Downtown Port Angeles police patrols increase in advance of officer dedicated to area
( Maybe the local police department hadn't gotten the memo from the DOJ or from our fearless leader President Obama, that any police presence intimidates the citizens of the communities they serve in! See story from the Rush Limbaugh show on Thursday:
Rush quoted in saying:"The cops have adopted the Obama stance, and that is restraint. And in Baltimore that means you can't see 'em. And that's supposed to make it no crime. See, in the Obama world and the Democrat Party world, the presence of cops equals violence, because the cops are intimidating, and the cops are provocative, and the cops are the cops. They cause unrest and they cause people to engage in violence because they're so biased and extremist and racist. So the Obama theory is the cops' presence causes violence. Pulling the cops back to the point where you can't see them, that will give you a peaceful community. Of course, it's just the exact opposite, and anybody with a scintilla of common sense knows it.' click here to see transcript
So yeah, the local police apparently didn't get the memo, that their mere presence intimidates the populace! Yep! someone just didn't get the memo! You may ask why did I bring this up? To show what happens in the nation or internationally effects us, in some form or another, we can not just ignore what's going on in the world around our town! )
Related Stories:
President Obama:
Today, we’re also releasing new policies on the military-style equipment that the federal government has in the past provided to state and local law enforcement agencies. We’ve seen how militarized gear can sometimes give people a feeling like there’s an occupying force, as opposed to a force that’s part of the community that’s protecting them and serving them. It can alienate and intimidate local residents, and send the wrong message. So we’re going to prohibit some equipment made for the battlefield that is not appropriate for local police departments. ---read more
Demilitarizing the cops: States retool police training
OTHER LOCAL NEWS
Port Angeles to apply for grant to replace failing lights at Civic Field
(Well! Talk about timing! I am sure our pal Lee Whetham will use this in his election for Port Commissioner to tout his success, just have to over look the fact that he only serve 15 months on the city council, then seeing an opportunity he runs for Port Commissioner. So if you can overlook that you are in business right? Speaking of candidates for Port Commissioner another candidate took the time to write back to yours truly. I asked candidates who are running for City, County, and Port positions to send me their take on the issues.)
Port Commission Candidate Richard "Doc" Robinson, in an emailed statement Robinson offered the following:
My focus is on using the Port to create more and better paying jobs. I see the port as one of the two keys to the future. Whether it is the industrial park and our opportunity to become a source for finished carbon fiber products or our port's growing marine and tourist businesses. All three offer a chance to put more of us to work now.
One focus will be to use Small Business Administration and private micro-loans to find and advance locals with good ideas and skills. Like many of us I watch Shark Tank and Canada's Dragon's Den. Recently, the tank highlighted an entrepreneur from Portland with a thriving bee hive business. His biz is based in non-traditional hive designs - 'designer hives.' I smacked myself on the forehead because this is exactly the kind of thing we should be promoting here. There must be more than a few local crafts men and women who can make these and other wood products. I bring this up because this is one answer to our shrinking forest products - do all we can to ship more 'finished' wood products. A similar effort should occur with carbon fiber and other good local ideas.
To this end we need our own "tank," something like monthly meetings where local ideas can be presented, shredded, reworked, represented as we gradually up our game. The purpose is to help our people start businesses that succeed and employ.
I also want to see a port plan. Big changes are coming. How will these be implemented? Will it be piecemeal or will we follow a master plan we have all seen and discussed. More on this later.
I want to see more cooperation between organizations. Recently we all voted down our schools bond. Shame on us. Port and business leaders should be all over this. How can we expect to attract first class companies with new good jobs to our town when our schools, the one's the entrepreneur's children will attend, are below par. Basically, never vote down school funding unless it is for admin. If it is site, equipment or teachers, the answer is yes. This isn't a school board and teachers issue, this is a jobs issue.
That is a start.
My focus on running is less about winning and more about making sure the agenda for our future gets set by and for all of us.
A County Commission Candidate Mark Ozias also submitted the following:
"Mark Ozias (D), Sequim resident and Executive Director of The Sequim Food Bank, filed today to run for the position of Clallam County Commissioner-District 1.
