what I would like to do is come back (with financing ideas) some time after the election is over," Pike said. "Everything will be calmer."

Think so? Why? Because we'll have a new Mayor, with better 'skill sets'?

That's one way things will be calmer for you!

Your unwise grandstanding about buying CR wasn't about trying to gain a political advantage?

Can't have it both ways, Pike!

He also took the opportunity to defend both the land purchase and the price. Many city residents had been urging public purchase of the wooded site for years, and the bank's asking price was a fraction of what previous owners had been quoting, Pike said.

True, but that fractional price was still much more [$3.5 Million] than the City could afford to keep, without spinning back a chunk of it!

Previous owners were concocting a virtual pyramid scheme that had to fail, unless the full 739 dwelling units were actually built and sold.

[Maybe the Twilight Zoning that a previous Council and Administration allowed, largely contributed to the current situation? You bet it did! Maybe THAT Council should not have had a binding impact on the current Council & Administration, either! So why didn't Pike and THIS Council simply ignore the grossly excessive zoning? You know, what goes around, comes around -at least according to Pike's reasoning!]

Also, a little bird told me that it was the City's Finance Director who took it upon himself to ask the Bank to consider reducing the price by 5 to 7%, which was the approximate property devaluation that occurred over the past year, since the first appraisal was done.

The Bank immediately responded to this request and lowered its asking price by 7.5%, or about $700 Thousand.

Now, that ain't exactly chump change, but even that reduction left a price of $8.23 Million that the Council chomped on like a hungry trout to a fly!

Not much time to have a repayment plan developed, was it?

If the city failed to move quickly, Washington Federal could have chosen to auction off the property, leaving the city to try to negotiate a deal with a less motivated seller, he said.

There may still need to be an auction!

How else will the $3.5 Million be ultimately repaid?

"This is just an example of 'No good deed goes unpunished,'" Pike said.

Exactly what good deed was that?

You were just doing your job, right?

Instead of moving toward some kind of firm commitment to a specific strategy for loan repayment, council members agreed to collect public input on the issue, using the city's website.

That's the ultimate takeaway here; no firm commitment to a specific strategy for loan repayment! The Council ate the dessert, but left their veggies untouched and the dishes for a future Council to wash!

And what good is asking for public input, after the fact!

Heck, they even ignored public input given before-the-fact!

Council didn't even have the common decency to hold a public meeting, instead ducking into their safe little internet!

Guess maybe it's not as hot that way?

Whimps, and irresponsible ones at that!

My 2 cents.....after the fact

Reach JOHN STARK at john.stark@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2274.

SIMILAR STORIES:

• Panel: Don't dip into next Greenways levy to repay Chuckanut Ridge loan
• Bellingham council approves money sources for $8.2 million Chuckanut Ridge
• City to consider how to repay $3.4 million loan for Chuckanut Ridge purchase
• Bellingham approves plan to purchase Chuckanut Ridge
• City Council to consider Chuckanut Ridge funding Sept. 26

OK, that's off my chest, but not out of my memory!

After all the jawbone baloney about not using future Greenways dollars to repay the $3.5 Million deficit, this remarkably stupid Council is apparently locked into doing just that!

Surprise, surprise.

If selling a bit of the property itself is considered 'a last resort', what -pray tell- are the earlier resorts?

Stay tuned.

It ain't over 'til its over.....

==============================

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you.”

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

==============================

“I'm not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.”

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

==============================

Coal: Floyd McKay's Latest Crosscut Article

Here is a link to Floyd McKay's recent crosscut article on this issue.

This discusses multiple locations where coal shipment projects are being proposed.

Politics: Finding The Sweet Spot Sour?

Somewhere between the lazy liberals and the constipated conservatives, there's got to be a happier middle ground.

Today, an old acquaintance whom I seldom see, chanced upon meeting me at a local business that deals in technical toys, namely cell phones and accessories.

He recognized me from behind before I even saw him, possibly because he does follow local politics, including my wee stint in that arena.

He asked me if I missed being in politics, to which I replied 'yes, like I miss the measles'!

A little strong maybe, but what I meant was I missed being an active part of important decision-making.

With measles, one does develop a certain immunity, but with politics - not!

Once it gets in your blood, it remains there at some tangible concentration.

Somehow, this guy suggested that I was known as more of a 'radical moderate' in his thinking.

And, you know, he was right!

Actually, I was somewhat flattered by that label, because that is also how I choose to see myself.

He did pretty much nail me, for better or worse.

Of course, I did also manage to mention this blog, if he ever wanted to test his perception by things I've bothered to write and stand for, sometimes rather forcefully.

He may do that, or not; either way I do believe he actually got what I like to think is consistently aiming at whatever might be called the 'sweet spot' in deciding issues - particularly the hard ones that set lasting precedents that most folks seem to prefer over the long haul.

I thank him for that!

----------------

Recently, our local trusted City officials managed to not find anything close to a sweet spot in their less than admirable decision to pretend to be the Federal Government and purchase the property known as Chuckanut Ridge with money they do not have!

