Recommended Actions for the Week of 20180126

Source: RC

Description: Write a letter to the editors of local papers to raise awareness of unacceptable treatment of Tim Ballew and challenge local leaders to oppose such treatment early and often.

Background: At the January 16th County Council meeting, each of the applicants for the At-Large council seat gave a short speech and answered questions from the council. After Timothy Ballew II spoke, Tyler Byrd repeatedly asked him how he would navigate any potential conflicts of interest between the County and the Lummi Nation should he become a council member, and implies that he doubts Ballew would work on behalf of Whatcom County   in He then asked if he was prepared to work 80-90 or more hours per week in his council position (14:57) – an absurd number which is well outside any expectation for the position.
Watch the full exchange on the Whatcom County Council YouTube channel. The speeches are all at the first part of the meeting. Ballew speaks from around 4:00 to around 7:00.  Questioning of Ballew follows.

This questioning implies doubt in Ballew’s commitment to the position as a result of his role as a leader in the Lummi Nation.  No other applicant is asked more than superficially about conflicts of interest, none are asked how they will work 80-90 hours per week.  The difference is so glaring, that another applicant uses the question period to ask Byrd if he wants to know how she would work 80 hours/week.

Contact Information:
The Bellingham Herald letters@bellinghamherald.com,
Cascadia Weekly letters@cascadiaweekly.com
The Western Front westernfront.opinion@gmail.com
The Lynden Tribune https://www.lyndentribune.com/site/forms/letters-to-the-editor/ or editor@lyndentribune.com
The Northern Light http://www.thenorthernlight.com/submit-a-letter/
Ferndale Record http://www.ferndalerecord.com/submissions/letter-to-the-editor/ or Brent Lindquist at brent@lyndentribune.com or to Calvin Bratt at editor@lyndentribune.com (edited)

Talking Points:
– Byrd questioned both Ballew’s ability to act in the bests interests of the County, and his ability to handle the required workload of the job.
– Byrd’s questioning implied that because Ballew is a tribal member and formal tribal leader, he would put tribal interests ahead of the interests of the county when making decisions as a council member.
– Byrd’s questioning of Ballew’s ability to handle the workload also implied that Ballew’s tribal membership would limit his capability.
– Byrd’s implication reduced Ballew’s character down to his ethnicity, completely discounting Ballew as fellow, equal community member.
– Byrd only half-heartedly asked several other candidates about potential conflicts of interest and he did not frame the question around their ethnic backgrounds.
– Byrd did not ask anyone else if they would be able to manage the time commitment required for the job.
– Byrd’s questioning of Ballew was racist.
– While we don’t know if Byrd intended his questioning to be racist, lack of intent does not change the impact of his actions.
-Racist behavior by Whatcom County councilmembers is unacceptable and abhorrent. The council chair, Rud Browne, should not allow this behavior to go on in future meetings.

Source: Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy

Description:

After five years without a vote, the State Senate passed the Washington Voting Rights Act (SSB 6002, Sen. Saldaña) last Friday!

The bill creates a fair, consistent and collaborative process for fixing discriminatory election systems that may exclude entire communities from having meaningful representation. But we still have one more chamber before it gets to the Governor’s desk!

Write your Representative and ask them to support the Washington Voting Rights Act!

Background:

Whether they are on school boards, city councils, or commissioner districts – local elected officials shape and impact the social, health, and economic prosperity of their communities. It’s essential that all communities have a fair opportunity to be represented.

Expanding voting rights makes our Government more accountable and responsive to us.

That means a Government that’s more likely to tackle the issues we all care about, like clean air and water, clean energy, economic inequality and workers rights.

Contact Information:

Click here to Write your Representative and ask them to support the Washington Voting Rights Act!

Source:  NWDC Resistance

Description: Donate to Mora’s legal defense fund and sign this petition in support of Maru Mora, local activist for immigrant justice.

Background: Crosscut article

Source: RC and Port Commissioner Michael Shepard

Description:  Take a brief survey asking your opinion on two different waterfront general layouts.

