Nippon Manager to speak at Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
Harold Norlund, manager of the Nippon Paper Industries USA Inc. mill in Port Angeles, will be the guest at tomorrow's meeting of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce. He will be discussing the newly completed biomass cogeneration plant.
posted by Tom Harper at 10:55 AM
67 Comments:
Russ Veenema lives in Sequim. So what does he care if he runs the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce into the ground? Port Angeles isn't his home. He doesn't care.
Harold Norlund is from Canada. That's where his family still lives. So what does he care if Nippon pollutes and ruins the health of Port Angeles? Port Angeles isn't his home. He doesn't care.
The local Safeway stores provide way more jobs than Nippon - and at similar wages. But I don't see Cherie Kidd or Steve Tharinger rushing to kiss Safeway's corporate ass like they do Nippon's. Hmmm...I wonder why...
Attendees should ask Norland how many local jobs were created during construction of the biomass plant, and how much Nippon's total payroll will increase/or has increased as a result of the project. The vague answers provided previously boiled down to no net gain of Nippon workers, just some speculation about additional truck driver jobs to transport the doubled supply of hog fuel needed for the incinerator.
I had a similar thought.
Dick Pilling must have SUCH a hard-on...
I could have defeated the Biomass Cogeneration unit - if I had the support of more than three of you.
Everyone likes to talk about how much they hate Nippon and the Biomass project, but when it came down to making a commitment and doing something proactive it was excuses, excuses, excuses. And really lame excuses, too.
You're stuck with the Biomass and I'm somewhere better, rebuilding my life.
Safeway might have around the same number of workers, but their union worker wages are about half what the union workers make at Nippon.
Dick Pilling could only get a hard on if he swallowed a fistful of Viagra, he's so old and decrepit. His so-called ideas are also of the old and decrepit variety. Perfect fit for the Chamber and for Port Angeles in general.
Who ever thought that the biomass incinerator project was about creating new jobs in Port Angeles?
It may have created a new job for an accountant in Japan, to tally up the money their making selling chumps here supposedly "green energy".
Thing is, we're the stupid ones. These folks have figured out how to get us to pay for these projects THEY make the money from.
Hey! Funny to see all these world leaders that are headed to South Africa now, all falling all over themselves to be seen as part of the Mandela Movement.
Not too many of those countries stood up, back in the day.
The Tee-shirt needs to say "Remember, they called Nelson Mandela a TERRORIST, too!"
One time despised terrorist, now media darling.
Only Max Mania really stood up against the foolishness of the biomess project. Everyone else has been falling over themselves to say what a great idea it is to make money for Nippon, while polluting and sickening Port Angeles.
Cherie Kidd is such an idiot. She really thinks that Nippon is "investing" in Port Angeles - when in fact they're "spending" OUR tax dollars. She really thinks this will benefit Port Angeles - when ALL the power and money generated will leave Port Angeles. She really thinks that Nippon is somehow committed to Port Angeles - when in reality they'll pull out as soon as it's no longer profitable to exploit us.
And on and on. So yeah, at least Max spoke out against it, but now he's gone. And we still have Cherie Kidd. Not a good deal for Port Angeles. Not at all.
Actually, I don't think the biomass project is all that bad and will do all that much polluting. But I'm not keen on the location.
Hundreds of thousands of tons of woody materials being burned every year by that one facility.
No problems.
Who's going to clean my boat?
So, Tharinger was there to kiss Nippon's ass a little more. I guess he's grateful for the kickbacks and bribes he's received to help move those tax breaks for Nippon through the system. Can't say Nippon doesn't get what (and who) they pay for.
Why was there no concern over the old wood burning boiler that has operated for decades?
The old boiler didn't operate 24/7 - this one will. The old boiler didn't require truckloads of fuel to be delivered 24/7 - this one will. The old boiler was ONLY to power the plant - this one is a commercial POWER PLANT on the shoreline. If it weren't attached to the well-connected existing corporate facility there, IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL. As in, not allowed. So, uh, yes, there are just a few differences.
This will result in more pollution, and fewer jobs. And it only exists due to more corruption among a few well-connected elected officials at the state level. Governor's award my ass. Inslee is a hack and a charlatan.
@9:01
It is one thing to express concern about an existing facility that used a small fraction of what the new one does. Not too many opportunities to "participate in representative democracy" with the existing boiler.
