Archives for category: WA Credibility

Images above:

Looking towards the San Juan Islands from Point Partridge.

 

Border Is Closed

In the news:

June 24, 2021 The Seattle Times

Inslee vents about Point Roberts as Canadian border remains closed due to COVID-19

Keeping regular people in place for safety while a $49.8 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security fails to keep cocaine and crystal meth from moving into the US from Mexico, and later into Canada.

 

June 22, 2021 Global News

Toronto police seize $61M worth of drugs in takedown of alleged international drug-smuggling ring

“A six-month investigation dubbed “Project Brisa” looked at the importation of cocaine and crystal meth from Mexico to California and then into Canada through tractor-trailers.”

“The investigation began in November 2020 and police alleged tractor-trailers were equipped with hydraulic traps capable of smuggling as much as 100 kilos of drugs in one trip.”

Looks like a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security played zero role in preventing product from moving into the US and later into Canada.

What role do US fusion centers play here?

US press remains silent.

 

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Related:

DEA/Homeland Security Wasteful Spending Partnership – Newspeople Remain Silent

 

More news from WA related to COVID

12 months back:

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

Ferry wait times spike following staff shortages

Today:

WSF is delaying the restoration of two-boat peak season service on Port Townsend/Coupeville route until further notice, due to staffing shortages.”

Not enough time for a hiring blitz?

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?

More here:

WSF COVID Crewing Challenges – Now 10 Months In

 

Related:

Cartels open for business no matter who is in the White House

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

List of Things the Government is Good At – TV News Avoids Asking Questions

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

A Free And Honest Society?

General Milley – In The News

Fake War on Terror and Glorification of Military Service

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

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

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

 

Image above: 4/22/2021

Source: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Click image to enlarge.

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.

 

Coupeville

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Oak Harbor

Oak Harbor City Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“Washington Department of Health (DOH) cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Living on an Island near Puget Sound, there seems to be great concern for salmon, orca, eagles, recreational shellfish and clean water.

Maybe the press should be better about asking questions if they are going to line up for federal bailout cash.

Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?

Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?

 

A photo tour of Penn Cove here:

Wastewater Treatment Plant – Department of Ecology Award For Outstanding Performance

 

Distance learning idea:

Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls

Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern

 

March 13, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

4th grade students publish book on Salish Sea

“Invisible Pollution in the Salish Sea”

School teachers,

Are you teaching your students to look for green colors on the Recreational Shellfish Safety Map?

 

More here:

Local Waters And The Puget Sound Area Press

Stormwater, Untreated Sewage and Puget Sound

Last year:

Whidbey Earth Day

 

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

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

 

Image above: 2/17/2021

Source: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Click image to enlarge.

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.

 

In the news:

Feb 16, 2021 Whidbey News-Times

Small fish, big barriers: A county confronts climate change

“…workers are putting the finishing touches on Oak Harbor’s most expensive investment ever, a $150 million state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility. Mayor Robert Severns takes pride in the purity of the water that the plant releases into Puget Sound.”

“Our citizens are paying higher rates as a result of that. It saves shellfish and salmon,” he said.

 

Jan 22, 2021 Whidbey News-Times

Town mayor updates residents with annual address

This coming year is all about stormwater,” Hughes said.

“A big rainstorm in February 2020 sent “hundreds of gallons” of water rushing through the sewer plant.”

“The mayor shared that the wastewater treatment plant operators received an award from the Department of Ecology for outstanding performance.”

We always want to do as much as we can to protect the Cove,” Hughes said.

 

Oak Harbor

November 6, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

Sound Off | Negotiations with Navy over connecting to sewer have ceased

“This facility is built to last the next 50 years while putting high-quality water back into the Puget Sound.”

“The high cost of this facility comes from the Washington State Department of Ecology and its requirement regarding the removal of nutrients to stringent levels in order to protect endangered marine life in our Puget Sound.”

 

Oak Harbor City Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“Washington Department of Health (DOH) cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Penn Cove

Coupeville – just west of Captain Thomas Coupe Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Questions for newspeople:

Mayor Hughes,

Can you help us to understand how/why stormwater is routed to the facility that treats water from toilet flushing?

In both Anacortes and Oak Harbor, we are told that stormwater is separate from what is treated at the plant.

City of Anacortes:

Storm drains discharge directly into the surrounding waters, they do not lead to the wastewater treatment plant.”

City of Oak Harbor:

Storm Drain

This “surface” water is separate from that which enters the sanitary sewer and is treated by the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.”

 

Living on an Island near Puget Sound, there seems to be great concern for salmon, orca, eagles, recreational shellfish and clean water.

Maybe the press should be better about asking questions if they are going to line up for federal bailout cash.

Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?

Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?

