NEWS SOURCES:
Monroe Monitor, Everett Herald, Seattle-PI, Seattle Times, Sacramento Bee, Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Chicago Tribune, Wired Magazine, Associated Press, LA Times, Washington Post, Drudge Report, Yahoo
GRIT's Newspage , G.R.I.T. Updates

NEWS STORIES OF INTEREST:

GRIT's LATEST UPDATE (Word, Acrobat)

THE "UPSIDE" TO THE DOWN ECONOMY

BULLYING NO LONGER "RITE OF PASSAGE" FOR OUR YOUTH (AND HAVING BEEN THE VICTIM OF SUCH TACTICS OURSELVES, WE COULDN'T AGREE MORE.)

LOCAL POLICE FRONT-LINE DEFENSE IN HOMELAND SECURITY (NOT a good time to be trimming our police. Thanks Mayor Rowe)

STATE AG'S OFFICE WILL TAKE WALSER INVESTIGATION (Herald). The Seattle PI's version of this story...And the Times weighs in.

Previous Stories:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (HERALD) RE PROP. #1:
FRED YOUNG (NEW, FRIDAY)
SHARON HANSON JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS'

BELLEVUE TO VOTE ON CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT NEXT TUESDAY

SHERIFF BART WANTS "OUT" OF WALSER INVESTIGATION (smart move)

Times' article on Prop. #1

HERALD: CHIEF WALSER PLACED ON LEAVE
(Here's what we think.... Word, Acrobat) Seattle Times' version of this Story

Herald: Governance issue devides town like Route 2

Herald: How will Chief's story "Play" re Prop. #1 outcome?

HOW WE REWARD OUR VETERANS FOR RISKING THEIR LIVES

SEX OFFENDER MEETING SET (This is in Arlington, FYI only.)

NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS BECOMING TRUE STAKEHOLDERS IN DECISIONS (WHAT A NOVEL CONCEPT...HOPOE THEY HAVE BETTER SUCCESS THAN HAS SULTAN'S DISENFRANCHISED.) Here's Seattle Times' version

VOTE ON REGIONAL (tri-county) TRANSPORTATION FUNDING MAY BE DELAYED TO NEXT YEAR Here's Seattle Times' version

AH-H-H....ALL THINGS POSSIBLE WITH A COUNTY COWBOY COUNCIL, REALTORS, DEVELOPER INTERESTS CELEBRATE DECISION (SULTAN, THIS COULD BE YOU NEXT YEAR WITH 3 COUNCIL SEATS OPENING UP.)

SEX OFFENDER HOUSING: NORTH BEND WILL SOON FILE SUIT AGAINST DSHS, ADDING TO SUITS FILED BY BY KENT/TUKWILA AND AUBURN (SEATTLE PI version...SEATTLE TIMES' version) .CORRELATION FOUND BETWEEN DECREASED LAND VALUES IN THE VICINITY OF SEX OFFENDER HOUSING (GEE, YA THINK?)

TACOMA GUN DEALER CONNECTION TO BELTWAY SNIPER: 2nd AMENDMENT RIGHTS AT RISK? OR CONTINUING LACK OF GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT & ENFORCEMENT?

CITY OF DUVALL WORKS HARD TO SAVE THEIR HERITAGE AND FULFILL THEIR FUTURE VISION (WHILE SULTAN'S PRIVATE CITIZENS LABOR TO SAVE THEIR ONLY MEDICAL CLINIC WITHOUT CITY-SPONSORED SUPPORT, MORAL OR OTHERWISE.)

LOCKE ORDERS SPECIAL SESSION (BEGINS 5/12)

20-YR. ANNIVERSARY OF TURNING-POINT EVENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT

"SAFE ZONES" WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN COLLEGES TO AID LGBT (LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER) STUDENTS

INMATES BUFF UP JOB RESUMES BEFORE RELEASE, BUT WHO WILL HIRE THEM? (HOW MUCH WORSE FOR LEVEL 3 SEX OFFENDERS, WHO CAN'T EVEN FIND A ROOM TO RENT?)

