WOW! You are just such a great writer, clear thinker, and dedicated "watchdog". Thank you so much for another excellent summary. Ditto for the writer of the letter to the sheriff"s office. So appreciated.
When JST excavating was bulldozing my and my sister's properties (two distinct parcels) and we called the sheriff, they would not come out. Deputy Heck said he would have to check with Allen first, because maybe "he thought it was his" and it might just be a civil matter and they (sheriff's office) only deal with criminal issues. Similar response, different deputy, when we called a couple days later, asking again if a deputy would please come out to note the destruction of private property. The tribe's surveyor had been there. It was not "inadvertent". These were, in fact, parcels that Allen approached us about to purchase portions of, and we declined. When I requested copies of the reports for those calls made to the sheriff's office, I was told there were none. Is the sheriff's office accountable to the tribe as well? BTW: I am a JST Elder.
Excellent analyses and summaries!! I agree. It is political because that's how you divide a community. What should have been a transparent project, since it was funded by taxpayers, is now in a bottleneck of surreptitious shenanigans designed to cause disruption and detours. For too long too many misdeeds have gone unnoticed. But thanks to you, Jeff, the community can come together and redirect Clallum County in the right direction. It will take time, but we'll get there. This runs deep. Awesome fun last night! A little levity to remind everyone that we have great friends and neighbors.
Funny (not funny) that you should mention Elections: "Will the Auditor manage elections based on the public's expectations of transparency and integrity, or will that office also fall to political influence?" Guess who sits on the Canvassing Board that oversees elections? Drum roll.... Ozias! Clallam County is one of the LEAST transparent of any of the counties in this state when it comes to elections. Even Jefferson County (a bastion of liberalness) is more transparent, and that's hard to believe.
Good information. Thank you. It's unfortunate this project couldn't be completed as just another county roads improvement project. I suppose if any of us attempted to drive on the levee roadbase when the gates were inadvertently left open, we would get cited. The pedestrians that are encouraged to break the law, however, are ok because, "it's political." Would we be accused of sedition while the pedestrians are simply making a statement?
Was it intentional to NOT put up a barrier (inexpensive fencing or even a gate) where the schoolhouse levee portion intersects with the levee road base / the new Towne Road? If they had temporarily fenced that section off and included a sign that said, "Road under construction. Pedestrian traffic prohibited." and did the same on the other blockage end (south side), and completed the road, so much of this could have been avoided. As it is, when they start work to open Towne Road (God willing), they will likely have to temporarily ban pedestrian traffic on the road bed as the paving gets underway.
As ever - brilliant AND PESKY! (I cannot wait to be able to walk across the new Elwha River bridge once WE make it a "pedestrian only" trail!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!
For those that live north of the blockage, had used old Towne Road to commute to/from work or daycare, and are anxiously awaiting its re-opening, that will be just more financial burden to "preserve a trail" that was never a trail and never intended to be a trail. Where is the balance in all this? Why is it seemingly so easy to forget the working class family with young children but side with the private landowner trying to "save nature" for his children? Is the tribe's influence that strong? If so, that's pretty frightening.
The time to initiate a class-action lawsuit nears. If we go that route, first, I can contribute toward it, and 2, the lawsuit should include reimbursement of all legal costs. This is getting ridiculous!
I thought it was a done deal a while back, and now there is more waffling? Are raucus protests at Ozias' home or office necessary? We can certainly help ensure that his political career is short-lived, but as I said earlier, this is getting ridiculous! If he is reneging on settled commitments, what are our recourses? Can we recall him?
I am thinking that a class-action lawsuit may be the best route, but what do I know?
I will in no way shape or form participate in any protest at anybody's home. Causing fear for the safety of any politicians family member is the lowest form of protest.
It's frustrating, without a doubt. I'm of the mindset that we let this play out and encourage the majority of the commissioners and DCD to do the right thing: finish Option 2 by this fall.
I can definitely see peaceful picketing in front of the courthouse and alerting Seattle news stations in advance to draw more attention to what is going on.
In the absence of leadership on the part of elected officials, they capitualte to special interests prioritized by the donations of the special interests to their political campaigns. Politics is a healthy way for a democracy to function only if there is a balance between the differing perspectives on issues. When one political ideology dominates the governing, chaos ensues. In this case, allowing special interests to effectively rule is an abdication of the duty of the elected officials to their constituency. The ballot box is the solution to this debacle.
WOW! You are just such a great writer, clear thinker, and dedicated "watchdog". Thank you so much for another excellent summary. Ditto for the writer of the letter to the sheriff"s office. So appreciated.
Thanks. I thought this is why the sheriff was an elected position, so that office was accountable to the people (not the commissioners).
When JST excavating was bulldozing my and my sister's properties (two distinct parcels) and we called the sheriff, they would not come out. Deputy Heck said he would have to check with Allen first, because maybe "he thought it was his" and it might just be a civil matter and they (sheriff's office) only deal with criminal issues. Similar response, different deputy, when we called a couple days later, asking again if a deputy would please come out to note the destruction of private property. The tribe's surveyor had been there. It was not "inadvertent". These were, in fact, parcels that Allen approached us about to purchase portions of, and we declined. When I requested copies of the reports for those calls made to the sheriff's office, I was told there were none. Is the sheriff's office accountable to the tribe as well? BTW: I am a JST Elder.
