The article about the League of Women Voters debate between the candidates for County Commissioner today was timely. I've been meaning to post a bit about that (primary) race, and gosh, the PDN beat me to it.
Well, sort of. I mean, wow, could that article have been shorter, less informative, and contained fewer details? Once you eliminate the boilerplate about when the election is, how much a Commissioner makes, etc., the actual article is probably about 250 words - like a letter to the editor. No wonder the PDN's slogan is, "We report, you deride!" We wouldn't want them to break a sweat or anything, right?
Anyway...I'm writing from the perspective and assumption that, if you're reading this, you're probably not a gung ho, let's re-elect Dim King Jim kinda person. So, if that's a given, then who will you be supporting in the primary election, and why? Will it be Mark Ozias or Bryan D. Frazier? (Feel free to tell us who you'll be writing in, if that's your plan.)
From my perspective, Ozias clearly seems like a genuine, progressive, well-meaning person. I'd probably say something similar about Sissi Bruch - and we all know how well her campaign for County Commissioner turned out. In other words, is Mark Ozias the kind of person you'd like to have in a public office, but he's probably too nice to win (what is sure to be) a rough and tumble election?
Or, is Mark Ozias too nice a person to have in office? If he did win, could he take what would surely be near-constant abuse? Might he be inclined to follow the path of Sissi Bruch (as a City Council member), and play too nice, try too hard to get along with his fellow Commissioners?
That sure doesn't seem like it would be a worry to have about Bryan D. Frazier - for a number of reasons. One is that he seems like an in-your-face kind of guy, which is fine. But I don't know that he'd have much call for getting in anyone's face, since it seems like he's a lot closer to the conservative side of the aisle than the progressive one. He also seems way too comfortable with the fantasy-based perspective many elected officials in Clallam County have. See his whacky comments right her on blog about Dan's Fantasy Tram, and then think about the County budget.
"...And furthermore, my fellow citizens,
I will make the trams run on time!"
Of course, I give Frazier points for posting here. Hopefully he's still checking in and will see your comments on this race. In any case, it seems clear to me that, if it's change you're after, Mark Ozias is the way to go. But, hey, convince me that I'm wrong. Both candidates doubtlessly have strengths and weaknesses that most of us aren't aware of, so do share your knowledge.
BUT...I must caution you...Anyone posting any nonsense about "knocking McEntire out in the primary" had better do so with something stronger than wishful thinking to back up such a long-shot notion. If you really, really think that such a thing is possible, please provide a detailed vision of how that might happen. And please make sure that vision conforms to reality, not just (as stated above) wishful thinking. Yes, we'd all like to see Dim King Jim take his act on the road, but he won't go easily.
We'll just shut up, sit down,
and let you drive, Dim King Jim!
CK, you make important points, once again.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Mark seems like a truly decent guy. Bryan is a conservative in Dems clothes. Having talked with both, I like Mark way more than Bryan.
But, what is the objective? To vote for another conservative because they can stand up, er, with the other conservatives, or vote for a symbol of the need and desire for a different way of running the public's business?
Could Mark hold his own with Peach and Chapman? Without McEntire, are either really capable of putting two sentences together, on their own? How big a threat to Mark would either Chapman or Peach be?
It might be entertaining to see who "goes along to get along", with whom, in that scenario. If the County's/public's business weren't so serious.
On a side note, things in Port Angeles continue to degrade and decline. Everyone's staple downtown business, the one selling beer making supplies, is closing. Hard to believe, but true.
And, Bushwackers has put up a "For Sale" sign.
So it seems to beg the question for the current crop of candidates. The streets and sidewalks are still empty. Businesses continue to close. Revitalizes' mantra of " Just be positive, and everything will be wonderful" is not enough. What do the candidates offer as solutions?
They would probably offer nothing since they are county commissioners and downtown is a city issue. At least it gives them an opportunity to avoid the issue with "not my jurisdiction".
DeleteVideo killed the radio star.
DeleteAnd legal pot killed the home brewing store?
Angeles Brewing Supplies isn't closing, at least not yet. The owner is attempting to sell the business. If he doesn't get any offers then it might close at some point in the future.
DeleteI'm all for pointing out the problems but let's not spin everything that happens to fit your own personal narrative.
