Timing is everything: County Council will soon decide how much money to spend on the new jail and its size. With reduced jail sales tax revenues, this decision will impact monies remaining for alternative-to-incarceration services promised with the 2023 Public Health, Safety and Justice Sales… Read More »Join us April 7 to learn about the current status of promised community-health services
In 2023, our community sent a clear message: we need a justice system that prioritizes community health. By voting to fund a modernized facility alongside behavioral health and supportive housing, residents issued a definitive mandate for alternatives to incarceration, robust diversion, and absolute accountability. We… Read More »Keep the promise of a community-health-driven justice system
Update: On Tuesday, November 18, 2025, Riley Sweeney, the County’s Policy and Communications Specialist, responded to our questions. Our Justice System Committee (JSC) has diligently followed the Whatcom County Justice Project and its Implementation Plan, which was enacted after the 2023 jail sales tax ordinance… Read More »Where is the progress? We demand answers on the status of the County’s Justice Project
October 14, 2025 Whatcom County Council Members, Satpal Sidhu, Whatcom County Executive, Donnell Tanksley, Whatcom County Sheriff, IPRTF Members Dear Whatcom County leadership and community representatives, As plans for the jail size are being discussed, the Justice System Committee of the Riveters Collective would like… Read More »Justice System Committee calls for transparency about jail size
September 10, 2025 To: Satpal Sidhu, Whatcom County Executive; Whatcom County Council members, and IPRTF members Dear Whatcom County leadership, We would like to applaud the services of Village Reach and their analysis of the success of the sales-tax-funded Justice Project goals. We concur with… Read More »Justice System Committee calls for better data collection and hiring of full-time staff to support Justice Project
June 27, 2025 Dear Executive Sidhu and Council Members, Re: Justice Project’s Implementation Plan status The Riveters Collective follows the Justice Project and appreciates the quarterly summary updates. As residents and sales tax payers in Whatcom County, we are attentive and concerned about how our… Read More »Justice System Committee requests public Implementation Plan status update
November 8, 2024 Dear Executive Sidhu and councilmembers, The Riveters Collective Justice System Committee continues to follow the County’s progress toward reforming the local justice system. After reviewing the October 8, 2024, Justice Project Legal and Justice System Committee meeting, it is apparent to us… Read More »Letter to County re: public defender system
For the 2024 election, we are using two positive designations for candidates: endorsed and recommended. We have given the “endorsed” designation to our true champions – those elected officials that have received our endorsement previously and have shown an unwavering commitment to advancing the values… Read More »Riveters Collective 2024 Endorsements & Recommendations
On April 19, Cascade PBS reported on Whatcom County’s handling of sexual harassment claims against former Public Works Director Jon Hutchings that resulted in the County paying out $225,000 to settle these allegations. The article also reported that Hutchings resigned the day before a third… Read More »Whatcom County Council must investigate mishandling of sexual harassment allegations
Dear Mayor Lund, We appreciate the city’s efforts to set standards for advisory groups and believe the Expectations of City Advisory Groups document (pages 4-6 of City Council’s April 8, 2024 agenda packet) could set the stage for success of any volunteer advisory group member.… Read More »We provided feedback to Bellingham about its proposed advisory group standards