Editor,
The Holly Street bicycle lane debacle continues. I find the most recent Cascadia article on this topic (CDN, Nov. 12, 2024) both informative and frustrating.
The results of the survey were not in the least surprising: 65% of drivers on Holly Street feel unsafe; 64% of cyclists.
In the article, it was stated cars going down Holly from Ellis Street experienced a travel time increase of 39 seconds. My question: Were the increased times experienced by drivers entering Holly Street from intersecting streets part of the data?
For example: I drive north on North State Street. At the roundabout, I use the connector to get up to North Forest Street. My intent is to continue up Forest and then turn left on Holly. My experience is that the traffic backups often begin at the light at Chestnut Street. It often takes three or four traffic light cycles to make that left turn on Holly.
It is not unusual to see cars stuck in the North Forest/Chestnut intersection. So there is the extra wait time at Chestnut Street and then at least two more light cycles to reach Holly Street. Southbound traffic on North State Street often backs up for at least a block (at Magnolia Street) and takes two to three light cycles to get past Holly Street. Were these times and issues addressed in the study?
Finally, why do we need to bring in a consultant to redesign Holly Street? I don’t know, but I suspect, it was an expensive consultant who helped create this situation in the first place.
This is not rocket science.
Robin Mullins
Bellingham
Editor,
The one thing Trump has never lied about is his determination to ignore the Constitution and harm his critics. That’s you and me, people who live in what may be the bluest county in the bluest state. So expect nonstop attempts to defund and destruct our communities and values. But … we can be resilient and self-reliant if we build a figurative wall of public service to protect our way of life.
Former speaker Tip O’Neill knew this when he pointed out that “All politics is local.” What he meant is that government serves you most and best through local municipalities and institutions — cities, counties and even states. We should focus on strengthening that relationship to protect ourselves while we wait for the extremists du jour to set themselves on fire. These are the kinds of actions we should continue:
- Establish well-funded nonprofit school foundations to offset reductions in federal funding.
- Cut our Amazon dependence whenever possible and shop local to keep small businesses and employment healthy.
- Help public health and mental health with access and education initiatives.
- Participate in events and fundraising to prevent vulnerable populations such as immigrants, tribes and seniors from becoming isolated.
- Support law enforcement and emergency response with manpower and resources to manage crises, from housing to wildfires.
I can’t list all of our jeopardized local services, but they all depend on volunteers. Local volunteer managers and users must up their games to recruit more and use them better. But in the end, it is up to you, the CDN reader, to make the critical difference.
Volunteer now, onsite or from home, if you don’t already. Quit making excuses and find the time. You have skills that are badly needed. If you already volunteer, reassess where you are most needed. It may be more critical to volunteer in day care than to organize the craft fair, for instance. Besides holding our communities together in coming years, volunteering will enrich your life beyond imagination. But that’s another story.
Tom Horton
Sudden Valley
Editor,
With majorities in the House and Senate, and the Roberts Supreme Court seemingly in his pocket, our constitutionally prescribed “checks and balances” have been suspended, at least until the 2026 midterms. But Democracy still has one last line of defense against a President Gone Rogue: The Cabinet.
While the President-elect’s picks could be seen as “doubling down on Trumpism,” in my opinion, there is another explanation for fanatical loyalty being the only consideration, and his wanting to circumvent the confirmation process.
Not only did Working America get played on Nov. 5 — Trump did as well. He was the “Designated Stalking Horse” — a figurehead for the power behind the throne. He knows his antics and authoritarian bluster won’t be tolerated one second longer than they impede transforming the U.S. into a Religious Oligarchy — the amalgam of Gilead and Oceana laid out in Project 2025. If he puts one toe out of line, they leak the “Kompromat” — Stormy Daniels was the tip of the iceberg — and VP Vance invokes Amendment 25:§4, to convene a cabinet meeting and remove him from office: “The President is so compromised he can no longer lead effectively.”
And Trump was perfect for the role: a charismatic, if somewhat buffoonish, populist with a built-in self-destruct. His “Friends and Family” administration picks are a desperate attempt to surround himself with a … Praetorian Guard who would close ranks and commit career suicide to keep him from going to jail.
In short, it is Senate Republicans he fears blocking his cabinet. “Et tu, Thune…?”
Omar Firestone
Bellingham
Editor,
Our future president is infamously reported to have asked in a scoffing tone, while standing over veteran’s graves: “… what was in it for them?”
As a veteran of the Vietnam War era, I can answer that: the pride of serving something greater than myself, my country.
Though I was not a fan of the Vietnam War, I chose to have some say in my service by enlisting in the Navy Air Corps, rather than being drafted.
After initial training, I first served at a training base in Texas; cranking out combat pilots for Vietnam as if on an assembly line. The last two of my four years were served in the Southeast Asia arena, part of a patrol squadron flying missions in the South China and Philippine Seas monitoring and intercepting shipping that supplied North Vietnam.
Whether one served in combat or in support of the war, where many also died in plane crashes or weapons failures, being up close and personal to instances of horror, or occasionally spared by chance, led me to some deep feelings of responsibility and a commitment to be an involved citizen the rest of my life.
What was “in it for me,” was something that our future president will never be able to grasp because he has never given up anything for his country. In fact, he has always been about “taking” based on his sense of privilege and indifference to the concept of sacrifice for country. He has become the “wretch, concentered all in self” spoken of in Sir Walter Scott’s poem, who “… doubly dying shall go down to the vile dust from whence he sprung, unwept, unhonored and unsung.”
