Independent, fact-based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties

News from the Salish Current April 28, 2023

Dear Reader—
This week in Salish Current:

Kai Uyehara checks in on development, planned and underway, at the former Georgia Pacific site on Bellingham’s waterfront — how close is it to what the public asked for 20 years ago, just after the plant closed?
Matt Benoit reports on the shortage of mental health care providers — especially for the young, the aging and those struggling with addiction — in Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties, as population and need increase.

Issues like these — being involved in planning our community’s development and paying attention to how our elected officials are managing plans and projects, and being aware of health care and other needs for our families, friends and neighbors — are vital for our collective quality of life.

Providing nonpartisan, indepth and useful information, free for all to read, on such topics is why Salish Current exists. Our stories have no paywalls, we have no paid subscriptions. We believe news is a community service, not a for-profit business.

Your donations enable us to do that week after week — and next week you’ll have a chance to be part of a statewide movement providing a boost for nonprofits such as Salish Current that serve our communities, through the GiveBIG 2023 campaign May 2 and 3.

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—Amy Nelson, Publisher

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Salish Sea News Week in Review 4/28/23: Roberts Bank, WA budget, Office of Enviro Justice, Elwha fishing, Coast Salish youth, SRKW protection, BC Hydro contacts, Duwamish cleanup.

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Expectations are high, questions remain as waterfront neighborhood takes shape

Cyclists jump over the rolling pump-track mounds on the developing waterfront; part of the activity and energy now-public spaces have accommodated. A skate park and a container village featuring a beer garden, bike rental and an ice cream shop are also part of the action. (Kai Uyehara / Salish Current photo © 2023)

By Kai Uyehara

In early planning, Bellingham envisioned an urban village, public spaces, new jobs and low-income housing on the former GP property on Bellingham Bay. What’s actually in development?

The wait can be long and the costs unreachably high for those wanting to access mental health care, as a shortage of providers grows even while the population increases. New integrated approaches and collaborations and increased government funding could help increase options in a system that is "bursting at the seams," providers say. (Matt Benoit / Salish Current photo © 2023)

By Matt Benoit

"Not a pretty picture": Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties — like elsewhere across the country — are seeing a shortage of mental health care providers, and not enough are in the training queue.

Letters to the Editor

• Sarahbeth Bede: Help, don’t harm, the unhoused

Our policy: Salish Current welcomes letters to the editor from our readers. Letters should be sent with the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number. Those accepted for publication will focus on issues addressed in news articles or commentaries in Salish Current and be factual. No snark or put-downs will be acceptable; general nastiness will be rejected. Letters should not exceed 300 words and may be edited for length and clarity. Salish Current will publish letters sent to the editor at its sole discretion.

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News from around the region...

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Health and Safety

Drug law. Despite two legislative sessions, there may be no law against drug possession when the temporary law expires July 1 unless the Legislature returns in special session. (Crosscut)

Treatment center. The state budget passed by the Legislature includes $12.7 million for a new 48-bed mental health and addiction treatment facility to be built in Sedro-Woolley, where people can be diverted to from emergency rooms and jail. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Crisis center. The state capital budget passed by the Legislature includes $9 million to construct a crisis relief center in Bellingham where people experiencing mental health issues can be diverted from a jail or hospital to receive appropriate services. (CDN/paywall)

Hospital tax. Voters declined to support increasing property taxes to fund general operations and maintenance for the Skagit Regional Health District public hospitals (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Anacortes safety. Anacortes voters supported raising the tax levy lid to fund more positions at the Anacortes police and fire departments. (Anacortes American/paywall)

Weapon sales. The Washington law prohibiting the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles was challenged by the Second Amendment Foundation of Bellevue and the Firearms Policy Coalition of Sacramento which sued in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, saying the law violates the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. (Associated Press)

Education

Bellingham schools. The Bellingham School District proposes meeting its $14 million budget shortfall by reducing programs and reducing staffing by 80 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, a third of which will be retirements and resignations and two-thirds of which are active staff. (CDN/paywall)

Blaine cuts. The Blaine school board, facing a deficit of $14 million by 2026, voted to reduce a total of 65.2 FTE positions, of which 38.2 FTE are teachers, paraeducators, educational support staff, and librarians, and 27 in the district office, districtwide staff, athletics, food service, maintenance and operations and transportation. (The Northern Light)

