Cover Story
Scrap Metal Meeting Spurs Opposition
by Bill Craven ABC Recycling is the Canadian scrap metal company with eyes on Bellingham for its expansion plans. It already has a lease on the waterfront from a docile and submissive Port of Bellingham where unsightly stacks of … Continue reading
Cover Story
by Franny Vollert A moratorium on development, intended to protect Bellingham’s primary source of drinking water, has been extended, leaving developers scrambling for faster options. The Silver Beach moratorium was initially put in place in July of 2022 for one … Continue reading
Beaks and Bills
A Look Back at the Year That Was
by Joe Meche Here we are once again, in the heart of winter and over the year-end cluster of celebrations, waiting for the season’s holiday dust to settle so we can dive into 2024. It’s the time of year when … Continue reading
Being Frank
Salmon Recovery Is Working, but We Can’t Stop Here
by Ed Johnstone After decades of work and millions of dollars of restoration work, one of our region’s threatened salmon runs is showing encouraging signs of recovery—summer chum that return to the Hood Canal and Strait of Juan de Fuca. … Continue reading
Being Frank
Successful Co-Management Requires Renewed Commitment
by Ed Johnstone As the 50th anniversary of the Boldt decision nears, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has room to improve as co-managers with treaty tribes. Judge Boldt’s 1974 ruling in U.S. v. Washington affirmed tribal fishing rights and … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at November 8, 2023 Meeting Shall the council: 303. Fill vacancies on the Whatcom County Ferry Advisory Committee? At the 10/10/2023 meeting, vote #283, the council voted to amend the committee that was originally … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Bill McCallum Action Taken at November 7, 2023 Meeting Shall the commission: 96. Reallocate 5,000 in the 2023 budget from the I&J Waterway cleanup to the Westman Marine site in Blaine? The 2023 budget for the I&J Waterway … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at November 6, 2023 Meeting Shall the council: 220. Appropriate ,681,203 for payroll checks issued from October 1 through October 15, 2023? (AB23918) Approved 7-0 221. Appropriate ,980,214 for goods and services checks issued from October 20, 2023 … Continue reading
Climate
Articles You Might Have Missed
Around the world people are taking the initiative to mitigate climate change. Here are some good news briefs compiled by the Climate Issue group of the LWV of Bellingham/Whatcom. We hear a lot about switching to electric cars, but anyone … Continue reading
Community Service Spotlight
Editor’s Note: There are over 100 organizations in Whatcom County working to provide supportive services to the general population and to those experiencing chronic poverty and its associated effects: addiction, homelessness, incarceration, mental illness, unemployment and civic engagement organizations. Whatcom … Continue reading
Conservation
2,000 Acres of Forests Designated for Conservation
The state forestland parcels are spread across five counties — Clallam, Jefferson, King, Snohomish, and Whatcom. Two areas in Whatcom County, totaling 650 acres are included in the proposal. The larger area includes an estimated 575 acres southeast of Lake … Continue reading
Conservation
Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project Is a Looming Environmental Disaster
Editor’s Note: Whatcom Watch has entered a cooperative agree- ment with Salish Current. When possible, we will share each oth- er’s content. Salish Current, an online-only news organization, covers the North Sound area and Whatcom Watch mainly covers Whatcom County … Continue reading
Conservation
Whatcom Conservation District Seeking Candidates
Conservation District supervisors are public officials who serve without compensation. Their role is to set policy and direction for the district. An individual interested in becoming a candidate must be a registered voter in Whatcom County who is an operator … Continue reading
Election Results
General Election Results 2023, pages 9-13, pdf: Election Results
Fossil Fuels
Lummi Nation Opposes Sale of Cherry Point Site to British Petroleum
The Lummi Nation opposes an attempted purchase of the site, known by Lummi people since time immemorial as Xwe’chi’eXen. BP’s interest in purchasing the site came as a surprise when the oil company presented it to Lummi for the first … Continue reading