Michael Waite
Sedro-Woolley
Editor,
Many Americans, likely Kamala Harris supporters, are theorizing that significant election fraud may have stolen the presidential election from the Democratic candidate.
Theoretically, there could have been consequential voter fraud committed in Donald Trump’s favor in 2016, ’20 and ’24, yet his supporters conveniently ignore the possibility.
The actual hard proof of such significant fraud is basically the same as that supporting Trump’s election denialism: nada.
But why let that fact stop anyone? Indeed, never underestimate the poor-loser emotional mindset.
Therefore, let me henceforth proclaim: There’s been widespread election fraud! Stop the Steal!! All Hail President Harris!!!
Frank Sterle Jr.
White Rock, British Columbia
Editor,
I have spent the last few days thinking about Steve Burgess’ question “What’s left to hope for?” (CDN, Nov. 6, 2024). And I agree with the letter written by Willie Dickerson, in response to that question. What’s left to hope for? It is that we call on the Senate to pass the Child Tax Credit (CTC).
There are 17 million children who do not receive the full CTC even though their parents have jobs. And these families disproportionately come from rural areas.
The House overwhelmingly passed the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers (HR 7024) almost a year ago. This bipartisan bill expands the CTC for millions of children. But the Senate has yet to act. Time is running out. The Senate needs to act NOW. Children and their families are counting on them.
Zelda S. Foxall
Seattle
Editor,
There is a forgotten part of our population who need and want indoor recreation; many of these people are less fortunate, don’t vote, and aren’t interested in trails and mountain biking.
Without adequate aquatics space, the children of Bellingham are not learning to swim. According to the Red Cross, an African American child is 5 times more likely to drown than their Caucasian counterpart. The No. 1 reason an African American child doesn’t know how to swim is generational fear of swimming, it is passed down for generations. It is much more than “we need to make swim lessons accessible to people.”
Bellingham needs to find ways to bring swim lessons to all kids, especially at-risk youth and lower socio-economic communities without access. Cities all over Washington state have programs where every third or fourth grader learns to swim as part of their public school education. Bellingham does not have the aquatic space to make something like this happen. (It also does not seem to be a priority of the school district.) It’s a systemic issue — it’s a lack of aquatic space problem.
Bellingham needs to make increased aquatics space more of a priority. Every user group at Arne Hanna is squeezed and needs more space. The Bellingham Bay Swim Team is doing an excellent job of teaching kids to swim, but they are maxed out on space. The fact that so many kids in Bellingham, a town surrounded by water, aren’t learning to swim is a public health issue.
Lance Sullivan
Lettered Streets neighborhood
Bellingham
Editor,
With the holidays upon us, stress and tensions can increase exponentially, especially for those with friends and family suffering from the diseases of alcoholism and addiction. Has your life been affected by someone’s alcoholism? Bellingham is fortunate to have a strong Al-Anon community, with meetings available both in person and online.
Al-Anon is a program for friends and families of alcoholics and addicts helping members learn how to live rich and happy lives with the tools of the program, regardless of whether the loved one is still using or not. By getting the help you need accepting the realities of the disease, and by focusing attention on improving your own life and character challenges, the Al-Anon tools can somehow aid those suffering from the cunning and baffling disease of alcoholism — it is clearly a family disease.
If you would like some information about this truly remarkable program of self-help and improved way of life, please go to whatcomafg.org for a schedule of local meetings and an introduction to this free, non-religious program. Forty percent of members are referred to Al-Anon by local professionals, and many have found peace and contentment, one day at a time. Try a meeting — it may be what you have been looking for, and you will find that you are not alone.
Denise Roselle
Bellingham
Editor,
Welcome to Bellingham, please excuse our mess.
Seeing the photos posted about the Bakerview properties and the garbage left by the homeless encampments (CDN, Nov. 18, 2024) makes me glad I no longer live on Bakerview. Our property was purchased by the state to build the Bakerview overpass in 1972. Eminent domain dictated that we had to sell and you then had 90 days to be off the property once you received your payment.
The Fred Meyer gas station was our property and Costco was our playground. The overpass was built and several leftover properties sat vacant for years as they decided what to do. Fred Meyer sits on land that we called the swamp as kids and would get in trouble for playing there; we didn’t get caught. Off-site wetland mitigation solved that dilemma and Fred Meyer became a reality.
Property owners stuck with a mess created by others, ordered to clean it up, then fence it to prevent more issues are in a lose, lose scenario. Spend money to mitigate a situation that is only a temporary fix is too much like Wac-A-Mole. The problem moves next door and pretty soon it returns and you are out more money with no reasonable solution.
The City of Bellingham has a large expensive problem on its hands. Wringing our collective hands doesn’t seem to solve anything either. I would say shame on the citizens causing this mess, but I doubt they are the demographic that CDN yearns for.
Good luck solving this one,
Scott Thompson
Puyallup
Letters to the Editor are published online Wednesdays; a selection is published in print Fridays. Send to letters@cascadiadaily.com by 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Rules: Maximum 250 words, be civil, have a point and make it clearly. Preference is given to letters about local subjects. CDN reserves the right to reject letters or edit for length, clarity, grammar and style, or removal of personal attacks or offensive content. Letters must include an address/phone number to verify the writer's identity (not for publication).
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