The Editor:
Across the country and in communities around Whatcom County, public employees serve and protect us every day. Throughout the year, but especially during Public Service Recognition Week, May 7-13, we should gratefully acknowledge their service.
I am a retired federal employee, having proudly served in the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Postal Service and the Peace Corps, during a 31-year federal career.
I want to personally thank all public employees. Public employees are there for us at the local, state and federal level. They work side by side with our military at home and abroad to defend our country and provide care to our veterans. They protect our communities from violence, teach our children, deliver our mail and safeguard the safety of our food and medicines. They help protect our air and water, and national forests, national parks and other public lands for all of us. They ensure these essential functions are financed, that Social Security checks arrive on time, and that our borders and airports are secure. When disasters occur, they come to our rescue and help us recover.
With all the anti-government rhetoric in the news these days it is a wonder that young people would even consider going into public service. In spite of this, I urge young people to ignore the noise and consider a career in public service, because it really is honorable to serve our country and, now more than ever, we need young, talented people helping our country.
During Public Service Recognition Week, please join me in thanking and recognizing the important work of the public employees in our community.
D. Brady Green
Blaine
The Editor:
I strongly object to the portrayal of the Blaine City Council meeting on April 24, at which about 20 well-informed citizens from all over the city presented serious concerns about a large mobile home park in Blaine.
Skip Jansen, the developer who wants to build the park said very little at the meeting. But he was quoted extensively in the article, saying privately to the reporter after the meeting, “It is so frustrating to see people with such a misconception. … off on a tangent … not understanding what we are trying to do.”
I attended the planning commission meeting in August of 2022 where Mr. Jansen promoted “affordable housing.” But when numerous members of the commission asked him the pivotal question of whether he would be selling or renting lots, he refused to answer.
Then I watched Mr. Jansen’s spokesman present blatantly erroneous information about the “affordability” of his park on December 8 at the planning commission public hearing.
Jansen’s lawyer sent a letter 24 hours before a second public hearing on this topic, which seemed to make an end-run around the planning commission, thereby causing the April 13 meeting to be canceled at the last minute.
Now Jansen talks to this newspaper about a park with a “million dollar clubhouse” for retirees who want to travel.
And we, who are opposed to Mr. Jansen’s plans, we are the ones with the “misconception?”
Jackie Braverman
Blaine
The Editor:
I want to thank The Northern Light newspaper for the well-written and informative article about the historic Plover’s recent U.S. Coast Guard mandated repair being done by Drayton Harbor Maritime (DHM) the venerable ferry’s custodian.
However, I would like to add a few words I feel need to be shared. DHM is performing Plover’s restoration/reconstruction for the costs of materials and labor costs only. There is no profit being made undertaking this arduous task. The DHM’s motivation is simply for the good order to once again save the Plover, which, if there were a profit to be made, the costs would have been so great sadly the venerable would surely end up being scrapped. Please be patient – she’s on the mend. Thank you.
Richard Sturgill, Plover repair manager
Blaine
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