If you're doing sums in your head, you might notice that the working people in San Juan County are a minority of voters (44%), and private-sector workers are an even smaller minority of voters (38%).
The taxation policies of our county are regressive in several ways. First, the taxes themselves (sales and property taxes) are regressive methods of taxation. Second, the taxes often fund programs that have debilitating regressive effects that are even worse than the taxes. For example, county requirements for land development impose expenditures of tens of thousands of dollars in fees, reports, and evaluations which are beyond the out-of-pocket funding ability of working class people. None of the burden of development costs can be included in a mortgage. All of it has to be paid for out of pocket.
If you are wealthy enough to own enough land, you might be able to take advantage of one of the special programs to reduce your property taxes (e.g., open space designations or conservation easements). The effect of this is also regressive, since it amounts to cost shifting away from larger parcels towards smaller parcels more typically owned by working people.
And it gets worse every year. The pet "solution" proposed for many of our "problems" is an ever growing call for more taxing districts -- more regressive policies. One "solution" currently being discussed for our affordable housing "crisis" is to create a tax to provide a revenue stream to build more affordable housing. This isn't a solution. In reality, it isn't even intended to be a solution. This is simple vote buying. The affordable housing projects on our islands are going broke because they were non-solutions in the first place. They never were economically viable, and federal and state funding for these unsustainable developments have dried up. The future slums of San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez have powerful voting blocks behind them however ... and if politicians once again stiff workers in the county to pander to these voting blocks, it won't amount to much electorally.
Without some disruptive economic event to grow the working middle class, private sector workers are unlikely to ever again be fairly represented here. San Juan County will continue to be the playground of special interests that impose restrictions on others, but give themselves a pass. Anyone who professes to believe that new government programs will help workers is either on the make or a complete fool. The last thing the existing patronage system wants is to shift power to workers and the middle class, even if they are willing to pay lip service to it from time to time. In reality, the entire funding and functional purpose of the government apparatus here is to provide special treatment for the connected while keeping workers in their place.
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| Make sure Councilman Jamie gets special treatment |
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| Dispatch the boat for Sam. She doesn't want to wait for the ferry. |
Point taken. Counterpoint - Honeywells treated like dirt too. Sickening that the Orcas Exchange should get $150,000 on the day that Penwell says he's fed up with county obstructionism and is closing down CT. Orcas, we want our money back. Hughes is buying votes. I hope he loses them here. Disgrace.
ReplyDelete"...Jamie's permit needs to be submitted and expedited through the process..."
ReplyDeleteSeriously? He hasn't even submitted anything yet and is demanding expedited treatment?
The rules are for others, not the ruling class. It's that simple.
Interesting that taxpayers are essentially providing a private navy for SJC elites. To his credit, at least Jamie has purchased his own boat. I think it's actually larger than the Sheriff's Dept boat & appropriately is christened the "Tax Deduction" or something else similar to indicate his plans for who shall bear the cost of the boat.
ReplyDeleteAnd interesting that the county has approved funding for a hobo camp for Lopez pilots before the issues such as "what happens to the waste water generated by the hobo camp?" are settled. But ....anything for our pilots, right Jamie?
Jamie getting his own dealings with CDP fast tracked, Sam getting her own navy - what else is going on there that, if taxpayers knew, they would be fucking outraged?
"Jamie Spends Real Money" nails it. Word is both he and Watson are already forming a cabal to raise taxes across the board as they see them as "too low." They're right! they are too low for all the people avoiding paying them.
ReplyDeleteExactly correct too is the reading where all this completely unnecessary environmental "save" this that and the other shift the tax burden to an ever shrinking tax base. "Save Mount Grant" Save it from fucking what???
Lastly; where is the evidence of property owners abusing the land they own? Trees grow three feet a year here. Got nothing to do? Go in the old hotel at Roche and look at the pictures. It looks like an atom bomb was dropped nearby. What 1,000 pages of regulation got it to look the way it does now? NONE.
It's all about abusive government, not about "saving" the environment.
Don't forget the Land Bank. The more they take off the tax rolls, the more costs are shifted to everyone else.
ReplyDeleteWhat else is weird is that, for all the talk by the elite that they don’t want San Juan county to become Martha’s Vineyard, that’s exactly what they’re doing.
ReplyDelete1. Creating a two-tiered system of high-earning government employees plus retired teachers and a large group of minimum wage earners while scrupulously and carefully eliminating any meaningful chance for the creation of middle class jobs. Yep.
2. Making home ownership unaffordable to all but the elites and their rich lawyer and tech friends from Seattle via the forced contributions on land purchases to the Land Bank, handing out undeserved ag exemptions on real property taxes to Microsoft millionaires, and the creation of endless levy’s to support (often) unneeded government services. Absolutely.
3. Decrying the tourism-based economy of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket while pushing for Eastsound and Lopez Village changes that essentially outlaw real businesses in favor of ice cream shops and massage therapists’ offices. Has anyone looked at the latest draft of the Lopez Village plan - it’s horrifying. Done, done and done.
4. Has anyone else noticed that the people currently complaining about the tourists showing up in droves this summer are EXACTLY the same people who were pushing for the National Monument designation only a couple of years ago? W. T. F.
If the council, the Friends of the San Juans and the affordable housing hucksters (but I repeat myself) wanted to eliminate a middle class and forcibly change the county to Martha’s Vineyard, what would they do differently?
The only organization doing anything remotely akin to helping a middle class is Rock Island, which is building out the fiber infrastructure while being savaged by the council, Luddite massage therapists, the Island Guardian and the fucking whackjob on Shaw (who is proof that you shouldn’t let unmedicated bipolar patients near computers). Rock Island deserves the thanks of everyone who thinks their kids deserve a chance at a middle class job while staying in the county.
Everyone keeps forgetting that the "R" is silent in the F_iends of the San Juans.
ReplyDeleteOn the same track as the previous column comment that likened our choice of voting for Watson to giving an alcoholic a bunch of booze to hit rock bottom, this likely what we will need to have happen.
ReplyDeleteWe aren't going to get anything new or improved with Watson or Jarman and the Hughes/Jamie circle. They will raise taxes as they have already promised, they will create more government programs that we don't need, and they will continue to be influenced by the eco-mob FOSJ crowd, the Dorfs that scream the loudest, and the "affordable housing" hucksters that label everything a "crisis" and have a government program that can magically fix everything if only, if only, they had more revenue.
They are going to be given free reign now with the choices that were made in the primary. We can only look 4 years ahead and be vigilant in highlighting and drawing attention to the destruction on our middle and working class that they inflict.
I pray for our community because it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
OK, let em crash and burn, but can you live that long? Out organized and out funded, every decent person gives up.
ReplyDeleteWe must convince a powerhouse like the real estate bunch that what is happening is not good for them. With most of their trades happening at the low end, under 400K, you would think they would see the sinking sun.
Problem is there is not a visionary person at any level. The real estate folk seem to focus on their next sale and that's it.
In this veil of tears there is little hope. The numbers in this column are devastating.
Enter Milene Henley, County Auditor, the person who can't find the printing and postage to give you a fighting chance to vote for someone of merit. Ms. Henley lays down the first whine for the County needing more money. It's like all these ass-holes sit and drink beer together:
ReplyDeleteDD "It's a wrap, totally sewed up."
Watson: "Shit, you mean I gotta work? I thought the plan was to keep it as is!"
Stephanie--FOSJ--As long as you do as told, you get the pay and bennies, so be quiet."
Thomas: "This shit hole is making so much money, I want my share of it as you jerks promised."
Hughes: "I'm not hanging around much after we step Durland's face into the mud. Ranker and I have plans.
Randy: You shit heads need to give me more staff and more power or I'm not buying the next round.
Henley: "I keep the electorate in the dark, so where's the respect, where's my new office furniture?"
Jamie: "This fucking lunchroom is so damn hot, screw you people, I'm taking the EMS boat to Rosario, maybe there I can find the proper respect for my needs as a County Councilman, or at least air-conditioning.
And so it goes on and on.
Hughes is the main reason Community Treasures is shutting down. Penwell saw Hughes on the Ferry on July 6, and Hughes tried to lay the Hughes charm on him. Hughes told Penwell his "door is always open" to talk about Community Treasures. Penwell called him on it, and said he had an email from Hughes where Hughes is telling the other councilmen that it is a bad idea to meet with Penwell. Cornered with his own duplicity, Hughes couldn't do anything but come clean, and he told Penwell that he would never vote for anything that Penwell wanted regarding Community Treasures.
ReplyDeleteThat's a Hughes "open door."
The TH long lost any amount of readership, so all this is a waste of time. But to get it on the record; CT has been a target of County leadership for many years. Why, I'm not sure. Penwell has long been a intelligent critic of the County from the un liked, more like hated, conservative side. His CT operation is extremely popular for good reason. It is the only place you can be assured of getting rid of stuff at a reasonable cost and it is the only place that takes just about everything. And, if there is any money made he gives it away. Holy smokes, this just cannot be allowed to exist.
ReplyDeleteOK, it is a very minor cut in the County dump business, which since privatized, is very well run. (Recycle now costs more than it produces, so CT ain't hurting anyone)
The important note here is that Hughes and the rest of his board simply don't do their homework. They don't study, they don't go out and press the flesh, they don't nothing.
A further note to Orcas Durland: You can beat this turkey Hughes! Yes, you can. Take money fairly and spend it. Do it now! Seize the day!
This council has no experience whatsoever. Very hard to watch!
DeleteIf TH has lost readership, why bother posting
DeleteFrank,
ReplyDeleteIf this is true about Rick Hughes lying to your face and then insulting you to your face with that kind of arrogance I would hope you will write a lengthy Op/Ed letting as many citizens know as possible.
