Port Angeles School District Bond Issue to be Discussed at PABA meeting

Steve Methner, co-chairman of Port Angeles Citizens for Education, will be the guest speaker at this Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.   Port Angeles Citizens for Education is promoting a Port Angeles School District bond issue on the Feb. 10 ballot.

Increasing Crime in Port Angeles: Perception vs. Reality

According to statistics, crime and homelessness in Port Angeles are down. But try telling that to the people who live and work downtown.

Nathan West said:

“Our businesses are being negatively impacted by the environment being created as the result of transients. 
They are directly impacting the comfort level of the businesses.  Sometimes, we hear about it daily.”


Leslie Robertson, moderator of the newly formed group, Revitalize Port Angeles, has talked to about 25 downtown business owners.  She said:

“When you start talking to people, you hear it over and over and over again.  They're not feeling safe, and it's getting worse.”

She thinks we need a second downtown resources officer, “so people feel safe when going there.”

Maybe.  Or as one commenter said at the end of the linked article:

“Why not just rotate one officer each shift to walk the downtown area instead of riding around all day in a police cruiser?”

Victoria Elects New Mayor

Victoria's 2-term mayor, Dean Fortin, has been defeated by city councilwoman Lisa Helps.  According to the linked article, Fortin lost the election partly because of voter frustration over the failure to construct a sewage treatment system to stop pumping raw sewage into the Strait.

Homelessness and lack of affordable housing also contributed to his defeat.

Local Officials Beg Kenmore Air to Retain Flight Service

City, county and port officials sent a letter yesterday to Kenmore Air president Todd Banks, suggesting “ideas and commitments” for keeping Kenmore on the Peninsula.  Suggestions included the idea of having local government entities purchase blocks of airline tickets for employees' official travel at a volume discount.

The letter was written by Ken O’Hollaren, Port of Port Angeles executive director; Port Angeles City Manager Dan McKeen; and Clallam County Administrator Jim Jones.  

Final Vote Count for Clallam County

[sigh]  It's official.  Sissi Bruch has lost.  Bill Peach will be “representing” us as a Clallam County Commissioner.  Mark Nichols will be the County Prosecuting Attorney.

Click here for a complete rundown on Clallam County's final election results.

One other closely contested race had a slightly better result:  Clint Didier (welfare recipient disguised as a self-reliant Bootstraps Libertarian) will NOT be the next congressman from Washington's 4th congressional district.  He lost (barely) to the somewhat more moderate Dan Newhouse.

Repeal or Continue Obamacare?

I'll probably rant about the local election after the final results are in.  In the meantime, today's Peninsula Poll question is:

Do you want the Affordable Care Act -- aka "Obamacare" -- to continue or be repealed?

Number of votes cast: 1236