Archives for category: Coupeville Ferry

Washington State Ferries & A Press Release Style Of News Reporting

October 13, 2021 //

The crew shortage story is now more than 15 months old:

June 30, 2020 at 5:43 pm PDT
By Ryan Simms, KIRO 7 News video:

Ferry wait times spike following staff shortages

Today:

Oct 11, 2021 KOMO News

Washington State Ferries near full staffing by end of weekend, but delays still possible

“More than 150 sailings were canceled from the San Juans Islands to the Central Sound Friday in an unprecedent day.”

“WSF said they are experiencing a severe staffing shortage due to an aging workforce, recruiting challenges, while feeling the impact of the global pandemic and now a vaccine mandate for state workers.”

The Puget Sound area includes several military bases. Has the US Navy delayed or canceled sailings because of crewing issues? Any chance that TV newspeople could go and do some interviews and ask these sorts of questions?

I do not speak out against vaccines or anyone who takes them. Ditto for mask wearing indoors or out.

I am OK with the Washington State Ferries workforce protesting COVID mandates.

TV News

Would TV newspeople be willing to interview people from various sides of an issue?

Much of what we get today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency is involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

Random thoughts and questions newspeople seem to avoid:

Within WSF, what incentives are in place to keep customers happy?

Does the WSF HR Director get paid more to keep the system running smoothly?

Are crew member incentives in place for perfect attendance?

Extra pay, promotions, extra vacation days, earlier retirement?

15 months of poor play would be enough to get an NFL or college football coach fired.

Is there pressure on the WSF HR Director to do better?

Would TV newspeople be willing to interview people from various industries and public agencies on how they have handled the impacts of COVID?

HR policy away from WA government:

UPS aims to hire 100K ahead of ‘record peak holiday season’

Love to see TV newspeople ask: How has the greater maritime industry dealt with COVID crewing challenges? How have various industries and public agencies handled this? Airlines? US Navy? FedEx? UPS? Costco? Local fire dept?

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Sports Writers and Alternative Media – Still Free To Ask Questions

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Photo-

Keystone Ferry – inbound

Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island-no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.

Possibly of interest:

Occasionally Looking for the Coupeville Ferry

Washington State Ferry Ride

Don’t book a bed and breakfast stay in Coupeville and plan to walk from the ferry terminal to your accommodations.

Ferry Traffic Leaving Coupeville Terminal Routed Away From Coupeville

Categories Coupeville Ferry, Newspeople not asking questions, Restricted Activities

Road Trip Report – Mask Up For Watersports – WA COVID

September 30, 2021 //

Photo above-

Potlatch State Park – Hood Canal

WA Covid Oddities and Nonsense?

September 14, 2021 //

I do not speak out against vaccines or anyone who takes them. Ditto for mask wearing indoors or out.

WA State Ferries

In the news:

Sep 12, 2021 KING 5 News video

‘The ferry system is our lifeline’: San Juan Island residents scramble as several weekend ferry routes are canceled

“This comes after weeks of rumors of WSF employees staging a “sick-out” to protest the governor’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.”

I am OK with the Washington State Ferries workforce protesting COVID mandates.

WSF COVID crewing challenges have been in the news for well over 12 months now.

HR policy away from WA government:

UPS aims to hire 100K ahead of ‘record peak holiday season’

Love to see KING 5 ask: How has the greater maritime industry dealt with COVID crewing challenges? How have various industries and public agencies handled this? Airlines? US Navy? FedEx? UPS? local fire dept?

Blogged about it back in May:

WSF COVID Crewing Challenges – Now 10 Months In

Dining Out

Took a guest and went out to a place we enjoyed several weeks ago.

Small waiting line to get in.

Masks must be worn to enter.

So far, so good. Just like last time.

Seated at table when new format and protocols kick in:

Entire order will be taken all at the same time and will be paid for in advance.

Can we order a beer to start? No, entire order will be taken all at the same time.

Bar is open, several beers are on tap. No beer list at the table to let us know what is available.

When you are ready to order-slide menus over the edge of the table.