Shame.
Shame on you Rick.
Perhaps Rick was sober when he said these things and the DT's were twisting his mind.
From what I can tell, Durland hasn't done anything to press forward with a campaign. The last election proved that someone could mount a grassroots campaign, raise money, and execute a plan and actually succeed. Durand can do this but he has to get going. 85 days or something away.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been asked to donate or help in any way.
I think we do need to hit rock bottom before we get better.
Or live paying taxes that continually rise and hopefully get ours before they outlaw whatever "it" is.
Looks like Henley will publish something of a voters guide for the November election, or maybe not. She is looking for written arguments on the levy increases on Orcas and Lopez.
ReplyDeleteThe SJI Library slipped in a doozy of an increase several years ago and has been rolling in cash every since. Orcas should look at the per resident cost and figure out the benefit cost for the 10% who actually use the place.
Well, at least the old guardian is pressing forward with hard hitting columns such as this....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.islandguardian.com/smith/
I'd wager that the Guardian readership, percentage wise, has dropped more than the heron.
Most of this "on-line" stuff like the Guardian and the SJ Islander is nothing but pass on from another source. That is why the TH was unique. Like the lead above it had original thought and copy.
ReplyDeleteThe Guardian and Islander are not journalism. Frankly the Journal isn't either. Real journalism right now would be to confront Hughes and Durland with some tough questions and write about every detail. You never see that here, but in a lot of small towns you do. And San Juan County is a very small town.
I would admit the women at the Journal seem to be making a tiny bit of progress although getting that paycheck still seems more important than making calls.
The reason I have not been out campaigning is that I am an Island business owner in the busiest time of the year. I entered this campaign to make a difference, not only for the small business owners but for all of us who live here. I have a booth at the San Juan County Fair this week to meet and talk with you. After the summer season I will be getting the word out about how the lack of trust and responsibility and the lack of accountability of the current administration is the greatest deterrent to our economy and lifestyle, no matter what your lifestyle. Now I am committed to working hard for my customers as I will be committed to work hard for you when elected. Come talk to me at the Fair, visit my website durland4council.com and e-mail me with your comments and concerns. michael@durland4council.com
ReplyDeleteMichael Durland Council Candidate for District 2 Orcas.
Thank you Michael! See you at the Fair, but will you take donations for the cause of besting Hughes? Of course, I understand that any booth at the Fair is suspect if money is involved.
ReplyDeleteStill you will need cash and lots of it to snuff the machine that backed Watson and will control Hughes.
Also it is very important you do not allow yourself to be labeled as the machine will very quickly do just that just as they did with Albritten.
Michael thank you for taking a stand.
ReplyDeleteI'm just wondering how many people throughout SJC knows how much you and your business has suffered at the hands of the County and how Rick Hughes has contributed to that abuse.
You're going to have to do more if than a booth if you're serious about beating a corrupt say anything smoozer like Princess Rickey.
Better get some fire in the belly Michael. Time is running out.
ReplyDeleteMichael, FWIW, when Rick found out you filed, he got really worried. He was discussing it via a call to Randy G. When Randy heard, he literally burst out laughing. Told Rickky not to worry.
ReplyDeleteSome decent folks in the PA's office. Just not Randy. He is a scumbag.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteYou will not win with a sit back attitude.
You're going to have to go knock on doors.
Do town meetings.
Buy drinks at the bar (Ricky has that mastered).
Campaign like you mean it.
Very hard to do when you work too! Best of luck Michael lord knows we need leaders who are not connected to the machine, are honest and know to do the right thing always.
ReplyDeleteHope there are some experienced precinct workers on Orcas who can help Durland. If memory serves, SJI voted for Hughes while Orcas voted for Byers so these people need to spread out to Lopez and SJI.
ReplyDeleteAgain I would have to mark this primary up as a lack of community information provided by the fourth estate (the media). There was no information about Durland or Hughes and all we do know about Hughes is he is a glad handing do nothing Councilman who should not be re-elected. Without any media coverage of the lawsuit villa Hughes and Jarman and Jamie operate, Jarman sailed through the primary. No one seems to know what a disaster these three really are.
Jarman actually beat candidates ten times more qualified that he will ever be. Talk about lack of information!
Byers won Lopez. Hughes won both SJI and Orcas. Jamie won all three.
ReplyDeletePostage on the small postcard is .34 with .47 for the large. About $4,209 or about $5,818 plus printing, buying the labels, and running a mail labeling machine makes informing the voters a large expense for any candidate who does not do fund raising.
ReplyDeleteYou must raise funds if you want to win. Look at Watson. A virtual unknown with no qualifications for the job. No problem, he comes in first because he had large financial backing.
We will now see how much money Hughes has lined up.
You can do a countywide mailer at the bulk rates for closer to $2k. Still money, but not standard postage rates. That is what Watsum and Pantload. Koivisto ran a story that most money won the election.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to all those bernie supporters who were against big money politics?
Oh yeah, hypocrisy.
Watson will win. Big time. Screw Jarman anyway. Watson will get the train off the rails faster. Jarman was supposed to put on the brakes, but he just put on the conductors cap, did a few favors for a few friends, and voila, here we are.
Did anyone see him at the fair tonight? He is a bumbling confused old man. not fit for office. I almost feel sorry for the backers that are literally wasting their money. You would be better off looking 4 years ahead, or even 2 years ahead and grooming a candidate for Lopez.
We are going to be drawing to an inside straight here and need to look long again, not this election.
FOSJ and the progressive machine can claim victory, for now.
Durland needs to just raise a shitload of money and go all out. Just litter the place with flyers, signs, doorbellers, everything... That's the only hope we have of slowing down the machine.
Durland, the last hope this cycle.
Jarman is a waste of time. I'd rather vote for Watson who I know exactly the manner in which I will be screwed. He is a known quantity. FOSJ, more taxes, massive regulation. Bob gave us the false hope that he would work for us but instead has been an utter failure.
I disagree on Watson being the better choice, he is Lovel Pratt in disguise. She will be leading him not him leading independently - they hand picked him and will control him. We need to settle with and get behind Bob good bad or indifferent.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am afraid Bob is quickly becoming our very own Hillary option. You need to keep the goons out at all cost. Four years of Watson World? Remind me how long WW II lasted? Pinochet? The generals of Argentina? Was Ranker a one term aberration?
DeleteBob Jarman is too stupid to be allowed back into the council chamber.
ReplyDeleteHe is nothing but another vote for Jamie.
I agree with the prior post, I want to know how I'm going to get screwed instead of being continually disapointed by a buffoon.
No thank you...No on WATSON.
ReplyDeletePossible solution for those of you who think there is no hope for the SJI Or, as a number of you have said in the past "..just leave!" Thanks, in advance. http://www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/how-the-worlds-biggest-cities-are-helping-residents-slow-down-stress-less-and-be-happier
ReplyDeleteIt is really hard to find anybody worth a good God damn to vote for at any level.
ReplyDeleteWatson? YUCK. Jarman? dbl YUCK. Hughes? PUKE.
Durland is another good person that is going to get his hat handed to him. If he plays it as Albritton did he's toast. You must match the opposition dollar for dollar and you must do smart stuff. Albritton got signs out late and way too few of them. Worse, they were difficult for a quick read.
More than one mailing is an absolute must, because you need an early one to plant your name, LIKE NOW. And then another just before the vote.
I ain't leaving and I'll write in rather than vote for Jarman or Watson.
Durland had a booth at the fair. Standard. But, his phone number is some out of state number. That doesn't have a ring of "long time islander".
ReplyDeleteIf Durland wants to win, he needs to talk to the folks that oppose the machine and get a manager and a team together and go on an all out offense. 80 days. Doable, but you need to start Monday. Period.
Jarman or Watson. Watson is going to win, and here is why. A lot of us that voted for him last time aren't going to support him again.
An earlier poster characterized Watson as "Lovel in disguise". That isn't correct. He is Lovel reincarnated. Nothing disguised. He has straight up said he is going to raise our taxes. We get it and we know where he stands. With him in power, we won't have to waste time on some false hope that Jarman the pantload is anything but the 2nd or 3rd vote for Jamie's agenda. And the FOSJ.
When ole Jarman was first in office, we raised some hell and tried to get some of the property tax funding to the Conservation District Cut. Ron Zee and company brought out all the shriekers and whiners in full force. Hughes went along with a "lets just leave it where it is" approach. Jarman, in the most prolific display of the inability to do basic math, tried to propose something and when Rickky Hughes pointed out that Jarman was actually proposing to raise the taxes on people, per parcel. Yep. He didn't mean to, but he is literally a moron. Buffoon. He is backstabbing and has signed off on almost all of Jamie and Mike Thomas's bullshit.
I would label him a fraud, but that would imply some measure of intelligence or calculation. He doesn't even possess the most basic intellect to do it.
Durland needs professional help. He seems a decent person and of course that is a sign of weakness to the machine.
ReplyDeleteDurland needs to attack the thinking of the three mushrooms now seated at the bench. Just as the TH has outlined at the top; do you want to live where local jobs are celebrated or do you want to live in a tourist trap?
I'll be happy to support a Durland campaign, but there must be commitment and substance, not just vote for me cause I'm another choice.
Agreed with above; lots of hope for Jarman...a complete joke. If the people actually knew what Watson was all about I don't think they would vote for him. Watson is Henley's gift to FOSJ.
Exactly - to say that Jarman is a disappointment understates the magnitude of the fuckup of electing him. It was a better choice than Pratt, but, for fuck's sake, we've got to do better than that. We should all hate each other for having let each other down.
