Kaj Ahlburg Selected for Harbor-Works Vacancy
The Port of Port Angeles commissioners have voted unanimously to appoint Kaj Ahlburg to the Harbor-Works Development Authority board. He was formerly an attorney and a Wall Street banker.
He’ll be replacing Bart Irwin, who resigned in December.
He’ll be replacing Bart Irwin, who resigned in December.
Labels: Harbor-Works, Kaj Ahlburg
posted by Tom Harper at 5:05 PM
37 Comments:
Well, he'll be an unbiased and fair member of the Harbor-Works board. At least as unbiased and fair as Larry Williams was on the City Council.
Ummmm.... and so, what does this person actually do for a living? I'm always fascinated by the people who move to the Olympic Peninsula from "back east". A "former" attorney --- or simply one licensed elsewhere who either has not yet taken or passed the Washington Bar Exam? And a "former" Wall Street banker? Well, welcome to Washington...
"Former attorney"?
I was present when Kaj first showed up at public meetings in Port Angeles. He was scary, then.
This guy is an un-abashed ultra-right wing conservative capitalist who values only his right to make as much money as possible, regardless of the impacts on others. ( Many saw his young kids squirm endlessly at these meetings he brought them to, with seemingly little regard to them other that they obey his commands). You can look up quotes in the PDN that will verify this.
What I find interesting is that the Harbor-Works board sees him as the right person, at this time, to be a Harbor-Works representative to the public. Of course, I can see his background as a hard core right wing Wall Street lawyer as being attractive while Calhoun admits the Rayonier proposals are dividing the community. It seems the Board anticipates a "hard sell" ahead, appropriately.
But, extremists like Kaj rarely are effective. They alienate moderates on both sides of the political spectrum, and polarize the extremes. All they end up with is a small percentage of extremists who agree with him, but few others.
Harbor-Works Board, this was a bad decision for all concerned, except Kaj Ahlburg.
For goodness sake! No one has a chance in this venue. If the only ones who can possibly do anything right are the ultra-liberal, "keep everybody else away (now that I am already here)", tree-huggers, OR, the ultra-conservative, "any govenmental program is a communist plot", we are in real trouble. How about governing from the middle! All ideas are worth respectfully listening to! Extremists convince nobody but other extemists (any time that ANY extremist talks, both sides are more sure than ever that their view is correct). How about some ideas that might actually help?
Contrast this pick with the choice of Brad Collins for the City Council. Brad is widely respected, widely liked, and is being seen as a wise choice. In other words, he is experienced AND has mainstream appeal. (AND deep local roots.)
Kaj is, as mentioned here, a one-note person. He will be a divisive addition to the Harbor-Works Board. In other words, he will only appeal to the far, far right and TEA baggers.
Not a good choice, people.
So, come on out to the City Council meeting when they have to OK him, and let them know what you think of this terrible selection.
Also...I was just on the Harbor-Works website, and found that it contains no information about their Board of Directors. No names, nothing. Not that they're anything but a transparent public entity...
What ever...
I posted a video of me using my new wood splitter this morning. Well, how not to use it, ha ha ha ha
"Former attorney"?
An attorney that is taking the bar to practice in this state next month has been coming into the beer church some recently.
I pitch a lot of crap on him but he's a pretty damn good sport about it. He knows he's crazy and the judicial system in this country is all screwed up.
But he can make big bucks defending the 'alleged'.
might be a good choice...someone who will see there is no money to be made in PA, and that it's nothing but risk to take on the property.
Anonymous @ 11:40:
Conversely, you are obviously a flaming liberal. Probably pretty scary one at that...most likely unkept and stinky.
...and you are probably an unabashed ultra-left wing socialist marxist who thiks that there shouldn't be any rewards for working hard...and...oh my!... succeeding!
Sound correct? Don't pass judgement on someone until you get to really know them.
I know Kaj...he a bright, articulate man who came to this country from Spain many years ago...but loves this country more than many who were born here.
I was hoping that he would get this job...because he has the knowledge and expertise, both in law and finance, to get Ecology off their duff and DO something to develop this wasteland and help our local economy. We need jobs, lots of folks are out of work, and the revenue coming into the city isn't getting any better.
So, while you have the right to your opinion, please leave the man's family alone...you don't know him. If you have something so vile to say, have the guts to spew it with your real name attached to your next garbage-quality post.
The problem isn't Kaj's business savvy - or the business savvy of anyone else on the Harbor-Works board. The problem is that, before the Rayonier site can be redeveloped, it has to be cleaned up. It's a huge ENVIRONMENTAL nightmare. So where oh where are the folks with environmental concerns and connections on the Harbor-Works board? Maybe having some people with some green bonifides onboard would help soothe the DOE and move things along. Gee, ya think?