@ Anon 2:48
Delete"let's not spin everything that happens to fit your own personal narrative." What? Please do explain what you mean.
The observation made is the same made by anyone with their eyes open. The sidewalks are still empty, vacant storefronts still vacant, and businesses still going out of business. Where is the "spin"?
Was talking to someone who has been a vendor at the downtown "farmers market" the other day. They said that so few people bother to come, it isn't worth their time to continue.
But, we'll just keep saying " Another great day to do business in Port Angeles, stay "positive", and see everything as wonderful, shall we?
The spin is pretty simple. You said the store is closing and it isn't.
DeleteI've been following this blog and PA Online for years. I see the same lament about the downtown stated the same way over and over: there's no one downtown, stores are closing, storefronts are vacant.
I spend more time downtown than I used to and I drive through downtown at various times throughout the day and week. I have never seen the sidewalks completely empty without a single person on them. Sure, it's not downtown Seattle but there are always people on the sidewalks.
Stores closing isn't always the fault of the city or PADA. Sometimes people have stupid or non-existent business plans. That's how the free market is supposed to work, right?
I don't know who you were talking to about the market but it is doing very well. Saturdays are absolutely packed. Perhaps it wasn't worth their time because they didn't make enough sales. Maybe they didn't make enough sales because their prices were too high, or nobody wanted what they were selling. Based on what I see on Saturdays there is no shortage of people at the market.
This is the spin I'm talking about. You seem to have some kind of grudge against the downtown and take anything you hear and make it fit into that view.
Don't get me wrong, the downtown is horrible in many ways. But being dishonest doesn't help your position. I'm also not hearing any suggestions from you about what should be different to improve things, just the same old complaints.
Here's an example: the PADA should encourage all downtown businesses to stay open until at least 6 pm so that people who work 8-5 jobs (AND HAVE MONEY TO SPEND) know that they can go downtown after work and buy things on any weeknight. See? That wasn't very hard.
Can't we have a conservative democrat? How did that become uncommon?
DeleteSee Brian speak for himself:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksaGfw7B814&feature=youtu
Wow! That is pretty lame. To split hair between my saying the beer supply store is closing, and you saying it is for sale and will likely close if the owner doesn't find a buyer is pretty light weight, from the onset. Then to say I'm "dishonest" for the comment is just lame. But, what ever.
DeleteMore of concern is the defense of the existing conditions downtown, and at the so called "farmers market." I, too travel through downtown daily. I, too, pass by the "farmers market". I DID talk with that vendor who said foot traffic was so slow, it wasn't worth their while.
In reality, it matters little to me, either way, as I don't own a business downtown. If the people there are content to think a person here or there once in a while is sufficient, fine. If the property owners are happy to have vacant storefronts, fine.
You make an interesting comment about the empty stores not being the fault of the city of PADA. I'm not sure where this attempted defense of the city and PADA comes from, as I didn't make any such connections in my comments. But, what is the point of a business association ( as in Port Angeles Downtown Association) if not to find ways to improve the circumstances for their membership? What is the point of the city spending millions on so-called improvements, in the name of "economic development", if not to improve business activities?
But, in fact, the Downtown Association has screwed up so badly, that even the brain dead city stopped doling out money to them, to force them to reorganize. In fact, despite the city spending millions on "economic development" for years, the situation is arguably worse.
And, if you had been paying attention to the posts on this blog, you would remember the bulk are complaints about the bad decisions being made by the Chamber, the City, PADA, and the County on these very issues. That, despite the obvious problems being pointed out to these decision makers, they ignore the public, listen to their cronies, proceed with ill-advised projects, and here we are.
You say I make no suggestions, and follow with the same old suggestion that has been offered for years : why don't businesses downtown stay open later?
But, you overlook the suggestion I did make. I used the thread and topic to challenge the various candidates currently seeking positions of leadership in this community to come up with ideas on how to improve things, SPECIFICALLY to address the empty sidewalks and vacant storefronts. Because on this blog, the "spin" is pretty consistent: holding our local so-called leadership accountable for the on-going bad decisions and actions that have resulted in the title "Telling the Truth About one of the Worst places on Earth."
Mr. Wilson on the defense again. B..o..r..i..n..g.