ReplyDeleteThat is not enough of a reason to vote for Watson. We only have two choices unless like you said there was a mass write in. That won't happen since the D's have pegged Watson as their AG choice. Any of them have more AG experience than Watson. Hell Albritton has worked her whole life representing farmers and the machine snubbed her. I do not see that Watson is better choice than Jarman sorry.
ReplyDeleteWe have 3 choices aside from a write it. Watson, Jarman, or not voting for anyone.
DeleteJarman has until the election to convince me to leave my ballot blank and not vote for Watson, otherwise, screw him like he screwed us. Its that simple. I won't vote for Jarman but I can be convinced to not vote for Watson.
That is what happened to me... I was convinced to not vote for Watson. Time to step up and do better Bob.
ReplyDeleteA known enemy is better than a waffling buffoon.
ReplyDeleteI can make strategic plans with the known, I am at a disadvantage with the unknown chaotic buffoonery that is bumble-head Jarman.
I find myself in league with 6:37pm. I cannot vote for Jarman, and I cannot vote for Watson, that means Watson wins.
ReplyDeleteBut you got the enemy you know. Hopefully Albritton will take another shot. With organization and some fund raising you would actually have someone qualified for the job. She entered this time as a community service, got a physical hit and faded. I would like to see her try again. Frankly with an attack mode on Watson and Jarman I think she could win a write in . (Yes, it would take some bucks and much skill and organization.)
Back to the issue at hand. Durland is going to be driven into the ground like a tent stake. Watson will beat Jarman by a thousand votes. The resulting tax increases will cost each of you about $800 per year forever.
But the real damage is the complete shift to a tourist base economy. Read the top of this post several times. This is really bad news folks.
We need a whole new focus on year round employment at reasonable pay rates. We need a county government that understands the need to provide safe and productive harbor for year round jobs that are not just changing bed sheets.
I believe that Albritton could stage a successful write-in campaign.
ReplyDeleteThe case can be made that she is the strongest candidate in terms of experience at the municipal/county level and the least attached to any special interest group.
Is there anyone else here willing to step up and write letters to the editor/blanket social media with a call to elect her in the upcoming election?
(and... there is no-way Durland wins Orcas, so if he is going to win, it will have to be through appeal to Lopez and San Juan)
Sheryl doesn't need letters written, she needs to come forward and say "Yes, I want to run a massive write in campaign", and talk to a few key folks and see what sort of $$ could be raised. Then, a machine needs to be built to take to the streets and talk to virtually every resident. I agree it is doable, but if she could muster 20-30k, that would be super helpful.
ReplyDeleteQuestion is, does she have the fight needed. Money and hired campaign machinery only gets you so far, there has to be a willingness.....
Otherwise, like a previous poster said, I would rather have the known evil instead of the unknown that is Jarman. Watson is anti almost everything i stand for, so I can make strategic decisions around that. Jarman is so unpredictable and incompetent, I can't begin to understand what to expect, except that he doesn't keep his word. Watson, I believe, will keep his word. He promised to grow government and raise taxes and will do exactly that. So yeah, f*ck Bob Jarman, like he did us. How is anything Bob has done different from what Watson will do?
Name one thing that we hoped Jarman would do that he did?
Did he reform the committee process? No. He was about to allow some FOSJ clowns on some boards when we had to raise hell that one of them was actually trespassing and impersonating a county officer.
Did he lower the CD tax, or even keep it flat? no, he mumbled and stumbled in to an actual tax increase. Watch the video on that one. He didn't know what the hell was going on. Hughes even asked him "are you sure that's what you mean"...
Stop the FOSJ? are you kidding? name one thing.
Committee appointments? He has gone along with the Jamie/Hughes circle jerk of blacklisting people that those two don't like.
Litigation? Dumb ass Jarman has caused this county quite a bit of litigation.
CAO reform or repeal of portions? Nope.
The guy hasn't done a damn thing. So if you are supporting him because you fear Watson, you are deranged in my book.
If I thought it was going to be a close race, I would actually go back through all of the passed legislation and document how many times he voted lock step with Jamie and Rickky. I bet it is a number approaching 100%.
SCREW JARMAN.
And if you are supporting him, I don't respect your critical thinking and ability to understand things.
Jarman is so godamn dumb he forgets to breathe and is found passed out all over FH.
ReplyDeleteEveryone knows this.
@2:03 Ricky is found passed out all over Orcas as well.
ReplyDeleteRight, but that's for a different reason. You can always tell when there's been a fresh Sterno delivery to Orcas because Rick's passed out downtown with purple slime all around his mouth.
DeleteHuh, that's odd.
ReplyDeleteWe always find Jamie bound and gagged and missing his pants.
Actually, I had a mental picture more of him as The Gimp.
DeleteSure, Rick is a drunk, Bob is a drooling vegetable and Jamie is basically Rhea's bitch, but what is really shocking is the amount of support these clowns get. That is a real testament to the island mentality. And frankly, it is frightening.
ReplyDeleteLooks like there won't be some trust fund baby, wannabe grifter this time around starting some sort of "shaft islanders" campaign to bail us in to further stupidity. I guess we are capable of doing it all on our own.
Would we be honestly worse if we had Pratt and Byers instead of these two assclowns that we got?
Probably just as screwed, just different positions.
Heck, thinking about the state of affairs is going to push me to a Hughes size bender.
Haha... "shaft islanders". Quite appropriate and accurate description. "Wannabe grifter" about sums it up. It's going to take a long decade to undo the mess here, and it will get bad before it gets worse.
DeleteRemember when The Guardian nailed "Good Ol" Howie Rosenfeld for sleeping at the bench. That was an easy one because Howie made it completely obvious he belonged in board and care someplace.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it so difficult to do a little investigation, like the above on dear Jamie, but target Jarman and Hughes? Just look in the recycle truck before the next stop.
What were Watson's votes when he was on the board at FOSJ?
Yeah I continue to blame the lazy media here for the uninformed voters mistakes. Although, Jarman was just a plain ordinary lying sack of shit. The rejoicing over his slim win lasted about two months.
Spoke with some folks today who were in the dark about candidates. No voters pamphlet so where was the newspaper. They have never seen it not covered at least in the paper. Where they scared of others beating out Watson or Jarman? One of the three, Penwell Albritton or even Wherly had to have been viewed as a threat. Keep them uninformed I guess. They admitted to waiting until the last minute and knew nothing about the candidates. Could not find online???? Everyone who knows Sheryl knows what kind of person she is and same goes with Frank. I am not surprised Frank is giving up after all this time.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping Penwell will change his mind a bit, for sure enough to let CT survive.
ReplyDeleteWhen I moved here many years ago the newspaper was rampant with voter coverage. There were pages of letters supporting candidates and slinging poison truths.
I think Henley knows she has been a bad steward of the process and of course she gets herself to sleep thinking it is not her fault, she has to work with the funds she has. Bullshit! What is more important than providing the voting public with information provided by candidates so at the very least they have a feel for the person they choose to vote for.
Meanwhile you have the "Journal" the paper of record, the source for much island knowledge...NOT. Nothing but a publishing of the established power base, sans a description of Larson's outfit with full credit.
I share your hopes about Frank and CT surviving, but when I think of it, it seems a little selfish. Frank took a substantial portion of his life and dedicated it to making the community a better place, in a way that provided jobs, kept tons (literally hundreds of tons) of stuff out of the landfill, and did so with his own money and time.
ReplyDeleteHe persisted in asking the County for a change in designation to achieve a small benefit that would allow for a few things.
The response. Obstruction, broken and empty promises, and nothing meaningful. Take a look sometime at the emails between him and Sam Gibboney and you will quickly come to realize what sort of bullshit Frank was subject to and how good it is that Gibboney is gone.
Meanwhile, on Orcas, Rick manages to deliver hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Orcas Exchange, a government subsidized version of community treasures. None of us paid for Frank's land or operating costs, but now somehow we pay for the stuff on Orcas?
This, mind you, after they were seriously delinquent on their taxes and they had issues with some of the "volunteers" pocketing money. A mini-scam can get all the funding they need from Ricky Hughes. But an honest hardworking business can't get a basic zoning designation?
We are definitely giving Florida a run for it's money when it comes to bizarre and idiotic stuff.
SJC: No good deed goes unpunished.
ReplyDelete"Shaft Islanders". Ha.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking "Thrust Islanders".
That was a real grass roots last moment hit job that raised enough money to save you from Pratt and Byers. And you sat by with your thumb up your butt, did nothing in the meanwhile and frankly just continue to whine. You are the reason Trust Islanders walked away once it became clear later on what brainless fools these islanders be. If you don't like the lumps of coal you have on Council remember that in a democracy you get the leaders you deserve.
DeleteHughes is just politics as usual. Without a county wide publication of the screwing of Penwell while pissing away large for the burn down on Orcas...(Did Jarman question any of this?) we got nothing as usual except wasted un cared about, un written about, un thought about, government waste.
ReplyDeleteGood "Ol" Ricky lining up at the trough to replace some state wide machine candidate. Can't wait to kiss his sorry ass good bye.
Anyone followed the political mess on Orcas with their Fire Department? Talk about a group that cant seem to do anything right!
ReplyDeleteAre you referring to the DUII/accident coverup by Mike P when the person left Kevin O'Brien's house?
DeleteOr the allegations against Mike P?
Or the swanky calendar they put out in a pathetic attempt to fundraise?
Or is there something else?