Mark is running for County Commissioner because he knows that Clallam County can do better when it comes to building coalitions with community members to solve problems. He is committed to improving the economy and will work tirelessly to improve opportunities for living wage jobs, workforce training, and expansion, retention and recruitment of businesses in Clallam County. Transparency and open-government are vital because engaged citizens ensure the best ideas and solutions for the county’s challenges and opportunities.
Mark’s priorities will be:
Growing Clallam County’s economy;
Fostering an atmosphere of communication, collaboration and community-building; and
Engaging citizens to ensure transparency and open government.
“Having known and worked with Mark Ozias for many years, it is clear he’s a leader. I can’t think of anyone with more vision, more integrity or more heart for the county commissioner position than Mark. He and his wife Lisa owned a successful business in downtown Sequim and have strong ties to the community. As Executive Director of the Sequim Food Bank, Mark is finding solutions for the ever increasing needs and is highly regarded among the people he serves and supports.” – Sue Ellen Riseau, Executive Director, Olympic View Community Foundation"
Summary: Mark Ozias is an experienced business owner and non-profit executive who has led, consulted and worked for numerous organizations in a career that spans three decades. He serves as Executive Director of The Sequim Food Bank.
A former small business owner, Mark knows what it means to meet a payroll and to navigate complex government regulations. Mark has served local government as Vice-Chair of the Sequim Planning Commission.
Mark is passionate about building the local economy and providing the necessary tools to train our workforce, young and old alike, to grow family-wage jobs in Clallam County. He believes that citizen engagement is the key to government transparency and efficiency.
Core Qualifications:
Small business owner
Executive and management experience
Experience building budgets and policies to guide sound financial decisions
Success building local coalitions
Experience with local planning, land use codes and regulations
Beyond The Basics:
Co-author of a monthly food column for The Sequim Gazette
Eagle Scout
Sequim resident since 2004
Married to wife Lisa Boulware
Education: BA The University of Puget Sound, - Tacoma, WA
(Thanks to all of the candidates who submitted their take on the issues)
Clallam board makes offer for new health officer
County Treasurer applies brakes to McEntire spending spree
Sequim schools pick Neal for interim superintendent role
Jefferson Healthcare breaks ground on $21 million project
Public input sought on U.S. 101 rehab
FROM ACROSS THE STRAIT
Ganges to vote on borrowing $3.9 million for sewage-plant repairs
Seniors’ advocate calls for housing reforms
Sacrificing farmland for climate change
(Yet another fine example of environmental wackos running a muck. Haven't these people heard? No farmers or ranchers, no food!)
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR NEXT WEEK?
SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE
PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL
Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Port Angeles will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The special meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 321 East Fifth Street, for the purpose of a work session regarding Rates and Priorities for Utilities. The special meeting is open to the public.
COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA MEETING HIGHLIGHT ITEM: Letter supporting Clean Cities proposal for electronic vehicle “fast charging” stations on the Olympic Peninsula
PORT COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM HIGHLIGHT: Terminal 1 Redevelopment - Authorize Advertising For Bids
Starting in 2011 the Port hired KPFF Consulting Engineers to assess Terminal 1’s
condition and develop a multi-year maintenance and upgrade program. Concurrently,
Port staff organized a Terminal 1 stakeholders meeting to engage with those companies
that depend on Terminal 1 to operate their business. Out of the condition assessment
and stakeholders meeting, the Terminal 1 Maintenance and Upgrade program was
completed. This report included twelve different projects that were prioritized and cost
estimates were developed for each.
Subsequent to the planning effort, the Port applied for and was awarded a grant from the
Economic Development Administration, titled the “Public Works and Economic
Adjustment Assistance Program”. This program is designed to leverage existing regional
assets to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities. This grant provides
50% match funding up to $1,500,000 in total federal funds.
SEQUIM CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM HIGHTLIGHT: Approve Resolution R2015-06 Establishing Arts on the Plaza....details
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