We saw a ketchup bottle on the table recently at another place. Works for us.

Last night, ketchup comes in tiny cups. Water comes in a bottle.

The place we went last night appeared to be fully staffed with good people. Not here to complain about restaurant staff.

Here to ask:

How much of the new dining format (not masks) is forced by the state and how much is made up by the local business?

Is there any medical advantage that comes with the new format?

If it is the choice of the business, what are they trying to achieve?

I will wait on the sidelines if dining out features unpredictable new protocols. The whole idea of returning to a place you like is to duplicate the experience you had before.

Possibly of interest:

Recent Memes

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

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Extinct ferry at Kingston

Categories Coupeville Ferry, Gunboat escorts on Puget Sound, Restricted Activities

WSF COVID Crewing Challenges – Now 10 Months In

May 6, 2021 //

May 5, 2021 Port Townsend Leader

Two-boat summer service pushed back again on Port Townsend-Coupeville route

“still facing vessel crewing challenges due to COVID quarantines and vaccination-related time off for vessel employees.”

Look for a vibrant and robust comment section in the local paper here.

Not enough time for a hiring blitz?

It’s been 10 months:

June 30, 2020 at 5:43 pm PDT
By Ryan Simms, KIRO 7 News video:

Ferry wait times spike following staff shortages

Love to see newspeople ask:

How has the greater maritime industry dealt with COVID crewing challenges?

How have various industries and public agencies handled this?

Airlines? US Navy? FedEx? UPS? local fire dept?

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Washington State Ferries Staff Shortage

Occasionally looking for the Coupeville Ferry

Auto Tollbooth Upgrade At Mukilteo

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Photo-

Keystone Ferry – inbound

Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island-no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.

Possibly of interest:

Occasionally Looking for the Coupeville Ferry

Washington State Ferry Ride

Don’t book a bed and breakfast stay in Coupeville and plan to walk from the ferry terminal to your accommodations.

Ferry Traffic Leaving Coupeville Terminal Routed Away From Coupeville

Categories Coupeville Ferry, Newspeople not asking questions

Washington State Ferries Staff Shortage

April 18, 2021 //

June 30, 2020 KIRO 7 News video

Ferry wait times spike following staff shortages

“Currently, the number of passengers is going back up, but more than 150 employees are off the job due to the pandemic.”

“Some (employees) are in that high-risk category, either by age, or whether by underlying health conditions, or both, so we want to keep them safe,” Sterling told KIRO 7 News.

“Ahead of the Fourth of July period, ferry workers are already warning passengers the wait this weekend could exceed four hours.”

Nine Months Later

Did any sort of hiring blitz take place? Many people are ready for good jobs in this economy.

Response from WSF:

“We have hired a bunch of new employees since and many more are still in training in preparation for this coming summer.”

April 16, 2021 1:42pm Whidbey News-Times

Coupeville ferry short crew; some reservations canceled

The High-Risk Category

Would it make sense to have age/physical standards requirements in hiring? The US Armed Forces are one example of where these requirements are in place.

Related/previous blog:

Central Planning and Essential Travel

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Photo-

Keystone Ferry – inbound

Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island-no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.

Possibly of interest:

Occasionally Looking for the Coupeville Ferry

Washington State Ferry Ride

Don’t book a bed and breakfast stay in Coupeville and plan to walk from the ferry terminal to your accommodations.

Ferry Traffic Leaving Coupeville Terminal Routed Away From Coupeville

Categories Coupeville Ferry, Newspeople not asking questions, Restricted Activities

Occasionally looking for the Coupeville Ferry

February 3, 2021 //

Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island-no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.

Possibly of interest:

Occasionally Looking for the Coupeville Ferry

Washington State Ferry Ride

Don’t book a bed and breakfast stay in Coupeville and plan to walk from the ferry terminal to your accommodations.

Ferry Traffic Leaving Coupeville Terminal Routed Away From Coupeville

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Categories Coupeville Ferry

Auto Tollbooth Upgrade At Mukilteo

January 2, 2021 //

If the style of tollbooth used at Port Townsend and Keystone gets the job done, why the upgrade at Mukilteo?