I am glad to hear that Thrust Islanders won't be rearing their trust fund wannabe grifter head this election season. That scam needed to go away like it has. Jarman has zero chance of winning and we will be stuck with a committed whack job FOSJ. This guy doesn't sympathize with the FOSJ, he is FOSJ. That will be a victory for the machine for sure. I have to give them credit for sticking it out and prevailing.
ReplyDeleteOur time will come around, but it just isn't this election cycle. It needs to get screwed up a bit more (if that is possible) before true reform shows up.
"Thrust Islanders"?
ReplyDeleteIsn't this the group that was so adamant that they are for "property rights" only to support the trampling of Jenny Rice and her farm?
Oh yeah. Them.
Glad they have faded in to obscurity. Hopefully never to resurface their trust fund heads again.
Well you are close. Fuck Islanders was the little PAC that kept the Machine at bay four years ago. Do you have any idea how much money was raised in the coordinated push for Pratt & Byers? Do you have any idea how vastly worse off things would be if they had actually prevailed? No, of course not. You do nothing and so you blame everyone who tries to do anything. Actually, you and you're ilk are the real problem around here. Fucking Monday Morning Quarterback. Armchair General.
DeleteAnd in a note of douchebagish irony, you actually have no idea "how vastly worse" Pratt and Byers would have been. Its possible they could have been better. I like the profanity though. Nice fighting spirit. Too bad it is a wasted effort. Welcome Councilman Watson.
DeleteGet together Albritton and Durland! Plan strategy and attack. You would be amazed at the funding for your campaigns if you make yourselves open to it. First up; talk to the folks who ran the recent sheriff election. Well done!
ReplyDeleteHire a professional for your funding reporting. Walk in with cash for half page ads and demand interview coverage.
Jarman, Hughes and Watson can be put on the defensive and once they are you can get every working person to vote for you. It is just not that difficult to beat these turds; with Jarmin and Hughes their records will do it for you; Watson is a slave to FOSJ and unqualified.
Trust Islanders was/is real estate money and they got a lot of it, so it can't hurt to have them support a regime change.
Watson is not qualified....Exactly! We must get behind Bob now like it or not. If anyone who writes here will vote for Watson or just not vote is not thinking straight. Albritton is out and she is not going to stage a write-in. Do you want FOSJ or Bob? Set all your pissed-off-ness aside and pick one... one word responses only please.
ReplyDeleteOne word, ok NOBOB
DeleteYou are presenting a false choice, FOSJ or Bob.
ReplyDeleteBob has done nothing to stop the FOSJ. Nothing.
This is more than your one word answer requirement.
Shaft Islanders gave us Bob.
I'm not pissed off, I'm just not supporting Jarman under any current circumstances. He would have to do some miraculous work to change my mind.
I heard Sheryl was getting lobbied by Watson for her supporters, in a typically sleazy way. I'm going to lobby her to tell them not to vote or pick Watson.
Jarman had a chance, failed.
Screw him.
Screw Shaft Islanders.
We will live to fight another day, just not this time around.
Shaft Islanders gave you Jarman, by less than 100 votes because the alternative was far, far worse and Shaft Islanders did not push anybody to run because Shaft Islanders was formed long after the filing dates. Shaft Islanders had nothing to do the Jenny Rice Farm debacle, but I think most of us know who those jerks are. Shaft Islanders did not finance itself through a trust fund hippie. Lost of folks contributed to that PAC, and many were progressive Dems quite frankly, who were and continue to be well aware of the bullshit doled out in their name. Get your facts straight.
DeleteSure player, sure.
DeleteThe amazing thing is there is no one with fire in the belly. Albritton does not like the appellation "Lightweight" but it does fit. Not ready for prime time, not ready to work through the pain many workers experience every day to feed their families.
ReplyDeleteBob or nothing? There seems no understanding of what nothing is. Nothing is Bob. Albritton and Durland could take command, but they don't want to thereby pissing away the money they have already spent and the opportunity to recoup those losses. Sad.
This household will not vote for Jarman nor Watson. We will vote for Durland and write in Albritton. (Yeah, the honest "lightweights.")
Trust Islanders?
ReplyDeleteMore like Fuck Islanders.
That's what we get for allowing California trust fund brats get in bed with our local leaders.
We get Bob-the-Buffoon.
Well you'd probably be happy to jump in bed with rich New England patrician families importing east coast land use regulations into our world. Because that is Pratt and Byers. That is also Rhea Miller. If you want to demonize a grass roots group that saved your sorry ass from a much larger threat than snoozy Bob let me suggest you better go and git them little brown people out of here right away because they are taking your jobs. What a fool you are.
DeleteAll in all it was not a waste as I got to bring the fact to light again that it is wrong for this county to be planning under GMA. It is for urbanizing counties which we are not. Calling me a lightweight is ridiculous, BUT you can think what you want I know who writes here. People that really know me know I accomplish the work of three people in any given day. Tell me how is one person supposed to work full time, deal with a severe injury and campaign with no help. I did very well considering all of those circumstances and would have accomplished great things with a little help. Thanks to everyone who took the time to know and vote for me.
ReplyDeleteSo we get Watson? That's just not OK. The people writing on this site are extremely diverse. The site early on got labeled by the machine as conservative crazies. And, it had a number of trolls driving it in that direction.
ReplyDeleteNever assume anything.
Durland now has some excellent commentary on his site (which now works) outlining his very accurate view, in my read, of the situation we have before us in picking candidates to run this place.
However, reality bites. You must spend money to win an election. Like it or not, you gotta do it.
Here's a suggestion. Like Bernie, who blasted by HC in fund raising with small donations, you do the same. You cannot be seen as belonging to certain groups or even an individual if you limit campaign donations to a small amount, say $100 bucks, or even $20 bucks.
Hughes will throw a barbecue (I don't think Watson eats anything but celery) and get large sums from a few people, but as shown with HC fund raising, that's pretty much the end of it. It's disgusting and it's over. Whereas small donations don't end.
Yep its true. Trust Islanders came together at the last minute because NO ONE ESLE was actively organizing against the massively funded Machine twins of Lovel & Lisa. Trust Islanders was a fucking Hail Mary. You do realize that the same individuals who organized and fund raised for the Machine candidates several years ago are the SAME people organizing around Watson. And you are whining that Trust Islanders actually created a vehicle for an effective counter attack and raised enough money to actually mail flyers, run ads in the paper, maintain and active web and Facebook presence and even make a bit of a fuck of a difference. And now the same whiners are complaining that no one has the resources go against the Machine. Ya'll are one piece of fucking work out there. You deserve to lose.
DeleteHow can I lose? I'm not running.
DeleteYou sound bitter.
Never assume anything? Ok. I'm not assuming Watson is going to win, I just strongly suspect that Jarman will lose.
ReplyDeleteYou want to talk about trolling? Some dumbass comes on here and calls Sheryl a lightweight? What that dumbass doesn't realise is that she is the only one of the 4 that could have beat Watson. Jarman doesn't stand a chance.
I have worked with Sheryl on a number of projects and she is super hardworking and savvy to the ways of government.
The pro jarman crowd is too blind to their failings to realize that she would have been best.
If Jarman gave 2 shits about anything but his own ego, he would have not run again and put his support behind Sheryl, along with a public apology.
Not supporting Jarman now is a strategic move, not a tactical one.
He has done less than zero. Gave us hope and stabbed a whole bunch of us in the back.
I'm not voting for Watson, but I'm sure not voting for Jarman. I'm going to write someone in or leave that one blank.
As far as Durland, he needs to step up. Now. Writing some stuff on a website doesn't win elections. We all know what does.
He needs money to be put towards a very organized campaign.
Screwed for 4 years. Regroup, or in this case, realign a bit.
The old guard here is just that, old.
Jarman? Seriously? You are delusional if you think he stands for anything.
I couldn't find Durland's web site by Googling. Can someone provide the link? Believe it or not, I contributed to Rick Hughes's opponent last time and wish to do so again. I believe this is consistency. At any rate, I would like to support Durland but can't link to his site.
ReplyDeletehttp//www.durland4council.com
DeleteLet me explain #BTFSTTG:
ReplyDelete"The system is not fixable because it is not broken. It is working, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to give the insiders their royal prerogatives, and to shove the regulations, the laws, and the debt up the asses of everyone else.
Burn it to the ground.
Burn it to the ground.
Burn it to the ground.
Merry Christmas."
https://popehat.com/2013/12/23/burn-the-fucking-system-to-the-ground/
Screw Jarman, screw Watson, screw Hughes, screw Durland, screw Jamie, screw every bureaucrat in CDP willing to slap a fucking red tag on a homeowner doing a simple repair to his house because he somehow pissed off Gibboney, before I forget - screw Gibboney, screw FOSJ, screw Randy (who's primary job now seems to be overseeing the payout of enormous amounts of money in settlements for document screw ups), screw Morais, screw FOSJ, screw the land trust, screw PSP, screw the affordable housing hucksters, screw anyone who ever thought that a GoFundMe campaign is the equivalent of actually starting a real business, screw the rare bugs everyone is wetting themselves over on SJI, screw every person who fucked over Community Treasures and Frank Penwell over the years, screw Mike Thomas, and on and on and one - the system won't get better until it collapses. Which it will.
Selah
Here it is, the end of August and now you are reinventing the myth that "the are all the same." No they are fucking not the same. And if you don't like the form of government well then, fuck off and move to North Korea you sorry waste of space. You have the tools and the means to effectively organize. It actually takes time, money and resources. And you cannot walk away after the election. You have to keep the pressure on, every single day. And that, you clueless little twit, you will not do, you will not contribute to and in fact you howl at any effort to do so. I remember the occasional call on the Heron to "actively manage" the Council. There was quite a bit of debate on that mostly derisive that anything could be done and that only exhausted volunteers give up their lunch hour for their 3 minutes of public access time. And you fucking think that actually accomplishes ... what? And so, three years later, end of August and all you can do is play the blame game on a well organized group of citizens who came together a few years ago to push back against our local mafia, showed you all how that can actually work, and you did nothing, nothing, nothing at all. Now you are here, again. What a tool of the Machine you are.