LOCKE PRESS RELEASE LAUDING LEGISLATURE (for simply doing their job); SEATTLE PI ARTICLE ON PASSAGE OF BUDGET (which includes a 5-cent/gal. gas increase. I still don't hear the words "acountablity" or "efficiency."

DNR TO RESTRICT USE OF PUBLIC TRUST LANDS

WARM MEDICINE....A HERALD ARTICLE ON OUR OWN DR. RANEY

TO CATCH A THIEF: EASTSIDE JOURNAL LIES TO HELP POLICE SNAG ARSONIST

COUNTY COUNCILMAN SAX IN THE NEWS. AGAIN. MICRO-MANAGING THE EVERGREEN FAIR, OR JUST JUDICIOUS DECISION-MAKING?

KING COUNTY HALFWAY HOUSE: Who would live there?

"THEM'S FIGHTIN' WORDS!" (Land Use. Couldn't have said it better myself.)

FROM WIRED MAGAZINE: THE FUTURE IS TRAFFIC CRAWL, NOT GRIDLOCK

PI OPINION: CITIZENS CAN ONLY STAY INVOLVED IF THEY ARE KEPT INFORMED

PRIVATE VIDEOTAPING OF CITY COUNCIL WITHOUT A QUORUM PRESENT: LEGAL, OR NOT?

"COME AND GET IT!! $12 MILLION IN FEDERAL TAX DEDUCTIONS AVAILABLE TO DEVELOPERS (Whoops. Sorry, S.I.R.E.s, you'd have to own land in Tacoma first.)

Are we ahead of our time, or simply using common-sense oversight? Wired Magazine - Absolute Corruption: " IF YOU CAN'T ARREST THEM, FLAME THEM. INFORMATION IS A GREAT DISINFECTANT."

Sex Offender Articles:

Letter to the Editor (by local Sultan resident Linda Clarke: One strike should be enough for them.

JUDGE FINES SOUND TRANSIT $5/DAY FOR WITHHOLDING PUBLIC INFORMATION

SULTAN NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT "DEALS" WITH DEVELOPERS ON IMPACT FEES

PROPERTY RIGHTS: Oppositional Philosophies:
Times' "Developers win 2 lawsuits against cities" and Washington Post's "Justices Back Regulators in Property Rights Case"

Growth boundary issues (Will we have enough land for everyone?) Seattle Times: "Snohomish Co. rezoning hinges on which growth forecast is used" and Everet Herald, "Builders primed to fight report"

Sultan Councilman Porter one of five Snohomish Co. elected officials fined by the PDC (By the way, we offered Councilmember Porter to precisely print any response he would like to make to this story. We never heard from him.)

Councilman Porter's Post & Pole is a Level 2 hazardous waste clean-up site: read update

DISCUSSION, OPINION & MESSAGE FORUM

RECORDING WARS

FOOD BANK: Put a pre-addressed food bank envelope in your "bills to pay" folder and send a check monthly: $5, $10, whatever you can spare!
For more info, click here.

Dustin Boucher
Bruce Champeaux
Rob Criswell (is not internet-capable)
Jeff Everett
Perry McPherson
Jim Porter
Mark Raney

City hall info:
City Clerk Laura Koenig (for council agenda and Public Info requests)
City hall address:
319 Main Street
PO Box 1199
Sultan, WA 98294
360-793-2231-ph
360-793-3344-fax
email address "formula" for city hall personnel who have one is
firstname + a period + @cityofsultan.com
Example: Laura Koenig's address is: laura.k@cityofsultan.com

Janie Botting
Bart Dalmasso
Josie Falgatter
Tom Green
Jeff Kirkman
Ron Kraut
John Seehuus

Donna Murphy (for PC Agendas & info)

HOT & TIMELY TOPIC - A PRESS RELEASE FROM EX-COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BROUGHTON, CHALLENGING THE LAST ELECTION RESULTS (Word)

Prop. #1 May go down in flames, Herald says; Mayor Rowe says ProSultan group put out "garbage" during the campaign. HEL-LO???? But the Seattle Times says it's still too close to call
(and remember that in Sultan, the election's not over
until the coin is tossed)

To encourage you to vote, here's a "special" front page edition, sharing photos of some hysterical...er...historical figures from America's past, all of whom have given their hearts and souls to fight for Sultan's freedom.

