The commissioners did not answer yesterday's question about how quickly they have acted on efforts to rename the courthouse while other issues languish for months and years, but the county administrator, Todd Mielke, did (read his reply below). Here is today's question to the commissioners:
Dear Commissioners,
Does it concern you that the County’s Recompete Plan Coordinator — whose job is to help people into sustainable employment — publicly states that part of her work involves “shining a light on white supremacy and capitalism”? Given that Recompete is a multi-million-dollar workforce initiative aimed at economic recovery, do you feel this kind of ideological framing aligns with the primary goal of getting economically struggling residents into jobs?
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Good morning, Jeff.
The scheduling of any meetings regarding the request to honor Justice Susan Owens has been driven by me, not the commissioners.
I was first contacted by the Peninsula Chapter of the Washington Women Attorneys last Spring – not long after the death of Justice Owens. They were looking for a way to honor Justice Owens and knew she had got her start as a district court judge in Clallam County – specifically as the district court judge in Forks and also serving as a contracted tribal judge for the Lower Elwha Tribe and Quileute Tribe (have not confirmed whether she also did contract work with the Makah Tribe). At that time, they were interested in the placement of a plaque, monument, or bench somewhere on the Courthouse Campus, noting that Port Angeles is the County Seat (even though Justice Owen’s work as a Clallam County judge was in Forks) . The goal of the group was to have something in place by the anniversary of Justice Owen’s death (late March 2026). They wanted to know what the process would be to have their request approved and proceed.
By early to mid-summer of last year, we introduced the topic to the BOCC at one of their Work Sessions. Commissioners were agreeable to the request and directed me and the Director of the County Parks, Fair, & Facilities Department to work with the group in refining the proposal, determining the cost and the group’s financial commitment, and ultimately the timing of the project. At that point, communication stopped. I assumed the group was working to get cost estimates on a plaque/monument/bench and engage in fundraising.
I was recontacted last Fall (I believe in mid- to late-October)… This time with a revised request to either name the entire Courthouse building or one of the courtrooms in honor of Justice Owens. While County Commissioners throughout Washington are responsible for the “real estate” ownership in each County, I advised this request was significantly different than the original request and that it would need to go back to the BOCC. The month of November proved to be difficult to get anything scheduled before the BOCC due to conflicting schedules, a Leadership Conference, and the Thanksgiving holiday. I was able to speak with commissioners individually during the first half of December. While each was open to discussing the request further, they also wanted me to get input from the judges. Each of the judges that I spoke with – some who had interacted with Justice Owens during their legal careers and considered her a friend – stated they thought Justice Owens would feel being honored in the Clallam County Courthouse would be “awkward” since her only time presiding over court in that building was as a pro-tem judge. Additionally, they pointed out that once Susan Owens became a Supreme Court Justice, her frequent visits back to Clallam County were to Forks – especially for nearly every Fourth of July weekend – and she considered Forks as her “hometown”. When she hosted the entire Supreme Court in Clallam County, she took them to Forks and showed them her courtroom there. She did not take them to the Clallam County Courthouse.
After the first of this year, I was contacted again by the Washington Women Attorneys representative inquiring as to the status of the request and emphasizing they were hoping to have something in place by the time of the anniversary of the death of Justice Owens. I then also reached out to Rod Fleck to determine whether Forks was pursuing any form of honoring Justice Owens. Rod stated they were working on a casting of her signature to place inside the courtroom where she presided. They had not had a discussion on whether to actually name the courtroom in her honor.
At that point, I determined I did not have consensus on how best to honor Justice Owens. I placed the item on the agenda for a Work Session before the BOCC in January. Proponents spoke to why they were making the request, and why they felt the honor should be in Port Angeles. Commissioners instructed me to meet with the proponents (which I have done) and develop options for their consideration. I’m working on those and have recommended to Commissioners that they receive public input on the proposal. That is scheduled for March. I have also been researching whether any county in Washington has named their courthouse after someone other than the name of the county (I have found none – but some counties have named other buildings after individuals). While naming buildings after individuals is common practice at the federal level, it appears rare among Washington counties.
So this has been the process and the timeline of events. I received a request…I took that request to the BOCC…and I have been following through on the direction I have received from the BOCC. While you may believe this topic is being “fast tracked”, I can assure you that the proponents and the contact with the Lower Elwha tribe believe just the opposite – that this process has taken far too long.
