Hot Topics:
Letters on CAO Review & Update
Letters on SJC Charter
Letters on New Council Race

(Note: For a full listing of all letters, Click HERE and scroll down to “Entries”)

"We should not write so that it is possible for the reader to understand us, but so that it is impossible for him to misunderstand us."

-Quintilian (Marcus Fabius Quintilianus), rhetorician (c. 35-100)

Brian McClerren Congratulates Jamie Stephens

(04-26-13)
Dear Editor:

Thank you to everyone who helped out with my campaign. Thank you to the thousands of people who voted for me and those who sacrificed their personal time to participate. We managed to interest nearly half of the County in spite of having the least amount of advertising, organization, and funding.

I congratulate Jamie Stephens on his win. It was an honor to be heard and respected alongside someone who has already spent so many years serving our community. His job is never easy and I appreciate his willingness to serve in spite of the scrutiny.

I intend to stay engaged with County government by applying to participate on a committee this year. I have had many gracious offers to help continue the work which has been started. This is clearly the beginning of a new chapter in my life and I thank everyone for inspiring that change with your support.

Brian McClerren
Lopez Island

Lisa Congratulates Rick

(04-24-13)
Dear Editor:

Earlier this afternoon I called Rick Hughes to congratulate him on his election to the County Council and to wish him well. I have appreciated Rick's grace, humor and collegial approach to this campaign, and I trust that he will do his best to represent us well.

I am sorry that I will not be serving our county in this capacity, and I know that my loss is not for lack of hard work by many people. My thanks in particular to Janet Brownell, campaign manager, and Barbara Rosenkotter, Treasurer.Â These two women put in extraordinary time and talent to support the campaign.

So many of you helped in big and small ways. I am grateful, and look forward to channeling your positive energy into other pursuits.

I will continue my work with OPAL Community Land Trust, and I am certain that I will also continue to engage in our community in many different ways.

Lisa Byers
Orcas Island

Jarman On 'No' Vote On Aerial Photo Update

To the Editor:

The articles on updating aerial photos of San Juan Islands needs more explanation. One of the main themes that came out of our Community Conversations, is that the people in our county want more communication and given more facts about subjects.

This is not just Aerial Photography; this is “Oblique Photography” (see web site at www.pictometry.com). From the web site we learn that Pictometry Oblique Imagery is called, “Intelligent Imagery…..is capturing two types of imagery for every square foot of an area, oblique and vertical.” “……it reveals the world from a more natural perspective, so objects are easier to recognize and interpret. With resolutions as high as 3-inch Ground Sample Distance, you can see all in amazing detail and every feature, structure and parcel from North, South, East, West or straight down. When you layer GIS information on top of such meticulous imagery, you turn data into knowledge.”

This technology gives the county not only the ability to look at buildings from all angles and measuring heights of buildings, it also gives them the ability to see “every feature” and structure on your property in “amazing detail”.

I do not feel this technology fits in our county, or with our desire to keep the rural character of our county. My feed back from county islanders is that we want to preserve our privacy as much as possible. This technology, in my opinion, infringes on those privacies. I have no problem with just updating our existing aerial photos with “straight down” technology when they need to be updated and when it is brought before the Council as a “budgeted item”. However, Marc Forlenza and I voted against updating our aerial photos because it was not a budgeted item and it would use Oblique Photography.

The Council will be updated in the progress of the project. It is on the County Council Agenda at 11:15 am, Tuesday, April 23rd in the Council Chambers.

Thank you. Bob Jarman
County Councilmember, San Juan Dist. 1

Heartfelt Thank You From Forlenza

Dear Editor:

I would like to thank, with my whole heart, all my friends, family and acquaintances that have sent a cascade of cards and emails wishing me well and a prompt return to good health. Every one of them was greatly appreciated.

I am especially grateful to my wife who immediately started CPR, the 911 dispatcher, and to the team of EMS and MedEvac personnel who responded so quickly and professionally. Together they brought me back from a nearly simultaneous heart attack and cardiac arrest.

Friday Harbor should be very proud of its emergency services, which enable all residents to go about their daily lives knowing world class help is just a call away.

Thank you.

Marc Forlenza
County Council District #3

LETTERS ON POWER'S COLUMN

---------------------------------------(3-30-13) Law's Responds On Lawlessness

Dear Editor:

To Nick Jones [see letter below -Ed] I submit: "The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom." - John Locke

Chris Laws
San Juan Island

---------------------------------------(3-29-13) "...but why bother?"