Yes, that's what I said - money they did not actually have to spend, $3.5 Million of it!

They did it because of silly politics and that undeniable urge to become heroes - cheaply, without earning it.

Remember that old E F Hutton Ad; 'We make money the old-fashioned way - we EARN It'!

Lord knows, I've done my best to argue, advise, cajole & reason with our current City Council and current Mayor on this matter, but I have failed - and miserably.

What they can't see themselves, all the king's horses won't lead them to understand, much less do.

That is truly too bad, not just for them, but for every citizen who expects consistent, good & fair decision-making from their elected officials.

So, what else can I do?

Roundly castigate these bums as incompetent laggards?

Continue to request better accountability?

Try to inform people of the unacceptable gap between what has happened and what should have?

Lower my expectations?

Actively campaign for replacing those officials who are so unlucky as to have political opponents?

Actively seek candidates to compete against those with no opposition?

If you think the answer to all the above is 'yes', you'd be correct!

So, let's get started.

• Pike as Mayor has been a major disappointment who has promised, or seemed to promise, way too many things that he has not been able to deliver. Apparently being Mayor is not one of his 'skill sets'. Imagine a guy who has just waded through almost 4 years of fiscal austerity - including threatening to veto a minimal, routine 1% property tax increase - then sticking the public [us] with an unfunded Greenways purchase of about $3.5 Million - equivalent to a 17% property tax increase! Of course, there are several other beefs that I have with Pike, like the damage he has done to the City's relationships with Whatcom County, the Port of Bellingham, State of Washington, various businesses, etc. Plus, the loss of several very qualified City Department Heads & all their institutional memory and incurring the costs of recruiting replacements; the lack of tangible progress on preserving the Lake Whatcom Reservoir, the gross lack of rapport with valuable City employees, etc. One or two other things, he argues a lot, always seeming to need the last word. And, he likes to be seen leading the parade - never mind there isn't one. Ever noticed that? These things are not merely matters of smarts, but of attitude & judgement - traits that are not readily discernible at first glance, especially with relative newcomers! Is there any wonder that I am strongly supporting Linville, because I know she can do a much better job on all these fronts!

• Buchanan hasn't impressed me much either, despite his rather ordinary credentials. He seems sleepy & doesn't do much to attract sincere plaudits; but maybe that's more of a strategy to keep a low profile and stay off the radar, except when the urge to pander becomes overwhelming? Its often a winning formula around here; not to create controversy, even when it might be the right thing to do. His opponent, Cathy Lehman, is the real thing, and deserves a chance to demonstrate it. Her work ethic, energy, knowledge of important issues, true caring and effective pursuit of key endorsements and voters, earn her my unqualified support, and I hope, yours!

• Fleetwood, unfortunately, has turned out to be essentially, a nebbish-like cipher. Despite good credentials and visibility in the community, he very often fails to develop positions that are well-defined or compelling. Worse, he seems to suffer from a lack of self-confidence, backbone & energy, but an overabundance of a sense of elite entitlement - a bad combination for anyone seeking to earn the public trust. His opponent, Larry Farr, is a straight shooter, has the ability and served this community in a number of volunteer capacities, though none elective, so far. [pun intended] From observing his years serving with the Transportation Commission and its predecessors, it is obvious he can do the job well and is deserving of public support, including mine.

• Two Council Members, Knutson & Weiss, have no opponents and will skate through the elections for another term. That's particularly too bad for Knutson, who relies on simple populism way to often; you know always against raising the money to pay for all the stuff he votes for, that kind of thing - Chuckanut Ridge is only the latest example. Also, his tendency to say one thing and do another is off-putting, as is his periodic grandstanding, at which he has clear ability. And, as one of the 4 co-conspirators who almost killed Greenways back in 2005/06, he participated in an illegal connivance that he finally owned up to - 3 years later - when most folks who might have known had forgotten. Knutson should have excused himself from even voting on the CR purchase! [as should have Bornemann, who never confessed] Think about it; with two recusals, the CR vote would have been 3 to 2, not enough for passage.

• Two years hence, the positions occupied by Bornemann, Lilliquist, Fleetwood [only if reelected] & Snapp [probably not running again] will need to be filled again. The first two need opponents if they run, as does Fleetwood if he's still there. And, also time for a new face in Ward 4. That makes four good candidates are needed. Anyone game?

That's about it from here for now, but stay tuned for a little reprise to Tuesday's Herald story on the decision made Monday night to 'kick the can down the road' on actually paying for their purchase of the entire, discounted pricey CR property.

Cool, leave the $3.5 Million mess for others to clean up later; and maybe the stupid public won't even notice!

Is it any wonder this country got so deep in debt?

Hey, you know this crap has to start somewhere; this is just an example at the local level - Bellingham, the City of subdued something. Accountability?

On that cheery note, as Bugs Bunny used to say, that's all folks....

-----------------------