I do want to mention one additional item. In your more recent comments at one of the Commissioner meetings, you seemed to question whether Justice Owens’ tie to Clallam County was significant enough for recognition, and frankly whether her accomplishments were worthy of recognition (that was my perception of your communication). Justice Owens claimed Clallam County, specifically the Forks area, as her home. Even after rising to the Supreme Court bench, she made frequent visits to the community and stayed in touch with friends living in the area. Very few people are questioning her ties to this community. She rose to the highest level of the Judicial Branch in Washington State – from a small community. Something that has been extremely rare in Washington. She was known as one of the primary judicial experts on domestic violence issues and violence against women up and down the west coast and taught several classes and seminars on the subject. She had a remarkable career, and residents of Clallam County should be proud she considered this her home. I don’t believe we are debating whether she should be honored…I believe the issue at hand is how to best honor her. No final decision has been made…and a sincere effort is being made to gather input before making that decision.
Please let me know if you have any questions on this topic or need additional information.
Below is a modeled good-governance individual commissioner reply: Governing with alignment—ensuring the public narrative and measurable workforce outcomes match.
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for your question regarding the Recompete initiative and the public framing associated with it.
Clallam County’s responsibility in administering any publicly funded workforce program is grounded in constitutional structure and statutory authority. Political power is inherent in the people (Washington State Constitution, art. I, § 1), and county legislative authority must be exercised openly and lawfully (RCW 42.30; Municipal Research and Services Center [MRSC], 2024). As commissioners, our role is governance: setting policy direction, approving contracts, ensuring fiscal stewardship, and evaluating measurable outcomes. We do not direct individual staff messaging, but we are responsible for program alignment.
The most recent Clallam County Community Health Assessment (CHA 2022) continues to identify economic stability, workforce participation, housing affordability, and behavioral health as interconnected drivers of community well-being (Clallam County, 2022). These findings provide the current evidentiary foundation for initiatives like Recompete. The purpose of the Recompete initiative is to expand access to sustainable employment and strengthen long-term economic resilience in distressed communities. That mission is measurable.
This ties directly to what I have described as a Good Governance principle:
"Trust is sustained when public narratives align with measurable results."
Public workforce initiatives must serve all eligible residents neutrally and lawfully. When public communications adopt broader ideological framing, it can create concern if the framing appears disconnected from the statutory mission. The appropriate governance test is not the rhetoric itself — it is whether outcomes demonstrate mission alignment.
Accordingly, the questions I focus on are:
1. Are more residents entering the workforce?
2. Are wages increasing in targeted sectors?
3. Are employers filling critical vacancies?
4. Are federally required performance benchmarks being met?
5. Are deliverables transparently reported to the public?
If measurable outcomes align with the stated purpose of the Recompete grant and the documented needs identified in the 2022 CHA, then the initiative is functioning as intended. If they do not, narrative framing — from any perspective — cannot substitute for documented results.
Public trust grows when what leaders say matches what the data shows. That is the standard I apply to all multi-million-dollar initiatives, including Recompete.
Mr Mielke, I feel you have opened a line of communication with the taxpayer. I believe you have a sincere desire to relay the progress of the issues raised. I will quote a paragraph you wrote, as I feel this is important:
“Commissioners instructed me to meet with the proponents (which I have done) and develop options for their consideration. I’m working on those and have recommended to Commissioners that they receive public input on the proposal. That is scheduled for March. I have also been researching whether any county in Washington has named their courthouse after someone other than the name of the county (I have found none – but some counties have named other buildings after individuals). While naming buildings after individuals is common practice at the federal level, it appears rare among Washington counties."
The renaming of courthouses is rare because those counties have enough common sense not to.It would show preference over others 'prejudice-racism ect ect ect but some clallam county employees & others do not have enough common sense to figure this out beforehand.
It certainly would not be a display of common sense and funds used for all the people.
When they left get mad they won’t have a statue to tear down, so will the court house be ripped apart out of protest? This is yet another Clallam County episode of majoring in the minors.
I know of some terrible stories about both parties -- crazy stuff and "good old boy" favoritism that causes people to lose money because ... well because those two colluded.
The worst thing is that the only option left in WA for OPMA (open public meetings act) violations, or ethics violations, or even running in an election while not qualified --- is to file a lawsuit. With complicit (appointed by Inslee) judges ... who operate on the lawyer cabal rules -- there is absolutely zero ability to be heard, with a great risk of $$.
No single person has the money to be heard, it's outrageous court cost plus lawyer fees. Even Arbitration is through the roof! Been there and doing it as we speak, I'm 2 years in. Too deep to back out. It always comes down to "the winner is the one with the most money"
I feel like we don’t have a boss we can report egregious behavior to. When the Three Amigos are at the top of the heap, the average citizen has no where to turn except voting this thug-ring out. I would just like to report them and state some of the culpable behavior.