A photo tour of Penn Cove here:

Wastewater Treatment Plant – Department of Ecology Award For Outstanding Performance

 

Distance learning idea:

Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls

Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern

 

March 13, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

4th grade students publish book on Salish Sea

“Invisible Pollution in the Salish Sea”

School teachers,

Are you teaching your students to look for green colors on the Recreational Shellfish Safety Map?

 

Related:

Signs

Stormwater, Untreated Sewage and Puget Sound

Anacortes – Stormwater is Rainwater

Various Versions of Hometown Pride

High Quality Water For Puget Sound? – Recreational Shellfish Harvesting CLOSED Year-Round

Not Climate Change

Whidbey Island Toilet Flush or Rain Water?

“…talking to officials at the Town of Coupeville…”

Whidbey Signs of Water Quality

Whidbey Earth Day

When Things Get Back To Normal

 

The Press

Ready To Purchase A Subscription – Whidbey Water Quality

I will purchase a subscription to any Puget Sound area newspaper working to inform us on Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls.

Ready to Support Local News on Whidbey Island

Both Whidbey papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.

Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections

 

Podcast 8 Senator Cantwell and the local press

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

Press might need less bailout cash if it was more in the habit of asking questions

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

 

JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:

 

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

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

 

Image above: 1/23/2021

Source: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Click image to enlarge.

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.

 

In the news:

Jan 22, 2021 Whidbey News-Times

Town mayor updates residents with annual address

This coming year is all about stormwater,” Hughes said.

“A big rainstorm in February 2020 sent “hundreds of gallons” of water rushing through the sewer plant.”

“The mayor shared that the wastewater treatment plant operators received an award from the Department of Ecology for outstanding performance.”

We always want to do as much as we can to protect the Cove,” Hughes said.

 

Oak Harbor

November 6, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

Sound Off | Negotiations with Navy over connecting to sewer have ceased

“This facility is built to last the next 50 years while putting high-quality water back into the Puget Sound.”

“The high cost of this facility comes from the Washington State Department of Ecology and its requirement regarding the removal of nutrients to stringent levels in order to protect endangered marine life in our Puget Sound.”

 

Oak Harbor City Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“Washington Department of Health (DOH) cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Penn Cove

Coupeville – just west of Captain Thomas Coupe Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Questions for newspeople:

Mayor Hughes,

Can you help us to understand how/why stormwater is routed to the facility that treats water from toilet flushing?

In both Anacortes and Oak Harbor, we are told that stormwater is separate from what is treated at the plant.

City of Anacortes:

Storm drains discharge directly into the surrounding waters, they do not lead to the wastewater treatment plant.”

City of Oak Harbor:

Storm Drain

This “surface” water is separate from that which enters the sanitary sewer and is treated by the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.”

 

Living on an Island near Puget Sound, there seems to be great concern for salmon, orca, eagles, recreational shellfish and clean water.

Underreported news stories are curious.

Maybe the press should be better about asking questions if they are going to line up for federal bailout cash.

Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?

Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?

 

We are told that stewardship is a priority:

Sign below educates the public on local waters.

Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area

Has there ever been a news story to inform the public on the Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area?

Looks like a significant area.

Image above:

I found this sign posted on 4/2/2020 at the west end of Penn Cove. The sign has been there long enough to become faded from the weather.

WDFW has posted this permanent sign showing a dark shaded area in the eastern part of Penn Cove. The dark shaded area indicates a location that is unsafe for clam & oyster harvest.

Interesting that the part of the cove farthest from open waters is the part where the water is cleaner.

This sign remains in place even during the driest months of the year.

Image above:

Coupeville

Another Month With An R at Captain Thomas Coupe Park – Site Visit

Love to see newspeople provide updated reporting on this:

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

Image above:

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

Site Visit – Another Month With An R at Monroe Landing

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

Is the sewage treatment plant sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

Coupeville site visit 4/2/2020:

Back in 2017, Island County Public Health posted a sign at the Coupeville Wharf about restrictions on recreational shellfish harvesting.

Why no warning sign on 4/2/2020?

Image above: Sign posted at Coupeville Wharf on 4/2/2020.

Unfortunately, the waters immediately adjacent to this sign are impacted year-round due to a sewage treatment plant outfall.

Coupeville

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Distance learning idea:

Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls

Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern

 

March 13, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

4th grade students publish book on Salish Sea

“Invisible Pollution in the Salish Sea”

School teachers,

Are you teaching your students to look for green colors on the Recreational Shellfish Safety Map?

 

Related:

Stormwater, Untreated Sewage and Puget Sound

Anacortes – Stormwater is Rainwater

Various Versions of Hometown Pride

High Quality Water For Puget Sound? – Recreational Shellfish Harvesting CLOSED Year-Round

Not Climate Change

Whidbey Island Toilet Flush or Rain Water?

