Week of July 31, 2024: ‘Sheer madness,’ trains, wolves and ‘childless cat ladies’

Editor,

Thanks for the shocking news that the Lummi Island hybrid ferry cost has ballooned to $85 million (CDN, July 25, 2024).

People, it’s time to think. Sheer madness is happening.

The hybrid ferry is a brilliant solution to a misstated need. It applies technological pizzazz to do the same old task that the aging diesel ferry has done: move cars back and forth across Hale Passage so that the passengers can drive their own vehicles between the ferry terminal and their homes on the island. 

Typical roadway distance on island: 1 mile.

How many permanent residents on Lummi Island? About 1,000. 

How big a subsidy is implied by the hybrid price tag? About $85,000 per Lummi Island resident.

The real need is for safe and timely public transport of human beings across Hale Passage. But schlepping their 2-ton vehicles is an artificial need. It is also a black hole for already scarce public dollars.

The solution is obvious. Have parking for residents on the mainland side, either at Gooseberry Point if the Lummi Nation permits it, or otherwise off-rez with a shuttle bus synced to ferry. The ferry should be a foot-passenger ferry, to carry humans not tons of iron. On the island side, a couple of commuter vans would shuttle humans between their homes and the ferry.

That obvious solution would bring down the project cost by an order of magnitude.

We should stop demanding costly techno-wizardry to “solve” misstated problems.

Abe Jacobson

Bellingham

Editor,

The engaging front-page article (CDN, July 24, 2024) was for me a jolting reminder that tourist trains and operating railroad museums, meant to evoke an experience of the past, are now themselves becoming part of that fading past. As are the men and women of my generation who spearheaded such efforts.

I got to know Frank Culp in 1983. Along with a passion for traditional railroading, we both had fond childhood memories of meeting our dads coming home from work on trains pulled by steam locomotives— though on opposite coasts; he in Olympia, me on the Jersey Shore.

With my need for part-time work and my experience firing the boilers on the old Puget Sound steamboat Virginia V, Frank hired me as fireman on locomotive No. 1070. Pulling day-trippers through the woods and past beaver dams east of Wickersham, in vintage passenger coaches, seemed a fitting use for old railroad equipment and trackage. Here was a man doing something I had often dreamed of doing.

We mostly worked amicably for five years. Including a high point in April of 1988, when the Burlington Northern Railroad, with no other power available, chartered the 1070 — with Frank as engineer and me as fireman — to clear its track of stranded freight cars following a wreck south of Wickersham. That night we put the 1907-vintage “lokey” through its paces, shuttling the cars up to the Acme siding — the kind of work the old engine was built for.

And may I mention? The 1070 had a beautiful-sounding whistle.

Paul Kenna

Bellingham

Editor,

I have just started to dive into the election issue you provided readers in last week’s printed issue (thank you by the way), and the first story I read was Isaac Stone Simonelli’s story, “Secure election system in Whatcom County open to voters” (CDN, July 20, 2024). What a tough job our election officials and auditors have in this day and age when we are plagued by right-wing nutjobs claiming that elections are rigged with no evidence to support their baseless claims.

Like many Americans and probably even more people in Bellingham, I shudder at the thought of another term under the psychotic rule of Donald Trump but that is not what this letter is about. This letter is to support our auditors and to share my experience with them.

I have a very erratic signature, I rarely sign my last name the same, even if signing it twice in one day. Because of this, I always put my phone number on the “optional” line of my ballot in case there is an issue (I highly recommend doing this to make sure your vote is counted), and twice I have been contacted to come in and do a new signature; I think I have four on file.

This proves to me, as it should to you, that every ballot is checked to make sure the signature matches, just as the article stated. I do feel confident that our results are validated here in Whatcom County — I only wish I was just as confident about where our country is headed. 

Anna Rankin

Bellingham

Editor,

As octogenarians, we are writing to express our disgust with the disrespectful remarks by the person whom a former president has chosen to be his vice-presidential running mate. That person’s remark about “childless cat ladies” says more about him than it does about the many women, of both political parties, who serve the United States of America and who have taken the oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States …” He went on to assert that public servants and, by inference, individuals who have no children have “no direct stake” in our country.