How do you release such angst and not let the slime pull you under ? Is purgatory where politicians are placed for all eternity? Not Catholic but a good afterlife scheme.
Todd, very few people are questioning her ties to Clallam County because we have short or non existent memories of her. She deserves a bench. The cost to rename a street, a building or an administration are beyond reason. This county does not have funds to do a “feel good”
because a woman held a seat of importance. Just the time spent on this discussion should anger tax payers. I bet if you got 10 citizens together they could think of 10 worthy candidates to rename a building after. But honestly, who gives a rats behind?
Seniors learn to ask a bunch of nonsensical questions, but cant make change because they altered George Washington’s look. ( it’s on the quarter, kids)
In a constitutional system, sovereignty rests with the people. Public officials are temporary stewards of taxpayer resources. Trust is sustained when public narratives align with measurable results.
It amazes me always...we watch all the virtue signaling with no grasp of reality. Big government is nothing but waste on top of waste. As long as you can spew out the lies and sleep at night, good to go... I have zero tolerance for that !
Thanks for all you do and have a great day. I'm picking up more CC watchdog stickers today. Let me know who wants one all.
Molly Pringle's LinkedIn page describes her motives as fighting against white people and entrepreneurship. How does a communist ideologue become top dog in an organization that reaches out to the community to include everyone so that the economy can produce individual freedoms? This is why CC fails. Mike French's dependence on gov't to solve our problems will only breed misery, depair, and destitution.
Denise Lapio I have met hundreds of social-justice warriors who share the resume and philosophy of Molly. There must be some education factory somewhere programming them to all use the same stale euphemisms and rhetoric. Politically her ilk are very effective not only in government but inside the greedy corporate world and law schools. The basic problem I see is that our evolution designed us to value security over freedom. "Individual freedom" creates a better society but once freedom occurs Secretariat is separated from "Mr. Ed". The modern thought process does not allow for the concept of superior humans. Everyone must be the same. Your last sentence reminded me of a quote by Thomas Hobbes. Ha Ha
LOL I bet Mollie lives inside a White neighborhood and everybody at that location expresses shame for European genetics. Is that performance art of political calculation?
I have a job for Miss Pringle! Why does OUR taxpayer money keep going to Seattle and Tacoma contractors for PA schools? It is about 150M in tax dollars slated to go to COs
outside our tax base. What a boom to our economy in CC if it stayed here. The problem is that they do not care! The JPS building was going to Seattle based COs and now we have an opportunity to keep it here. Private construction projects seem to use local EC workers (Amazon, Shipley Center,Tribe remodel Casino,Drving Range, Pavillion, and quite a few
other projects I have supplied.It seems this she/her Miss Pringle might do her job description and work FOR our needs instead of her/ she priorities. We do not need more Portland idealogic people running our County. Go Home Miss Pringle! Oh maybe you can take Frenchie with u.
I don't know Miss Pringle but I know the type. They are addicted to certificates of merit. For some unknown reason they now wear huge eye glasses. When I was younger nobody wished to be a "four eyes". People paid for surgery to correct vision. Now myopia is a status symbol. I guarantee next hearing aids will become popular.
I think she /her is blind, deaf and dumber. They get that way by living in Oregon. I think it is something in their water or toilet. Steve maybe we should flush the toilet
The JPS building has still not rebid. This story was first exposed on CCWD by me 4 months ago.. an outside Seattle Electric Co bid 1.1 m lower than our local contractors. They left off
quite a few items. Hopefully a local contractors will be sucessful this next go around. I will let you know after rebid.
Whoever is tasked with reading the bids should be aware of whether the bidder has addressed all the requirements the job. A bid coming in far below others should be an indication of a problem and should be investigated. Who is deciphering the bids? Also, language requiring local employment MUST be included in the request for bid.
Your public officials address the bids. Incompetently at its finest. They do not care about the local contractors. On the JPS job local contractors were 2nd and third with local electrical subs. Now we will see what happens next go around.
you mean like how a marketing company REQUIRED (in all bid notices) to be in good standing with Washington corporate papers, wasn't even listed as a foreign corporation?
There was a bid bond required at bid time and they obviously let the EC out of the obligation of a $700k penalty. It would be interesting to see how that was handled.
LOL Eric Fehrmann your second sentence reminded me of a film I saw a long time ago. The Towering Inferno. I am always suspicious of any cost existing far below the competitive bids. I generally though do not accept the opposite thesis either and especially regarding restaurant cuisine and service.
jedj, I do remember your first comment on this subject and it made me raise an eyebrow. You have given subsequent comments and facts, which I do follow. Keep us informed as I think this is an evolving story behind a story.