“…talking to officials at the Town of Coupeville…”

Whidbey Signs of Water Quality

Whidbey Earth Day

When Things Get Back To Normal

 

The Press

Ready To Purchase A Subscription – Whidbey Water Quality

I will purchase a subscription to any Puget Sound area newspaper working to inform us on Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls.

Ready to Support Local News on Whidbey Island

Both Whidbey papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.

Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections

 

Podcast 8 Senator Cantwell and the local press

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

Press might need less bailout cash if it was more in the habit of asking questions

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

 

JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:

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

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

 

Credibility matters when government needs people to support various programs.

People have earned a right to be skeptical.

Some people may feel they have been run in circles by various levels of government for an extended period of time.

Will elected officials and the press acknowledge this possibility?

 

Jan. 22, 2021 The Seattle Times

Suzi LeVine, head of Washington state’s unemployment agency, to take job in Biden administration

July 2018

Inslee appointed LeVine as ESD commissioner in July 2018.”

During the Pandemic

“…problems at the ESD during her 2-1/2 year tenure — notably a fraud scheme that siphoned off $600 million in unemployment funds as well as chronic delays in benefit payments to legitimate claimants during the pandemic.”

During the Obama administration

“…LeVine, a 51-year-old former Microsoft and Expedia executive and U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein for three years in the Obama administration, is a longtime player in Democratic politics. She and her husband, Eric LeVine, gave more than $400,000 to the Biden campaign and other Democratic causes in 2019 and 2020, according to federal campaign records.”

Jan 2021

“And despite steady calls for her ouster following the fraud and other ESD problems, LeVine maintained the support of Inslee. LeVine “led the Employment Security Department through an extremely challenging time and I never doubted that she had the best interests of working Washingtonians at the heart of all her endeavors,” Inslee said in a statement Friday.”

“Last September, for example, LeVine disclosed that a software flaw that contributed to the fraud losses was first detected in 2019, but not fixed until much of the fraud had occurred. That problem was highlighted in December in the first of five state audits being conducted on the fraud and other problems during the pandemic. State Auditor Pat McCarthy also rebuked LeVine for hindering her office’s investigation.”

Feb 2021

Moving on to serve the USA as an economic first responder.

 

Nov 30, 2020 OregonLive

Auditor: Washington state agency head slowing investigation into massive unemployment fraud

“…Investigation into massive fraud resulting in the theft of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.”

“State Auditor Pat McCarthy said Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine imposed “significant constraints” on auditors — including limiting interviews with key employees and delaying access to important documents, The Seattle Times reported.”

 

Jan 22, 2021 KING 5 News

Washington Employment Security Commissioner Suzi LeVine leaving to join Biden administration

“Employment Security Department (ESD) Commissioner Suzi LeVine, who came under fire for delays in unemployment benefit payments and the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars to fraud during the pandemic, is leaving her position to join the administration of President Joe Biden.”

 

Jan 22, 2021 Puget Sound Business Journal

LeVine leaves ESD fraud mess for role in Biden’s administration

ESD still has not released information in response to multiple public records requests that seek to understand how fraudsters pilfered $576 million from state coffers using stolen identities, including a request by Washington Sen. Ann Rivers.”

 

Random Thoughts

Maintaining the public trust?

Being on watch for fraud at Washington state’s Employment Security Department seems like it would be a normal part of the job, even if there was no pandemic.

Jan. 22, 2021 The Seattle Times

“Allies say she revived a dysfunctional and demoralized state agency. State Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, said that LeVine, who graduated from Brown University with an engineering degree, used her considerable technical and management expertise to help modernize an agency that had been slow to upgrade its systems.”

She took an agency that was in the ditch … and I think she did an extraordinary job of turning that ship,” Carlyle said. “And then, [she] ran into the largest global pandemic in world history.”

Why did Governor Inslee allow this agency to struggle prior to July of 2018?

Why did she not step down or get removed after “slowing investigation into massive unemployment fraud“?

Related:

WA – Credibility Squandered

WWII Generation Endured Rationing With Little Complaint

If I was Governor

WA – Dining Outside While Sealed Inside A Tent Is Legal

Play by the rules and we’ll make more rules

 

The idea is to live in a free and honest society.

Suppressing Choices – One Size Fits All

Northern California – One Size Fits All

 

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Welcome Visitors

Rent yourself a State Parks buoy at Fort Worden

Voted best consumer value in weekend recreation.

 

Crediblity matters when government needs people to support various programs.

People have earned a right to be skeptical.

Some people may feel they have been run in circles by various levels of government for an extended period of time.

Will elected officials and the press acknowledge this possibility?

 

In Washington State

Government is trusted to do the right thing by operating the Employment Security Department.

Nov 30, 2020 OregonLive

Auditor: Washington state agency head slowing investigation into massive unemployment fraud

“…Investigation into massive fraud resulting in the theft of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.”