We were not blessed with children born to us. We chose to adopt a girl (now 52) and a boy (now 48), the mothers of whom chose to put them up for adoption. We came to know and love our children and their birth moms as well as some extended family members of each of the moms during the years that our children were growing up and into their adulthood. We have two grandchildren and will soon have a great-grandchild.

Do we and other adoptive parents not have a “direct stake” in our country? Do step-parents and step-grandparents not have a “direct stake?” Are parents via IVF in the “stakeless” category identified by the callous and careless GOP politician? Do the childless young men and women who are turning 18 and will vote for the first time have no stake? There is only one answer: Each person, including the politician from Ohio, has an equal “stake” in the November election. Please vote for persons who believe in and respect each of us.

Jerry and Jan Hunter

Bellingham

Editor,

We are now able to look back and compare the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the U.S. to other countries during the years 2020–22. The death rate from COVID-19 overall in the U.S. was approximately 341 per 100,000 population.

Contrast that with Canada, another developed country with many similarities to the USA. Their death rate from COVID-19 was 135 per 100,000 population. If we in the U.S. had intervened more wisely during the pandemic, especially early on, and achieved the reduction in deaths that Canada did, then instead of about 1.1 million COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., there would have been only 450,000. About 650,000 American lives could have been saved.

No single person is to blame for these deaths. So many in America made decisions that led to our poor response overall: government, medical systems, businesses, media outlets and individuals. Although former President Trump advocated for and motivated companies to rapidly produce the new COVID-19 vaccines that were so helpful, no one besides Trump had more ability and responsibility to guide the country at the beginning of the pandemic. 

He could have chosen to affirm and follow, instead of ridicule public health leaders and their efforts. He could have guided and reassured the nation rather than repeat random approaches being taken by social media do-it-yourselfers. His statements and actions had devastating results that speak for themselves. How can we return to such an approach to leading the country? How many American lives will he sacrifice next time?

Paul Bunge, MD

Ferndale

Editor,

Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission’s recent vote (CDN, July 19, 2024) to not strip protections from our still-recovering wolf population showed a recognition that biodiversity of all species throughout the state is vital and that carnivores play an important role across the landscape.

While breeding pairs of wolves first started returning to Washington in 2008, we still have yet to see any breeding pairs, nor even a pack, in the South Cascades, one of the state’s three recovery zones. Our wolf conservation and management plan for removing protections requires breeding pairs in each recovery zone over several years.  

Meanwhile, our state has a robust program for providing nonlethal tools, guard dogs and range riders to prevent conflict between livestock and wolves. And we provide compensation for livestock lost to wolves, which were less than less than 20 last year. 

The commission needs to be praised for making the right decision to help recover gray wolves, one of our state’s iconic and keystone species.

John Rosapepe

Endangered Species Coalition, Seattle

Editor,

I am a 75-year-old woman, a resident of Bellingham. I am writing to strongly urge the county council to reject the proposal to cut funding to 22 North.

It is just not in the council’s power to close this facility or to determine its use. If the council withholds its operating funds, the building will not close. But the staff, residents and neighborhood will be in more danger.

22 North serves the most at-risk members of our community. The opioid crisis and the fentanyl crisis are challenges that exist and, unfortunately, people are dying. But apparently, some think that these deaths are caused by this building. The idea of a detox center is great. But in this case, that idea is just a Trojan horse, driven by politics. The same people who object to 22 North certainly wouldn’t be happy with a detox center in the neighborhood.

I am part of the population who faithfully votes. I will keep in mind how the council votes on this, come the next election.

Jonna Crow

Bellingham

Editor,

The North Whatcom County Fire District levy is up for a vote on Aug. 6. I want to encourage you to vote yes.

NWFR [North Whatcom Fire & Rescue] is asking voters for a 34-cent lid lift on the August primary election ballot, which would reset the fire levy rate to $1.10 per $1,000. The lid lift would cost the owner of a $500,000 home an additional $14.16 per month or $170 per year. For perspective, in 2006, voters approved bringing the rate up to $1.42.