PRESIDENTS GRANT AND WASHINGTON (Councilman Mark Raney, Left, and John Dick)

"NO SWEAT" TEAMWORK (Bakery owner Wendal Smith sign-waving and Sultan Planning Commissioner and All Real Estate owner Bart Dalmasso taking photographs)

Watchin' Out for the "Lil' Guys"

And then there was "President 'Cool'" (aka "Buzz Killer")

Stan Otto and Washington

Councilman Perry McPherson and his "YES-mobile" who worked tirelessly during the campaign to keep those "YES" signs standing up for what he believes.

Pres. Grant (Councilman Mark Raney), Planning Commissioner Ron Kraut, and activist and environmental guru Kathryn McDonald

TODAY IS THE DAY....

NEW...

Below is a SIMPLE, WONDERFUL & COMMON SENSE method of announcing public meetings. (Gold Bar also has a notice on their website. Imagine that!) With the problems experienced this year with legal non-advertisements/notification of the Sultan Comprehensive Plan (which has been one of Sultan's best-kept secrets), this would have been only one of the ways the City could have engaged its population in the comp plan process, one that has received virtually no notice at all.) By the way, the "new" Sultan website, sort of like a gangser's moll, is beautiful but brainless, due to its totally lack of information. But that's okay. The City will no doubt have it up and running in time to advertise the issues important to THEIR AGENDA, once the comp plan, Shoreline Plan and other major documents have been approved. (And don't forget Tuesday, 7:30, there will be a continuation of the Comp Plan hearing and a special discussion item billed as "Public Notification." Finally. But once again, no info from the City about what is being presented in this proposal.)

• COUNTY'S MINERAL LANDS (THAT MEANS GRAVEL, FOLKS) TASK FORCE MEETING ANNOUNCED MAY 22nd. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THERE WILL BE A HEARING BEFORE THE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION ON THIS ISSUE MAY 27th
• G.R.I.T.'s VIEW OF DICK-DOUBEK COMPLAINT
• ANNEXATIONS: Gov. Locke signs bill to "fix" problem of annexation of vacant (unoccupied) land.
• MONROE MONITOR EDITOR KEN ROBINSON'S OPINION, "Let's Play Dump the Chump" (what Mr. Robinson thinks about the Walser issue)
• WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES....(Or does it?) A walk down memory lane just one year ago
• And yet another trip down memory lane (Put this in th e"Hope she's gone for GOOD category"!)
• DEBBIE COPPLE'S RESPONSE to Bart Dalmasso's letter to the Editor published in this week's Monroe Monitor (in Word) - ALSO, HERE'S A SIGN THAT INDICATES FOLKS OUTSIDE OF SULTAN AGREE THAT A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED
• GUEST EDITORIALS by Colleen Hawkins: Don't be fooled on Prop. #1.(Word, Acrobat) -- AND -- Not the Chief Walser I know (Word, Acrobat) ALSO: our opinion on the Chief, written two hours after I first heard about the accusations (Word, Acrobat)
• HERALD'S OPINION ON PROP. #1 (in Word, Acrobat)
• Teacher, Councilman, Politico... Read Dusty Boucher's Political Message on Prop. #1
• TRANSCIPTION (word-for-word) OF PROP. #1 DEBATE May 5th: Includes Dalmasso's (& by inclusion, explains the reasons for non-participation by Sultan's representatives Boucher, Champeaux, Criswell and Porter); also includes two audio files, one from Gary Broughton, the other from Al Hunstad, which we feel represents the perspective of both sides of this issue.
• Audio (warning: this is a large 1.5 mb .wav file) - Key portion of the Raney-Criswell discussion during May 5th council meeting regarding an interview that occurred at the Dutch Cup with Rick Cisar, applying for the position of City Administrator. (If you have problems opening this, download the file and play it later by doing the following: (1) right-click your mouse; (2) select the "Save file as" or "dowload file"; (3) save it to a location on your copmuter where you'll be able to find it later.)
• ELECTIONS main page (new)
• Transcription of 5-7-03 Council Discussion and Decision on the City Admin/City Planner Ordinance 811(Word, Acrobat) (also, discussion from 4/2/03 council meeting (Word, Acrobat)

PREVIOUS....

