Island Politics

Witness says oversized load hit I-5 bridge spanning Skagit River just before bridge collapsed + Video

BillB — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:48:22 +0000

A witness indicated a southbound “oversized load” struck the upper portion of this truss bridge very shortly before this collapsed occurred. The bridge that collapsed is rated as “functionally obsolete“. According to the WSDOT, “Functional obsolescence is assessed by comparing the existing configuration of each bridge to current standards and demands. A bridge can be [...]

Oak Harbor City Council Delays Reviewing Their Own Salary and Benefits After Declaring City In Fiscal Emergency!

Cliff — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:34:13 +0000

At the City Council meeting on May 21st the City Council had 2 agenda items that were tabled until the next meeting following the November election. Both of these Agenda items were brought by the Mayor and Administration in response to the “Fiscal Emergency” declared by the City Council. One of the items was Resolution 13-12 [...]

Happy Armed Forces Day! + Video “One Tin Soldier”

BillB — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:22:19 +0000

Saturday, May 18th is Armed Forces Day. THANK YOU for your service! President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish this single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country. The first Armed Forces Day in the US was observed on 20 [...]

Filing period for Island County political office is now over. Candidates are set for the upcoming election and 2 of the candidates are authors at Island Politics

Cliff — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:05:52 +0000

Filing date for political office is over and with the number of offices filed for this is going to be an interesting election. 2 of our authors here at Island Politics have filed to run for political office and we could not be more proud of them. It is one thing to whine and complain about the [...]

What I “hate”, a completely plagiarised video confession from an IP author

BillB — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:30:06 +0000

I have to “come clean” with our Island Politics’ readers. I have been accused of being a “hater” of one sort of another. I admit it. I do “hate” some things, but the things I “hate” are not actually the things I am accused of hating. So, I have chosen to provide a video to delineate [...]

Whidbey News Times Bashes Senator Bailey’s Bill

Ken Wolf — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:38:23 +0000

Whidbey News Times’ Executive Director and Publisher, Keven R. Graves wasted no time weighing in on Senate Bill 5927 saying it was “seriously flawed.” http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/opinion/206995691.html Part of SB5927 is found below and a link to the full bill is provided: (4) Nothing in this section may burden a person or religious organization’s freedom of religion [...]

The “Show Must Go On” in the OHSD, so Lance Gibbon will be christened OHSD’s new Superintendent + Video “The Show Must Go On”

BillB — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:13:54 +0000

Sometimes, pulling out one’s crystal ball and making a prediction just seems too tempting a proposition. Therefore, I predict that on May 28, the Oak Harbor School Board will crown Lance Gibbon as Superintendent for the OHSD, and they will give him a three-year, regular (i.e. “permanent”) contract when they do so. In doing so, the OHSD will [...]

Whidbey News Times Fumbles Again

Ken Wolf — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:27:50 +0000

Keven R. Graves, executive editor and publisher for the Whidbey News-Times, commented recently: “This always fascinates me … we have two different sides saying the WNT is favoring the other … I guess that means we’re doing our job right if both sides think that.” Keven R Graves, May 8, 2013 http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/opinion/205486181.html If that were [...]

An interesting Oak Harbor City Council Meeting, agenda items removed and a citizen apologizing to the audience and blaming the Mayor for performing his duty

Cliff — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:02:01 +0000

Interesting City Council meeting last Tuesday night. On the agenda there was an item that was recommended by the city Attorney Grant Weed to be placed on the agenda and brought before the council. This item was included to ensure the city was following the most recent court decisions and was placed on the agenda as a policy [...]

APZ Dissidents and their Propaganda

Ken Wolf — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:32:06 +0000

Becky Spraitzer, Island County’s APZ Czar, recently put forth her version of “facts.” “Over 1200 properties have lost their ability to use their land as a result of the Navy’s request, so far….with no compensation…and no notification. This loss of land use is a ‘Taking” of property rights for the benefit of the Navy.” Becky Spraitzer, 7 [...]

“Concerned Island Citizens” post “DANGER! Sound Hazard Zone” signs + Video “Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign”

BillB — Sun, 05 May 2013 05:28:56 +0000

A group calling itself “Concerned Island Citizens” has recently posted signs advising people to wear ear protection due to a sound hazard zone on Whidbey Island, WA. Drivers heading north on Highway 20 encounter one sign just south of the Navy’s OLF Coupeville, near Squire Road. Just north of Duguala Bay, near Jones Road, southbound Highway [...]

Island County Transit Ridership and Budget Documents

Cliff — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:38:40 +0000

“Growler Joe” was kind enough to share the documents he received from Island Transit from his recent PDR request. The documents do show that Rick Kiser’s A Citizens Comments- article on Island Politics is substantially correct. That article can be found here: http://www.islandpolitics.org/?p=10029 Here are the links to the documents: Island Transit ridership statistics for 2012 [...]

Environmental Protection Programs versus Law and Justice

Ken Wolf — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:28:21 +0000

Who could forget this statement made by former Island County Commissioner John Dean? “I have friends who are deputies and friends who are Beach Watchers therefore, I must treat them equally in this budget.” Unfortunately what taxpayers may not realize is that environmental protection programs ARE a higher priority than protecting Island County residents from criminal activity. Evidence [...]

Salmon Recovery to be Funded Locally?

Ken Wolf — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:54:36 +0000

According to Island County’s list of mandated services, Salmon Recovery “efforts” is a mandatory service. One would think that in order for a service to be “mandated” that a RCW (Revised Code of Washington) or section of Island County Code would direct local governments to perform this service. RCW 77.85.005 pertains to salmon recovery, and [...]

Septic System Police versus Island County Sheriffs

Ken Wolf — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:40:36 +0000

Thanks to former Island County Commissioners John Dean and Angie Homola, and current Commissioner Helen Price-Johnson, Whidbey and Camano Island residents have a new taxing district designed to spend more of YOUR tax dollars on environmental programs instead of finding a solution to adequately fund a mandated program called Law and Justice. Many residents may [...]