Wednesday, February 10, 2016 Tim Johnson
IN A BIND: “You break it, you own it” is an adage familiar to most people; and it was always understood that the next solutions to Whatcom County’s failed jail initiative would have to come from the communities most opposed to the $120 million sales tax proposal for a new justice center in Ferndale.[…]
(Note: the following is a comment Joy posted on the post above in the Bellingham Racial Justice Coalition Facebook group.)
The problem is that most of this is political lobbying and half-truths. The Sheriff consistently shifts the blame of mismanagement to others, and the guilt of overcrowding to the state or to his powerlessness to change anything. Continue reading
Golly Gee Willikers, I know this is Whatcom County, where everyone, just everyone, hates to follow regulations, but wouldn’t it be a good idea for our county sheriff to do so… you know, just to provide an example of how the system is supposed to work, at least in theory? Continue reading
November 30, 2015 Dena Jensen
Findings have been released by the Public Disclosure Commission on the investigation into the “Whatcom County Community Report” (otherwise known as the Jail Mailer) that was sent out during the height of the 2015 Whatcom County election. County Executive Jack Louws and jail project consultant, DLR Group worked together with others on the mailer. Continue reading
November 24, 2015 Joy Gilfilen
NOTICE: Packed agenda for the Whatcom County Council tonight at 7 PM. (and in committe events during the day). Continue reading
Click the graphic to view the full request
October 27, 2015 Restorative Community Coalition
The Coalition’s Board of Directors just sent letter requesting an investigation to the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force and to the Whatcom County Ethics Comission today. Continue reading
The Voice of AuthorityMon, Oct 26, 2015, 2:57 pm Tip Johnson
This election, featuring a huge jail tax proposition, has seen much talk about the “dilapidated” jail that is “literally falling apart.” In a questionable jail mailer Sheriff Elfo cites, “severe and unsustainable conditions within the jail that jeopardize staff, visitors and inmates.”
This begs the obvious: Why has the jail not been fixed after taxpayers approved a sales tax to do so? According to a letter from Elfo to County Executive Jack Louws on April 22, 2015, Elfo says, “it would be imprudent to invest major capital to remodel and continue utilizing a facility” described as “inadequate, failing and dangerous.” That makes their 2004 jail tax campaign look like a bait and switch. And when was that decision made? By whom? Does Elfo really have the authority to overturn the electorate’s intentions? […]
You can’t return a serve that doesn’t arriveMon, Oct 26, 2015, 4:32 pm Tip Johnson
By now, most everyone is aware that the county sent a controversial promotional piece supporting the jail tax to voters, paid for with tax funds. Continue reading
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 Tim Johnson
‘Jail-roaded’: Did the county bend election law in service to the jail?
Last week, on the day voters expected to receive their ballot and voters pamphlet they received instead a large, expensive glossy four-color multifold mailer.[…] Continue reading
Monday, October 19, 2015 Ryan Matthew Ferris
noisy waters northwest 
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