But, the public was invited to participate in the process to expand the facilities at Nippon. Many expressed concerns, as is their right in a "Democracy", or do you disagree?
Many feel that Nippon got it's approvals NOT based upon support from the general community, but through a system that favors those with political and financial power.
The old boiler didn't operate 24/7 - this one will. The old boiler didn't require truckloads of fuel to be delivered 24/7
Sounds like jobs to me..
If you had one more like you could make all your own electricity for this city. Or you can just do without electricity.
LOL! Right, Billy.
Of course, you know that the power being generated is NOT going to the City, specifically. It is being sold to the BPA grid, which extends far and wide.
This isn't FOR Port Angeles. The wood fuel comes from the County. The power generated goes far and wide. Nippon got super duty tax breaks. And the money generated goes to Japan.
We're just a like any ratty old whore; do pretty much anything for the promise of a buck or two.
Of course, you know that the power being generated is NOT going to the City, specifically.
Of course I know that, stand alone electricity systems haven't been around for years, for the most part.
Electricity is treated like oil, sold on the larger market and assholes get rich off those systems.
But if I had my own small town I would have my own electric company and the rest of the world could go to hell. :-)
My choice of course would be hydro power.
Guess what you can buy at Swain's?
Calcium Carbide !!!
You can do all kinds of neat shit with it. Check it out on Utube.
Of course I'm bat shit disturbed and belong to the black powder club so there ya go.
Sheesh! Nippon goes to all this trouble to provide Port Angeles with high quality air pollution, and all you losers can do is gripe! Ingrates, that's what I say.
Who's going to wash my boat?
Sheesh looking at the "reader" (being generous) comments the past week at the PDN regarding troopergate, you'd think Janet Reno herself was out there handing out speeding tickets! Lock your doors, the wackos are emboldened! Oh, if you have a cash register, locking the door might not help. Pathetic town. So, leave! Don't pass go, don't collect $200, don't stop. Unless you see flashing red lights. Oh, wait, whether or not you have to stop, that's up for debate now.
Steve Tharinger helped sink Dale's campaign with help from Matt Randazzo and acting on orders from Harold Norland.
Anonymous said...
Who's going to wash my boat?
Oh, that is just one more benefit people in Port Angeles get: the dust and soot.
See? Nippon provides jobs. You get to go out and clean up after them.
Troopergate....haha good one
Anonymous7:54 AM, December 11, 2013:
Yes, because it was a twofer. Going after Dale also meant going after Max, and vice versa. Max was the only City Council member speaking out against the biomass project - and getting members of the public to speak out as well. I'm sure the corporate bigwigs back in Tokyo didn't like the bad publicity and controversy. So there are all sorts of reasons for Nippon, and their sleazy minions, to target Dale and Max.
As someone who knows most of the people involved (except Harold Norland) pretty well, and who was involved in Democratic Party activities locally, I can tell you that no one misses Matthew Randazzo, and there's a lot of deep rooted disappointment in Steve Tharinger as well. I know there are some good people in the Party now, trying to undo all the damage that was done. The problem is, there was just so much damage done.
So, like Port Angeles itself, our local political parties are damaged and forgotten by the world outside. We have reaped what we have sown.
who cares about Dale and Max?
Good reddens
2:15 - Yes, but he's fearless, swaggering, and devilishly funny!(1)
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(1) matthewrandazzo.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25328656
1 hour ago - Uruguay's parliament votes to legalise the cultivation, sale and consumption of marijuana - the first country to do so.
Oh well, there goes the idea of Pot Angeles, and pot tourism.
10:13 - You've got that fucking right. So much for taking advantage of having the most legal pot smokers per capita ANY FUCKKING WHERE. The window has passed. It was broken anyways. Someone threw a brick through it.
Hey, did you see the article in the local paper, that one that is so moderate, and responsible, about the delivery service for food in PT? The website was impressive. I only looked at one menu, so not to get too depressed, and the prices were really low, but it's 2am and I live in PA any fucking hoo. The delivery service can make up to three stops. I can see it, yea, I'd like three spring rolls, two enchiladas, a spinach salad, and pick up some FUCKING WEED too! And get some weed for yerself! (which of course, would only be enjoyed after the driver got off). But that wouldn't stop the customer from sharing an enchilada too. The fucking life...wish I lived in PT. It will never happen here - guys in dreads on scooters delivering well prepared, tasty, but not too expensive food, from a variety of trendy, but actually good restaurants, that the delivery driver could actually afford to eat at, with weed, in under 90 minutes. For a fucking reasonable fee, too! Fuck!
