Recent Articles
On the levy, low-cost rentals and the Mayor’s gag order.
Today’s Herald devoted much of the first section of the paper to promoting the levy tax for EMS services, under the guise of reporting the issues. They printed two big graphs showing increases of resp
Today’s Herald devoted much of the first section of the paper to promoting the levy tax for EMS services, under the guise of reporting the issues. They printed two big graphs showing increases of resp
Two graphs were missing that could have told the rest of the story. A graph for the same years showing total local taxes collected and a graph showing the percent of taxes that goes to EMS over the years. By omission, the Herald made it look like EMS costs have risen while tax revenues have remained flat. A very false impression.
Mayor Mark will strike a blow against affordable housing at Monday's City Council meeting. He will propose that loopholes be closed that allow accessory dwellings. These are the most wonderful way of providing low-cost rentals, supervised student rentals, infilling of neighborhoods and low-impact housing for people. Why any thinking liberal can support Mark is beyond me.
Can anyone get Mark or the four council members up for re-election to comment on my Oct 14 story that Mark has gagged the City Council from talking to anyone on the Clean Water Alliance? The Herald has nothing on this - and that is probably because Mark asked them to not run it. Cozy relationship there. Or maybe the Herald will print it two weeks late - like they finally did today on the Bonner and the Unions story that NwCitizen posted on Oct 9.
Oh - the mayor is allowing the city attorneys to talk to the opposing lawyers - but not to the CWA folks the city is supposedly working with. Why? Because Mark is trying to torpedo the lawsuit.
Bottom-line question - why the big silence on the gag order? It is real - and you have only read it on NwCitizen. Why? How can this town run day to day without acknowledging reality - like the Mayor gagging the City Council? Where is everyone? Is this town so neurotic that it cannot handle the facts and truth about itself? Gag orders are a serious business. Ask a city council person. Go to the City Council on Monday and ask them. Ask the Mayor. Is there a gag order on a lawsuit about our drinking water? Why?
I challenge any real environmental liberals on these issues. You say you support Mark for clean water and housing for low-income folks. Mark is a sham when it comes to those issues. He works against both.
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On the levy, low-cost rentals and the Mayor’s gag order.
Today’s Herald devoted much of the first section of the paper to promoting the levy tax for EMS services, under the guise of reporting the issues. They printed two big graphs showing increases of resp
What closed-door deal has Mark made with Foster?
That is the question making the political rounds this afternoon. Foster Rose, who came in third in the primary election for mayor, today endorsed Mayor Mark Asmundson for reelection. Foster’s voters h
This is the piece that this election deserves
Tip Johnson has written the best analysis of the mayor Mark’s record that will appear anywhere. Tip, a hero to local environmentalists and liberals, takes an honest and courageous look at Mark Asmunds
The Police Guild believes Terry did this
The Bellingham Police Guild will endorse Don Hansey today for city council. Their executive board voted 100% last night to endorse Hansey and not Bornemann. To most political observers this will be a
Attempted extortion by the Mayor
The City Council yesterday evening showed their disdain for public process and for state laws against using city facilities for promoting campaign issues. And in their afternoon session they bowed to
Very quietly, more and more liberals are
telling me they are voting for Brett Bonner for mayor. Some very prominent ones - but they are not going public. Why not? Fear of retaliation.
Why are they against Mark? Two reasons in general.
The political junkies around town
are abuzz about the trap Brett Bonner stepped into on Tuesday evening at the Labor Council. Dave Warren blindsided Brett without even allowing an introduction. They jammed questions at him, and baited
Mayoral Debate
The two differed strongly on several issues. The differences between them are becoming more apparent and this should continue for the next two weeks.
Brett continues to develop his Lake Whatcom
Election Commentary
Port Commissioner by Sheri Ward
So what happened to all the heat among contenders for this race? It was only a few short weeks ago… (<a href=”http://nwcitizen.us/oldsite/elections/2003/ben
Remember the ‘Truth Squad’?
We need one to follow Asmundson during the next three weeks - and to nudge the Herald to do minimal checking of facts before publishing. I’m referring to Friday’s post below, where it was noted how St
A far superior and more objective analysis
If you’re a liberal and just figure you’ll vote for Mark for mayor, then read Tip Johnson’s analysis of the two candidates. Compared to John Stark’s report in this morning’s Herald, Tip gives a far su
A “Cadillac” system
Mayor Mark is in trouble with young liberal activists - just the voters who normally would support a liberal mayor. But they are remembering his presiding over police and court abuses that targeted yo
Very qualified local political observers comment
I am posting commentary on the election races by several very qualified local political observers who have agreed to write up their views of selected debates, candidates and issues. The first one i
Election Forums
The first of three Bellingham Herald Election Forums is taking place this evening at the County Council chambers.
The forums are being broadcast live on KGMI radio, 790 AM. You can see the vide
News censorship is not some obscure conspiracy theory
Indeed, I watched CBS news and they have the story now. (see 3 pm below) Still nada at the CNN and FOXnews websites. A search shows nothing. Novak of CNN wrote the article that exposed the identity of
US soldiers would never do things like that
How many war prisoners is the USA holding? 6,000? A new website is trying to track all the foreigners the USA is holding in secret prisons or not telling us about. Amnesty International is involved. T
It is probably Brett’s to lose
All week I’m hearing from political pros how Mark will still beat Brett for mayor. Mark is too smooth, they say. Mark knows what to say in every situation. Brett is doing a poor job of exposing Mark’s
Taking care of our own—NOT!
Did you know that US soldiers who get wounded in Iraq and are hospitalized in military hospitals - for amputation of their foot or other treatment - are then charged for the food they receive in the h
I would sure welcome some company online
The look of this home page has changed today. The flag is larger and now fits official flag specs. My thanks to Conrad Suckow for this. While it is larger, the image for downloading is 1/20 the former
The Auditor counted all but the last
25 ballots today. In the only close race, Don Hansey has firmly out-polled Sheri Ward. Given how the Herald viewed the big absentee count on Friday afternoon, we can expect them to tell us tomorrow m