"I was hoping that he would get this job...because he has the knowledge and expertise, both in law and finance, to get Ecology off their duff and DO something to develop this wasteland and help our local economy."
Really? So, list all the good things he has done in the last 5 years since he arrived in Port Angeles, other than spew vile right wing rhetoric? List the things he, with his expertise and education that he has specifically done, that has resulted in an increase to the jobs, employment and tax revenues in Port Angeles. (My understanding, from reading his rants, is that he is very much an anti-tax kinda guy. So, why is he now going to be supporting using taxpayers monies to clean up a private property?)
Or, has he been holding back, just waiting for this appointment to Harbor-Works to let loose, and show this community he loves so just what wonders he can wreak upon Port Angeles.
As a "private property rights" kind of person, I'm wondering how he now feels it is right for "the State" to be justified in telling the owners what they should be doing with THEIR property? Any ideas?
And, if you look into it at all, you will see it is Rayonier Inc that has been responsible for the delays in the clean up of the site, not the Dept of Ecology. Read the paper recently?
I know, you don't want to be confused with the facts. Sorry to bother you.
"That Ecology stuff is bunk." ~ Someone
He's obviously a hired gun for these shysters who "developed" this little scam.
..hey,it's raining on my shoes again!
Don't pass judgement on someone until you get to really know them.
Calling Mr. Pot, there's Mr. Kettle on line one!
"Conversely, you are obviously a flaming liberal. Probably pretty scary one at that...most likely unkept and stinky."
You forgot to say he drives a "Priuth"...
What moral high ground you may have possessed is lost when you can't even spell "judgmental" correctly.
Are you sure you really got a GED, or did you just drop out?
yeah the only way to find out anything about the board or who is on it is to go onto one of the "meeting minutes" and then you can find the names there. But no contact info.
Did anyone else read the article in the PDN today, about Jeff Lincoln addressing the PABA yesterday? OMG!
It is titled something about barges as an option for the Rayonier property (I'm sorry, I don't have the article in front of me). If you haven't seen it, make the effort. It is hysterical.
He says the "Marine Recources" studies suggest perhaps barges might be able to use the old pier at the Rayonier site, thus offering a plausible use of the site for Harbor-Works. But in the next paragraph, he is quoted as saying it isn't very feasible because Port Angeles doesn't have a rail system, or major transportation facilities. (Maybe Harbor-Works is planning to build those?) Umm? If it is completely infeasible, then why waste our time raising it? Oh, that's right, he has to justify his salary.
He then talks about how Port Angeles is so remote.. and has a great quote saying Port Angeles is not competitive. (Again, I'm going by my memory. I'll have the article in front of me tomorrow)
After reading the article, I came away just laughing at the complete nonsensical craziness obvious in the whole Harbor-Works venture as highlighted in this reporting .. but sad that so much of the limited public monies are being wasted on this.
Someone might ask Kaj what he did while working for Dillon Read. That company has quite the interesting history (from Google):
""Dillon Read & Co. Inc. & the Aristocracy of Prison Profits" is a case study in "tapeworm economics" and how the tapeworm game is played, written by a former partner and member of the board of directors of Dillon Read whose life and business were intimately affected by the events described. Through this one case study we see the patterns of the dominant business model operating in our politically managed economy today. We see how private investors arrange for new laws which are contrary to societies' best interests. With the help of revolving doors between board rooms, law firms and high level government positions, large government contracts and purchases are engineered which increase the value of private stock investments. Those who enjoy rich stock market profits then funnel large political contributions to the political parties and politicians who engineer the laws and contracts."
Wow! And he moved all the way from NYC to Port Angeles? Port Angeles doesn't seem to be in the same league as NYC. It is about as far away as you can get from NYC, and still be on this continent.
Interesting.
Kaj is a good man, known him for many years.
EXTREMELY intelligent. Fine family man.
We are fortunate to have him working for us.
"Tapeworm Economics"!! What an apt explanation for what could be going on with the formation of HarborWorks!
The CEO of Rayonier is a former EPA administrator in the Reagan administration, who also has close ties to Governor Chris Gregoire. Gregoire's administration arranges for the City and the Port of Port Angeles to each receive $7.5 million public dollars for "economic development" in a "settlement" of a graving yard lawsuit between the state and the Lower Elwha Tribe. Meanwhile, then-City Manager Mark Madsen and then mayor Karen Rogers engage a politically well-connected Olympia law firm to help devise a plan to funnel the settlement money to Rayonier through a "Public Development Authority" empowered to acquire the contaminated mill site. The Port and City "loan" $1.3 million of the graving yard settlement money to HarborWorks, and sequester millions more in "econonic development" accounts to use for acquiring the Rayonier site. The Department of Ecology helps with funding, too, by covering such things as payments to the outside lawyers under the guise of "visioning" and "due diligence" grants to explore potential post-clean-up uses of the Rayonier site.