Delete@ Anon 11:16
DeleteFYI, No, I'm not Mr. Wilson.
And, with such a lame response, no wonder this town doesn't move forward.
"West said at least $8.5 million has been spent on the entire waterfront improvement project."
ReplyDeleteAnd yet....Downtown remains unattractive and unoccupied.
Cherie Kidd & Company plan to spend a total of $17 million on the waterfront from the chamber of commerce building to the estuary. They are at least 3/4 of the way to spending that amount already. Tell Cherie Kidd how much the economy has improved by all those cars getting off the ferry and DRIVING BY THE WATERFRONT on the way out of town. No buying of beer kits or bridal gowns on the way out. By the way, on the way to the new beaches you pass a few signs saying keep out of the water--fecal matter. Mr. Floatie has arrived.
ReplyDeleteSo, as we all probably remember, NOAA gave Port Angeles a pass and went and built their new facility in Newport, Oregon. Right?
DeleteNow, I just read an article in the New Yorker about how Oregon State University wants to also build a new research facility in Newport, and some of their own faculty are fighting it. These faculty members (geologists and such) are arguing that by building a new facility on a sandy spit, they're putting the place at great risk when an earthquake hits, if a tsunami hits, when tides rise due to climate change, etc.
In other words, development and spending on waterfront properties built on or of sand is a risky, risky business. Risky money-wise, and risky safety-wise.
So it seems some sort of perfect, circular, dysfunctional logic that our city council is spending millions (they don't have) to build a beach (that can't last). Of course, the only thing at risk here is money. It's unlikely anyone will be on the "beach" here when the big one hits, because that would mean there were people in downtown Port Angeles. We all know that doesn't happen much.
So it'll only be our tax dollars getting washed out and away.
Ha, you can't put make-up on a PIG!
ReplyDeletesure you can, look around, a lot of pigs wear makeup
DeleteMy comment on the first two posts here:
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point that Ozias might be a contender when it comes to standing up to Chapman and Peach. Peach just seems to be The Salacious Crumb to McEntire's Jabba. i'm voting for Ozias.
On the subject of the homebrew store closing, it isn't for lack of business. He's looking for a buyer and I sure hope one is found or we'll have to go back to ordering supplies from out of town. I fear that in this economy that it will be hard for somebody to get the loan to buy it but we'll hope. That is a great local business, friendly, knowledgable and helpful. It's the type of business that doesn't necessarily need to be in the heart of downtown so maybe if rent is more affordable elsewhere, that could be a better business plan. His hours are accomodating for those who work regular Mon- Fri 8-5 jobs which is refreshing and unlike many other local retailers.
Am I wrong, but aren't the owners of the homebrew store stuffing under the weight of grief? Didn't they just lose an infant? I can see why they'd want to sell the store and do something different -- grief does that.
DeleteYou are correct and I can see how that would contribute. I just didn't want anyone to think it was closing because it wasn't doing well.
DeleteJoseph is an excellent cabinet maker, he will be fine.
ReplyDeletePocket beaches instead of miles of beaches on Ediz Hook. At least the bitter cold west wind comes free out there. :D
ReplyDeletePerhaps what Downtown PA needs is... LASER TAG!!!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pa-laser-tag-gaming-center#/story
You're shitting me, right? That's still a thing? And Port Angeles is getting in on the ground floor!
DeleteIt was a thing....oh,15 years ago....so yeah, its about time it hit here, finally.
DeleteLet's hear what the candidates have to say about climate change! That should be entertaining.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see McEntire predictably say there is no such thing, and he supports extraction industries. He already has said the water rule in Dungeness is bunk.
And it is likely Mark will say he thinks climate change is a threat that needs to be planned for locally.
Bryan? Not so sure. As a conservative, can he risk pissing off other conservatives by saying publicly he believes it is a threat to the local way of life? We saw how he maneuvered around the Dungeness water rule question.
So, I think this defining question needs to be asked, and a clear answer demanded of each, now, during the primaries.
Then, come November, as things dry out further, we'll see what the voters think of their plans regarding water in the county.
PDN refuses to cover the debates and the League of Women Voters refuse to allow recording or video. And we wonder why the retreads keep getting elected.
ReplyDelete