The stripped down design seems cost effective?

Image above: Keystone Ferry Terminal 1/4/21

Dec 29, 2020 The Everett Herald

New Mukilteo ferry terminal makes a much anticipated debut

“The $187 million project, which opened Tuesday evening, replaces a 63-year-old terminal nearby.”

In other WA State Ferries news:

Jan 2, 2021 Skagit Valley Herald

Study examines privatizing Anacortes-to-Sidney ferry route

Oct 7, 2020 Port Townsend Leader

Potential loss of Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry route prompts quick reaction from Jefferson County leaders

“Officials with the Washington State Department of Transportation have been considering cutbacks to bridge a revenue shortfall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“WSDOT officials have been reviewing potential expenditure adjustments for months, and preliminary talks in the department’s Ferries Division have focused on making more than $63 million in cuts.”

“Shutting down the route completely is estimated to cut costs by $13.9 million.”

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Photo-

Keystone Ferry – inbound

Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island-no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.

Possibly of interest:

Occasionally Looking for the Coupeville Ferry

Washington State Ferry Ride

Don’t book a bed and breakfast stay in Coupeville and plan to walk from the ferry terminal to your accommodations.

Ferry Traffic Leaving Coupeville Terminal Routed Away From Coupeville

Categories Coupeville Ferry, WA Credibility

Keystone Ferry

June 13, 2020 //

Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island-no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.

Photo-

Keystone Ferry – Inbound

Possibly of interest:

Occasionally Looking for the Coupeville Ferry

Washington State Ferry Ride

Ferry Traffic Leaving Coupeville Terminal Routed Away From Coupeville

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Categories Coupeville Ferry

Restricted Activities Update

June 11, 2020 //

Mixed messages running strong.

Island County

June 9, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

County may ask to move to Phase 3 next week

“Island County Public Health Director Keith Higman told commissioners at a meeting last week that the county can make the request as early as June 13.”

“Under Phase 3, restrictions meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be further loosened. Gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed, restaurants can move to 75 percent capacity, bars can open at 25 percent and movie theaters can open at 50 percent capacity.”

“Higman said camping in the county will need to be addressed in Phase 3. The state would have allowed it under Phase 2, but officials were worried about overuse since camping in adjacent counties was still closed at the time.”

I went to the US Post Office in Oak Harbor earlier today to take care of some business inside at the customer service desk. Only 7 people are allowed in that part of the building, so the waiting line begins out in the area adjacent to where the PO boxes are located. When it was my turn to go in, I was asked if I had a mask. I said I did not have one. A nice lady in line ahead of me gave me one.

Never saw anything in our local paper about masks being required at the post office. Did I miss it?

Jefferson County

Over in Jefferson County, they got the word out:

May 29, 2020 Port Townsend Leader

Masks now required in public

“Public Health Officer Tom Locke issued a masking directive May 28 requiring all individuals in Jefferson County to wear face coverings over their noses and mouths when they are at indoor and outdoor public locations and cannot maintain a 6-foot distance from others.”

Thank you Port Townsend Leader, for keeping your comment section open.

Island County

June 5, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

Commissioner says governor’s new mask rule defies basic science, logic

“…beginning June 8, nearly all employees in the state will be required to wear a cloth facial covering or face mask, except when working alone in an office, vehicle or job site.”

“Commissioner Jill Johnson pointed out that masks were not a requirement during the peak of the pandemic and that it’s not health officers calling for the rule, but a politician.”

Jefferson County

June 10, 2020 Port Townsend Leader

Ferry schedules on reduced service until further notice

My understanding is that the Port Townsend Keystone route runs only one boat in the winter and two in the summer.

Island county is now headed towards Phase 3?

How does it help anyone or any situation to stay on a winter/one boat schedule?

Whidbey Island

Over at the State Park: Shut Off The TV And Get Outside For A Bit

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

Pizza delivery, marijuana and booze sales roll on as government agencies phase out access and services.

Local press responds with reduced coverage and less in the way of asking questions.