I see the aforementioned Matthew Randazzo is back in the PDN news this morning - named in the lawsuit against Steve Markwell's doggie death camp. Sounds like he and Markwell scammed a donor out of $50,000. More scamming and money trouble attached to Mr. Randazzo...No surprise.
Poor Larry Williams. He's been gone for years but he sees environmentalist conspiracies everywhere and writes letters to the editor to warn us. It must be really scary to live in his world.
How do you think Cheri Kidd maintains that expensive and ultra stylish wardrobe except from payoffs from Nippon?
If we had real prosecutor instead of Rethuglican mouthpiece, we might have Tharinger and Kidd on trial.
But no.
Anon 10:25 AM, December 12, 2013...Right on, and very right on. The Payoff Trail is well marked, but most people don't wanna see it, because it's scary and depressing to think about how corrupt things are here.
Steve Markwell displaying an anger management problem? It may be NEWS, but to those who know him it isn't NEW.
But he's got a right to be pissed, seeing as how his buddy Randazzo led him to the trough (with the misspent donation), and then left him in the lurch. With friends like that...
I was trying to find online if Kilmer has been doing any communicating, other than the weekly tweet, about the new study/dialog with the forest industry, not much. But I saw the Randazzos have a new puppy! Pictures!
I don't think Cherie would DREAM off taking pay-offs. She may be ditzy, and gulible, but I don't think she has a corrupt bone in her body.
She has always been a fancy dresser. And really, I don't know that any of her outfits are that new. Most of what I see on her, I've seen years ago.
Now, this doesn't speak to anybody else.
I may just be a puppy, but I can see these people are nuts! I'd rather take my chances at Steve Markwell's place. Maybe he wouldn't smoke so much pot, and would remember to feed me.
With yet another accusation of financial "trouble" lodged against him, you have to wonder how Matthew Randazzo landed his cushy job at the state (in Peter Goldmark's office). I mean, here's a guy with NO college or degree, NO real-world work experience, and who drops trouble around him like a tree drops leaves in the fall. And yet, he manages to get a soft state job. So who does he have the dirt on? Clearly he was not the THE MOST qualified candidate for the job. So why? Which of the local electeds helped get him set up? And why???
7:42 - Have you read the reviews of his book and a half on Amazon? I did last night. Thirty minutes of my life I will never get back. He can't write. The most LAME subject matter imaginable. Seriously. He's a sycophant, and for a while there he was really moving up! Sort of reminds of how if SOMEONE had only gone to see what a FUCKING DUMP Hot Springs, AR had become. Go there, look around. Ask around.
Randazzo fetes his genes. DUDE, it's almost 2014! Update your webpage! That's fucked up! NO GENE FETEING IN 2014! OK!?
He does take a good pic - HE THINKS - HAIR CLUB FOR MEN - HELLO - you were cute when you were 12 get over it. Give him a chin, and put some hair on him, he could pass for Screech's ugly brother.
Creeped me out early on. FREAKS me out he found a life in Democratic politics here. Fucking weirdoes around here.
And don't get me started about the republicans, libertarians, independents, and the tin foil hat crowd!
When Randazzo was living in Port Angeles, his wife supported him completely - until he "made" his own money (his share of the $50,000 in question). A great deal of that money was spent dining out at Kokopelli Grill. The Randazzos and Steve Markwell used to go there ALL the time, constantly. Given that of the three, only Melissa had a paying job, all that Kokopelli cash had to come from somewhere, right?
And don't forget his boasting about his big "Hollywood producing partner" - which turned out to be a complete lie. The "producer" in question turned out to have ONE lousy little indie credit to his name. But Randazzo talked (in the PDN , no less) about how they were going to make a big movie out of one of his books...And we're still waiting.
Even Randazzo's big fan John Brewer got tired of him and sent him packing. No doubt he'll quickly wear out his welcome in Olympia too, especially when word of this lawsuit gets around.
Whoever the troll is with a hardon for Matthew Randazzo, just masturbate already, or get a life, or something.
It's the 50K that gets me.
12:40 - Shut the fuck up. Go to bed earlier. You might stop thinking about who has a hard on for whom.
