Washington United for Marriage: It’s Time!
Writer's Note: Sorry for the delay in getting this article out, it has been a busy week. Last Tuesday, just over 75 people gathered in the Fairhaven College auditorium to [...]
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.
Writer's Note: Sorry for the delay in getting this article out, it has been a busy week. Last Tuesday, just over 75 people gathered in the Fairhaven College auditorium to [...]
More documents released today as a result of a follow-up public records request by the Political Junkie illuminate more of the city's response to employee moonlighting. For a [...]
Little Documented Oversight for City Employees Moonlighting as Private Contractors Almost a year after two employees were fired over a similar controversy, the city of Bellingham still has few [...]
"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.
Wendy was an intrepid voice for the environment and the humane treatment of animals. May her memory be for a blessing.
3 comments, most recent 1 year agoWhatcom County Sheriff is elected by all county voters, including those in Bellingham, Ferndale and other towns.
Or at least, take a moment to learn about the privatization of Medicare, commonly called Medicare [Dis]Advantage.
1 comment, most recent 1 year agoAn in-depth look at local housing: insightful, researched, and provocative.
5 comments, most recent 1 year agoWhatcom County Sheriff voted on by registered voters in Whatcom County
The passage of time alone will not save Bellingham from this dangerous situation. Only strong and persistent action on the part of its citizens will be effective against this menace.
[Our Guest Writer, Scott Jones, is a Bellingham resident along with his family. He is President of ...
7 comments, most recent 1 year agoThe President of the American Red Cross has come out in support of the Gold Medal for the Dollies who served in Vietnam
We reprint the 2014 speech she gave upon accepting the Paul deArmond Award.
6 comments, most recent 1 year ago$3.5 million Point Roberts Broadband project: is it worth it?
1 comment, most recent 1 year agoThis legislation calls for a $5 trillion National Infrastructure Bank that will finance the nation’s infrastructure needs without involving the budget or adding to the national debt.
4 comments, most recent 1 year agoWhatcom County Council District 4 position is voted for only by those living in the 4th District, the center of the county including Lynden.
1 comment, most recent 1 year agoWhatcom County Executive election, voted on by all residents of our county
Whatcom County Council At Large position, voted on by all residents of the county.
Experience counts.
3 comments, most recent 1 year agoThe developer, who bought the property to build the private student dormitory, CityView, now has a very, very large white elephant on his hands.
3 comments, most recent 1 year agoThe Port contends it is mandated to increase revenue and jobs for the Port. But just what does that mean?
18 comments, most recent 1 year agoBellingham City Council, At Large position, voted on by all residents of Bellingham.
Meridian School Board election, position 5
They died in Vietnam supporting and entertaining the troops. Memorial Day is for them too. So is a Congressional Gold Medal.
Anika Sirois comments on the idea of a new jail for Whatcom County
The state of Washington has much to gain by the passage of a bill that will provide for $5 trillion to finance infrastructure nationwide.
3 comments, most recent 1 year agoThis is not a new phenomenon in our city.
[The following is reprinted from The Retiree Advocate, monthly newsletter of Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA). &...
1 comment, most recent 1 year agoToxic waste, scrap recycling, jarring noise, and dubious processes on the waterfront: How did this happen?
10 comments, most recent 1 year agoA review and update of Bellingham’s rental registration and inspection program is long overdue.
10 comments, most recent 1 year agoMoreover, is a new jail of any size necessary?
2 comments, most recent 1 year agoIn 2020, there were 464.29 abortions per 1,000 pregnancies among women aged 15-19 in Whatcom County.
3 comments, most recent 9 months agoDavid Netboy contends “business as usual” is no longer acceptable, and here’s why.
15 comments, most recent 1 year agoLong-time Port watcher, Doug Karlberg, suggests a different point of view on the waterfront scrap pile.
5 comments, most recent 1 year agoBan them all. Forever. Every single, solitary firearm in the U.S.
18 comments, most recent 1 year agoIncluding others when developing solutions is a hallmark of leadership. It was not evident at the March 13th City Council meeting regarding new drug use sanctions.
7 comments, most recent 1 year agoDavid Netboy writes: So how, exactly, does ABC Scrap Metal “restore the health of the land and water” on our waterfront?
11 comments, most recent 1 year agoGarrett O’Brien guest writes. And just how do we get out of this housing mess?
21 comments, most recent 1 year agoThe Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade failed to vote the bill out of committee, but it can be revived in the second year of the biennium.
The program appears to be dying of self-inflicted wounds that were long predicted. Supporters stiffened their spines instead, ignoring the obvious blood loss.
11 comments, most recent 1 year agoMillions of Medicare recipients have already been schnookered into Medicare Advantage. Don’t be a victim. Fight back.
6 comments, most recent 1 year agoIf we do not speak out NOW on the privatization of Medicare, the system will effectively be eaten alive from within.
3 comments, most recent 1 year agoStoney Bird, local writer and activist, was severely injured in a fall at this home. He has helped many. Now it is our time to return the support.
3 comments, most recent 1 year agoAt least with a real joke, you get to laugh. Here, the government seem to laugh at you.
7 comments, most recent 1 year agoAtul Deshmane explains his dissenting vote on the new jail recommendation report of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee to the County Council
9 comments, most recent 1 year agoWith the loss of Michael Gan, TAGNW has become a puppet organization of big telecom that is aggressively working against the public interest.
4 comments, most recent 1 year agoGene Marx is a Vietnam Veteran and past National Board of Directors Secretary of Veterans for Peace. A retired Federal Administration employee, Gene lives in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife Victoria.
17 comments, most recent 1 year agoActually, it is Exploitation Day all around.
3 comments, most recent 1 year agoThis is a quote from President Biden during his State of the Union address on February 7th, 2023. Your bullshit meter ought to be in the red now.
7 comments, most recent 1 year agoHow Democratic Party Leaders and Elected Officials Are Abusing “Signal” to Have Secret Conversations about Public Topics
5 comments, most recent 1 year agoExcellent and succinct overview of Traditional Medicare, now under a very real threat. People are now waking up!
4 comments, most recent 1 year agoPublic funds belong to all the residents of Washington state. Why give that money to private banks so they can make a fortune for themselves?
5 comments, most recent 1 year agoPublic Works successfully gave the impression of progress, without actually having to bother
Hillsboro Oregon’s higher median income and lower cost of living could be ours if we push our public officials into public fiber internet.