Masked Resistance
We are a year into this pandemic and like most traumatic moments in history, it will soon be boiled down to a single concept in our collective consciousness. In my [...]
Citizen Journalist • Member since Aug 10, 2009
Riley Sweeney, raised in the Pacific Northwest, moved to Bellingham during the Bush years, worked on a cross-section of political campaigns during the Obama years, and then fled to the comfort of public service during the Trump years. Before joining the City of Ferndale as their Communication Officer, he wrote a column with Northwest Citizen and then his own blog, the Political Junkie, where he brought humor, insight and a suspicious amount of pop culture references to Whatcom County political reporting. The archives of that blog are available in the linklog at the bottom of Northwest Citizen. Currently, he lives with his wife Bryna and his two darling children, in the rolling fields of Lynden.
We are a year into this pandemic and like most traumatic moments in history, it will soon be boiled down to a single concept in our collective consciousness. In my [...]
I try to shy away from national politics but with the presidential campaigns beginning to heat up, I wanted to share these thoughts about Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush. First, [...]
Ralph Schwartz and Samantha Wohlfeil offered their “Top 10 Whatcom Political Stories” in 2014. Take a gander at their list, they have some good picks. In a sign of [...]
"What a bunch of FANTASTIC choices for the Bellingham Planning Commission. I’ve known both Mike and Iris for many years and trust their judgement completely. I’m so glad [...]
"Adding some more information to this discussion, a group of Black Lives Matters activists have launched “Campaign Zero” that is working to provide actionable policy solutions to the law enforcement [...]
"We aimed for a sample size of 500 - we did 2,000 calls and previous robopoll efforts had netted a 25% response rate, however in the dead of summer, our response rate was [...]
"While I appreciate your points about a small sample size, that is a fair point there, I reject your premise that someone with a bias is unable to conduct a [...]
"Great article, really cuts right to the point.
Excellent and succinct overview of Traditional Medicare, now under a very real threat. People are now waking up!
Public funds belong to all the residents of Washington state. Why give that money to private banks so they can make a fortune for themselves?
4 comments, most recent 1 day agoPublic Works successfully gave the impression of progress, without actually having to bother
Is our national flag flying at half-staff on flagpoles today? We explain why Old Glory is lowered.
Hillsboro Oregon’s higher median income and lower cost of living could be ours if we push our public officials into public fiber internet.
Holiday Greetings to the troops. A middle finger.
10 comments, most recent 1 month agoThe tab created by the risibly-named Oath Keepers was stolen from the U.S. Army. It is an insult to every Army veteran, especially those qualified as Ranger or Airborne.
2 comments, most recent 1 month agoIs the passing of Prop 5 a genuine reflection of the will of the people of Whatcom County? John Marshall guest writes.
9 comments, most recent 1 month agoPart C is really for sh*t but that word does not start with a “C.”
2 comments, most recent 2 months agoA running Record of the Zero Transparency Policies of the PUD, Port, County and City Councils From 1/12/2022 Onward
6 comments, most recent 1 month agoA must-read for anyone who knows a war veteran… and anyone who never met one.
10 comments, most recent 2 months agoA lifetime dealing with abortion, an account by a lifelong advocate.
6 comments, most recent 2 months agoVote for what you like. I like libraries.
6 comments, most recent 2 months agoDelores Davies contends we once had universal childcare, so why design an “aspirational (measure) that falls so short?” Vote NO on 5.
The fellow says he wants to make Twitter a better public forum by enhancing freedom of speech. Sounds great.
6 comments, most recent 2 months agoJohn Repp writes how the flexing of the U.S. nuclear muscle was done, at various times, behind the scenes.
5 comments, most recent 3 months agoThis article was inspired by a Letter to the Editor on NWCitizen on 10/08/22
With the advent of deepfakes, the line between reality and fantasy just dissolved. Elizabeth Britt considers some consequences.
3 comments, most recent 3 months agoJohn O’Neil writes about use of our Bellingham Public Library for promoting destructive health plans.
Rob Astyk writes of state senator Sharon Shewmake helping him as a homeless person
Monologues and anecdotes are not the essence of a forum.
4 comments, most recent 2 months agoMany years ago in a land far far away
CDN did a report on a report. Where was the investigative journalism?
5 comments, most recent 4 months agoSusan Prosser invites all to an officer-led safety forum on 9/29, hosted and moderated by Senator Simon Sefzik.
The League of Women Voters is offering forums on ballot positions so you can hear directly from the candidates. Catch them all or pick and choose.
The author outlines definitional problems in our broadband efforts
It is time to change our national pledge of allegiance - a change in response to the insurrection of January 6, 2021 and the attack on our National Capitol Building.
7 comments, most recent 5 months agoPrivatization of Medicare has moved into the state of Washington. Beware of the Dirty Dozen.
11 comments, most recent 5 months agoDave James writes about Dick Conoboy’s article on the classified documents from Mar-a-Lago
There are no classifications beyond TOP SECRET. Stop the hyperbole.
11 comments, most recent 5 months agoNow is your opportunity to tell this administration that the steal from Medicare has to stop. Medicare Advantage only “advantages” the corporations that run it.
15 comments, most recent 5 months agoArchive of past notices and reasons for the half-staff flag on the Fairhaven Veterans Flagpole.
A look at where TAGNW, Jon Humphrey, and Whatcom County are headed for broadband Internet access.
2 comments, most recent 4 months agoJeff Bezos is positioning himself to rob Medicare, but his grossly and ridiculously overvalued trillion-dollar-ass won’t go to jail for it.
2 comments, most recent 6 months agoCounty attorneys advise elected officials NOT to talk to us.
10 comments, most recent 6 months agoNate Higashi writes about Ben Elenbaas and the 42nd District State Senatorial primary election.
After almost 50 years, Congress finally looks to recognize the Donut Dollies who served in Vietnam
Melodie Kirk writes about Simon Sefzik and the 42nd District Senatorial primary election.
Whatcom County will not attract business or talent without fiber.
Myra Ramos writes about the smear of candidate Sharon Shewmake
The past actions of a presidential appointee are a good indicator of the direction in which the president wants to go.
9 comments, most recent 6 months agoAnon letters trying to intimidate us and our writers are non starters.
9 comments, most recent 6 months agoBellingham business woman offers sexuality workshops for 9 - 17 year olds at her sex shop.
16 comments, most recent 5 months agoDianne Foster explains why, after 21 years, Rick Larsen has got to go!
11 comments, most recent 6 months agoHow does our Declaration of Independence speak to us today?
13 comments, most recent 6 months agoSatpal Sidhu writes on sensible gun laws. This is not freedom that we love, this is anarchy.
5 comments, most recent 6 months agoStill No Dig Once Policy? Here’s Why
22 comments, most recent 4 months agoBuilding awareness of proposed privatization efforts is extremely important. Don’t miss this valuable talk.
2 comments, most recent 6 months agoGreen Ribbon Schools, clean hydrogen, and recyclable plastics are propaganda campaigns
1 comment, most recent 6 months agoIf we are not including repeal of the Second Amendment in our national conversation, we are not serious about stopping gun violence. For therein lies the solution.
29 comments, most recent 2 months ago