With all the harm he did to the local political climate, it's great to see Matthew Randazzo getting some well deserved bad press. Can't wait until the lawsuit goes to trial.
Anon 12:40
No kidding.
I think we get it, now. We got it, months ago. Or has it been years?
Go watch videos on the Fukushima meltdown of 3 of it's reactors, if you want something worth obsessing about!
Another poster asked how Randazzo - someone who hasn't been to college, has little to no work history, is generally regarded as having hurt Derek Kilmer's campaign, and seems to be a sketchy character - got his current job as Peter Goldmark's "Senior Advisor." Given Randazzo's (relative) youth and total lack of experience, it's logical to assume there were people far more qualified for the job. So how DID he score that job?
Well, another poster answered that, perhaps without knowing it, when they posted:
"Steve Tharinger helped sink Dale's campaign with help from Matt Randazzo and acting on orders from Harold Norland."
Yes, at the end of the day, everyone in Port Angeles, including Randazzo when he was here, jumps to the tune Nippon plays. I have a friend who is friends with Melissa Randazzo, and what she told me is this: Word came down from Nippon to Steve Tharinger to put the pressure on to shut up Max Mania, and to scuttle Dale Holiday's campaign for County Commissioner. (Remember, she had come out as being against the biomass project.)
Tharinger, good lapdog that he is, passed the word along to Randazzo to make things happen. Only, foolish, foolish Steve Tharinger did this over the phone - a call that Randazzo recorded. (According to my friend he likes to record his calls, just in case...) Randazzo went to work, and banked the recording.
Then, when things got dicey with the local Democratic Party, and Randazzo was being squeezed out, he let Tharinger know that "the call" had been recorded. Needless to say, it would be, at the very least, extremely embarrassing to have such a call made public. It would likely end Tharinger's career.
So Tharinger (and fellow Democrat Kevin Van De Wege) went to work and managed to arrange for there to be a job opening with Peter Goldmark. The Randazzos left Port Angeles for Olympia, and, it would seem, a potential crisis was averted.
So the only questions left for me are: Did Randazzo hand over the recording to Tharinger? (Seems unlikely.) And why is Goldmark SO beholden to Tharinger and/or Van De Wege? (I have no idea myself.)
It will be extremely interesting to see the fallout from the lawsuit. Perhaps Mr. Goldmark will be looking for a new Senior Advisor in the near future? Perhaps the Randazzos will come back to the house Melissa's dad bought them in Port Angeles? I'd imagine that Tharinger want to keep them as far away from here as possible, but...You never know.
I wouldn't be surprised at anything Tharinger does to hold onto his office and stay on the (payoff driven) gravy train.
While he was a County Commissioner, he sold a piece of land to the County for what was clearly an inflated price - and he didn't recuse himself from discussions of said deal.
Then he held two elected positions at the same time, and promised to pay back (to the County) whatever money he earned from them while actually being in Olympia at his State job - but he only paid back a few hundred dollars of the many thousands he earned during that time.
It's clear he's driven by greed, and the latest accusations are easy to believe. What a great "public servant" he is - like a financial vampire.
Cool story, bro.
Yawn....
Yeehaw! I think I got me some live ones here. Ka-ching!
Tharinger's a rat fuck sleazebag. And that's his good side.
Looks like Randazzo's pal Steve Markwell is going to try and sneak out of the area just like he did. Lie, scam and sneak. Typical con artist behavior.
I've sat in committees with Tharinger for years, and seen him in all kinds of other situations and occasions.
Yes, he isn't as perfect and flawless as the people who are posting insulting comments about him, here. That's right.
But I have a great deal of respect for the guy. I know how hard he works, on a wide variety of issue. I don't agree with all the things he's done, but I'm hard pressed to think of ANYBODY that I agree 100% with. I'd challenge any of his detractors to do half as much as he has for Clallam County, and the region.
Now, Port Angeles, and the institutionalized corruption that it has become, is a whole 'nuther conversation!
Speaking of sneaking ...
Remember when Max 'n Dale turned their respective city keys in one Saturday afternoon and fled town with $15,000 of county money in their pockets?
You do remember that little episode, right?
Hey Anon 9:08 AM, December 16, 2013: Just wondering how you'd respond to this from a previous post:
"While he was a County Commissioner, he sold a piece of land to the County for what was clearly an inflated price - and he didn't recuse himself from discussions of said deal.