You've known what the rest of us are just finding out... It's political.
You just answered my rhetorical question in re: is the tribe that powerful? Why yes, yes it is.
Excellent analyses and summaries!! I agree. It is political because that's how you divide a community. What should have been a transparent project, since it was funded by taxpayers, is now in a bottleneck of surreptitious shenanigans designed to cause disruption and detours. For too long too many misdeeds have gone unnoticed. But thanks to you, Jeff, the community can come together and redirect Clallum County in the right direction. It will take time, but we'll get there. This runs deep. Awesome fun last night! A little levity to remind everyone that we have great friends and neighbors.
You're right Denise. Towne Road has been a divider, but transparency will be the uniter.
Funny (not funny) that you should mention Elections: "Will the Auditor manage elections based on the public's expectations of transparency and integrity, or will that office also fall to political influence?" Guess who sits on the Canvassing Board that oversees elections? Drum roll.... Ozias! Clallam County is one of the LEAST transparent of any of the counties in this state when it comes to elections. Even Jefferson County (a bastion of liberalness) is more transparent, and that's hard to believe.
Future article? If so, I bet I know who has a stack of newspaper articles about this very topic.
Good information. Thank you. It's unfortunate this project couldn't be completed as just another county roads improvement project. I suppose if any of us attempted to drive on the levee roadbase when the gates were inadvertently left open, we would get cited. The pedestrians that are encouraged to break the law, however, are ok because, "it's political." Would we be accused of sedition while the pedestrians are simply making a statement?
Was it intentional to NOT put up a barrier (inexpensive fencing or even a gate) where the schoolhouse levee portion intersects with the levee road base / the new Towne Road? If they had temporarily fenced that section off and included a sign that said, "Road under construction. Pedestrian traffic prohibited." and did the same on the other blockage end (south side), and completed the road, so much of this could have been avoided. As it is, when they start work to open Towne Road (God willing), they will likely have to temporarily ban pedestrian traffic on the road bed as the paving gets underway.
Whatever the standard, proven protocol is for this process... I bet Clallam County will do it differently.
As ever - brilliant AND PESKY! (I cannot wait to be able to walk across the new Elwha River bridge once WE make it a "pedestrian only" trail!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!
Careful walking down to the bridge, it's a slippery slope in Clallam County.
Check out today’s Wordle !!!!
P-E-S-K-Y!!!
Yes for certain areas of Dungeness. And the county has known this since at least 2015.
Great friends and neighbors indeed!
Wow. Insurance rates might go up? Ugh.
For those that live north of the blockage, had used old Towne Road to commute to/from work or daycare, and are anxiously awaiting its re-opening, that will be just more financial burden to "preserve a trail" that was never a trail and never intended to be a trail. Where is the balance in all this? Why is it seemingly so easy to forget the working class family with young children but side with the private landowner trying to "save nature" for his children? Is the tribe's influence that strong? If so, that's pretty frightening.
Agreed!
The time to initiate a class-action lawsuit nears. If we go that route, first, I can contribute toward it, and 2, the lawsuit should include reimbursement of all legal costs. This is getting ridiculous!
I thought it was a done deal a while back, and now there is more waffling? Are raucus protests at Ozias' home or office necessary? We can certainly help ensure that his political career is short-lived, but as I said earlier, this is getting ridiculous! If he is reneging on settled commitments, what are our recourses? Can we recall him?
I am thinking that a class-action lawsuit may be the best route, but what do I know?
Don't forget the courthouse rotunda's nude sit-in! As for a lawsuit, I'd be interested what other public has had to sue their county.
Had to delete my original comment (about it being way more common than it should be because.....) THERE'S A WIKIHOW on it!
https://www.wikihow.com/Sue-the-Local-Government
Wikihow to the rescue! I love the drawings.
I will in no way shape or form participate in any protest at anybody's home. Causing fear for the safety of any politicians family member is the lowest form of protest.
I agree with that general thought 💯.
It's frustrating, without a doubt. I'm of the mindset that we let this play out and encourage the majority of the commissioners and DCD to do the right thing: finish Option 2 by this fall.
I think that's why Di & Boog call this "Clown County"
I can definitely see peaceful picketing in front of the courthouse and alerting Seattle news stations in advance to draw more attention to what is going on.
The Happy Valley Gravel Pit folks got King 5, do we have any news connections?
I don't, but if provided a little history I think we could stir up interest.
In the absence of leadership on the part of elected officials, they capitualte to special interests prioritized by the donations of the special interests to their political campaigns. Politics is a healthy way for a democracy to function only if there is a balance between the differing perspectives on issues. When one political ideology dominates the governing, chaos ensues. In this case, allowing special interests to effectively rule is an abdication of the duty of the elected officials to their constituency. The ballot box is the solution to this debacle.
Just a short 3 years and 9 months for the District 1 Commissioner ballot box decision.