“State Auditor Pat McCarthy said Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine imposed “significant constraints” on auditors — including limiting interviews with key employees and delaying access to important documents, The Seattle Times reported.”

January of 2021

Jan 22, 2021 MyNorthwest.com

The head of Washington state’s unemployment office is leaving for a job with the Biden-Harris administration.

Commissioner LeVine leaving WA unemployment office to join Biden administration

LeVine was appointed to head the ESD in 2018 by Gov. Inslee, and confirmed by the state Senate in the following legislative session.”

“It’s unclear at this time what job LeVine is taking with the new administration, but she has served as an ambassador for the U.S. government in the past.”

 

Why are voters presented with issues on the ballot that may not be legally decided by voters?

Every vote counts?

October 15, 2020 Crosscut

WA Supreme Court rules $30 car tab initiative is unconstitutional

For the third time in state history, a measure promising to cut car-tab taxes to $30 a year has been blocked by Washington state courts.”

 

Public Safety Dealbreaker

Washington State Patrol yields the right of way to protests on I-5.

July 5, 2020 KIRO 7

Death of I-5 protester sparks end of nighttime freeway protests

“But the Washington State Patrol looked the other way, even setting up barriers during the nearly three weeks of nighttime protests on the freeway.”

After enabling criminal conduct, WSP will no longer enable criminal conduct:

“Blocking a freeway is a crime and no longer are we going to enable that criminal conduct to continue,” said State Patrol Capt. Ron Mead, who made the decision to no longer close the interstate. “We are not going to be allowing protesters to access the freeway unimpeded, and there are consequences for criminal conduct.”

State Patrol had shut down the interstate 19 nights in a row in response to protests, said Capt. Mead, who oversees the agency’s district that includes King County. For weeks, troopers operated in response to protesters’ movements, shutting down a stretch of the interstate when it looked as if protesters would enter the roadway.”

 

January of 2021

Plenty of time to get Seattle violence under control?

Jan 21 2021 KOMO News

After another violent night of protests, Seattle police speak out about their tactics

 

Governor Inslee,

Not disputing the mask requirement, but telling us that COVID-19 is a life and death concern requiring regular people to stay home from work and designating marijuana and booze sales as essential, may have made people wonder about the science here.

 

January of 2021

In the entire history of Washington State, how many times has any group attempted to breach a gate at the governor’s mansion because they were unsatisfied with public policy?

Which Governors have been in office when this has happened at any time in history?

Will elected officials and the press acknowledge that things may be different now?

 

More here:

WWII Generation Endured Rationing With Little Complaint

If I was Governor

WA – Dining Outside While Sealed Inside A Tent Is Legal

Play by the rules and we’ll make more rules

 

Both Whidbey papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

This is the trend in the Puget Sound area.

Newspapers are suppressing or eliminating online comment sections. A forum for individual thought is not part of the plan. Newspapers are getting away from asking questions related to public policy while telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.

 

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

Podcast 8 Senator Cantwell and the local press

Press might need less bailout cash if it was more in the habit of asking questions

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

 

The idea is to live in a free and honest society.

Suppressing Choices – One Size Fits All

Northern California – One Size Fits All

 

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

A trip to the state park might be a chance to leave the pressures of the world behind for an hour or two.

Preemptive warning notices will snap your mind back to reality before you even start your visit at the park.

Shut Off The TV And Get Outside For A Bit

 

Island County

June 19, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

Island County enters Phase 3

“The county’s rate of new infections continues to be very low. In the three-week period following the move into Phase 2, only two new infections were reported and both those were the result of people in the same family visiting another county, according to Island County Public Health.”

“For the county, entering Phase 3 means restaurants and taverns can now have 75 percent capacity and tables with up to 10 people. Movie theaters can open at 50 percent capacity.”

 

July 14, 2020 The Seattle Times

Inslee pauses reopening of Washington’s counties through July 28 as COVID-19 cases spike

 

November 15, 2020 KIRO 7 News

New COVID-19 restrictions announced: Indoor dining and social gatherings prohibited

Indoor dining at bars and restaurants will stop on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Outdoor dining will be allowed but no more than five people at one table.”

“The restrictions will stay in place until at least Dec. 14.”

 

0:29

Nov 16, 2020 ClarkCountyToday.com

Counties are best suited to work to improve the situation:

Whatcom County

Jan 14, 2021 KGMI

Whatcom County COVID-19 infection rate highest in state

“The Health Department reports cases have skyrocketed in the Lynden and Nooksack Valley areas, with the case rate doubling in Lynden and tripling in Nooksack Valley over the previous week.”

 

Island County is now in the North Region (San Juan County, Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties)

Jan 17th, 2021 San Juan Journal

State’s new two-phase plan and what it means for SJC

The week before last, Gov. Jay Inslee released details on what is being called the “Roadmap to Recovery.”

