Elenbaas’ ‘illegal’ ordinance is still in the running; letter to the Whatcom County Council / Noisy Waters Northwest

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Screenshot of a portion of the emergency ordinance which Whatcom County Council Member Ben Elenbaas proposed at the 4/21/20 Whatcom County Council Meeting

April 24, 2020  Dena Jensen
Here is the email I sent tonight to the Whatcom County Council:
Dear Whatcom County Council:
I recently listened to your April 21, 2020 County Council and Health Board meeting and wanted to address your discussion of the emergency ordinance, “SUPPORTING A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO DOING BUSINESS IN WHATCOM COUNTY DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC,” proposed by Council Member Elenbaas. https://whatcom.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=8264036&GUID=09006792-35A3-43D4-AF30-ACD95D3197B2
This was brought forward as an emergency ordinance, which failed 5-2 with Council Members Elenbaas and Byrd in support, but with most Council Members, along with their legal counsel Karen Frakes, noting that the ordinance would have been illegal and in violation of Governor Inslee’s Stay Home Stay Healthy order. However after voting down the proposed emergency ordinance, County Council Members perplexingly went on to vote unanimously to have the same proposal introduced to be considered as a regular ordinance at the next Whatcom County Council meeting.

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Tim Eyman: ‘We’re risking death right now.’ / Facebook post, Sj Robson

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April 20, 2020  Sandy Robson

At an April 19 protest at the state Capitol in Olympia, Washington, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tim Eyman fist-bumped a woman, posed with her for a photo and laughingly proclaimed something that is actually true in its most literal sense, “We’re risking death right now.” On April 19, Eyman, a 2020 candidate for Washington governor and serial initiative filer, posted a 3-hour Facebook live-streamed video of the protest against Washington state Governor Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order that has been in effect since it was first issued on March 23, and extended for an additional month on April 2. Continue reading →

Let’s talk about County Council Member Elenbaas’ words real quick / Noisy Waters Northwest

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Click the graphic of Whatcom County Council Member Ben Elenbaas in front of a microphone at a radio studio to access a podcast of KGMI’s February 29, 2020 Saturday Morning Live radio show.

February 29, 2020  Dena Jensen

Whatcom County Council Member Ben Elenbaas was a guest on Kris Halterman’s February 29, 2020, KGMI Saturday Morning Live Radio Show. His appearance on the show followed his inaccurate and inflammatory characterization of actions of the Bellingham-based environmental organization, RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, at the February 11, 2020 Whatcom County Council Meeting. Continue reading →

Where are our Severe Weather Shelters during nights with below-28-degree low temperatures? / Noisy Waters Northwest

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Click the graphic to access Whatcom County’s webpage for Winter Emergency Shelter Options for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

February 21, 2020  Dena Jensen

Nighttime lows in Bellingham have been under 28 degrees for the last three nights, according to the National Weather Service. Here is an email I sent to the Homeless Strategies Workgroup tonight:

Subject: Where are our Severe Weather Shelters during nights with below-28-degree low temperatures? Continue reading →

Letter to Whatcom County’s Homeless Strategies Workgroup RE people being turned away from shelter during hostile weather / Noisy Waters Northwest

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Click the graphic to access the Meeting Information page for the Homeless Strategies Workgroup on the Whatcom County website

February 14, 2020  Dena Jensen

Here is the email I sent this evening to Whatcom County’s Homeless Strategies Workgroup:

Subject: Regarding 1. make-up of HSW membership 2. People being turned away from shelter during hostile weather

Dear Homeless Strategies Workgroup:

I listened to the February 14, 2020 Homeless Strategies Workgroup (HSW) meeting and wanted to offer some thoughts on a couple of issues that came up during the meeting. During one portion of the meeting there was discussion about adding additional members to the workgroup. There had been a suggestion that possibly DVSAS should have a designated position on the workgroup. And then it was suggested that category be more broad, so as to not single out one particular organization but to represent the type of population they serve. 

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Public Disclosure Commission launches formal investigation of Senator Doug Ericksen’s campaign spending reports / Facebook post, Sj Robson

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February 15, 2020  Sandy Robson

On Wednesday, February 12, I received an email from Washington state’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), notifying me that, after assessing the facts, their agency has officially opened a formal investigation concerning my March 6, 2018, complaint filed against State Senator Doug Ericksen. Continue reading →

Letter to Whatcom County Council regarding renewable energy projects at Xwe’chi’eXen/Cherry Point / Noisy Waters Northwest

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Click on the graphic to access a copy of Resolution 2020-004, Resolution supporting environmentally friendly renewable energy projects

February 12, 2020  Dena Jensen

Just over two weeks ago, on January 28, 2020, the Whatcom County Council held their regular meeting which happened to last nearly 5 hours that night. I just finished listening to the whole meeting yesterday, February 11, (the date of their most recent meeting.) One of the last things Council Members did before adjourning that night was to pass Resolution 2020-004, “Supporting environmentally friendly renewable energy projects.” The resolution was proposed by Council Member Tyler Byrd, and passed with a 7-0 vote by the full Council.

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Keep your eyes on the review of the Cherry Point amendments / Noisy Waters Northwest

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February 7, 2020  Dena Jensen

Don’t forget that it’s important to stay engaged in the ongoing Whatcom County Planning Commission review of the Cherry Point Comprehensive Plan and code amendments! Industry representatives and Labor Union members are definitely staying engaged. Some of their comments seek to represent themselves as the stakeholders regarding Cherry Point. There’s lots more of us, probably most of us, who are stakeholders in the health, safety, and cultural integrity of Cherry Point/Xwe’chi’eXen and we don’t want our elected officials to be losing sight of this.

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New Immigrant Advisory Board and WA bills to support highlighted at C2C’s Migrant Justice Forum / Noisy Waters Northwest

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Click the graphic to access video of C2C’s January 22, 2020 Migrant Justice Forum. The presentation by Liz Darrow begins at around 18:00:00

January 31, 2020  Dena Jensen

On January 22, 2020, our local ecofeminist, immigration and farm labor advocacy organization, Community to Community Development, held a Migrant Justice Forum at the Localgroup Studio in Bellingham. One the presenters, Liz Darrow, who focuses on policy coordination, legislative advocacy, and media for C2C, offered a status update on the Bellingham City Council’s Immigration Advisory Board which was created by ordinance in October 2019. Ms. Darrow also brought forward a number of Washington State bills for this legislative session that merit community members calling on state representatives to provide their support. Continue reading →

Call to action for release of father apprehended by Homeland Security agents in Everson today / Noisy Waters Northwest

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January 24, 2020  Dena Jensen’

This morning Community to Community Development issued the following call to action on their Facebook page:

**ACTION ALERT***
Around 8 am this morning a family was pulled over by ICE in Everson on their way to take their children to daycare. We know that at this time at least the man is in custody, but it is unknown where in Whatcom County he is being held. We are asking all of our supporters to make calls to Customs and Border Patrol to demand the release of this father and community member. Please call all three numbers and let them know that it is unacceptable to apprehend and detain members of our community.

CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL OFFICES
Ferndale (360) 380-0408
Sumas (360) 988-5520
Lynden (360) 988-2971 Continue reading →