DeleteFuck off and move to North Korea?
DeleteSounds like you need to actively manage your temper and your hatred.
I was going to vote for Jarman, but you have convinced me to vote for Watson.
You twinkee. That was too easy. If you have a butthurt just vote for Watson. He's here to help you.
DeleteAlbritton:
ReplyDelete"I know who posts here"
That's ok, we know who reads here too.
Jamie? Is that you? How did you get out of Rhea's basement again?
Jamie, did your wife let you spend some of her real money on something today?
I'm pretty sure she doesn't know everyone who posts here.
ReplyDeleteRemember the good ole' days when Stan Matthews would occasionally get drunk and post on here?
Ahhhh.. Those were the days.
Longing for them.
To clear it up. No one here said Albritton was a lightweight, someone said they knew of people who thought so, and maybe for good reason. Probably the reason for this comment is the failing campaign Sheryl ran. She lost. I, for one am sorry about that and will write her in on my ballot.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I can see Jarman is a complete bust for those with even a slight knowledge of County Government. Problem is, he still gets votes, lots of em. Money and name recognition, probably it is just that simple.
If you want to win you must spend some money, you must get your name out there with mailers, signs, bumper stickers, etc. I agree the sheriff's campaign was well run. (It did not hurt that the TH writers said the incumbent wanted to play golf while investigations piled up.)
So you can run a real campaign and win or run one like the most competent candidate we had, and lose.
Write in Sheryl, split the vote, lose to Watson. Believe me, the Machine counts on you. What a mirror this local contest has to the national one. Except in this case, Watson is the Trumpster and Jarman is the Hillary. Neither are really acceptable but they are not the same. Vote for the less dangerous. That's your only option this time around. And remember that spoiling the vote is what got us the Iraq war, pure and simple. Be very careful. You cannot predict what four years of a Watson World council might actually come up with ...
DeleteWhat happened to all your angry rhetoric from your previous posts?
DeleteThe meds kicking in?
Enter: Durland4Council Caps & lower case. It works last time I tried.
ReplyDeleteThanks. An no way to donate directly on the site. Too bad.
DeleteSeems like Mr. Jarman can't spell "commitment" !
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sanjuanupdate.com
I'm shocked he spelled his name correctly.
DeleteThe Durland address is: P.O. Box 26, Deer Harbor, Wa 98243. I'm going to risk sending $20 dollars and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteWhile we're at it; someone must know the f--ing rules on donations. Surely there is a level that does not need to be reported. I know, I know, there is always some jerk who will advantage almost any such system. It just chapped my ass to see Watson win because less than 20 donors funded and bought his primary win.
Dear, "Good Ol Boy" Bob needs to enjoy the fact he is still alive and get the hell out of the way. Agree, the proper thing for him was to throw his support to Albritton.
Anyway, you can send a little money to Durland and see what happens.
"Risk"? More like piss away.
DeleteI would give Durland money, but I would want to give the max, and, only, knowing that he was trying to rapidly gather a massive war chest to fight Hughes. Clock is ticking, effort would need to have started and I haven't heard of anything.
If you can't make time to campaign, I understand that, but how will you find time to govern and legislate?
That's the problem why we get A-leauge d-bags in office, because the hard working productive people in society choose to remain as such.
Cute. You do know that three years ago a group of local citizens at about this same time frame before that election, sat down one after noon and just said, OK, we'll step up. Pledged enough around the table to start up a PAC, create a theme and counter-campaign to the well oiled Machine ... and fucking WON. So, organize your trusted friends, set up a PAC and a bank account and get out there and deal with it. Or does the idea just give you a butthurt?
DeleteJesus. And I can remember when people served on boards and commissions and got paid nothing for doing so.
ReplyDeleteSeems a candidate, if they want to, can make tons of money just running fund raising "for" their campaign. HC (Yes, that one) now has estimates she in raking in something like $150,000 per hour. The rich glitter crowd smells victory and wants to keep floodgates open to their wallets. (Ten actually lined up to hand madam $250,000 each just to press her flesh. She giggles with glee.)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to vote for Durland, because he isn't Hughes, but if he doesn't start today, he has zero chance of winning.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Jarman/Watson, seems like there are folks here that are still supporting Bob. I really have to question your judgement. He ran once on not being the other candidate. That didn't go well. Now we have seen what a complete buffoon he is.
All the shrieking about how awful Watson is will get tested.
What has Bob done to oppose the agenda of Jamie Stephens and the wacko commune pulling his strings from Lopez Village? Answer: ZERO.
That is about the best word to sum up Jarman. Zero.
Curious to see what Watson brings.
To all those yahoo folks that supported Bob the first time around and are OK with his corruption, just because he was your guy. You are no different than a hardcore Hillary supporter.
Corruption matters, on both sides. Bob failed. Miserably. Somehow you think that makes him entitled to keep his job? Enlighten me as to why.
Thanks.
Watson and the Fiends will gaslight you. They already are. Do you want a do-nothing sleepy head on council or a go-get-em shiny eyed eco-fascist on a mission from God? Really?
Delete"What has Bob done to oppose the agenda of Jamie Stephens and the wacko commune pulling his strings from Lopez Village? Answer: ZERO."
ReplyDeleteCorrect. Jarman ran on not being part of The Machine and he's done nothing to oppose it. Stephens is at least as corrupt as any politician in a generation in SJC. He's so crooked I'm guessing he shits fusilli.
The problem we have is the people that need to be elected don't seem to want the job. Why Durland and Albritton signed up is beyond me. Truth looks like they both just wanted to whine a bit about the statis quo and then collect a bouquet and go back to being inconsequential.
ReplyDeleteWow! Neither would put their time and money up just to whine. None of you here are helping them - or are you. It is a big popularity contest anyway unless they have the help and support. Any one who is venting here that did not help you own part of the the fact they were or will not be successful.
DeleteWhat a stupid thing to say 7:04 pm. Time for people like you to go back to where you came from
DeleteGet used to the sound of "Councilman Watson".
ReplyDeleteIt's coming.
How bad will it really be? Probably not good, but the blood will be on the front of us, not the back from the backstabbing of Bob. For him to think he has a chance is delusional. Jarman is demonstrably corrupt. Undisputed. I can't understand the support for him.
Watson will give money to the special interest groups that specialize in convincing people that they need to be saved by the likes of the FOSJ.
It's not going to be good, but our best hope is honestly that he is worse that we expect and pushes us to the breaking point. 4 years of these ass clowns, 2 years of Jamie and Randy. We need to start now, for 2 years from now. Lopez. Seriously. That is the view that has to be taken.
The election totals on November 9th will give us a real good approximate count of how many actual imbecilic folks live here and vote.
Hmmm. I actually think the worse it gets, the more the Machine will just say "Let us save you. We're here to help" and the more the sheeple will pull the lever. What a local mafia always wants, anywhere, is to consolidate control of all local institutions and significant businesses under the political "protection" of a small group who sincerely believe that with out them, things would fly apart. Vote for Watson and show that you support unbridled active corruption. Vote for Jarman and then STAY ON TOP OF THE COUNCIL EVERY FUCKING DAY 24/7 AND RAISE THE FUCKING MONEY TO DO IT PROPERLY and you will find the old chucklehead will actually do what you want him to do. Seriously.
DeleteAnd this is the point where fact checking and the bullshit detector can put the red stamp of "FALSE" on your claims.
DeleteSeriously? Because he hasn't done it for close to 4 years, but now, somehow it will be different?
DeleteTotal wild ass guess here: Jamie will have completed two terms at the end of this term. If he wants to do something on a larger scale, that will be his last chance. He's 60 right now, putting him at 62 or 63 at the end of his term. If he wants to replace Ranker or Morris (and he's exactly the kind of ambitious toady who sees himself as deserving of higher office), that will really be his last shot.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes the situation on Lopez interesting is that there isn't a deep political bench the right age. The usual suspects politically on Lopez are all aging out of relevance. Rhea is old and shows it , sometimes I'm not even sure she knows where she is. She asked a single question at the ferry meeting recently, and it was nonsensical, the usual railing about multinational corporations, and it displayed that she had zero grasp of the issue. Immediately afterward she shuffled off. Sandy Bishop is unelectable in that she's made so many enemies that there's a substantial contingent of people who would gouge their own eyes out before voting for her. It's likely that the LCLT purchase of the farm is financially not feasible and some are wondering whether it could mean the start of the unraveling of the Land Trust, although I suppose the mold issue at the straw bale project could more likely be pinpointed as the start of the end. Scandal does't make for a compelling message to voters.
Who else is in the on deck circle on Lopez? San Olsen is ancient. The Reeves? Are they even residents? Lauren Stephens? Lauren lost a very local election where she ran unopposed. Sandy has been grooming Chris and Chom Graecen for bigger things, but they're somewhat polarizing figures. Brian Silverstein? He'd actually be a good choice, but I wonder if he has visions beyond the opalco board.
All of which pretty much leaves Dwight Lewis as Jamie's heir apparent. Suck it bitches.
No doubt, there desperately needs to be long range planning. If Durland was to be a serious candidate, everyone should have know that many months ago. (Randy, Mr. Ha Ha, knows him better than he knows himself.)