 

Roadmap to Recovery

Island County is now tied to Whatcom County.

Sort of like rooting for your hometown high school football team to win the championship, but they can’t do it if other teams in other counties do poorly.

Related:

WA – Dining Outside While Sealed Inside A Tent Is Legal

If I was Governor

The idea is to live in a free and honest society.

Suppressing Choices – One Size Fits All

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Welcome Visitors

Rent yourself a State Parks buoy at Fort Worden

Voted best consumer value in weekend recreation.

 

Jan 11, 2021

Washington State Patrol Sergeant Darren Wright says so far 1 person has been arrested: an RV was blocking the road to the Capitol. He says law enforcement will be out as long as necessary and when asked about people wanting to breach the building: “that’s not gonna happen.”

 

Summer of 2020

Fatality during 19 nights of protest on Interstate 5 in Seattle

For some reason, the Washington State Patrol pulled back and placed public safety at risk by yielding to protests on I-5.

Public Safety Deal Breaker

Washington State Patrol yields the right of way to protests on I-5.

July 5, 2020 KIRO 7

Death of I-5 protester sparks end of nighttime freeway protests

“But the Washington State Patrol looked the other way, even setting up barriers during the nearly three weeks of nighttime protests on the freeway.”

After enabling criminal conduct, WSP will no longer enable criminal conduct:

“Blocking a freeway is a crime and no longer are we going to enable that criminal conduct to continue,” said State Patrol Capt. Ron Mead, who made the decision to no longer close the interstate. “We are not going to be allowing protesters to access the freeway unimpeded, and there are consequences for criminal conduct.”

State Patrol had shut down the interstate 19 nights in a row in response to protests, said Capt. Mead, who oversees the agency’s district that includes King County. For weeks, troopers operated in response to protesters’ movements, shutting down a stretch of the interstate when it looked as if protesters would enter the roadway.”

 

Public Safety/Routine Stuff

WSP knows that more people are out drinking and driving during the holidays. WSP gets involved to promote public safety before lives are lost.

Why did protests on I-5 go on for 19 nights?

If the Girl Scouts or the KKK enter the interstate and block traffic/risk public safety people must be able to count on elected officials and LE agencies to do their job.

Different groups do appear to be treated differently based on location/whatever elected official has jurisdiction and whatever cause the group may be supporting.

 

Related:

In sports, newspeople are free to ask hard questions

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

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

Podcast 8 Senator Cantwell and the local press

Ready to purchase a subscription to any Puget Sound area newspaper that will show initiative and curiosity in asking questions.

Stormwater, Untreated Sewage and Puget Sound

Sports Culture Tends to be Open and Honest

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

Suppressing Choices – One Size Fits All

Not A Democrat Or A Republican

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

Dec 23, 2020 Sequim Gazette

City creates canopy tent program to help eateries

Don’t look for any sort of vibrant comment section where people share ideas on public policy.

Many Puget Sound area papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Newspapers are suppressing online comment sections, getting away from asking questions related to public policy, and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales while lining up for federal bailout cash.

Got it.

The article does not get into describing the medical advantages of the dining tent next to the dining building.

Because we said so is all you need to know.

Nice photo here.

 

Safety valves being removed – Forcing a one size fits all society

 

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell promotes federal assistance for small newsrooms.

My podcast:

 

Podcast 8 Senator Cantwell and the local press

 

Possibly of interest-

Fast food drive-thru:

It seems typical that the cashier, who handles cash, coins and cards-also places napkins in the to-go bag.

This really doesn’t seem to make sense even before current concerns Re: COVID-19.

Food handler card? Cross-contamination? Health Department? State of the art protocols practiced by global corporations, restaurant management professionals, etc. No one seems to notice.

More here:

Does the science still say WA marijuana and booze sales are essential?

Leavenworth COVID And Beer Drinking Oddities

No Contact Drive Thru – Magic Tray Update

WA COVID-19 Oddities Blog

Killing Incentives in WA

WWII Generation Endured Rationing With Little Complaint

Now People Don’t Want to Listen About Not Traveling for Thanksgiving

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

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

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

Restricted Activities – Guilty Until Proven Innocent

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Welcome Visitors

Rent yourself a State Parks buoy at Fort Worden

Voted best consumer value in weekend recreation.

 

In the news:

Dec 23rd 2020 KOMO News

Gov. Inslee extends state’s eviction moratorium

“Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has again extended the state’s eviction moratorium, this time through the end of March.”

Killing incentives to maintain apartment complexes and homes for rent. Killing incentives to pay rent on time. Killing incentives to be a good tenant.

Love to see newspeople ask:

Have any arrangements been made to cover property owner’s costs for mortgages, taxes, repairs, maintenance, water, trash pickup, sewer, insurance, etc.

