With the Delta Variant surging, it is increasingly unfair to ask people to continue traditional tabling or canvassing to gather signatures. So we are moving to finish this petition with as many socially-distanced methods as possible. Some folks are less concerned and still believe face-to-face engagement is the best, but many - especially our elder citizens - are rightly concerned about taking risks and wary of the numerous, random social encounters conventional petitioning entails.
That’s OK. WE CAN DO THIS!
Online petitioning is a little less convenient. You have to download the legal petition, sign it, find a stamp and envelope, and mail it back. Not a big deal but a bit more bother. You may also see un-staffed petition signing stations, such as at Nelson's Market or Eclipse Book Store. Government offices have strict Covid guidelines but citizens must exercise their guaranteed rights on actual paper, in public. This is the workaround.
Go forth and multiply! Get three to ten people to get three to ten people, etc. Please network your lists. Ask your contacts to network their lists. Time is short. All signatures must be turned in to the City by Sept. 9th. So they must arrive on return by Sept. 8th at the latest.
Qualifying this referendum is the best way to force a broader community dialog on the value of undeveloped street right of ways and our public property rights. Read the informational flyer or follow the links below if you are not convinced.
PRINTABLE PETITION SHARE WIDELY!
INFORMATIONAL FLYER SHARE WIDELY!
MAIL SIGNED PETITIONS TO: Save the Trails, 1050 Larrabee Ave, Ste 104 #382, Bellingham, WA 98225 - Please post by Sept.4th at the latest!
DROP OFF SIGNED PETITIONS:
- Eclipse Book Store, 1104 11th St. in Fairhaven - 10 to 5 daily (but closed Sept. 7th), or
- Nelson's Market, 514 Potter St. in the York Neighborhood.
You can also stop by and sign the petition at the above locations.
Write tipj@nwhouse.com for materials or more information.
Other stuff (read at risk of being outraged):
Dirty Deal at Douglas and 21st
The Douglas Avenue Trail
Will City Double-Down to Kill Public Trail?
Mayor Is Asked To Preserve Trail
Our Public Property Rights For Sale - Cheap!
City Throws Down the Gauntlet
The Scheme to Turn Green-Spaces into $Green
A Call for Citizen Action
We can do this! Get it done!
Comments by Readers
Liz Marshall
Aug 30, 2021Thanks, Tip & NWCitizen. I went to Nelson’s Market Saturday to sign. I had never been there. Cute corner store and dining destination with outdoor seating!! I’ve also shared the alert online.
Tip Johnson
Aug 30, 2021Thank you, Liz. We are apparently going to need a lot more sharing. A socially distanced petition station at Lake Padden was confiscated by the Parks Department on Sunday.
Scott Wicklund
Aug 31, 2021Someone caught an exchange where Council President Stone asked Mayor Fleetwood what the City policy was with Rights-of-Way. This was discussed during Committee of the Whole. Mayor Fleetwood seemed to give a robust defense of keeping Rights-of-way for all kinds of access! In his answer to Council President Stone.
ICYMight have missed it.