The poor, clueless, schizophrenic PDN...They're really a fascinating study in psychology. On one hand, they are right in there with the rah rah boosters, the "Best Town EVER" crowd, pimping Port Angeles like it is something other than a run of the (closed) mill former timber town. On the other hand, though, sometimes they can't help but rub people's faces in how dysfunctional and nasty things can be there.
Today offers a classic case of these contrasts, which can be pretty much summed up by their headlines. One headline comes from a letter to the editor that is being prominently displayed and - shocking! - made available online and everything. It's meant to show just what a nice place Port Angeles is:
'Thank you, Port Angeles' - a letter to the editor about 'the honest and good citizenship displayed by Port Angeles'
The other headline shows that Port Angeles, like so many other places, isn't always a very nice place at all:
Port Angeles man charged with raping woman confined to wheelchair
Now, I'm not trying to say or imply that that aren't honest and good people in Port Angeles, or that everyone in Port Angeles is a rapist. (Though there is land rapist Dan Morrison to contend with...) No, I was just struck by the PDN's compulsive need to try to present Port Angeles as some sort of down home, folksy Shangri-La, despite loads of evidence to the contrary.
In other words, while it's nice to focus on the good deeds of a few people, that doesn't change the fact that Port Angeles and Clallam County are governed by a completely corrupt and (to be charitable) inefficient power structure, one that hurts far more people than it helps.
So, gee whiz, maybe the "honest and good" citizens at the PDN could tell a little more truth about that dysfunctional and often criminal system? Jeepers, that'd be swell!
The ball's in your court, PDN. Now, try taking a swing at it.
Or there's Chattanooga, where some nutball gunned down 5 unarmed members of the armed forces, and which won the Best Towns contest. Also not a very nice place, I must suppose. It was in all the papers.
ReplyDeleteI saw that letter (yes I noted how prominently the pdn displayed it - that was no random act) but I am happy that these visitors had an enjoyable experience. I also noted that they their experience was based on an interaction at one restaurant (New Day) and kudos to them for providing a great experience. You gotta eat somewhere and I don't know if they stumbled across it, or got their recommendation from the Visitors Center. There are a handful of locally owned business run by fair decent and friendly folks. However, these visitors then LEFT Port Angeles after only staying in town long enough to eat, and headed out for a day at Lake Crescent. Port Angeles is nothing more than a pass-through on the way to the Olympic National Park. What this letter demonstrated to me is that we individuals, and some local business owners, have it in our power to set an example, to the best of our abilities, to be welcoming, but we need the city and county leaders to be establishing the infrastructure and boosting the economy, which clearly, they have no idea how to do.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there is the PDN poll asking if respondents think climate change will have a significant effect in their lifetimes. With the other headline about 80% of the returning salmon in the Columbia River expected to "perish" as a result of the climate changes.
ReplyDeleteWhat is sad about the rah-rahs like the PDN is they successfully placate enough people into thinking things really are okay. So, few bother to make the needed efforts, and things remain the same. Which means the sidewalks remain empty. Stores continue to have minimal patronage, etc. Tax revenues to the city remain low, and services minimal. So, the "quality of life" remains to be seen as "low" by most, and property values remain low, so tax revenues remain low. And you see Scott Nagel looking for grants to fund his Lincoln Arts Center fantasy referring to Port Angeles and Clallam County as "distressed".
Yes, Port Angeles is a fantastic place where "hundreds of jobs" go un-filled while the area has an unemployment rate almost 3 times higher than Seattles'. The region is in a historic drought with creeks and rivers are drying up, and McEntire campaigns against the Dungeness water conservation plans! Where $50 million is spent to mix and treat rainwater with sewage, while nothing is spent to address a reliable water supply to residents.
Rod Serling, where are you now?
Wherever he is, he's laughing his ass off.
DeleteLet's repurpose a slogan from another subject and era. "Silence equals death."
ReplyDeleteThe deafening SILENCE from the PDN on subjects of importance to this community is an issue of long-standing. Crimes are committed, public funds are frittered away or outright stolen, the public are shut out of the decision-making process, and on and on. All of which happens under the "watch" of the PDN. But so very little of this makes it into the paper, or, if it does, makes it in in a clear and detailed way that allows people to really understand what is going on here.
So we all pay (taxes), and we all suffer (low wages, poor schools, a degraded environment). Our local governments have failed us, and are failing us, and are likely to continue to fail us. But their failure is absolutely aided and abetted by the local "press." Thank god for things like this blog, the Port O Call, and whatever alternative channels of information there are out there. Because the PDN isn't telling the truth, and they aren't likely to start doing so.
Sure, they'll play up the tabloid style things like rape and bulldozer rampages. They can't help themselves from doing that. But government corruption, malfeasance, abuse of power, misuse of public funds?
Nothing.
Silence equals death. Our community is dying in silence.
So....One tourist gets their lost wallet back....Meanwhile, people like Jim McEntire work to keep local wages low, which steals money out of everyone's wallet....
ReplyDeleteYeah, a nice town...For those who are just passing through.
Speaking of telling the truth...Notice the article in today's PDN about how salmon are dying in a drying up river..In Oregon.
ReplyDeleteSay, don't we have a river here, too? Hmmm...
I find it more curious that one of the Revit-lets has taken it upon herself to fly to Tennessee to hand deliver the signed banners to the town that won the We're Number #1 contest.
ReplyDeleteHow full of ourselves are we? (Clearly, very very full.)
Meanwhile, gosh one person wrote in and made it to a Letters to the Editor, but meanwhile, everyone who lives here can't get anything published because it doesn't conform to the guidelines of a misguided publisher.
Sure we have lowlifes here -- most of them are (slightly) above raping a poor woman in a wheelchair. But they won't hesitate to steal money from the citizens with fancy "incubators" or grant projects, or even a run-down theater. We have a "homeless" shelter that claims to be a 5013 non profit, when it's not, and spends big money on offices, and real estate, but claims poor and shutters services to the poor.
The town is two-faced, that's for certain. The real ugly is that we have a whole generation of losers who are doing car prowls, and drugs. I'm sure their parents are very proud. (Unfortunately, they are.)
Wow!
ReplyDeleteThe above is really impressive.
There are people who see what is going on here.
Just passing through is what happens in Port Townsend as well-the ferry just disgorged a boat load and every car turned left and is heading south on 20.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jody Moss is stepping down...And maybe Barb Frederick is going to be interim director?
ReplyDeleteBet you a fig Jody Moss will turn up working with the local medical mafia...
DeleteRex Wilson! Bard Frederick! Jody Moss! How many tragic losses can one town take? Who will we get to replace these irreplaceable fat incompetents???
DeleteFrederick is no bard!
DeleteFrederick may not be a bard, but she can be described by other words that begin with a B.
DeleteOr Russ V has found his new job.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that so many people in this town are so apathetic about so much. Actually DO anything about anything? Why bother. Hundreds of jobs go un-filled? Why bother to work. Got a job? Why bother to show up. Officials going to waste money? Why bother to go and complain. And on, and on.
ReplyDeleteBut, we'll talk about it.
I could point out the irony in this post, but I think it speaks for itself.
DeleteThis blig is dedicated to complaining, not doing. Get a grip.
DeleteAnonymous 5:36 PM: This isn't a "blig." I assume you meant to say "bilge."
Delete