Who pays to have the apartment complex dumpster emptied if the property manager cannot collect rent?

Had an interaction on Twitter and was told:

You realize that’s part of the utility bill in WA? Services can’t be shut off during the pandemic, @yeomalt.”

Love to see the press provide more details on the updated situation.

How does the trash company get paid for services?

Also found this:

Accounts that have become delinquent will be required to pay the past due balance by the 4th Friday of the next bill cycle. If payments are not made by the due date, the full balance will be expected to keep or maintain services.”

 

Dec 23, 2020 John Stossel video:

Government dictating production leads to less production.”

 

 

Dec 24, 2020 FEE

Why Housing Costs Are So High

 

An old blog of mine:

Helping others by donating

Possibly of interest:

Tried to stay out of it. Posting news-related items

WWII Generation Endured Rationing With Little Complaint

Now People Don’t Want to Listen About Not Traveling for Thanksgiving

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

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

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

Restricted Activities – Guilty Until Proven Innocent

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Looking towards Fort Ebey

 

Image above: 12/21/2020

Source: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Click image to enlarge.

 

In the news:

December 18, 2020 Peninsula Daily News

BC begins treating sewage before releasing it into Strait

I was wondering why the water looked so clean in front of my house on Bainbridge [Island],” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was quoted by Canadian news sources as saying during a video call with B.C. Premier John Horgan.

I grew up in Port Angeles, right across the water from Victoria,” said Congressman Derek Kilmer. “So it’s been concerning to me to know that Canada has been sending raw sewage right into our shared waters for years.

“That’s why I’ve worked with our Canadian partners to encourage them to find a solution to this problem. The opening of this new wastewater treatment plant at McLoughlin Point is good news — and will help protect our waters and our marine environment for years to come.”

 

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.

 

Oak Harbor

November 6, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

Sound Off | Negotiations with Navy over connecting to sewer have ceased

“This facility is built to last the next 50 years while putting high-quality water back into the Puget Sound.”

“The high cost of this facility comes from the Washington State Department of Ecology and its requirement regarding the removal of nutrients to stringent levels in order to protect endangered marine life in our Puget Sound.”

 

Oak Harbor City Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“Washington Department of Health (DOH) cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Over at Penn Cove – Please see image at top of page

Coupeville – just west of Captain Thomas Coupe Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Living on an Island near Puget Sound, there seems to be great concern for salmon, orca, eagles, recreational shellfish and clean water.

Underreported news stories are curious.

Maybe the press should be better about asking questions if they are going to line up for federal bailout cash.

Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?

Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?

 

We are told that stewardship is a priority:

Sign below educates the public on local waters.

Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area

Has there ever been a news story to inform the public on the Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area?

Looks like a significant area.

 

Distance learning idea:

Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls

Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern

 

March 13, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

4th grade students publish book on Salish Sea

“Invisible Pollution in the Salish Sea”

School teachers,

Are you teaching your students to look for green colors on the Recreational Shellfish Safety Map?

 

Related:

High Quality Water For Puget Sound? – Recreational Shellfish Harvesting CLOSED Year-Round

Podcast 8 Senator Cantwell and the local press

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

Not Climate Change

Anacortes – Stormwater is Rainwater

Whidbey Island Toilet Flush or Rain Water?

“…talking to officials at the Town of Coupeville…”

Green colors show safe places for recreational shellfish

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

Whidbey Signs of Water Quality

Whidbey Earth Day

When Things Get Back To Normal

Ready To Purchase A Subscription – Whidbey Water Quality

I will purchase a subscription to any Puget Sound area newspaper working to inform us on Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls.

Ready to Support Local News on Whidbey Island

Both Whidbey papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.

Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections

 

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

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

 

A few letters and editorials have compared this year to the past and made the case that people did a better job of pulling together during WWII.

They are correct.

 

People have earned a right to be skeptical

Dec 11, 2020 Jacob G. Hornberger

The National Security Establishment Is In Charge

“One of the biggest signs that Trump caved was with respect to the long-secret JFK records of the national-security establishment. Just think — almost 60 years of secrecy based on the ridiculous notion of “national security.” Early on, Trump declared openly that he was gong to release the records, as mandated by Congress 25 years before in the JFK Records Act. And then at the last minute, Trump surrendered to the will of the CIA, agreeing to its demands for more years of secrecy.”

“Moreover, at the risk of belaboring the obvious, the mainstream press didn’t issue a peep of protest over the continue secrecy of the records. Continued secrecy of decades-old records relating to the supposed lone-nut assassination of a president is treated as something completely normal. It’s just one more example of the weird dysfunction that pervades American life, not to mention the control that the national-security establishment wields over the mainstream press, especially when it comes to the Kennedy assassination.”

 

A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment.