Dear Editor:

On reading Mr. Powers' most recent column, the oft quoted, likely apocryphal Mussolini came to mind. "It may not be impossible to rule the Italians, but why bother?

Nick Jones
Lopez

OPALCO Crosses A Line

If you are an OPALCO member, you have certain rights guaranteed by Washington State law. OPALCO is, by its own admission, "a corporation organized under Chapter 24.06 RCW, the Miscellaneous and Mutual Corporations Act." To protect members the Act requires that corporations "set forth" in their Articles of Incorporation, "The purpose or purposes for which the corporation is organized." (RCW 24.06.025(3). In another section the Act requires any changes to the Articles of Incorporation to be approved by the members by a two thirds majority (RCW 24.06.190).

So now that OPALCO intends to add to its "purposes" becoming a mini Comcast plus a internet service provider, plus a phone company, plus the builder and manager of 100 mini cell towers spreading 700 MHz radiation into every nook and cranny of SJC, a change to the Articles of Incorporation would seem to be required.

OPALCO’s excuse for depriving its members of their right to determine the purposes of the cooperative they say we own, is that the whole wireless and internet business will support the delivery of electric power. This is pretty lame, even for a SJC organization. One look at the promotional material for their "Broadband Initiative" makes it clear that this is something entirely separate from the electric power business.

Any scheme that requires the committing civil crimes and the total denial of our rights as members/owners should probably be rejected.

Steve Ludwig
Lopez Island

Democrats' Are Also Critical Of Rosenfeld & Pratt

(03-24-13)
Democrats' Are Also Critical Of Rosenfeld & Pratt

Dear Editor,

In Mr. Rosenfeld's letter he asks if readers have "... noticed the nasty political attacks coming from blogs on the right?" You seem to exhibit a common myopic tendency to assume that those critical of your policies are all a bunch of Republicans. We're not. I voted for President Obama twice. I'm a strong advocate of women's abortion rights, gay marriage, legalizing pot...(you get the picture). I am proud of my pesticide free veggie garden and my extremely fuel efficient imported small car (though I admit it doesn't boast the ubiquitous blue peace sticker).

Howie, a few years ago you and Lovel Pratt had my support. But that has gradually eroded, culminating with the Critical Areas Ordinance debacle. Republicans are not responsible for you and Lovel losing your Council seats. Independent, free thinking, hard working folks like me gave you and your policies the thumbs down. Folks like me, worried for our child's future in San Juan County voted you out.

As we approach yet another pivotal election you can get all huffy about those darn Republicans, those 'nasty' right wing bloggers. But in the end Lovel Pratt's electability will once again come down to her (and your) dubious track record of bureaucratic dysfunction.

Democrats, Republicans, Independents are seeing this. People from all political backgrounds are following Trust Islanders, The Trojan Heron. We're listening to what the Common Sense Alliance, CAPR and others have to say. We may not agree with everything they say. But we agree the CAO is a game changer. We agree that any elected County official associated with the Critical Areas Ordinance must go. Earth to Howie, 'We' are Right, Left, Center.

Jay Ibold
San Juan Island

Letter On Code Enforcement On Mr. Speed

To the Editor:

The actions of our county officials [Related Story] in the Speed persecution, from the approach to enforcement, the deeming of necessity to procure a warrant, the ease and ill-advised action in support to that warrant, and the support given by the sheriff’s department, Constitute a serious Breach of public trust.

The enforcement of a building code violation upon a private citizen, upon his private property, unless that person or another is in imminent danger., or is causing harm to another person or property which constitutes an emergency, is only undertaken “in a sane, and humane world” after using the reasonable discretionary authority to ascertain with some certainty, that it will provide the means for a better and useful outcome. Not injury to the only party involved.

The Building code exists only to protect life and property, not to destroy it.

The Enforcement ordinance as well, as written and as proposed simply serves to further this madness.

If county, enforcement is unable to support the Speeds in improving the conditions they face they only serve to violate a family’s reasonable privacy.

And further make difficult those living conditions. I am absolutely disgusted!

This is not, “never has been” the intent of the CODE as adopted!

For the purpose of protecting against just this sort of thing, is the reason Discretionary Authority Exists.This county is standing on its head! Again, and again, and again!

To the acting council, and for the benefit of a future, customer “service” and Community Development and Planning Goals, Please come to the aid and direction of that department.

Evelyn F Fuchser
Orcas Island