Editor,
The number of port commissioners should be increased from three to five. Boneheaded decisions could be reduced with broader representation.
The Port of Bellingham (POB) fired its aviation director without notice, who had been on the job for less than a year, citing “financial reasons.” Yet, the POB has $100,000 in spare cash to hire a public relations consultant to improve its image?
This is a family newspaper, otherwise, my closing limerick could have been quite bawdy considering the circumstances.
The three Lost Souls of Waterfront Past
Approved bad ideas leaving many aghast!
A bag of tricks,
Headed by Fix…
Up the three to five and make it fast!
Micki Jackson
Bellingham
Editor,
Once more the CDN has provided us with a relevant, insightful article; in this case, the wonderful piece centering on Joshua Olsen and efforts to revive the Nooksack language (CDN, Aug. 17, 2024). The only omission, in my view, was the failure to mention that Joshua works at the Deming Library; a matter of great pride to those of us who are members of the Deming community.
Our library has recently been awarded a Washington State Commerce grant that will allow us to transition to solar by this time next year. Why is this important? Because the funds saved from this project will be used to support Joshua in his effort to strengthen our library’s relationship with the Nooksack Indian Tribe. This effort will include, among other things, increasing library signage in the Nooksack language, programs on Indigenous foods, supporting a Tribal Elders book club, digitizing historical documents and a host of other efforts to expand the library’s reach into the tribal community. It is worth noting the Nooksack Indian Tribe was among the very earliest supporters of our library’s expansion in 2007, and the Friends of the Deming Library will be forever grateful for that support.
While our library has had a sustained interest in building our relationship with the tribe and the broader Salish community — some readers will recall Matika Wilbur’s remarkable presentations on her Project 562 several years ago — it has taken Joshua’s effort to fully shape it. As a member of the Friends of the Deming Library board, I take immense pride in Joshua’s work. It is hard to fully represent the difference that he has made in both library program and cultural understanding.
Leaf Schumann
Friends of the Deming Library Board
Editor,
The song that keeps going through my mind is “Happy Days Are Here Again,” and I am once again enthusiastic about the Democratic prospects.
And Don, her name is pronounced COMMA-LA, and I hate to break it to you, but if you show up for that debate, she’s gonna beat the pants off of you.
Figuratively, Don … figuratively.
Harpur Evoy
Bellingham
Editor,
I enjoy clever, tongue-in-cheek writing as much as anyone, but I also think The Hammer took a cheap shot at the City of Bellingham public works department in the Aug. 8 column. Mr. Judd implied the city spends too much time and money on things like bike lanes and rain gardens, while ignoring basic street maintenance and pothole filling.
This is an odd criticism, especially this time of year, when street construction is at its peak and you can hardly drive around town without having to detour around another street improvement project.
It also ignores the city’s annual Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which includes $6–7 million per year, every year, just for street resurfacing. The city prioritizes street repaving based on an ongoing, automated assessment of street condition, created with special cameras and software.
To maximize the benefit of those dollars, the city often combines street repaving with other public works projects. For example, if public works crews dig up a water main for replacement, they may repave the whole section of road — not just patch the trench cut. It can also work the other way around: If crews repave a street, then it might be time to do a little underground work at the same time.
Additionally, if community members happen to spot potholes or growing cracks, then they can report them directly to the city using Bellingham’s “SeeClickFix” webpage or smartphone app. The reports generate job tickets that get routed to the right department to get the job done. A couple months back, I reported a pothole, and it was fixed the next time I drove by.
So, Ron, the “smell of asphalt” is well known to the public works crews. I thought you might appreciate the good news.
Michael Lilliquist
Bellingham City Council, 6th Ward
Editor’s Note: Observant readers will know The Hammer is an avid user of the “SeeClickFix” app, increasingly known around town as “SeeClickForget.”
Editor,
I am a fan of Mr. Ron Judd’s columns. I am not a fan of the Bellingham Port Authority (BPA). After 15 years in Bellingham, I have witnessed the waterfront development problems, the steady rise in fees to fly from Bellingham to Seattle, the late update to Bellingham airport, the still incomplete waterfront, personnel problems and now, the money for public relations.
To me, it seems the city, county and Canadians would benefit if both the Bellingham City Council and Whatcom County Council have control of Bellingham Airport, after approved amendments.
The councils would need to hire the correct people and, the people of both city and county would have more than three persons spending their tax dollars.
I would appreciate Mr. Judd’s comments.
Bradley D. Jackson
Bellingham
Editor,
The Port of Bellingham has a rock-bottom public image due to its terrible decisions, lack of response to public input and waste of the taxpayers’ money. Their solution? To make the terrible decision, with NO public input, to waste $100,000 of the taxpayers’ money on improving their public image.
Seriously, I thought the CDN headline was a joke. I guess the joke is on us.
Deborah Wessell
Bellingham
Editor,
I urge Whatcom County residents to study the initiative recalls in the Voter’s Pamphlet. If passed, they would hamper services in education, child care and early learning; and cut investments for clean air/water, forests, farmlands, jobs and transportation. Tax burdens would shift back on communities, workers, families.
VOTE NO on I-2109. No tax break for millionaires, no cuts to Washington’s public education. Less than 4,000 residents pay the 7% tax on stocks and bonds in excess of $250,000. This tax exempts retirement savings; sale of houses; sale of small businesses, vacation homes, farms. Let the 1% pay their fair share for future generations.
VOTE NO on I-2117. This initiative cuts investments in clear air/water; forest and wildfire prevention; WTA electric buses; stall road projects; reduce jobs; lessen farmer support for sustainable practices. Let’s help future generations.
VOTE NO on I-2124. Many help aging parents via their direct time and money. The WA Cares Fund does start the process of creating long-term care benefits for state workers. It is not a panacea but a start. Voting no is helping your neighbors continue this care. These neighbors are groups of: middle-income families who drain their assets to qualify for Medicaid; women; and people with pre-existing conditions. Let’s help these hard-working groups.
Voting is community caring.
Barbara Sardarov
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).
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