May 11, 2017 Dena Jensen
I got an email from Sheriff Elfo this morning in response to an email I wrote back on March 30, to the Jail Stakeholder Work Group (my email is shown in the graphic). This resistance-is-futile kind of quote from the Sheriff bugs me the most: “Despite all that is being done and can be done outside the context of the jail, there will continue to be a need for a jail. The law requires it.” Continue reading
September 2, 2016 Joy Gilfilen
I am delighted that we are, nationwide, are finally getting bigger press for the injustices in our jails. It seems to be systemic failures and the problem is getting identified.
I have found that in Whatcom County, there are people experiencing the same kinds of medical and health problems from lack of the responsible administration in taking care of inmates. And this is not because of overcrowding caused by crime. It seems to be disrespect and disregard by staff, led by poor management and failures inside our administrative systems. Continue reading
Yes. Police caused deaths are a tough conversation to have in Whatcom County – for it is happening here. Is it justified or not? I do not know. How do we look at it from a healthy community standpoint? Continue reading
Don’t believe everything you read in the agenda
Tue, Mar 08, 2016, 1:47 pm Tip Johnson
Author’s Note: I was wrong and owe the prosecutor an apology. I’m sorry. I am told on good authority that the header designating the Chief Deputy Prosecutor on the draft revision was in fact a pagination carry-over from the footer of the previous page. Further, my source reveals that the edits referenced below actually originated from new council member Todd Donovan. Perhaps he can explain?
Tonight’s County Council meeting is starting to look like the shootout at the O.K. Corral.
The prosecutor Todd Donovan has apparently reacted badly to the County Council taking a leadership role to guide jail planning efforts following the defeat of the county’s proposed sales tax levy last November. Continue reading
If you click the graphic link above you can page back and forth between the three proposed Whatcom County Jail planning resolutions up for review by the county council tonight.
March 8, 2016 Dena Jensen
Former candidate for Whatcom County Executive in the November 2016 election, and human rights activist, Joy Gilfilen alerted people on Facebook today about resolutions regarding jail planning that are up for review by the Whatcom County Council tonight, March 8, 2016. Continue reading
We may never knowSat, Feb 27, 2016, 12:24 pm Tip Johnson
In the original Whatcom County Council Agenda for Tuesday, February 23, 2016, the Finance Committee was scheduled to hear an “Update from Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo regarding jail use agreement negotiations with the City of Bellingham (AB2016-100).”
Mon, Feb 22, 2016, 9:45 pm Tip Johnson
Sheriff Bill Elfo is scheduled to make a presentation to the County Council tomorrow. Agenda Bill 2016-100 states only that the presentation is about the Jail Use Agreement with the City of Bellingham.
One open door is not enoughSun, Feb 14, 2016, 7:54 pm Tip Johnson
The life of a lowly editorialist is such that we often don’t have access to the resources needed to redress the grievances we detail.
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.[…]
Will any bother to look?
Wed, Dec 02, 2015, 8:31 pm Tip Johnson
In all of the materials produced by the County pursuant to a public disclosure request on jail mailers, there is no evidence of Mailer #1.
noisy waters northwest 
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