The levy lid lift will ensure our community’s emergency needs and response times continue to be met in a timely manner. It ensures our emergency services are properly staffed, which is what we want when we are having a medical crisis or fire disaster. It will provide up-to-date equipment, as our older equipment must be replaced due to age and normal wear and tear. The levy lid lift ensures our fire and emergency staff have a building in our community that is safe, functional and close to us, because as we all know, living in Birch Bay means we do not have many services that are just minutes away.

Birch Bay is such a wonderful place to live. It would be harmful to our community and to the rest of the area North Whatcom County Fire District serves if our services had to be cut over a few more dollars a year.

Thank you for considering.

Dianne Marrs-Smith

Birch Bay

Editor,

Guemes Island Ferry Workers, a bargaining unit of the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific, endorses Liz Lovelett for reelection to the state Senate from the 40^th District. 

Sen. Lovelett went to bat for us last year and supported our efforts to obtain a fair contract and a livable wage from Skagit County. She has consistently shown she is a friend of workers and unions. 

We support the work she is doing to toughen the state’s hate crime laws, fund affordable housing, expand access to crisis care for children, invest in behavioral health services, protect voting rights, protect worker rights, reduce energy costs, promote geothermal energy production, and remove derelict aquatic structures.

Read her record of legislation at search.leg.wa.gov/search.aspx#document. Type “Lovelett” in the Search Term field, and select “Session Law” under Bills and Other Biennium Documents.   

We urge voters to reelect Sen. Lovelett so she can continue working to improve the quality of life in Washington state.  

Richard A. Walker, union steward

Guemes Island Ferry Workers, Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific, Anacortes

Editor,

There is good reason why Commissioner of Public Lands candidate Dave Upthegrove is endorsed by Sierra Club. The Commissioner of Public Lands leads the Department of Natural Resources and has oversight over nearly 6 million acres of forests, agricultural lands and aquatic lands. Dave is the only top contender not taking timber industry money, plus he rejects the outdated notion that we must choose between our children’s education or saving our mature forests.

The timber industry would like us to believe that we must log the state’s last remaining unprotected “legacy forests” to fund schools. These forests are not quite old-growth, but are getting there, and are a huge source of carbon sequestration. No less an educator than Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, also a commissioner on the Board of Natural Resources, acknowledges that the statewide Common School Trust is funded only about 1.5% from logging revenues, meaning the trust does not heavily depend on logging.

Rather than logging revenues, the state should fund schools with stable and predictable general tax dollars. The timber industry is just wrong; we needn’t destroy our remaining mature forests, our best natural climate solutions, for a small percentage of money for schools. It is time for solutions that protect the whole public interest. Dave Upthegrove as Commissioner of Public Lands will offer such solutions.

Rick Eggerth

Co-Chair, Mt. Baker Group, Sierra Club

Editor,

I strongly support Brian Bogen, a nonpartisan candidate for governor whose candidacy is gaining significant momentum across our state.

Brian’s recent fundraising success, which placed him among the top three gubernatorial candidates in his first month, highlights the growing interest in something different. Brian, a successful business leader, is committed to bridging partisan divides and focusing on practical solutions that benefit all Washingtonians. In contrast to the divisive politics of today, Brian advocates for strong educational opportunities, a values-based budget prioritizing public safety, education, health and the environment, and making Washington a competitive business environment on both sides of the state.

Brian is a much-needed alternative to the current two-party system, offering voters a leader who prioritizes unity and effective governance over partisan fighting. His pledge to transcend political divisions and prioritize the needs of people all over the state resonates deeply with me in this era of a polarized political climate.

As voters, we have an opportunity to elect a leader who embodies integrity, inclusivity and a genuine commitment to progress for all. I urge my fellow Whatcom County residents to join me in supporting Brian Bogen for governor.

Troy Lautenbach

Bellingham

Editor,

Craig MacConnell’s letter to the editor (CDN, July 24, 2024) about seeing three empty WTA buses on Billy Frank Jr. Street heading toward Western Washington University at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday left me puzzled.

