If the coal industry has their way, coal trains will be traveling through Spokane, Wa, 12 hours a day on their way to Bellingham, Wa.. An export facility is being planned in Bellingham to load the coal from the trains onto ships that would head to China. Local residents are concerned about the effects on traffic, quality of life, and the health of Spokane residents from the impact of coal dust. Members of Occupy Spokane took to the streets last Friday night cardboard depictions of coal trains in protest to these plans.
Pin It“No Coal Trains!” through Spokane
Friday, January 18th, 2013 at
8:01 am
Vote “Yes” on Prop 1 for a Strong Police Ombudsman with Independent Investigative Powers
Sunday, January 13th, 2013 at
11:32 pm
(Letter to the Editor) It seems the Spokane City Council has moved a large leap forward in affording the citizens adequate police oversight. The Office of Police Ombudsman has never had the authority to effect adequate independent review of excessive use of force complaints. To be effective and respected that must be part of the job description of the Ombudsman.
Serious, deadly serious at times, excessive use of force is still rampant in our Nation. The Council has placed on an early February ballot (Ballots to be mailed beginning January 25th) a measure to change the Charter of the City of Spokane to include effective independent review of complaints by our Office of Police Ombudsman for the City of Spokane. I would urge you to consider casting your vote in favor of this long needed independent review. (Links and video added by editor.)
John A. Olsen, Spokane, WA
(updated May 31, 2013)
Pin ItJon Snyder Discusses Work on the Spokane City Council
Thursday, January 3rd, 2013 at
2:15 am
Spokane City Councilman Jon Snyder has been busy. It is nice to see an elected official who knows the difference between running for office and governing. Voters hate political bickering. The want elected officials who work for them, and not just work to get re-elected. Thanks Jon Snyder! The below is from his January 2, 2012, Newsletter. Read the rest of this entry
Spokane City Council Puts Two-Thirds Measure on Ballot and Mike Fagan Criticizes Libraries
Thursday, December 27th, 2012 at
12:59 am
A few years ago, Tim Eyman and Mike Fagan started a successful initiative effort to require a two-thirds majority in the Washington State Legislature for the passage of new revenue proposals. Every two years Eyman has relaunched similar initiatives in response to the Washington State Legislature threatening to undo his initiatives. Now the two-thirds majority movement has gone local.
Last week the Spokane City Council voted in favor of placing a similar two-thirds rule on the local February ballot. This measure was supported by Mike Fagan, a City Councilman and frequent co-sponsor of Eyman initiatives to reduce state revenue needed for parks, education, environmental protection, and other services from the State of Washington, according to the Spokesman Review. Read the rest of this entry
Pin ItGot Todd Mielke, Got Trouble on the Spokane County Commission
Sunday, October 28th, 2012 at
4:30 am
According to the YouTube video and its corresponding website, Spokane County Commissioner, Todd Mielke, has used his position to pass unlawful land use amendments to the county code. He has helped buy property for Spokane County to the lucrative benefit of his friends that own the land and at the cost of tax payers in Spokane County.
Todd Mielke under fire
Just before dishing out political favors to people, Todd Mielke has been caught asking these same people for campaign contributions. The Spokesman Review wrote about him doing just that. Read the rest of this entry
Pin ItWashington State Voters’ Guide is Supported by Kathleen Drew for Secretary of State
Thursday, October 18th, 2012 at
7:12 am
(Editorial) When she came to Pullman for the Lentil Festival to talk about the Washington State Voters’ Guide a few months ago, I was impressed with Kathleen Drew. She has got experience in enough different parts of government to do a good job as the Washington State Secretary of State. She was personable. She had a good clear grasp of the issues affecting the Office of the Secretary of State, including the need to better fund the Washington State Voters’ Guide, which some call the Washington Sate Voter’s pamphlet if you will.
Pin ItMatt Shea (R) Pulled Gun on Motorist — with Video
Wednesday, October 17th, 2012 at
3:11 am
State Rep. Matt Shea Pulled Gun on Spokane Motorist
It is a sad day when someone has to be afraid for their life because of a threat of violence. It makes it even worse when the threat of violence comes from an elected official who (is supposed to) hold the public trust. This is what happened in November, 2011. It was Republican State Representative Matt Shea, Spokane Valley, WA, 4th Legislative District, who pulled a loaded handgun on Leroy Norris of Spokane County. Here is a YouTube video that we produced about the incident involving Matt Shea. Spokane is safer without him. Read the rest of this entry
Pin ItWas Todd Mielke Asking Developer Douglass for a Bribe?
Wednesday, October 10th, 2012 at
6:19 pm
The Spokane County Commissioners voted to accept a settlement with a developer that now appears to be fraudulent. When Commissioner Todd Mielke was asked by Lancze Douglass to look into the matter, Republican Todd Mielke turned around and asked the guy for a campaign contribution.
I don’t know about you, but to me that smells like a request for a bribe.
The Douglass Brothers
Photo Credit to Accountable To Spokane. Read the rest of this entry
Pin ItMatt Shea’s Talent for Offending
Friday, October 5th, 2012 at
8:17 am
Republican Matt Shea of Spokane Valley has a talent for doing the offensive. His behaviors range from making his ex-wife walk down the sidewalk in a submissive position to him to pulling an illegal handgun on a motorist during a road rage incident of his. Matt Shea has violated restraining orders from his ex-wife and traveled to his opponent’s house to intimidate her.
Matt Shea
Few disagree that Washington State Representative Matt Shea is a real piece of work. Even Republican Party Leaders have turned their back on him including Sherriff Ozzie Knezovich, while his opponent Amy Biviano is racking up Republican endorsements. All this is detailed on the new site TheSheaReport.com with detailed citations from the Spokesman and other sources. Read the rest of this entry
Pin ItTodd Mielke Website
Wednesday, September 19th, 2012 at
6:43 am
Todd Mielke is running for re-election for Spokane County Commission, and his past may be catching up with him. The site details his history as an aid for Jim West, as a tobacco lobbyist, and as a politician. In 1995 Republican Todd Mielke resigned from the Washington State Legislature to become a high paid lobbyist for big pharmaceutical companies and the tobacco industry. A few years later the Republican ran for the Spokane County Commission. Read the rest of this entry
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