Background: Newly elected port commissioner Michael Shepard is making good on his commitment to engage us on the Bellingham Waterfront planning process.  In November, waterfront developer Harcourt presented a new waterfront layout “napkin sketch” which looked vastly different from layouts published in the subarea plan.  To get up to speed on how we can impact waterfront planning, the RC held a video AMA with Michael Shepard and city council member Pinky Vargas.  Michael took the unanswered questions from the AMA back to Port staff, and returned with follow up (I even had a Port employee approach me at Elizabeth Station – he had watched the entire hour of the video AMA to ensure he noted all fo the questions and found answers).

Now Michael is asking that we complete this short survey looking at pros and cons of two layout options.  This is a great example of an elected official working hard to be responsive and make good on his promises.  Let’s support these efforts!

Source: Sierra Club

Description: 

Source: Sierra Club Washington

Description: The Trump administration has announced plans to expand offshore drilling in the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and the Arctic Ocean. This drastic proposal opens over 90% of the Outer Continental Shelf to new drilling and puts our nation’s coastal communities, beaches, surf breaks, and marine ecosystems at risk of a catastrophic oil spill.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is holding ONLY ONE meeting in Washington to discuss the Draft 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.

That means, the time to act is now.

It’s time to unite and demonstrate our opposition to oil and gas development off the Washington coast! The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) WILL NOT be accepting oral public comment at their presentation of the proposal on February 5th. It’s important we have a large turnout to attend their presentation and to the various events happening over the course of the day to make our voices heard and say no to this proposal that would be devastating to our coast.

From 2 pm until 8 pm will be a Citizens Hearing where oral comment can be given which will be taken down by a stenographer and submitted as official comment.

A rally will occur at 5:30 pm so more people can attend and take part, with specifics to come shortly, and will be based out of the Landmark building. Please contact Victoria Leistman, Sierra Club Associate Organizer at victoria.leistman@sierraclub.org with any questions or inquiries.

Organizers of the day’s activities include the Sierra Club, 350 Tacoma, 350 Seattle, Washington Environmental Council, and the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association.

Background:

From the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM): Public meetings will take place across the country using an open-house format so participants can arrive any time during the scheduled meeting time. At the meetings, participants can ask questions, share information, talk with our team members one-on-one, and learn more about the National OCS Program. We also encourage participants to submit written comments to inform BOEM of specific issues, impacting factors, environmental resources, alternatives to the proposed action, and mitigation measures to consider in its analyses.

BOEM will soon be offering a Virtual Meeting Room where participants can visit the same stations available at the open-house meetings. There they will be able to review and download the same handouts and posters offered at the meetings.

Contact Information: See the Facebook Event here.

Source: Indivisible Vashon

Description:

Let the Washington Transportation and Utility Commissioners know we want PSE’s Colstrip closed by 2025 and replaced with only renewable carbon-free sources and efficiency. Vashon Climate Action put together an easy, quick one-click letter and a resource guide to help with letter writing for those who want to write more.

The deadline is February 22nd.

We have the ability as PSE ratepayers to influence our commissioners and our goal is to take the equivalent of 3.7 million of cars off the road every year in carbon tons asap.

Contact Information: 

Submit a letter through Indivisible Vashon’s Google Form!

Additional Information:

They also hope to get 300 people to show up at PSE’s rate case hearing.

Where: Renton Community Center

When: February 21st, 1:30pm.

Supporters are meeting at 1pm.  It would be great if the could room could be packed with people from all over Washington, especially Whatcom County!  If anyone you know has expertise in the renewable energy industry, health and/or environmental effects of carbon/climate change/acidification of our oceans, or energy efficiency, it would be great if they could testify.

RSVP for Rate Case (Sierra Club) RSVP@bitly.com/PSERateCase

Source: Riveters Collective

Description: Fill out this web form to receive a ballot for the Whatcom Conservation District Board election.  Deadline 7 Feb 2018 at 4pm.

Source: Riveters Collective, Co3 Consulting, Bellingham Community Food Co-op and Cascadia Deaf Nation.

Description: February 11th, 2 – 4:30, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship Social Hall.  Reserve tickets through Eventbrite.  If you’re on Facebook, join the event for updates.  If not, find all relevant information here!

Background: Read more in the post dedicated to this event.  UPDATES: we may have maxed out the number of kids who can come.  I’m checking on this.  There are still adult tickets (by donation), but they are selling fast this week.  Our team has begun posting prep articles to our facebook event for discussion.  Join us to learn about ourselves so we can be better co-conspirators.

Contact Information: riveterscollective@gmail.com