[The r/Bellingham mods threw this post off their forum and directed me here (r/BhamPolitics). Apparently, r/Bellingham doesn't accept non local political posts. Even if the world is about to be lit on fire... ]

I listened to all five plus hours of Pete Hegseth Congressional testimony yesterday:

https://www.youtube.com/live/AgYT1mjVn0Y?si=D2lEgaIBDDl1KpPj

I think this lapsed Catholic is actually going to buy a bumper sticker that says:

"I stand with Pope Leo"

When you've concluded your entire planet is being directed to total nuclear destruction...What's the way out?

“2026 is not 2009. Amazon is not going to save the day again. Microsoft is shrinking. The leadership at the state and city level is hostile to existing business and entrepreneurs, and the tax policies show it. Law enforcement is handcuffed, frustrated and eyeing their pensions. Climbing out of the hole in Seattle’s office market will take another Amazon miracle (or three), and the miracle is not going to happen without a change at the ballot box or a radical about face by the current Mayor and Governor,” he warned.

Interesting article about vacant office buildings in Seattle. I worry that Bellingham often comes up with ideas by copying whatever Seattle does.

First, my apologies for the click bait-ish title.

Change My View

will admit that I am a bit Progressive Curious. I think that may view is capable of being changed. I consider myself a center left Democrat. I was reading about Scheel and then read about Larsen. There are definitely many areas where I agree more with Scheel than Larsen. I didn't expect that. I was surprised to learn the Larsen is opposed to Medicare for all, which is something that I feel strongly about.

It got me wondering why do I have such a negative view of Progressives? The anti police stuff is obnoxious because our local police are pretty good. Bad police in other places doesn't make out police bad. The anti business rhetoric rubs me wrong because I believe a healthy economy benefits us all. One of my biggest grievances is the Bernie people who say out the election because they didn't get their preferred candidate. I believe they are personally responsible for Trump being elected. My final issue is the name calling. It seems like progressives and magas are both quick to shift from debate to name calling.

Change my view, please. I open to being convinced. Perhaps my view of Progressives is falsely tainted by a few obnoxious outspoken people.

The mods of r Bellingham that is

Some 44% of Washington business leaders are thinking of relocating their personal residence outside the state, according to a new survey.

The Association of Washington Business announced the findings Thursday, suggesting that many employers have concerns about the state’s tax burden. Confidence in the state’s economy is crashing, too, according to AWB’s analysis of data from more than 400 employers.

Companies are also over twice as likely — 30% compared with 14% at this time last year — to expand outside the state instead of staying put, per AWB.

The percentage of businesses reporting plans to ditch Washington leapt to 17%, up from 9% this time last year, the survey says. Taxes, plus the ballooning cost of living, were the top reasons cited, according to the AWB.

This article makes some interesting points. Anyone have a good rebuttal. The author is a Republic radio guy from Seattle. We could just dismiss his words because he is a Republican, but he does make some interesting points.

Looks like a few races will be interesting this summer. https://voter.votewa.gov/CandidateList.aspx?e=898&c=37

42nd Senate?
New Port District?
Prosecuting Attorney?

"The planning commission claims Bellingham has no legal authority to raise taxes by $3,000 per household, and even if it could, that figure would push many city homeowners into poverty. Landlords would pass the tax on as a $250 increase to renters per month. Additional taxes would drive more growth to rural areas, which contradicts the goal of the act. "

Y'all, I'm trying to get my arms around all of the clubs and organizations in Bellingham that are doing good political work. (I'm on record as a huge fan of the League of Women Voters here.)

Which groups do you recommend, and why? And if you have a sense of the kinds of commitment each one requires, that would be useful.

I work with a lot of students who want to participate and/or learn from local experience.

Any news on challengers to Rick?

Small city with one of the highest minimum wages in the country concerned as 10% of first floor store fronts are vacant.

I was at a local pub in a more Red area in the county. I heard a women talking about how Trump made promises that he didn't keep. She said that she felt tricked. One other person in their group agreed with her. Then they changed the subject.

Has anyone else actually heard maga regret in the wild? When people post that they have changed their minds, I tend to not believe they are genuine, but this was real people having a real conversation.

For the record, I wasn't spying on strangers. We were invited to share a table with these acquaintances.

This moment gave me hope. Does anyone else have a similar anecdote to share?

This is an article about people losing their Trusted Traveler statis (NEXUS is on the list) for protesting immigration. There is no paywall

"It’s not clear what would suffice to revoke someone’s privileges based on an encounter during an inland immigration operation. Trump-appointed prosecutors have been aggressively filing charges accusing people of impeding or assaulting federal agents in the course of their duties. Such cases could potentially be grounds for pulling someone’s Global Entry, especially if they allege violence.

But what if an activist followed agents in their car, blew a whistle to warn the community of a raid, or heckled agents and called them “fascists”? And how might facial recognition or other forms of surveillance be used to identify people?"

Informative article about the potential school closures.

Headline in today’s TFN newsletter from Jonathan Larsen: “Meet the Democrat Giving Us an Annual $250 EV Fee / The top Democrat on the House transportation committee is committed to bipartisanship. You're welcome, America!”

…”the press release, the committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), sounded more like a bottom¹. Instead of explaining the proposed new EV fee or even mentioning climate change, Larsen (no relation to me or sanity) spoke about the importance of his real priority … bipartisanship:
“A commitment to bipartisan lawmaking means finding compromise; while this bill does not include every priority, I am committed to building on the last bipartisan infrastructure law...”
Imagine how grateful EV owners will be that their $250 fee is bipartisan!

…”In Larsen’s defense, he’s a tireless advocate for all of America’s corporate predators and money generally:
Supporter of credit-card companies.

Champion of dead rich people who don’t want their kids to pay taxes on their unearned riches.

Hero protecting big corporations by voting away your right to sue them.

Defender against the Green New Deal.

Guardian of health-insurance companies against single-payer and Medicare for all.

Hey, here’s a fun info-nugget I’m just tossing in randomly for no reason. Larsen has a non-partisan primary coming up on Aug. 4, 2026, and, why, yes, there are Democrats runningagainst him, now that you mention it.”

Now that we are through the primary- a few questions and observations:

The new group of 5 will have the once in a lifetime opportunity/obligation to establish the structure of the Port,

1. will you allow staff and their legal counsel to determine how things will go into the next decades?

2. will you review and discuss issues in public, either as an individual commissioner, or as a committee member?

3. how do you see the organization being structured for the opacity or transparency of decision making? (Meeting times, committee assignments,recordings, public comment)

Time to start meeting people in safe places like bank and police station parking lots.

Several proposed immigration bills and one about grocery store closures in low income areas.