Western expansion. Western Washington University will receive via the state Legislature $5.46 million to expand its Olympic Peninsula satellite campuses in Bremerton, Poulsbo and Port Angeles to increase enrollment and make higher education more accessible to all students. (CDN/paywall)

The Border

SRKW. The Canadian federal departments of fisheries, environment and transport have outlined what they describe as a fifth consecutive year of strong action to protect and restore the southern resident population. But a scientist says the measures need to go much further to help the animals thrive. (Canadian Press)

Nature

Habitat protected. Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve has used a $2.3 million federal grant to purchase two pieces of property on Samish Island from the Skagit Land Trust to protect valuable wetland and nearshore habitat. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Insectivore birds. Wendy Feltham shares her stories and photos of insect-eating birds: barn swallows, tree swallows, violet-green swallows, purple martens, willow flycatchers, olive-sided flycatchers, bushtits, black-capped chickadees, American robins, red-winged blackbirds, white-crowned sparrows, Pacific wrens and horned larks. Part 1. (Rainshadow Journal)

Business

Sunday paper. The Bellingham Herald joins the ranks of the Skagit Valley Herald, the Everett Herald, the Peninsula Daily News and other daily papers in turning daily paper delivery over to the postal service, which means there will be a "Sunday" paper on Saturday and a print paper delivered whenever the USPS delivers your mail. (Bellingham Herald/paywall)

Ferry boat. The state budget approved by the Legislature includes the last of the funding needed by Skagit County to replace the Guemes Island Ferry. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Manufactured homes. Blaine residents expressed opposition to a city council proposal to change the city's code to allow large manufactured-home parks in east Blaine. (The Northern Light)

Black Cod. Called “the Wagyu beef of the Sea," black cod farmed in saltwater pens will soon be coming to local waters. (Post Alley)

Port cleanup. The Port of Bellingham was granted $17.7 million by the state Legislature for ongoing cleanup of Waypoint Park, the Bellingham Shipping Terminal and the aerated stabilization basin. Total cleanup cost after five years will run to $160 million. (CDN/paywall)

Community

Youth. The Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Corps is reconnecting Indigenous youth with the lifeways and lands of their ancestors. (Indian Country Today) See: "Modern conservation corps meshes care for land, health for youths" (Salish Current, April 13, 2023)

New jail. A survey of Whatcom County jail planners reports that focus is on a 40-acre site in Ferndale owned by the county and that most favored a jail that held beds for between 450 and 700 inmates. (CDN/paywall)

Martha's Place. Mount Vernon’s new homeless housing complex is ready for 30 people to move in, with accommodations for another 40 to be ready by the end of May. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Libraries. The Whatcom County Library System received legislative approval of its $2 million in previous state funding to renovate the Vogt family homestead into a library express site and will raise the additional $300,000 needed from community sources. (The Northern Light) See also: The Bellis Fair Mall branch of the Bellingham Public Library opened for business this week. (KGMI)

Arts & Leisure

Project 562. Makita Wilbur, who is of Swinomish and Tulip descent, was tired of seeing one-dimensional, insipid, degrading depictions of Native Americans in mainstream media and popular culture so she created her own catalogue of images. (NPR Picture Show)

Haida artist. The Friday Harbor Film Festival presents "A Robert Davidson Weekend" featuring a free film on April 28 at 7 p.m. and a short documentary over the weekend. The artist will talk on April 29 at 1 p.m. Details here.

Spring concerts. The Bellingham Community Chorus presents its Spring 2023 concerts on April 29 at 7 p.m. and April 30 at 3 p.m., St. James Presbyterian Church, Bellingham. Information.

KUGS. What's cool about listening to a local, student-run station? (The Front)

Women's films. The Cascadia International Film Festival will be held in person at Bellingham's Pickford Film Center May 4–7, as well as online May 11–21. Information and tickets.

Aloft and At Rest. Tony Angell looks back on the evolution of his work over 75 years, describing subtle changes over time that he describes as a "curious reciprocity between the artist and the subject." Foster-White Gallery, Seattle, May 4–20. Artist talks May 6 and May 13, 2 p.m. Details here.