• Staff Report, Wilcox BLA (3rd St. Between Fir & Date)
• Chamber of Commerce May Newsletter (New: A Chamber of Commerce Page)
• COUNCIL MEETING UPDATE - REVIEW (Word, Acrobat)
• UPDATE report May 5, 2003 (Word, Acrobat)
• RESPONSES FROM THE CITY TO COMMENTS MADE ON 2003 SULTAN COMP PLAN DRAFT EIS (webpage, Word, Acrobat): These responses will be discussed and corrected during the Plng. Comm. continuation hearing, beginning at 7 PM Tuesday, May 6th.
• A BIT MORE LIGHT ON EDITOR COY'S DOIN's.... Mr. Coy may have been encouraged to sell his homestead....Debt Collector Info...and a second document that we can't figure out, both from the Auditor's document archive. This info is in response to a question on our discussion forum as to the whereabouts of Kenton Coy, the editor of Sultan's "Legal" (sort of) newspaper, the Sky Valley Weekly News), this may offer some clues.
• NORTH WAGLEY WATER LINE INFO - UPDATED - as of 5/4-03 - includesTRANSCRIPTION FROM 12-18-03 COUNCIL MEETING THIS SUBJECT, HAND-OUTS FROM 4-23-03 workshop, draft facilities charge ordinance, etc. (all previous info -- transcriptions, expenses, etc. have been relocated to that page)
• SULTAN DIRECTORY OF RETAIL BUSINESSES (quick telephone reference) - Word, Acrobat
• Our response to Ed Boucher's Mailer, "Losing Our Right To Vote???" (Word, Acrobat)
• Sultan Basin Road ALTERNATIVES OFFERED (SBR):Two alternatives under consideration; recap of project history, photos, etc.
• TRANSCRIPTION (Excerpts) from 4-16-03 Council Meeting (Word, Acrobat): Includes council's discussion on Rick Cisar as city administator, decision on Sky Valley Estates preliminary plat, J. C. Becker's presentation to Mayor Rowe, and complete transcription of Raney-Porter dust-up.
• All Sultan taxpayers and voters should be interested in the following:
  • Re Councilman Jim Porter

• Re Sultanites for the Truth Registration as a Political Action Committee 3-26-03 (a few days after the Public Disclosure Commission's claim #03-159 was filed)
• DONATIONS made to Sultanites for the Truth
• BROUGHTON'S 8-lot five-year-old (almost) formal plat (Also our still-open PIR, requesting info the city apparently does not have)

• Raney-Porter verbal fisticuffs (audio .wav file) on dangers of meningcococcal bacteria, which causes meningitis; Article from Snohomish Co. Health Department on recent death in Marysville.
• Jeff Kirkman/Quintin Young response [Word, Acrobat] to Mayor Rowe's "collection" letter for $3,500 in fees expended by the city on their appeal (which was in response to Kirkman's letter about the City's misrepresentations made during the appeal by 54 residents of the City's Ed Boucher short plat decision. Hey, if you don't understand that, you're not alone. But you're also not paying enough attention!)
• Rick Cisar as City Administrator: New Information as of 4/14/03 (from City of Mt. Vernon) Copy of our unfulfilled PIR See also see our 4-15-03 update (Word, Acrobat)
• DR. RANEY's CASE AGAINST ROWE: C. H. Rowe's slander against the Sultan doctor, councilman and "savior" of the only medical facility this side of Monroe. (Rowe also said: "I supported keeping the clinic here." How magnanimous of His Selfishness.)

