Watching Government

  July 2016

Port of Bellingham Commission

Whatcom Watch

Compiled by Andrew S. McBride Action Taken at May 3, 2016 Meeting Shall the commission: 73. Authorize the executive director to sign a $263,347 contract (amendment #1) with Pacific Security of Bellingham to provide security services? This amendment will provide … Continue reading →

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  July 2016

Bellingham City Council

Compiled by Boris Schleinkofer

Action Taken at May 2, 2016 Meeting Shall the council: 65. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District to finance the 2016 Aquatic Invasive Species Boat Inspection Program? At the 10/24/2011 meeting, … Continue reading →

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  July 2016

Whatcom County Council

Compiled by Barry MacHale

Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at May 3, 2016 Meeting Shall the council: 73. Authorize the executive to sign a $99,367 contract with Wilson Engineering of Bellingham to reduce phosphorus loading in the Lake Whatcom Watershed? The Cedar Hills-Euclid … Continue reading →

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  July 2016

Citizen Kayakers Investigate Discharges into Bellingham Bay

by Erika Wittmann

To celebrate 25 years of publishing Whatcom Watch, we will be printing excerpts from 20 years ago. The below excerpt is from the July 1996 issue of Whatcom Watch. “No one has a clear idea of actually how many storm … Continue reading →

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  July 2016

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.” — John F. Kennedy Boris … Continue reading →

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  July 2016

Cooperation Helps Us Survive

by Lorraine Loomi

  I am glad that the treaty tribes in western Washington were finally able to reach agreement with the state on a package of conservative salmon fisheries for Puget Sound. It took more than a month of overtime negotiations to … Continue reading →

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  July 2016

Locals Work to Make Public Aware of Major Carbon Tax Proposal

by Maria Matson

  Armed with clipboards, flyers and eye-catching bright green buttons, Rheanna Johnston and three other young volunteers spent a rainy Saturday, June 18, ringing doorbells and knocking on doors. They canvassed Bellingham to inform residents about I-732, a proposed initiative … Continue reading →

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  July 2016

City Will No longer Hear Issues on Forest Street Housing Development

by Ian Lilley

900 N Forest Street — once a church is now a construction site. The site is across the street from the Orchard Terrace Apartments. The project planned in 2014, is for a luxury student housing project constructed by the Rael … Continue reading →

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  July 2016

Bill Distler, Vietnam Vet and Peace Activist

by Kathryn Fentress

Bill Distler, 69, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Bellingham in 1980. He is married and has a 16-year-old daughter. He volunteers with the Alternatives to Military Service Program and has been active here in the Veterans … Continue reading →

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  July 2016

Gulls

by Joe Meche

Not everyone is particularly fond of gulls, so I guess I’m an exception. While many other birds can be difficult to find, it seems that I can always find gulls to observe and study throughout the year. Gulls are some … Continue reading →

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