Western show. Two exhibitions, “Pareidolia” and “Teacher/Scholar/Artist,” will run concurrently until May 6 at the Western Gallery located on the university campus. (The Front)

Early music. Salish Sea Early Music Festival presents Lieder Recital: Hayden and Schubert with Maike Albrecht (soprano) and Hans-Jürgen Schnoor (piano). May 1, San Juan Island (please reserve tickets by writing to salishseafestival@aol.com); May 3, 7 p.m., Skagit Early Keyboard Museum (please reserve tickets by writing to salishseafestival@aol.com). Suggested donation $25. Information.

Early music. Salish Sea Early Music Festival presents Bach Cantata: Ich Habe Genug with Maike Albrecht (soprano), Hans-Jürgen Schnoor (harpsichord) and Jeffery Cohen (baroque flute). May 5, Bellingham First Presbyterian, 7 p.m.; May 6, Lopez Grace Church, 1 p.m.; May 9, Fir-Conway Lutheran Church, 7 p.m.; May 10, Orcas Adventist Fellowship Church, 6 p.m.; May 17, Friday Harbor Brickworks, 7 p.m. By donation $25; under 18 free.

Jump in!

Beach clean. The Spencer Spit Beach Community Clean-Up on Lopez will be held on April 29, Noon–2 p.m. State park day-use fees waived for volunteers.

Plant 'em. The Annual Whatcom Master Gardener Plant Sale goes online from April 29 through Noon on May 2 before the in-person sale on May 13 from 9 a.m. to Noon at Hovander Homestead Park. Details.

Boat parade. The Bellingham Yacht Club opens its 2023 boating season on May 6 with an afternoon "Anchors Away"-themed boat parade for all in Bellingham Bay.

Garage clean-out. Skagit Land Trust is cleaning out a garage for storage at the Samish Miles Conservation Area, a private area, and by helping the clean out, take a look at the property. May 6, 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Registration.

Lake ladies. Join Whatcom Million Trees and Whatcom Land Trust at Ladies of the Lake on the east side of Lake Whatcom to remove invasive weeds and protect recently planted tree seedlings. May 6, 9 a.m.–Noon. Info and registration.

No ivy. Work party with Whatcom Million Trees at Cornwall Park's west side removing ivy to save mature trees. Good way to take part in direct, easy, positive climate action to keep these trees alive. May 13, 9 a.m.–Noon. Info and registration.

Government

Elections.
Candidate filing week starts at 9 a.m. May 15 and ends at 4 p.m. May 19.
Bellingham mayor. Incumbent mayor Seth Fleetwood has thus far drawn primary candidate announcements from nonprofit leader Kim Lund, Kombucha Town founder Chris McCoy and former Bellingham port commissioner Michael McAuley. (CDN/paywall)

County executive. County council member Barry Buchanan announced he will challenge incumbent county executive Satpal Sidhu in the August primary. (Bellingham Herald/paywall)

For the people.
Open gov't. The Washington Coalition for Open Government is suing the state of Washington over lawmakers’ claims that they have a right to a so-called “legislative privilege” that allows them to withhold public records by redacting and withholding records. (Crosscut)

San Juan County.
The council meeting of April 24 was cancelled.
The council will meet on May 2. Agenda items and video link are here.
• Discussion/action: Northwest Straits Initiative Reauthorization letter of support presentation.
• PFAS water system contamination update.
• Discussion/action: 1/10th sales tax affordable housing actions.

City of Bellingham.
The council met on April 24. Agenda items included:
Parks and Recreation Committee:
• Council unanimously approved naming Barkley Neighborhood Park "Scramble Nature Playpark."

Committee of the Whole:
• Update on Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program: Staff reported that during the 3-year inspections program, of the 11,062 units the city inspected, 1,510 failed the first inspection; 248 units failed a first re-inspection and 79 failed a second re-inspection. Staff memo.

The council will meet again on May 8.

Whatcom County.
The council met on April 25. Agenda items included:
• Council unanimously approved holding in committee until June 6 a resolution adopting the Food System Plan created by the Whatcom County Food System Committee. Staff memo.

The council will meet again on May 9.

Port of Bellingham.
The commission will meet on May 2. Video link and agenda items include:
Presentations:
• NW Innovation Center Update
• The Economic Development Department at the Port (REP) Annual Commission Update
• Q1 Financial Report
• Squalicum Creek Update