• BOTTING'S SHORT PLAT (Sultan will soon be able to boast of, and celebrate, another gas station, car wash and convenience store! Just what we needed)
• 800 MHz for emergency use? A survey on how emergency service agencies feel about it (this is a Word file) Info in Acrobat
• Updated information on the 5th Street signalization project
• HIGHWAY 2 Safety Coalition: Letters of support written for the Walsers' trip to Washington, D.C.
• GRIDLOCK MOVING AHEAD...A 3,000-acre "self-contained" community planned in east Snohomish County; supporters say it will "ease" gridlock (like Redmond Ridge has done for Redmond?). This is the story we warned about several weeks ago after the couty council's "feeler" article in the Herald. We urge everyone to write council members, County Executive Bob Drewel, and legislators. Now, if you can. Click here for contact information for representatives.
• PDC (the Public Disclosure Commission) sometimes really DOES extract a measure of accountability: Seattle PI article,Times' version: Ex-Des Moines mayor Don Wasson fined $2,500 and told to "get outta town" (or, at least, never run for public office again....) AND ON THE HOME FRONT (see PDC Case #03-159, third page of this report on investigations)
• COMPLAINT AGAINST JOHN DOUBEK - UPDATED 3-27-03! (Read the March 19th transcription, for details.)
• TRANSCRIPTION OF COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON 4-4-01 ON BACKWASH LINE REPAIR (an oldie but a goodie, in light of Cliff Morris' offer to "give" the city an easement to help solve this 2-year-old problem.), in Word, Acrobat (More information on the backwash line)
• BURDENS ON SEWER USE, PER APPLICATION It doesn't take a genius to understand the equation: Additional customers or changes to existing hook-ups + existing sewage plant = increased capacity burdens, i.e., a new or improved sewer plant needed) The real question is: who will pay for it? The developers? or you, the taxpayer?
• LEGAL NOTICE: Botting Short Plat, SP03-001; notice indicates this land is zoned HOD, yet assessor information for this 30 acres indicates it is zoned "Open Space Argicultural RCW 84.34" with 2003 taxes of $164.90.
• CLIFF MORRIS LAND DEVELOPMENT "PROPOSAL" TO THE CITY: You give us sewer and we'll give you an easement over our property for the City's backwash line. (Who could refuse such a "generous" offer? Especially since the City, if it wished, could simply condemn the land for that purpose using eminent domain.)
• ACCEPTABLE (EXPECTED) CONDUCT BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS (Word, Acrobat)
• Mayor Rowe's 3/5/03 letter in response to Jeff Kirkman on the city's misrepresentations made during the Boucher Short Plat process. (Jeff Kirkman's Feb. 6, 2003 letter, which elicited Rowe's response.)

OTHER ITEMS....

• A DELAYED TRANSCRIPTION (in Word) on Attorney Phil Olbrechts' comments during the CTED-sponsored Short Course in Planning for Sky Valley. Of particular interest is how and when a road can be considered a "legal" subdivision of property, a practice that has been used by developers here to short-cut the subdivision codes and laws. He also talks about appearance of fairness issues.
• AND PLUNK THIS INTO THE "Professionalism desperately required in Sultan" category: Why did Rick Cisar bring to the PC, and spend so much time working with PC members to review the new Sign Code ordinance in gaining their approval and sign-off, when it's not even the PC's area of responsibility to revise/approve this type of ordinance (i.e., it's a city municipal code and not development-related)?
• NEW DNR REPORT identifies over $500,000 in needed improvements to streams and culverts in Sultan. Many of these are problem areas have been negatively impacted by development, one significant location of which is in The Boucher Triangle, others along Wagley. If development pays its own way, why do taxpayers have to keep picking up these due bills? (We'll have excerpts of these large, many-megabit files later.)
• MAYOR ROWE'S LAND USE PAGE
• CITY DECIDES TO SHARE SULTAN'S COMP PLAN ELECTRONIC FILE-- FLASH!!! UPDATE!!! The city and its comp plan consultant emailed a 2 mb file containing the 10-page comp plan summary, which they know full well has been on our website for many days in two smaller, 300 kb files, to both Jeff Everett (for the council's website) and us, for posting. We absolutely applaud them for sharing this with us, but what the heck good does it do us NOW???