Since that time, both major parties have taken turns in power and have squandered credibility that would help in the current situation.

We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.

Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

Some may have become skeptical along the way.

 

In Washington State

Government is trusted to do the right thing:

Nov 30, 2020 OregonLive

Auditor: Washington state agency head slowing investigation into massive unemployment fraud

“…Investigation into massive fraud resulting in the theft of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.”

 

Why are voters presented with issues on the ballot that may not be legally decided by voters?

Every vote counts?

October 15, 2020 Crosscut

WA Supreme Court rules $30 car tab initiative is unconstitutional

For the third time in state history, a measure promising to cut car-tab taxes to $30 a year has been blocked by Washington state courts.”

 

Public Safety Dealbreaker

Washington State Patrol yields the right of way to protests on I-5.

July 5, 2020 KIRO 7

Death of I-5 protester sparks end of nighttime freeway protests

“But the Washington State Patrol looked the other way, even setting up barriers during the nearly three weeks of nighttime protests on the freeway.”

After enabling criminal conduct, WSP will no longer enable criminal conduct:

“Blocking a freeway is a crime and no longer are we going to enable that criminal conduct to continue,” said State Patrol Capt. Ron Mead, who made the decision to no longer close the interstate. “We are not going to be allowing protesters to access the freeway unimpeded, and there are consequences for criminal conduct.”

State Patrol had shut down the interstate 19 nights in a row in response to protests, said Capt. Mead, who oversees the agency’s district that includes King County. For weeks, troopers operated in response to protesters’ movements, shutting down a stretch of the interstate when it looked as if protesters would enter the roadway.”

 

Governor Inslee,

Not disputing the mask requirement, but telling us that COVID-19 is a life and death concern requiring regular people to stay home from work and designating marijuana and booze sales as essential, may have made people wonder about the science here.

May 12th, 2020

The construction project wasn’t delayed by the coronavirus pandemic; it was considered essential since it was state funded.”

Got it.

The state took money from some people, and gave it to some other people.

If your construction crew is working on a project based on any sort of voluntary exchange or honest demand for services, you might have to stay home for a while.

 

Meet Bob Martin:

February 27, 2019 Snohomish County Tribune

50 years a quiet triumph for Stag Barbershop’s Bob Martin

 

August 1, 2020 The Everett Herald

Rogue Snohomish barber faces big tab for his political protest

“Bob Martin must pay a $90,000 fine and may lose his license after defying stay-home order in May”

 

 

Related:

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

Restricted Activities – Guilty Until Proven Innocent

Central Control & WA Lockdowns

One Size Fits All Society Experiment

Now People Don’t Want to Listen About Not Traveling for Thanksgiving

A one size fits all society?

One Size Fits All Society

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

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

Guilt Tripping & Scolding Update

Does the science still say WA marijuana and booze sales are essential?

If I was Governor

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Early winter morning – Point No Point

 

First concerns related to COVID-19

Here in WA, we were told that COVID-19 is a life and death concern requiring regular people to stay home from work while marijuana and booze sales are essential.

March 25, 2020 The Seattle Times

In coronavirus closures, Washington state pot and liquor stores can stay open; sales have spiked for a while

 

May 12th, 2020

The construction project wasn’t delayed by the coronavirus pandemic; it was considered essential since it was state funded.”

Got it.

The state took money from some people, and gave it to some other people.

If your construction crew is working on a project based on any sort of voluntary exchange or honest demand for services, you might have to stay home for a while.

 

Updated Restrictions

Seems like mask and social distancing rules have been in place and have been followed in grocery stores for months now. I have not seen any retailer that let up on mask wearing and social distancing protocols. If grocery stores have been doing their part, why pound them with a 75% reduction in grocery store services?

Nov 15, 2020 KUOW

Indoor gatherings, dining banned in WA as Covid-19 cases spike. Grocery stores limited

25% indoor capacity for all retailers, including grocery stores…”

 

Nov 15, 2020 Governor Jay Inslee

One thing we don’t need right now is hoarding.”

People will now need much more time to spend shopping with a 75% reduction in grocery store services all across WA. For sure, this will encourage people to stock up and hoard items.

From comments:

When was the last time you went to a grocery store. At 25% you’re asking for total chaos. Expecting people to stand outside in the rain waiting to be let in?

Questions for newspeople:

How did the science tell us that a 75% reduction in grocery store services was required?

People will be waiting in long lines, in bad weather just to enter a grocery store. What is the medical advantage here?

Related:

Hey Grandma

Leavenworth COVID And Beer Drinking Oddities

WA Voting – Did the science say marijuana jobs were essential?

Journalism Needs Our Support Now, More Than Ever

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

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

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

Dystopian Leanings

 

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Welcome Visitors

Rent yourself a State Parks buoy at Fort Worden

Voted best consumer value in weekend recreation.