ReplyDeleteLopez??? Who can forecast anything there? Jamie moves to replace Ranker...believe it, this might be an improvement. So there is space available and it is really bad that McClarren crashed so badly and ruined chances for any young family person to step up.
I think this could be an opportunity for a woman, a young woman with kids, maybe someone from a school board, a PTA president, no I'm not kidding, another young family type, but this time a wife and mother. (Shit, I love the sound of it already.)
What we all know is that almost anybody is better than what we got, and agree it will be interesting to see how the Durland count shows up with no effort. Currently it appears there are at least two thousand voters who have no clue. (Wherly got what? 500 votes!)
And finally and once again, the reason we get such dreck is there is no reliable information source for the general public. The struggling Journal/Sounder thinks the FOSJ "all is lost, my my hide under the bed, but send money first" is the path forward, while the on line people have yet to follow-up or even ask a question of an elected official.
Tis true. Tired of getting screwed and not enjoying it, is likely to continue.
Mother, Wife, with kids?
ReplyDeleteNot a complete leftist flake who actually has a work ethic?
On Lopez?
Sarah Jones may be the only person who fits that description.
She's not electable being that she's married to a man *GASP*! and her family actually does something productive and not grant sucking disability leaching welfare promoting douche bags.
It's obvious the people that pull the power levers in SJC need some balance and a working mother, a young working family person, a person that does not look like Bob Jarman would be, in my view, a vast improvement.
ReplyDeleteA) This person has boots on the ground. They have kids in school, and know how tough it is to live on a paycheck here.
B) They understand that the tourist economy only works part of the year and only supports low paying jobs when it is active.
C) Having a focus on life day to day also can mean having an idea or two about making things improve down the road.
(OK, a retired, kick ass CPA, would also be nice. So find one!)
I expect most of the non Watson votes to go to Bob Jarman. We had the chance for new blood with experience and blew it. I said most I know some of you are not in for that ride again but it may br better than Watson! I talked with Sheryla at week and she was in it all alone. No good. Some here asking her yo keep on as a write in is a bit much.....so much work without a committee and funding. She did good for a one women show...super hard worker my goodness glad she is taking a subatical.
ReplyDeleteI expect most of the non Watson votes to go to Bob Jarman. We had the chance for new blood with experience and blew it. I said most I know some of you are not in for that ride again but it may be better than Watson! I talked with Sheryl this week and she was in it all alone. No good. Some here asking her to keep on as a write in is a bit much.....so much work without a committee and funding. She did good for a one women show...super hard worker my goodness glad she is taking a subatical.
ReplyDeleteWaiting for the sky to fall is just not anything to work with. Yes we have huge County operating costs do to mis-management, yes, we have a very large number of employees spinning their wheels on subjects only FOSJ gives a shit about. So here can be a very real plan to get a vote together to elect a qualified person like Albritton or a representative of a working family, or a person who just knows how to think.
ReplyDeleteThis takes election planning. You must do it better than the machine/fosj. It was done for the sheriff, it can be done!
No one, like Sheryl and Durland, should run alone, largely their own fault, but still a despicable commentary on SJC politics.
It is too bad those that supported Sheryl to run never helped or turned on her so do not blame her. Good lesson for her and I understand why she is stepping back. The monies from her lawsuit would have helped out bigtime but I guess she was stabbed in the back there too. We helped with what we could which was mostly proof reading her website and letters.
ReplyDeleteSheryl took the stance of not wanting contributions. Noble approach, but it didn't work. I would that she is "stepping back" because she lost in the primary. Just a natural course of events.
Delete"The monies from her lawsuit would have helped out bigtime but I guess she was stabbed in the back there too."
ReplyDeleteNot clear how settling a lawsuit for more than you asked for constitutes being "stabbed in the back". Most plaintiffs would be doing the happy dance.
Speaking of lawsuits, is anyone aware of a lawsuit filed alleging that a female prisoner was groped by someone related to the Sheriff's office? I have heard rumors but can't get answers from anyone.
ReplyDeleteDont know if this is the case, but this sounds like more than groping. And not a prisoner.http://sanjuanislander.com/news-articles/government-news/san-juan-county/22888/governmental-misconduct-alleged-in-teacher-sexual-misconduct-case
ReplyDeleteIf true, this is really bad. Validates a lot of fears about a corrupt system.
Wow. I just read that article. What the heck is going on in this county?
ReplyDeletePretty basic. False claim made against a deputy refuted by claimant later. Problem is this directly relates to other claims made by claimant in a serious trial that resulted in a conviction of a person who may or may not have been a bad boy. Randy somehow messed up giving the defense a clear and timely heads up on the false claims. Yes, it is a big deal. This man's conviction should be tossed and Randy reprimanded.
ReplyDeleteSo wait, the 'victim' in the original case made allegations against a deputy? And Randy didn't disclose what happened?
ReplyDeleteSanJuanIslander seems to be the only one covering this. I'm missing something.
The employee then informed Prosecutor Gaylord on July 29 (he was out of the office on July 27).
ReplyDeleteSheriff Krebs was told on July 30 and as per the guild contract, he informed the San Juan County detective, who in turn contacted the victim that same day.
The victim called the San Juan County detective twice on July 31, 2016.
On July 31, 2016 she recanted her accusation against the San Juan County detective.
Anyone see the problem here? Anyone?
Who is detective Parker? Anyone have any background on him? This is the first time I have seen this name come up. Must be a new hire under Krebs
ReplyDeleteProblem is the defense did not know and did not have a chance to present at trial that the claimant had lied about other claimed sexual encounters or at least this one. If you're sitting on a jury I think most people would see this a major defect in the prosecution of the school teacher.
ReplyDeleteAnyone here know about police procedures for investigations?
ReplyDeleteWondering if it is common practice for a detective that is investigating sexual abuse of a 19 year old to insist that the victim wear his wife's clothes and then demand that the victims service advocate send him pictures showing how the victim is dressed.
Asking for a friend. Thanks.
Shortly we will need a levy lift for clothes racks to dress up the prosecution's (Randy's) questionable victims to look less questionable.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those feel good, easy to pass, legislations, mostly political, to in this case save students from adventurous teachers. The enforcement of such needs a very careful look and investigation of he said she said. Our prosecutor might have been influenced in looking for a high value political case. Mr. good for your child and mine.
What's next? You going to tell me that Randy has argued that sexual relations with step-siblings is perfectly normal too?
DeleteRemember folks, what we do we do for the childreeennnn .... Vote for the Party of God. Welcome to Watson World.
ReplyDeleteSo it's all good? Not really. This now free man sat in jail, this now free man must live with the stigma placed on him by the prosecutor. This now free man must pay huge legal defense costs. There are excellent laws on the books for rape, incest and the like, and perhaps this law will meet the test of time too if it is carefully administered.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that he lost his teaching job and that future job prospects have been heavily tarnished by this as well.
DeleteNow the question is how hard does randy go after him the 2nd time?
Superior Court Calendar shows a new trial date of 12/5/2016.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess Napoleon is going to march on the Swiss again.
Not yet. Gaylord appealed Judge Eaton's ruling and says it could take a year for the State Court of Appeals to rule.
DeleteGaylord has a budget for this? Obviously it is a budget that needs to be cut substantially!
ReplyDeleteAgree on cutting the PA's budget. Let's start small and reduce it by 12.5%, or bring it to 7/8 of the current budget. Shouldn't be hard.
ReplyDeleteThis is ridiculous to the point of, well, ridiculous. Consensual hot tub sex is going to be litigated to death and you got to pay for it? Horse shit, total horse shit!
ReplyDeleteGaylord has a petty jealousy of Judge Eaton because he sits in the seat Randy thinks he should be in, so now we, the tax payers, have to fund a school yard dirt fight over the parsing of a law that is just plain stupid on it's face. Because a teacher is five or more years older than a consenting adult student he/she can be prosecuted regardless as to the truth told or lack of same by the student? Why a teacher? Why not the person who owns a grocery store? What politician got this crap on the books, and dear Randy wants to make it a cause celebrate at our expense!
If they outlaw sleeping with 19 year olds, only outlaws will sleep with 19 year olds.
DeleteSurely Watson can make a stand on this. It's elementary, right? This is a good opportunity to find out if this guy is just gas-lighting to get elected or if he has some fortitude. Imagine this issue bouncing around, and folks want to know where the council stands and Watson is on the council, and ... and ...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that. No one with more smarts than Good Ol Boy Bob is going to say anything controversial at this point. Speaking of; Mr. Jarman suddenly seems to be getting support. Perhaps the do nothing idiot you know is maybe better than the FOSJ new taxes will solve our problems idiot looking like a real smart ass.
ReplyDeleteSex does sell, but Watson & Jarman would have no clue of how to sell it.
"Mr. Jarman suddenly seems to be getting support."
ReplyDeleteReally?
Based on what exactly? Yard signs?
Jarman is going to lose. The culture here is all in favor of raising taxes on themselves as they have demonstrated countless times.
I am still waiting for something by Jarman to convince me to not vote for Watson. Right now I am either going to vote for Watson or not either of them. For Bob, best he can do is convince me to not vote. No way that he gets my vote.
Anyone else heard more about the investigation in to the Detective in the teacher-sex case on Orcas?
ReplyDeleteThe thing that is glaring to me in what I have read is that the detective contacted the "victim" in this case, AFTER she made allegations about him, only to have her subsequently recant her statement.
Isn't this witness tampering?
There is probably a lot of innocent stuff going on here. She said he said, and she gets some nice guy type help from a deputy who has seen a lot of legitimate trouble in this regard. She hits a note of sympathy with him, no big deal. No has to go to jail, it's over. Hello Randy!