Our scrutiny on the ECI report. Check out our new Economic Development wepage. (At Wednesday's council meeting, Sultan's Econ. Director Donna Murphy introduced Michael Cade and Tom Boydell from Snohomish County's EDC, who gave a chirpy, upbeat update on the ECI/EDC efforts. They said the EDC has contributed $148,927 toward development of the five rural east county cities, which includes both "real" funds and in-kind contributions. They made a special point of emphasizing that economic development is NOT just about commercial development, it is also about developing a community. (Perhaps the EDC can also help Sultan create an overall future vision rather than just the sound of Ca-ching!)

Legislature considering drastically reduced prison terms... Isn't it time we addressed the ancient problem of fairness to both lawbreakers and law-keepers (the majority of us who follow the law every single day all their lives)? This problem truly needs a creative approach (literally, thinking OUT of the box!), but reduced terms is not the answer. During at ime when ethical and moral values need a booster shot in the arm (or a good, swift kick in the tushy), this is a truly dumb idea. . On a related subject, here's a letter we wrote to Rep. Shabro (in Word, Acrobat) on her solution for placement of sex offenders.

Update on Al Kistenmacher, Level III Sex Offender

WILLOW RUN'S RESPONSE TO CITY'S BOTCHED OSPREY PARK ANNEXATION (and how it affected their appeal): A letter from Jeff Kirkman to the City of Sultan, City attorney and Hearing Examiner John Galt (as webpage, Word and Acrobat)
Osprey Park Annexation: Incompetence or misrepresentation? And how did it affect the appeal by 54 Willow Run residents of the Boucher SP? Here's a timeline of events (in Word, in Acrobat)

WELL, ISN'T THIS A HEAD-SCRATCHER? (Haven't we learned by now that many of the city's seemingly-incompetent "fumblings" are truly smokescreens designed for a hidden purpose? In a fairly bizarre "Special" planning commission meeting, commissioners approved (with rush, last-minute, little-time-for-review changes) a draft Comprehensive Plan for publication, distribution and comment. The good news is that this document will be made available for public review. The highly questionable news is that "obstacles" seem to exist in providing the comp plan in electronic format on a CD. We can't imagine why this would be a problem, except for the fact the city will charge $25 per hard copy of the plan. (But, hey, I'd be willing to fork over $50 to get the plan electronically.) But the really bad news is that this was a hurry-up, basically unpublicized meeting (only two days' notice -- some planning members seemed to know about the meeting, but it was a surprise to 2-3 others) which, because of its "Special" nature, excluded public comment. Planning Comissioners only received the final draft document one or two days prior, with little time for review. Even more bizarre is Plng. Director Rick Cisar's response to Commissioner Kraut's clarifying question at the 1-4-03 meeting as to the purpose of the meeting; a response that clearly indicated it was for discussion and informational-only purposes and that no action was to be taken. In fact, it was the ONLY reason for the meeting. The explanation given last night the rush, "special" nature (other than the possibility that a park grant fund might be missed) was the state-mandated 6/30/03 completion date. (GMA deadline statutes [in Word] were revised last year, moving updates from a five-year to seven-year cycle. In reality, this plan is already two years overdue in any event, so we're not sure of the reasons for the bum's rush.)

Draft ADU Code (virtually eliminates impact fees, due to language open to interpretation)

REMEMBER ONE YEAR AGO When the city tried to shut down our recording of meetings? (We never did receive any response to our 12-28-01 letter (in Word) to Mayor Rowe/Attorney Grant Weed.)

MRSC.ORG'S Smart Growth Study (from the American Planning Association)

Read the 1-8-03 email from John Dick to the Sultan Council, regarding Chief Walser

G..R.I.T. Editorial - Sex Offenders: Our own Sophie's Choice

One way for incompetence to be made "legal" (Involves Willow Run, natch!)

Sky Valley "Estates" - "Estates" doesn't sound much like affordable housing, does it? And what was the reason for the stop work order on the property?

