"At some point in time we've got to move forward." And what's stopping that, Ken? The fact that the Port is too incompetent to know how to conduct a (legal) cleanup or to get its permits in order? No, oh no, it's the birds that are stopping waterfront redevelopment! That and those pesky. . . people. . . who are SO POWERFUL that they can stop everything!
I think that Ken should file a racketeering suit against the conspirators. Then he would have to say who they are. Squatter birds would be named first, of course.
There's a strong similarity between Ken Oplinger's rhetoric, disparaging a wide array of citizens who raise questions and issues about waterfront development, and the language of the Bellingham Herald's Opinion piece on Cherry Point, which stated its hope that "Whatcom County's strong anti-development community will set aside a penchant for grandstanding and filing lawsuits. . "
Ken Oplinger undoubtedly has the ear of the Herald's editorial board. The Chamber of Commerce and Bellingham Herald Editorial Board both claim that even raising questions about issues is necessarily "anti-development," and therefore is bad for the community.
We must watch for it, this effort to turn "citizens" into mindless cheerleaders for whatever economic adventure will turn a profit for the Chamber of Commerce's members. We must watch for it and expose it every time it happens. We will be powerless if we give up the power of critical reflection and free speech.
There is no project and no realistic plan for moving forward. They have an old, tired plan that both a changed economy and changed cleanup standards have turned upside down. Rather than blaming citizens (most of whom want a cleanup super great waterfront) or birds he should take a close look in the mirror. They are years away from moving forward. Until then, just let the birds stay.
"At some point in time we've got to move forward." And what's stopping that, Ken? The fact that the Port is too incompetent to know how to conduct a (legal) cleanup or to get its permits in order? No, oh no, it's the birds that are stopping waterfront redevelopment! That and those pesky. . . people. . . who are SO POWERFUL that they can stop everything!
ReplyDeleteI think that Ken should file a racketeering suit against the conspirators. Then he would have to say who they are. Squatter birds would be named first, of course.
There's a strong similarity between Ken Oplinger's rhetoric, disparaging a wide array of citizens who raise questions and issues about waterfront development, and the language of the Bellingham Herald's Opinion piece on Cherry Point, which stated its hope that "Whatcom County's strong anti-development community will set aside a penchant for grandstanding and filing lawsuits. . "
ReplyDeleteKen Oplinger undoubtedly has the ear of the Herald's editorial board. The Chamber of Commerce and Bellingham Herald Editorial Board both claim that even raising questions about issues is necessarily "anti-development," and therefore is bad for the community.
We must watch for it, this effort to turn "citizens" into mindless cheerleaders for whatever economic adventure will turn a profit for the Chamber of Commerce's members. We must watch for it and expose it every time it happens. We will be powerless if we give up the power of critical reflection and free speech.
There is no project and no realistic plan for moving forward. They have an old, tired plan that both a changed economy and changed cleanup standards have turned upside down. Rather than blaming citizens (most of whom want a cleanup super great waterfront) or birds he should take a close look in the mirror. They are years away from moving forward. Until then, just let the birds stay.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the Anonymouses.
ReplyDeleteisn't it Anonymice?
ReplyDelete