On Saturdays, most WTA bus service in Bellingham doesn’t start until after 8 a.m. Looking at WTA’s Saturday route schedules for the WWU-bound stop at Billy Frank Jr. and East Chestnut streets, the first bus of the morning is Route 14 at 8:12 a.m., followed by Routes 105 and 190 at 8:27 a.m., Route 107 at 8:42 a.m., and Route 196 at 8:57 a.m. (Across the street at that location, the first downtown-bound bus on Saturday morning is Route 197 at 7:46.)             

Perhaps the reason MacConnell observed those three empty buses at 7:45 a.m. on a Saturday was that they weren’t yet in service? MacConnell’s confusing snapshot in time that CDN chose to share with readers seems to be missing some necessary context. 

In my experiences regularly riding WTA buses, the first buses on Saturday mornings, which start later compared to weekdays, can sometimes be fairly busy. You might find workers heading to start morning shifts, local retirees heading to a weekend coffee klatch or the Bellingham Farmers Market, and breakfast-goers trying to beat the brunch crowd while avoiding parking hassles downtown. You also might find some early risers wondering why bus service doesn’t start earlier on Saturdays.

Michael Grass

Bellingham

Editor,

As the November election approaches, an important matter faces the Whatcom County community: the opportunity to introduce ranked choice voting to our election process. I am a candidate for one of the three District 3 Charter Review Commission positions, and I have become a firm advocate of ranked-choice voting. 

Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed trying to understand it; it’s really quite straightforward, both in its use and in its benefits. While you can see any number of online explanations — here is a good start at FairVote, for instance — it essentially offers the ability to vote for your favorite candidate, regardless of how hopeless their chances seem, because you are also allowed to rank all other candidates according to how much you like them. Then, as candidates are removed from contention for lack of sufficient votes, your original vote just drops down to your next-favored candidate. Voila! No lost vote!

And there are additional benefits: Candidates are inclined to build broader, more inclusive campaigns. Further, it allows us to abandon expensive primaries with low turnout. That saves money and builds voter participation.

It’s an idea whose time has come. In fact, it’s already employed in a number of states including our neighbor state to the north, Alaska. I am eager to bring this matter, along with others, to the attention of the Charter Review Commission should I be elected to a District 3 position in November’s election.

Leaf Schumann

District 3 candidate, Charter Review Commission

Editor,

The July 26 group letter re: Gaza claims that we ignore the plight of children in Gaza (CDN, July 24, 2024). Perhaps it’s more that people realize the problem isn’t just Israel, as suggested in the letter. Yes, Israel should be held accountable for their actions, but so should Hamas. Wasn’t it Hamas’ actions on Oct. 7 that led to this particular situation — actions best described as the work of criminal psychopaths? To just blame Israel for Gaza and remain silent about Hamas is to be complicit with Hamas.  

Also, accuracy is important. The letter refers to a July 19 opinion of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The writers are confusing the ICC with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which adjudicates disputes between nations. It is the ICJ, not the ICC, that issued the July 19 opinion.

The ICC is a separate United Nations body that investigates individuals (not countries) for war crimes. Surely the letter writers know that on May 20 the ICC prosecutor requested arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders, as well as two Israeli leaders, citing Hamas leaders for the crimes of extermination, murder, taking hostages, rape, and other acts of sexual violence, torture, and cruel treatment. Not exactly inconsequential charges, on which our letter writers are, again, silent. Are innocent Jewish, Arab, Beduin, and now Druze children killed by Hamas and their allies not worth mentioning?

All life is sacred. Unfortunately, misleading statements and half-truths appear to be the new norm in our world, on both the left and the right.

Tim Baker

Bellingham

Letters to the Editor are published online Wednesdays; a selection is published in print Fridays. Send to letters@cascadiadaily.com by 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Rules: Maximum 250 words, be civil, have a point and make it clearly. Preference is given to letters about local subjects. CDN reserves the right to reject letters or edit for length, clarity, grammar and style, or removal of personal attacks or offensive content. Letters must include an address/phone number to verify the writer's identity (not for publication).