Then he held two elected positions at the same time, and promised to pay back (to the County) whatever money he earned from them while actually being in Olympia at his State job - but he only paid back a few hundred dollars of the many thousands he earned during that time."
I'd also ask you to respond to the fact that he's one of the people who put the much-discussed Matthew Randazzo into a position of authority - authority that was nakedly corrupted.
In other words, yeah, maybe Tharinger has done some good, but how do you respond to the BAD he's done? Give him a pass? Cross your fingers and hope he doesn't do it again?
As for me, I hold our elected reps to a higher standard. If they blow it, if they're even a little corrupt, I find someone else to vote for.
$15,000 is about 10% of the amount OVER fair market price that Tharinger got for the land he sold to the County - while serving as a County Commissioner.
$15,000 is probably close to the amount Tharinger promised to return for his "double dipping" when he was holding two elected offices at once - but he didn't return it.
And $15,000 is the amount the County agreed to pay to Dale Holiday to clear up her EEOC complaint against the County - a complaint that would have been investigated by the Feds if it wasn't settled.
So, to me, it kind of sounds like both Tharinger and the County have things to hide, things to be ashamed of.
Tharinger's property sale was part of the restoration of the Dungeness watershed. Do you have any idea how many agencies and people were involved in that process? You make it sound as if he alone did the whole deal, and handed himself a check. Not remotely the case. In fact, if you've ever actually been involved in the sale of real estate involving state governments, you'd know how convoluted that process is.
And, yes, he did continue to attend meetings as County Commissioner after he won his current seat. Again, you make it sound like it was forever, and something evil. However, Tharinger had held the Commissioners job for years, re-elected repeatedly. Who else, for the time inbetween the elections, would have done better for the citizens? Who knew all the issues and people, had been working on them for years, and held the respect of the electorate?
It wasn't wonderful. You paint it bad, but I see Tharinger going the extra mile for his constituency. You think it was easy doing two jobs at the same time?
And Randazzo? Really, I don't see the electorate losing too much sleep over him. You seem to think he is the Devil incarnate, but I'll bet the average Joe doesn't even know who he is. Oh well.
Yes, I agree. I'm appalled at the apperant corruption and utter disregard for the public Port Angeles displays, continuously. I'm appalled the Port Aneles City Coucil voted to SUE it's own citizens for gathering petition signatures (for that fluoride thing), for example. THAT is worth getting wound up about.
If you know of any pure humans running for elected office in the area, be sure to let us know. This last time, few bothered running, at all. Seats went un-opposed, despite the appalling actions.
To try to imply that there was anything wrong with Dr. Holiday leaving town after having her complaint validated and dealt with is ridiculous. She made a complaint; the County offered to settle it.
It is also ridiculous to say that Clallam County isn't racist or bigoted. Now that Dr. holiday has left, how many people of color are employed by the County? None. How many openly gay people? None that I know of. How many women are commissioners or upper management? None. Any history, recent and otherwise, of terrible treatment of the tribes? Plenty.
Clallam County has plenty of problems. And clearly some of our elected officials have ethical challenges. So let's deal with reality, shall we, and not the phantom menace of people who aren't even here anymore. Trying to distract and distort doesn't do anyone any good.
It's laughable and obvious how "someone" keeps trying to steer the conversation here away from Steve Markwell, Steve Tharinger and Matthew Randazzo - all people who still live or have connections locally - towards people who don't live here anymore.
Buy local!
I ran into Paul Gottleib a while ago at Bar N9ne. He was pretty drunk, as he usually is, but we started talking local politics anyway.
The topic of Nippon and Tharinger came up and Gottleib told me that the PDN was in on the Nippon-Tharinger pay offs and that every time the word "fete" was used in a headline there was a pay off from Nippon waiting for Tharinger. Most often an aide of Tharinger's would collect the pay off, but sometimes Matt Randazzo was the go-between.
I tried to press Gottleib for more information, but he clammed up telling me that Nippon had agents everywhere and that you could never really know who you were talking to and whether they were secretly working for Nippon or not.
Looks like Markwell has already done a runner, for all intents and purposes. Just like his weasel pal Randazzo did after getting the boot from the Democrats.
Yawn....
4:39 - Interesting, to say the least. I heard from someone, that every time Kokopelli's makes radical menu item/local supplier change, it means Randazzo passed a gallstone.
3:25 PM, December 14, 2013 -
Thanks! So "C. Rowland" knows re-Max?
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