Watching Government

  December 2017

Bellingham City Council

Action Taken at October 9, 2017 Meeting Shall the council: 164. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement (amendment #1) with the Port of Bellingham for infrastructure installation on Granary Avenue and Laurel Street? The city has opened bids and … Continue reading

Comments Off on Bellingham City Council

  December 2017

Port of Bellingham Commission

Action Taken at August 15, 2017 Meeting Shall the commission: 106. Authorize the sale of two vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? Auctions are scheduled to be held in Blaine on September 7 for a 37-foot cruiser with unpaid … Continue reading

Comments Off on Port of Bellingham Commission

  December 2017

Whatcom County Council

Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at August 8, 2017 Meeting Shall the council: 145. Appoint one councilmember to the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee? At the 4/18/2017 meeting, vote #73, the council combinded the Behavioral Health Advisory Board and the … Continue reading

Comments Off on Whatcom County Council

  December 2017

What Can We Do? Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

by Ray Kamada Part II What a difference a decade makes. In the summer of 2008, then-congressman Jay Inslee (D-WA) grilled commodity traders and oil execs as to why crude oil had rocketed to $146 a barrel. (1) Gasoline had … Continue reading

Comments Off on What Can We Do? Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

  December 2017

“Things Will Not Improve”

by Lyle Harris Sr. This section is devoted to studying the local impacts of specific issues the Trump Administration or Republican Congress will propose. Why does politics escape careful examination? Why do some people in their professional field quickly distinguish … Continue reading

Comments Off on “Things Will Not Improve”

  December 2017

poetrywatch

Boris Schleinkofer, poetrywatch editor “When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.” — … Continue reading

Comments Off on poetrywatch

  December 2017

Whatcom Water Use — With and Without Permission

by Eric Hirst With rare exceptions, everyone in Washington must have a water right to legally draw water from streams, rivers, lakes or from groundwater wells. Some farmers in Whatcom County, however, are using water without state authorization. Informal and … Continue reading

Comments Off on Whatcom Water Use — With and Without Permission

  December 2017

Refuge for Discarded Caregivers

by Robert A. Duke A Salute to Inspired Citizen Healthcare Where do caregivers go when they lose their patients? It rarely ends any other way, but when patient and caregiver are separated by institutional care, hospice or death, the end … Continue reading

Comments Off on Refuge for Discarded Caregivers

  December 2017

Information Fair Presents Bay Clean-up Project

by Nicole Oliver This excerpt is from the December 1997 issue of Whatcom Watch. On November 18, 1997, a pilot project to clean up the contaminated sediments in Bellingham Bay was unveiled to the public in an information fair at … Continue reading

Comments Off on Information Fair Presents Bay Clean-up Project

  December 2017

A Big Flaw in Bellingham’s Rehab Program

I am concerned about the city of Bellingham’s Home Rehabilitation Program. The intention of repairing safety items with a low interest loan is great; however, they require you to use contractors which they have vetted and have legal qualifications met, … Continue reading

Comments Off on A Big Flaw in Bellingham’s Rehab Program