 

Party of Two

There is a nice spot in Leavenworth to stop in for a beer and something to eat. I went to visit this location last week. It was the first time during COVID that I entered and sat down in an eating/drinking establishment.

 

Old Way

Walk in and select a seat from the large outdoor seating area. Server takes your beer order on a mobile device. Before server has a chance to leave the table, electronic order is received by bar staff. Your beer is tapped and out to your table like magic. We sit and eat and drink for an hour. During this happy hour, we never get up to leave the table. When it’s time to go, we pay and leave.

Would not change a thing. Really enjoy this place.

 

COVID Way

Everyone wears a mask.

You enter and are offered a table outside or inside. We selected an outside table. We are told that our order for beers and food must be placed with the cashier inside the restaurant by the bar.

Partner goes in to place order while I wait. Establishment now requires a credit card to start order. My turn to pay, so I say I’ll get it all on my card when I go in to order a second round.

Beer and food is still delivered to table, same as old way.

I go in to order a second round. I am unfamiliar with this part of the restaurant. Staff prompts me toward waiting to order/pay holding/staging area. Ordered another round and requested entire tab to be placed on my card. This is an extra step that would not be at all necessary pre-COVID.

If we wanted still another round, one of us would have to get up and return to waiting line to order/pay holding/staging area. We did not want another round after we had two beers and some food. Went back in to waiting to order/pay holding/staging area and used card to pay.

 

Any Medical Advantage?

How does requiring customers to migrate back and forth into a possibly unfamiliar part of the restaurant each time they want to order a beer or cash out serve any medical purpose Re: COVID?

It seems like the plan is to cause meaningless inconvenience.

If you notice the inconvenience, maybe you will think that the establishment is somehow going out of their way because they care about protecting you.

Still will plan to return to this location in the future.

 

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

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

 

 

Photo-

Completely unrelated to location described above.

 

Senator Cantwell claims that local press is a policeman on the beat against misinformation

Local Trails:

Two Bluff Trails

 

October 28, 2020 The Seattle Times

Report released by Sen. Maria Cantwell slams Google and Facebook for decimating local news outlets

“Local journalism has been the policeman on the beat against misinformation,” Cantwell said in an interview Tuesday. “Keeping local news is too important to let these unfair market practices continue.”

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

Image above: 10/29/2020

Source: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Click image to enlarge.

 

Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?

Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?

 

Coupeville – just west of Captain Thomas Coupe Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

More here:

Not Climate Change

Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern

“…talking to officials at the Town of Coupeville…”

 

Distance learning idea:

Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls

 

Zero Questions/Zero Curiosity from Newspeople

Local press:

“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”

Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?

Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?

Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?

Military Town – Hometown Pride

 

JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:

 

Newspeople need to step up their game.

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

Journalism Needs Our Support Now, More Than Ever

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

Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections

Ready to Support Local News on Whidbey Island

WA Voting – Did the science say marijuana jobs were essential?

 

 

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

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

 

Not complaining guys, just noticing-

 

Washington State Ferries

Oct 6, 2020

Good morning ferry friends! Don’t forget that our onboard food galleys remain closed until further notice to protect the health and safety of employees and customers from COVID-19.”

If standard fast food restaurants are operating all over WA-how are the ones located on ferries more of a risk?

 

Mask wearing at any restaurant:

In a restaurant, is COVID-19 risk different while standing and walking than it is while seated, eating & speaking?

 

Fast food drive-thru:

It seems typical that the cashier, who handles cash, coins and cards-also places napkins in the to-go bag.

This really doesn’t seem to make sense even before current concerns Re: COVID-19.

Food handler card? Cross-contamination? Health Department? State of the art protocols practiced by global corporations, restaurant management professionals, etc. No one seems to notice.

More here:

No Contact Drive Thru – Magic Tray Update

 

 

Various states set a last call time for seving alcohol at bars and restaurants Re: COVID-19.

Rules are easier to follow if the reason for them is well understood. What time zone does the coronavirus operate on?

When and how does the sale of alcohol impact public safety?

July 23, 2020 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Inslee tightens restrictions on restaurants, bars across Washington as cases rise

 

Public Safety Deal Breaker

Washington State Patrol yields the right of way to protests on I-5.

July 5, 2020 KIRO 7

Death of I-5 protester sparks end of nighttime freeway protests

“But the Washington State Patrol looked the other way, even setting up barriers during the nearly three weeks of nighttime protests on the freeway.”

 

Public Safety/Routine Stuff

WSP knows that more people are out drinking and driving during the holidays. WSP gets involved to promote public safety before lives are lost.

Why did protests on I-5 go on for 19 nights?

 

Soon:

Leaving WordPress

Also maintaining our companion blog for now: Old Man Blog

Still active on Twitter

 

 

 

 

Photos-

Port Hadlock

Happy Hours