Just one of the impacts of our depleted police force (a letter of concern from FD #5)

MAGICAL BUILDING PERMITS: How can a building permit be issued AFTER the house is built? It was a simple case of confusion, according to Sultan's building official, who some say should be charged with malfeasance in office rather than being given a raise. Here's the Raney-Bruner exchange during the 12-18-02 council meeting re Gary Broughton Fir/6th Street house. (as webpage, as Word document) (City documents detailing when permits were issued and fees paid)

Recommendations on how to recruit and select a professional city manager/administrator How much would anyone want to bet that Rowe's already got the fellow (it will certainly not be a female) all picked out? What sort of "professional" would wish to come to a city with our track record, and work for Mayor Rowe?

And for those who didn't get an opportunity to read Monroe Monitor editor Ken Robinson's editorial about Sultan's political "theatre," here it is.

WHO IS THE CITY ATTORNEY REALLY WORKING FOR?

Councilman Porter's Hazardous Waste Site updated 11-16-02

From a troubled, poor town, a new twist on ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, a different kind of green than the color of money

EDITORIAL: VISION - Who has it? Who doesn't? (in Word) Also, read previous editorials

Here's an idea for a T-shirt:
"Representation by Litigation"

LID 97-1 Hearing, comments from Barry Hammer's attorney, Catharine Clark:

"But the costs went up here because of the negligent contractor not adhering to the project specifications and permits and laws that it agreed to follow in the contract documents.... I'll let the City know there is a notice of tort claim coming. We believe they have breached their duties."

A partial transcription from the LID 97-1 June 5th continuation hearing; illuminating discussions on the cost-benefit process, etc. (in Word, in Acrobat, as webpage)

DID YOU KNOW? The City made a "settlement" with Thomco Construction which precludes LID owners from trying to recover recompense due to cost overruns during construction of the LID?

CONSULTANTS' FEES... While this may be "old" news to some (in city hall, at least), we have finally gotten around to tallying the amount paid to Earth Tech and Berryman & Heniger during 2000: $900,000. (And that doesn't include other consultant fees. Does anyone else think that's totally outrageous? Or money well spent? (Here's the Excel spreadsheet .)

Tulalip Tribe not letting city off the endangered species fish hook...

"Put down that bag of potato chips, and step away from the TV!" In other words, unplug yourself from your TV I.V. and GET INVOLVED! Don't be confused about everything that's happening here these days. Just take it one hearing/meeting at a time. Come to them, speak your mind and your heart and make a difference. Tell the city what you want (or don't want). NO ONE will laugh at you or what you have to say: It is important...and now is the time to tell the city what you want Sultan's future to be. The only time your voice doesn't count is when you don't use it...

Ittakesgrit.org is a registered trademark and non-profit corporation. All original material is copyrighted and proprietary. Paid for and created by Loretta Storm, Co-Founder of G.R.I.T
Sultan, Washington, 360-793-6683 email: grit.@premier1.net

SEX OFFENDERS:
Q. Who is the MOST dangerous sex offender?
A. The one you don't yet know about.

WAL-MART: This one ya GOTTA read! WAL-MART & ROWE: Made for each other, it would seem (in Word)

WAL-MART WATCH:
FIRST CONTACT (made by Tina Kelly of Hardy Mgt.) Wal-Mart/Big Box Page

Another WAL-MART "story" - this time in Puget Sound ...and another story from Houston "Pay Snubs"

550 HOMES east of Eagle Ridge? Check out the city's "SALES BROCHURE on a $3.5 million proposed LID along 132nd Street near Eagle Ridge: Read the city's flyer on this proposed action.
OUR RESPONSE to that sales brochure (Which contains significant "FALSE advertising.")

email us

COMMUNICATION: YO! if the city is concerned that advisement of all notices and information on its website is not "reliable" enough, then how about doing it the "old fashioned way" with one of these? If Gold Bar can afford one of these, why can't we? We spent $666,000 on consultants last year to assist with development issues, so why can't the city afford a state-of-the-art-circa-1950's sign? The only thing they'd have to be concerned about are the big winds blowing through town...

Gold Bar's sign. Nicely done. Good Information.