ReplyDeleteHey Anonymous 8:41PM,
DeleteNext time you post, could you wear this outfit of my wife's that I picked out?
Then send me pictures of it.
Thanks.
I agree he went a bit overboard, but so what. My jury duty got canceled but if you are sitting in the jury box from what we know it hard to put someone in jail because our prosecutor wants to explore a new statute. Maybe, and it is a big maybe, he wants to test a questionable law.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone ever investigated the personal relationships of sheriff's office employees with other sheriff's office employees?
ReplyDeleteLots of rumors about affairs, flings, sex on duty, and a bit of nepotism as well.
Anyone miss Rob Nou yet?
Election 2016 Update.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the candidates at the forums hosted on the various islands, I have some new insights.
Jarman Watson will be a semi-close race and I honestly don't know which way it will fall. The FOSJ machine/progressive left had to really scrape the gutter to come up with Watson. He is adamant about raising taxes. We know what we are getting. Higher taxes, FOSJ agenda, etc.
Jarman is a bumbling idiot and can't help but use the word "moratorium". Don't his handlers tell him to stop using that word. Try another word dumbass.
Prediction: Hell if I know but its going to be 52-48 ish close for whoever wins.
Durland Hughes. Orcas.
Hughes is a smug, bloated, weasel. Durland is apparently trying the silent voiceless approach to winning. Hughes sounds intelligent, however, he isn't. Good acting job. Lots of practice on his talking points.
Durland sounded lost and feeble. I did notice the recent SJC press release where Randy publicized a Durland court case loss. Not often Randy does that, but clearly showing who he supports.
Orcas prediction: inspire of being a bloated moron, Hughes will take this at least 60-40, more like 65-35.
I am not voting for Watson.
ReplyDeleteI'm not voting for Watson, and I am voting for Durland. I have talked to this man, he has his principles and he is honest. Watson is a total FOSJ shill and that's why, in my opinion, Do nothing Jarman may actually take this thing. Jarman LOOKS the part.
ReplyDeleteI am voting for Bob for sure. Watson is definitely bought and will be influence by the Friends. He is a tech manager and has no clue how all these regulations effect people and is Lovel Pratt in disguise. No thank you. Go Michael Durland you have my vote too! Thank you for stepping up.
ReplyDeleteWatson and Jarman really need to step it up and get out the vote if either of them want's to take it.
ReplyDeleteHow bad is the FOSJ brand? We will find out.
Who ever wants this election needs to step up and grab it by the pu**y!!
No we will not - DON'T SAY THAT. Bob's got this... he is certain to get most of the other candidates votes. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteJarman knows where all the phone cable is buried.
ReplyDeleteGood enough for my vote.
And, he's not Watson. Because, f*ck the FOSJ.
Interesting that the clowncil has, in the face of all of the really serious problems facing the county, decided to focus like a frickin' laser beam on the most serious problem of all: plastic grocery bags.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is why Jarman has an actual chance of being re-elected, which is ridiculous, the guy is a complete do nothing paycheck collector. But Even I am coming around. Watson is a tax alcoholic. New taxes will fix everything is his mantra. Maybe it is better a do nothing than a tax raising shill for FOSJ. Vote Durland, but his voter guide write up stunk. The problem with good people with principles is they ain't like Hughes; meaning they can't lie cheat and steal to get elected, so they don't get elected.
ReplyDeleteI am so sincerely sorry that the hearing of the lawsuit concerning the taking of property involved in the CAO was turned down. So very disheartened that they would not give that a chance to be heard. I'm grateful to the people who financed that suit and support their goal.
ReplyDeleteYes, a real let down. I had some significant money in CSA and I think it was well spent. Now the plan is to get a permit. Pay the f-ing consultant fee $1,500 minimum, and by doing so shield yourself from lots of nasty and huge fines and hearings. Even the rich SJC witch lets the rich do anything they want, will not, I better not say.
ReplyDeleteYes. We are officially stuck with the CAO.
ReplyDeleteNow, Queen CAO, Shireene Hale is now stumping for Watson.
IF you want more of Hale's bullshit, vote for Watson.
Jarman may be the best choice. Least worse?
Shireen Hale could not apply the codes she wrote correctly when she was there. Of course she is stumping for Watson and I hope she knows a great deal of the CAO code debacles are on her watch! At least Bob is open to all sides and not one sided Watson. Agreed 5:24 p.m..... please stump for Bob.
ReplyDeleteDo nothing Jarman is looking like the only choice. What's with the dark glasses in the Watson Glossy today? Was this thing done in the middle of August? These people run the County because they are organized!
ReplyDeleteI didn't get any Watson mailers. Just Durland.
ReplyDeleteI think the "I'm not going to even try" approach will be good for Hughes.
Durland gets 30% max.
You probably voted for Lovel last time, huh?
DeleteHoly smokes, Michael Durland did do a mailer. Not much said, but at least he surfaced. More interesting is, of course, Watson got the endorsement of the machine as he is the machine candidate, BUT, Hughes did not! What's with that??? Gotta love the SJC union endorsement of Watson, but no union bug on machine mailers. Brace yourself for more hypocrisy from the all pro folks who will now guide the new babe, Bill Watson.
ReplyDeleteWell I guess the jigs up. You finally realized I am not a politician, not a public speaker, not a political speech writer. I am a businessman who has lived on Orcas for 39 years and been in business in the same location for 29 years. I stood up for what I believed in and got hammered for it. I saw others with the same outcome. I know good folks and friends who will not endorse me publicly because of fear of repercussions and I do not blame them. That is the main reason I have put my name out there. I am an environmentalist like many of you who moved here to enjoy these islands and I am a property rights advocate as we all have rights afforded to us under the Codes. I will make sure those rights are enforced consistently.
ReplyDeleteI am not one of the Good Old Boys. I will not “pick the low hanging fruit” to get by the easy way or recommend the full Council act opposite a local Committees recommendation because “I got a phone call”. I will stand up to the other Councilmen for your rights.
If there is even a hint of impropriety in a public meeting I will investigate. I will make sure the County has exhausted all other avenues before starting a lawsuit against a citizen. I will make sure the full Council is aware of actions by the PA and will not be intimidated to ask for a second opinion when I do not agree with the PA’s actions.
I will listen and respect your reasoning and opinions but don’t ask me to act on your agendas.
I do not expect you to endorse me publicly. I do ask for your vote and ask that you spread the word about my candidacy.
Michael Durland for County Council District 2 Orcas.
And the above comments are the reason the wife and I decided some time ago to vote MICHAEL DURLAND!
ReplyDeleteThank you Michael... you have our 4 votes too.
ReplyDeleteMichael, you will gather a fair number of votes. Don't know if it will be enough. I fear that many of the people that live on SJ and Lopez aren't aware what a POS rick hughes is and how corrupt the government is (well the folks on SJ do).
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
Greatly appreciate your willingness to support the recommendations of local committees, Michael. It takes guts to do that, especially here on TH where the committees are regularly eviscerated. Also, greatly appreciate your clarity that environmentalism and property rights are not incompatible. Hope you win the election.
ReplyDeleteMichael, I love that you speak w/caring about the environment and don't seem to believe the environment and personal rights can only exist separately. I have an issue that I'm hoping the council/commissioners will take on. If it's still an option that is. I believe the GMA has goals that are not pertinent or practical in our special circumstances. I was told by a local prosecutor that according to the GMA whenever a town runs out of build-able lots said town is required to annex more land and create more lots. He implied that the town could slowly (quickly?) blanket the island and it's my impression that the concentration of a population to protect rural areas from development makes sense in places like Eastern Washington but is not appropriate on a small island/s. Can we opt out? It seems sooner than later would be good. To get out from under the Growth Management Hearings Board (whoever they are!) would be a breath of air. These islands were settled long ago by independent people who were also involved and caring. Why would we want to be governed by strangers who know so little about our home? We could have avoided the waste and carnage of that ridiculous CAO. And we could work together to protect our shorelines and allow all science to be considered instead of being restricted by people like Lovell and the "friends" to limited science that supports their desired end. It was a horrible thing to witness and resulted in regulations that cost land owners money and protect little if anything. I'm hoping you will consider that as one of your goals if you are elected. To opt out of the GMA. Could you comment on that? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGMA has a strangle hold on our ability to plan properly is spot on. Well said 1:45 p.m. Also there are basic CAO rules and other jurisdictions with working codes they could have utilized so as not to reinvent the wheel. So sad this county wasted millions and the Friends fostered that waste when they could have been focusing on restorations and good stuff. They are not wise in their ways to get people on board with them rather than hate them. They are the root cause of the division which exists here. I am convinced of that.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but the chance to opt out of the GMA is gone. Not one of the seated Council members even asked for a hearing. I have long suspected a staff directed snuff on this and that snuff likely came from the cabal that is handing you Bill Watson.
ReplyDeleteNever say never - get the legislature to open it back up again for us. If there is a will there is a way! We need to make the case to the State that it is not working and why.
DeleteWow.
ReplyDeleteThat didn't take long for Her Dunceness, Sam Gibboney to screw the pooch in her newly gifted job in Port Townsend....
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/historic-police-boat-that-chased-whiskey-smugglers-is-demolished/
Someone must have upset her highness.
I bet Thomas is glad to get rid of her. Whatever bullshit they fed Port Townsend, I guess they bought it.