The light of truth. Finding documented evidence of dispensing our county monies to those who are not residents could be explained if, big if, there were no alternatives. Most people forget the use of out of county contractors has an added costs. Travel and outside suppliers. Secondly, to include individuals whose prejudices are publicized ("shining a light on white supremacy and capitalism") defies our laws.
Sheldon Right on! I sell most of the products on these jobs and work for the local tax paying CC when we get the order. That said it sucks when a distributor not in our area gets to furnish the gear and lighting on PA schools. Bought in Tacoma and no tax money for PA. No wonder they are broke.
I enjoyed the first two lines of your statement. I will pretend I did not read the third and I love the final line and the part about falling for a deception over and over.
When I attended junior high the White students with the tropical in January were unmasked. They were the wealthy ones who flew to Acapulco for vacation during America Christmas.
They hire themselves and we should not misunderstand their legislative and judicial power. Unfortunately my data base is experience and not controlled experiments but the feminist justice-Warriers who write grants are far less angry than feminist attorneys. Their profession depends upon conflicting terminology.
It aways amazes me that politicians keep wanting to do MORE, MORE, MORE so they demand MORE, MORE, MORE tax money, and then do a crappy job with it, as evidenced by fiascos like Newscum's $30B non-existent bullet train to nowhere, and locally a growing "homeless" problem.
Most people simply want the basics-- Sheriff, Fire Dept, schools, libraries, an emergency fund, and want their "leaders" to do excellent jobs with those and keep taxes to a minimum. Yet, these "leaders" do the opposite-- try to do too much, do a shitty job of it, then cry for more money.
The new projected cost to finish bullet train has a 98.1 billion $ price tag. That makes your point much stronger of SPEND MORE. If we could only tax the people that vote for this crap we would not have any taxes.
Growing up and now retired as a member of the only unrecognized minority, ( Caucasian, male and heterosexual ), in the construction industry, I learned first hand what discrimination was. Government, via all public works projects, mandated and may still mandate varying "minority" ownership participation percentages in any and all projects. 100% minority participation is legally fine, but 100% non-minority participation is not. Along with those mandates came staffed offices of compliance, certification, voluminous documentation and monitoring with their staggering tax payer costs. It was beyond frustrating to be the successful bidder on a project that was not allowed the work because of my Caucasian, male, heterosexual handicap. Even more frustrating was that the system failed at it's goal. The emerging need for MWBE participation in construction projects was so great that those qualifying as MWBE were awarded too much work with the associated cash flow challenges forcing them into bankruptcy. With minority status being ubiquitous and something that can never not exist the MWBE program was and remains completely fruitless. If the goal of making some minority status does succeed in making that status a majority, a new minority is born. It is a tail chase. The only true measure of competence, deservedness or success is merit. Merit is color, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation blind. Without merit the fastest 100 yard dash competitor would not win the race because of deemed inadequate physical characteristics. Government has no place in social engineering. We do not pay taxes to insure a dark skin toned, lesbian, female gets some position. We pay taxes in the hope that the most competent will represent us, regardless of physical characteristics or ethnicity. It bears repeating that there can never not be minorities. That is the nature of nature.
Garry, IMO President Trump is in agreement with you. Next he will hit the "Indian Preference" hiring practices in some government jobs. It was never fair.
