The Editor:
All through 2025, I’ve noticed a constant stream of President Trump bashing, both in The Northern Light and on our community Facebook pages. I realize he isn’t perfect. He can be abrasive, he has a big ego, and he sometimes says things I wish he wouldn’t. But even with those flaws, we should still be honest enough to acknowledge the good that has come from his first year of his second term.
President Trump promised the American people exactly what his agenda would be – and whether one agrees with him or not, he was elected overwhelmingly by the American people. In just one year, we have seen lower prescription drug prices, improved tax deductions, no tax on tips or overtime, no tax on Social Security, easing gas and food prices and let’s not forget the new $1,000 baby bonus. After years of economic strain, we are seeing stronger consumer confidence, rising wages, and renewed private-sector investment.
Trump has pushed for negotiations aimed at winding down both the Russia–Ukraine war, which escalated during the Biden presidency, and the Israel–Hamas war, where his administration has worked to restore stability and support efforts toward long-term peace. At home, he has made border security a top priority – something voters elected him to address. The border crisis did not happen overnight – it was a deliberate consequence of the Biden administration’s policies. Many may disagree with ICE removing individuals who entered the country illegally, but we are a nation of laws. Biden policies have cost American lives and wasted taxpayer money, creating a crisis our country cannot afford.
I know I won’t change the minds of those who oppose Trump on principle. That isn’t my goal. But I would hope that even those who dislike him would at least acknowledge when they benefit from his policies. These are real improvements that help families across the political spectrum.
Yet too often, his accomplishments are ignored simply because they come from him. That’s the frustrating reality. Healthy debate is part of democracy. But fairness matters too. President Trump has delivered real results – and it’s time to acknowledge them.
Sharman Burnam
Birch Bay
The Editor:
My wife and I want to express our deep appreciation for Roger Funk, Blaine’s chief of police. He is an experienced and capable law enforcement officer with over 30 years’ serving the public in this demanding role.
We can personally attest that he is an effective leader who has a servant’s heart. When we needed help to remove an abandoned and defunct trailer from our property, he himself came to our home and completed the necessary forms. In the process we were impressed with his polite and personable manner.
Serving on the police force puts him in harm’s way and easily subject to criticism. As leader of our police staff, he sets a good example for those who work under his leadership, taking turns in squad cars, monitoring public events, and supporting city employees at city council meetings.
He also recruits men and women for the force who are well qualified with upstanding solid reputations.
We are so grateful to have him in Blaine in this key role.
Charles and Margaret Gibson
Blaine
The Editor:
I am writing to request corrections to the January 28, 2026 article, “Blaine City Council denies SEPA appeal for Avista at Birch Point development.”
The article describes me as someone “who leads Blaine Water Coalition, the activist group that fought for the SEPA hearing.” While the SEPA appeal was filed under the name Blaine Water Coalition, this is not an organization and BWC in name has not existed since September 2025. Despite my explicit clarification of this detail as documented in the meeting transcript, the reporter got this wrong.
I volunteer for WaterPlanningMatters.org (WPM). WPM is a regional unincorporated organization operating as an affiliate of Bellingham’s non-profit Responsible Development.
Additionally for at least five times now, The Northern Light has misled its readership with repeated, selective statements about my pro se public records lawsuit against the city of Blaine.
Portraying my cost-saving, good faith effort to obtain public records for community-volunteer work as a “potential criminal act,” a phrase selectively drawn from a court reporter’s summary, and not the judges ‘actual words,’ misleads readers and undermines public understanding of both my intentions and the judge’s actual guidance. Due to procedural errors on my part, the judge never even considered the case. The brief PRA complaint was filed August 8 and withdrawn on September 5, 2025 without an expensive attorney, to obtain public records the city had been withholding for our citizen SEPA hearing. We were disadvantaged without 100-plus records that were being withheld. The hearing examiner agreed there was a problem with city record delays and ordered the city to produce the records. This was done and my PRA suit was withdrawn.
Thank you for your attention to these corrections and for your ongoing coverage of water, land use, and development issues in our city and Birch Bay.
Geoffrey Baker
Blaine
The Editor:
So Erika Creydt’s running for the state senate as a Republican. Voters may want to recall that incumbent Shewmake’s late Republican predecessor (Doug Ericksen) enthusiastically brought Trump’s presidential campaign to Lynden. At least Credyt’s willing to admit her party affiliation.
This may not be her best year, in my opinion, to put one’s faith in a candidate who admits to being from a party that seems to think citizen disagreement with them at times can and should be fatal.
Jack Kintner
Bellingham
The Editor:
Fantastic to see Kari Mar appearing in Blaine as the new publisher of The Northern Light.
Some of you may know that Kari was instrumental in creating the Women’s Debate Institute. Wonderful concept!
Paul Schissler
Bellingham