2:22 Do you mean that even if the commissioners were interested in opting out there is no possibility? Or do you mean that you don't believe it will happen because of the people in charge? Could you clarify that please? I'm very curious about this because I think Bob J would certainly understand the benefits of doing that. And that is why I'm curious about Michael. So...please clarify if you happen to know the answer! Thanks
ReplyDeletePerhaps others know more, but it is my understanding, that there was a deadline for qualified small counties such as ours to opt out of the GMA. That deadline went by with nothing being done! I'm also pretty sure you can't back track on this and get a new deadline. (If say we were to get a new council majority that actually cared about this very important issue.}
ReplyDeleteAt the eagle forum on orcas.. which was video taped, Hughes and Jarman said because they took the money they were not qualified to opt out of the GMA.
ReplyDeleteI thought taking grant money, if that's the money they are talking about, is one of the main issues in the debacle over the GMA. With the GMA you can get grant money, but those grants control what and how you do things. Don't like the control, don't take the money, but more than a few argue that taking grant money costs you more in the end.
ReplyDeleteTake a simple thing like the damn guardrails. (Maybe not a GMA issue, but similar) We got some guardrails we maybe needed and a whole bunch we did not need. The cost loading of roadside maintenance goes up considerably with guardrails because you can't mow and this cost goes on forever or until you rip out the ones you did not need in the first place, yeah more expense. With the GMA stuff it is largely the same thing. You must hire planners to study things other government toads are already tooling away on. You may get a grant to do this, but often it is just a waste of time and money at the County level. Simply put, you have much more freedom and have the ability to make better decisions WITHOUT the GMA breathing down your neck.
I entirely agree. And I think there are a lot of thinking people here who would agree as well if they understood this bit. What I'm wondering now is...if the money is paid back can you legally pull out? Of course we wasted a ton on the CAO and the SMP but...maybe there are people who could help w/this. People who don't wish to have freeways built someday (per the lawyer who told me about the GMA), who don't want town to go on and on until the natural land boundaries inhibit any more growth (ie the water). Is there a lawyer who reads this blog who might comment? Is it possible to buy your way out of the GMA?
ReplyDeleteThere was a basic way out, our current council members did less than nothing, none to my knowledge even brought the subject up. Word is staff killed any whisper of inquiry saying anybody who wanted to get out of the GMA was nuts. "You know we won't be getting any grant money without the GMA!" The gutless council members never asked: "What grant money? And what is it doing for us?" (The only thing I have seen so far is the grants increase staff and associated costs.)
ReplyDeleteIt's been a costly experiment. My question now is..
ReplyDeleteCan we get out? And how is it done? And I'm pretty sure there must be a way. Help. Anybody?
You have the option of a referendum in San Juan County per the charter. May be an avenue to get out of GMA. But, some of you would have to do the research. Not hard, but you would have to stop complaining all the time and actually do the work to find out.
ReplyDeletehttps://wei.sos.wa.gov/county/sanjuan/en/initiativesandreferenda/Documents/Initiative%20and%20Referendum%20Guide.pdf
ReplyDeleteYou have to love the Hughes mailer. So much to do! And he lists a whole bunch of very needy stuff. Well why is that Mr. Hughes? Could it be because you have done absolutely nothing!
ReplyDeleteSuddenly, beyond belief, Durland seems to be on the march. Could it actually happen that a person with ideas and scruples would beat the machine?
Hughes is weak and weasely. I agree he has accomplished nothing other than a few minor tasks. He is just a candle in the wind.
DeleteI will be voting for Durland (along with 2 other people in my household), but I don't think enough was done by Mr. Durland. I sympathize with his predicament of needing to tend to business, not allowing for a lot of time to campaign.
Thats the catch 22 of it all. The people that would be a great match to undo some of the nonsense we are seeing locally are busy being productive.
So the radio blathers on day after day about tourism in SJC as Larson pacs do the same about his support of the National Monument status and how he licks the cheeks of the rubber stamp environmentalists.
ReplyDeleteCan we ever have a balanced county council to lead us out of this quick sand?
And lastly, does it occur to anyone that having libraries that belong in downtown Seattle might be a bit pricey on your property tax bill?
Wouldn't it be hilarious if we had our own OrcaLeaks?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if people would think different before casting their ballot for Hughes if they saw some of the real behind the scenes stuff...
Come on Rick, you know hotmail isn't nearly as secure as gmail....
What ever you got, let's have it.
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought Jarman would come out swinging as he has in the last two weeks. Now we even have the grandchildren up at bat.
ReplyDeleteBiggest looser? The Journal, as usual. No research, no work on voting records, no vetting of Watson, not even good interviews, no nothing, pure pap.
Best letter so far: Finally an independent voter going for Watson AND Durland.
Nasty stuff: The effort by FOSJ and Gaylord (he likes the status quo) to smear Durland simply because he stood his ground and refused to kiss their boots.
Just FYI, if I revealed my name you all would think of me as someone associated with your mythical "The Machine" (which, in reality, does not exist). I am definitely for Durland and Watson. Jarmin and Hughes, who many of you supported last time are demonstrably incompetent. It is too bad that some people who I guess I agree with on some issues are apparently supporting Hughes, but it's clear to me that Durland will be best for environmental issues. He will also support volunteer committee members against the attacks that all too frequently have come from TH. (Recall that Durland himself was attacked here at one time.) Glad you support him, too, and I definitely hope he wins. If he does, he will be as good as many people on here expect, and that's great. I really don't think the Durland/Watson combination is weird or "independent" in some way. It's just the only one that makes sense IMHO.
ReplyDeleteThe machine *in reality* doesn't exist.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but on fantasy island, where we all live, it does. thanks for clarifying that a majority of our residents don't live in *reality*
The machine is in denial... LOL. It is what it is. Another word for it would be a gang.
ReplyDeleteNo Machine? Surely you jest. We have the pic of the now chunky Kevin Ranker with his arm around Watson; we have the obvious big bucks support of known carpet baggers, king makers, control freaks, who by in large have run this place for many, many years. Of one thing there is no question; Watson is a tool of the machine, you can define that entity as you like, but it truly does exist and a large part of it is FOSJ membership and it's commander in chief.
ReplyDeleteYou think all these smart people are endorsing Jarman for no reason. Sorry, it is because they recognize this is the last hurrah for any chance of a council not completely ruled by FOSJ.
Yes, I joined the crowd. I absolutely detest Jarmin, actually I detest Hilary too, but being a pragmatic person I voted for both these jerks. (Not that it will help much in Jarman's case.)
I'm voting for Bob. But...that is w/the caveat that I actually spend some time talking to him personally about my concerns. I believe he will listen but has been left to the wolves. He is possibly trusting where he should not be but he's not stupid. I cannot imagine feeling this way about Watson. Absolutely not.
ReplyDeleteReference the latest whine about housing. While every planner in seven Western States pleaded for everybody to build ADU's, Bill Watson sat down as a board member at FOSJ and elected to sue San Juan County to stop allowing random ADU construction. As usual, given their connections, FOSJ won, and ADU/guest houses were virtually outlawed.
ReplyDelete(Planners like ADU's because they focus development where there already is infrastructure and development. ADU's also lend stability to the social fabric.)
Now, as usual, the hypocrisy makes one want to choke as the proposal is that all property owners should pay a tax to support a rent buy down for service workers so they can afford to live here and work in the blossoming National Monument tourist industry.
Of course this is a complete pipe dream, as the buy down would have to be huge in order to complete with the rents AirBNB can produce.
PS, there are in excess of 300 homes on SJI alone available for sale. Service workers can't buy these houses, but if the Council got someone to promote low impact firms to locate here with decent wages YEAR ROUND, then those folks could buy those houses, their kids could populate the schools and we could say To Hell with the tourist economy...well at least partly.
Mr, Watson's ideas are not the answer and neither is Mr. Watson. Sure wish we had better candidates to vote for. (Durland does look promising.)
Well said
DeleteAs noted above:
ReplyDelete"The system is not fixable because it is not broken. It is working, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to give the insiders their royal prerogatives, and to shove the regulations, the laws, and the debt up the asses of everyone else.
Burn it to the ground.
Burn it to the ground.
Burn it to the ground.”
The problem with complaining that Watson missed an opportunity to try to fix affordable housing via ADU legislation when he was with the friends is that neither the Friends, nor Watson, nor any of the fucking idiots on the council is remotely interested in ADUs as a means of generating affordable housing. Creating affordable housing is secondary to creating a self-financing scheme to share power with the affordable housing hucksters outside of SJC government (by that I mean Lisa Byers, Sandy Bishop, et al).
Jamie has said over and over and over that he believes residents of SJC are undertaxed. The solution to the mythical affordable housing crisis is designed to solve that – additional taxes to be levied on home owners and home purchasers to shunt money from the pockets of citizens to Lisa and Sandy so that they can dole subsidized housing out to their friends and expand their power base further.
Watson isn’t interested in a solution that doesn’t involve creating additional revenue that he and his friends (and Friends) control. Something that simply creates additional housing is politically useless to him, Jamie and Rick.
As you drive up 5 in Oregon there suddenly appears this truly fabulous building literally in the middle of nowhere. I can't remember a town close to it, so any town around this location must be kinda small.
ReplyDeleteSo what is it? Turns out it is the headquarters of some huge cruise ship line, princess cruises, maybe.
Anyway, point trying to make here, I'm not a big fan of cruise lines, but this incredible taste-full low rise building has a whole bunch of probably nice people making decent wages and why can't we have something like that?
This is a safe place; it has good schools; it has OK weather; we have grocery stores and lumber yards, and gas stations, and a ton of OK places to eat. The place is an easy sell.
BUT, oh no we can't promote anything like that because the NIMBY's would hyperventilate and the power elite would freak out with a bunch of smart people available to kick their asses. Oh my.
Elect Bill Watson or Bob Jarman, neither one will do jack shit. (Well... Watson will raise your taxes. See Above.)