So --- what other "tapeworm economics" schemes could be afoot here to exploit public resources for private gain?
Bob - Kaj isn't working for "us" yet. I believe he has to go before the City Council before it's all said and done.
And just because he's EXTREMELY intelligent doesn't mean he can't also be greedy, self-serving, bigoted, etc. Just something to keep in mind.
Hmmmmmm --- as to the "Tapeworm Economics" theory re: HarborWorks. Mental note to self: Scrutinize who contributes to Karen Rogers' campaign if she runs again for public office.
To "Anonymous" @ 10:15 AM,01/28/10 Sweet! Thanks.
"The CEO of Rayonier is a former EPA administrator in the Reagan administration, who also has close ties to Governor Chris Gregoire. Gregoire's administration arranges for the City and the Port of Port Angeles to ..."
There are many aspects to all this that are so sad. All that is exposed here is easily available through numerous, verifiable, information sources, but most in Port Angeles are not told. The PDN does not dare do ANY investigative work or reporting, and "staff" tells the city council what the "truth" in any given situation is.
Non-professionals can repeatedly post here about the ways Port Angeles is being screwed by special interests, but the PDN, PABA, Chamber, HarborWorks, etc are content to lead this vulnerable population down the same paths that benefit a select few, while the town continues to suffer as a result.
Are there ANY in the Port Angeles "leadership" that have ANY moral integrity?
I love Harborworks! If nuthin else, it pisses off liberals! LMAO!
HEY! What kind of crap have we been sold here?
I just read how the cleanup of the Rayonier mill is now going to take 3 more years! I thought Harborwork was going to be in control of this. If they are not, what are they there for? Just to pay themselves?
"Sid said...
I love Harborworks! If nuthin else, it pisses off liberals! LMAO!"
Yeah, Sid. Who cares if we are being ripped off by scammers. LMAO! As long as the liberals are pissed off, I don't care what happens to MY country! LMAO!
I'm looking at the PDN from yesterday. Here is a quote from the guy we all are paying $115,000 a year to make this project work:
"In many cases, Port Angeles is not competitive".
Oh?!?! Great! And why are we spending money on this?
Who gives a rat's ass how much Kaj made at Dillon & Read. What does that have to do with this subject? A man is free, last time I checked, to make as much money as he wants in this country. Just because you're a poor chump due to lack of motivation, you're jealous! lol
You all realize that "Sid","Bob", "Amanda", "Sally", "Linda" and "Rex" are all the same person, don't you?
This is a typical "conservative" tactic to flood a board with numerous aliases and names, thereby creating the impression of a "majority" of folks all with a similar viewpoint.
Consider the contrarian nature of this person's posts. If you're for it, they're against it. If you're against it, they're for it. Thus we get posts about how this person likes Haborworks because it "pisses off liberals" or "we're gonna make Edna deputy mayor" which was from an earlier thread.
This troll thrives on conversational oxygen. If you respond to the trolls one note ravings, the troll is encouraged to post more inanities. My advice is to ignore the troll and s/he will get bored and go elsewhere.
Hey I supported the Contrarians in ther fight against Nickeragian Commies in the 80s. You libs cant fool the likes of me!
"You all realize that "Sid","Bob", "Amanda", "Sally", "Linda" and "Rex" are all the same person, don't you?"
Well, yeah... They all say the exact same things... smelly liberals who drive "Priutheth" LMAO!!!LMAO!!!LMAO!!!
I don't know if he/she/it believes that stuff or is just trying to get a rise out of people. Got to admit, sometimes it's fun to kick back and watch the reactions happen.
LMAO! Liberals just HOPE that many posts are from the same person, and not the MAJORITY of opinion...just like they HOPE that the MAJORITY in this country won't boot their idiotic Democrat Congress outa office this fall, and Obamy out in 2012! LOL!
"You all realize that "Sid","Bob", "Amanda", "Sally", "Linda" and "Rex" are all the same person, don't you?"
Yes. I wouldn't mind, if this person would offer an opinion on current events in Port Angeles, but ALL they ever do is show up to insult people. Never offer anything worth reading. If this person thinks they represent the Republican Right, "Independents", or "teabaggers", I feel sorry for them.
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