Well, as Jeff Tozzer has done his usual excellent job outlining the issues regarding this absolutely bizarre approach to problem solving that French and the blatantly local political production of the "Freakish French Follies" are busy orchestrating, I don't need to attempt to reinvent the wheel. However, I have always intensely studied the honorable science of Economics and this all-important subject of "Economic Development" which we are being told is supposed to be desired by the local government management. Is it? Really? I just have to wonder if the REAL goal of the Ozias, Johnson & French clown show (AKA; "The Three Stooges") is to actually improve our local economy at all? Is their underhanded goal the exact opposite of what they are openly stating? Could there be a completely different evil destructive agenda that "we" are not properly understanding here, that is being cloaked by the usual treasonously anti-constitutional crowd? I would hope that by now most Americans would understand that this "White supremacy" BS is nothing but a disgusting "dog whistle" to agitate the lower primitive life forms of the sickest & least Intelligent primates, so I will pay no attention to that total garbage. That is very clearly just a pre-planned "feel good" excuse for their INTENTIONAL policy failures... Ah, but the subject of "Capitalism" is in fact the heart of the issue~! I find it the sickest of Ironies (perverted jokes) that the very criminals in our society, politics and government who have been methodically destroying "Free Market Capitalism" (and common law standards) for decades, to replace it with THEIR own "crony capitalism" (AKA; "kings and queens") that always excludes the free market and picks THEIR own "winners", are now the very ones who push this phony "anti-capitalism" BS~! So, hopefully understanding that you CAN"T have a truly functional economy without fostering a vibrant free market economy that embraces a healthy honest capitalistic environment, let us ask just ONE real question so we can best understand what The Three Stooges and their local Three Ringed Circus are REALLY doing~! Anyone with a modicum of understanding of Economic reality who possesses a minimum of functioning brain cells would take just one look at this "supposed" effort to improve the local economy and ask just ONE very serious question. Has ANYONE who is involved in this government management debacle so much as even attempted to seek business owners who may be interested in either relocating their existing business or building new businesses here? Only a complete idiot would expect that the struggling existing businesses here would be in any position to substantially increase their wages and/or hire more employees without needing them~! I find it hard to believe that anyone would be ignorant of the fact that an enormous number of businesses are fleeing numerous states like California, New York and others in droves, to relocate in other states that are more than happy to welcome their operations. Of course, the economy killing policies & actions of The Three Stooges would and do definitely concern ANY reasonably intelligent business owner, so that serious problem needs to be addressed first because no one is going to relocate their business from one inhospitable economic environment to another, but has ANYONE who is managing this "supposed" government effort to improve the economy made any phone calls, placed any ads, put out the word, or made ANY effort at all to look for existing businesses or new businesses that may be interested in operating in our community? That is in fact the very job description of ANY individual who has the title of "Economic Development manager"~! If the answer to this key question is "no" or "only a minimally weak effort", we know beyond any and all doubt that this phony facade of improving our communities' economic health and providing more good paying jobs is nothing but an evil political scam, has been all along, and is also in fact an intentional outright attack upon our community~! No if's, and's, or but's, because there is no way that any economy can EVER be improved, unless the same very basic steps are followed to accomplish that goal~! The real field of Economics is one of absolutely strict science and NEVER an "interpretative dance" of endless subjective "imaginary truths", any more than the science of human biology can ever be perverted to support the preposterous claim that there are more than two sexes, so the sooner that these political agenda driven freak shows are eliminated from our government and society the better~! No amount of money will EVER accomplish the goal of economic health, unless and until that local community that desires economic health PROVES that it will foster and support the environment that is conducive to economic health~!
Mike the Three Stooges destroyed the pluming structures of Beverly Hills mansions. They belonged inside a mental institution. When I was in elementary school every male imitated a favorite stooge yet no female enjoyed the same humor.
You get it~!!! Yes, that was my very point! This local idiot clown show is destroying our community very much like The Three Stooges were a thin facade of slapstick humor that was really intended to disrupt & destroy the American society in communities, schools and at homes all across the US! There was also Laurel & Hardy, Jerry Lewis, Jim Carey, and every other jerk weed that was a nightmare of a societal wrecking ball wrapped up in a twisted sense of humor~! I am not against comedy mind you, but even as a little child myself I also could see the effects of these Hollywood jokers & fools on society. You are very observant :) Ha! At one point, when I was still in elementary school, I remember watching cartoons on TV and sure as heck, there were other children in the playground who were reenacting the exact same script just hours later~! Of course, back then there were only three TV stations where I lived, so it was far easier to notice and put the pieces together... HA! So, like you, I have been observing "Humonkey" behavior for a very long time ;-) We as a species are quite a sight! I sure am glad that I missed the Bevis & Butthead and Rin & Stimpy years~! Good God~! Yes, The Three Stooges were mildly entertaining, and Laurel & Hardy did have their moments, but the great WC Fields had an in-your-face sharp intellect that was pretty direct and he could insult people but make them think it was a compliment! Probably my favorite as a young child was Peter Sellers, especially in the original Pink Panther~! What a wild ride that was for me as a young Goomer! Sadly, the world got pretty dark & ugly over the past 20 years or so, thanks to the evil satanic Globalists, but I have been somewhat of a comedian all my life so occasionally I strike a blow for laughter every now and then out of spite~! ;-)) Much will be coming out about the entertainment industry and especially the Hollywood criminal cabal, but folks need to be thankful for the good entertainment that they had over the years and learn not to worship these fake heroes that they have been putting on pedestals... Everyone needs to be their own hero and do their best to live up to it~! My mom's side of the family was deeply involved in the Hollywood entertainment industry since the black & white days, so I always knew more of what was really going on and I didn't get caught up in the world of fakery like most others do. I even worked in the industry for a couple of months in the late 80's, but that was more to do my Constitutional duty than anything else. I never personally saw any of the dark stuff that is coming out now, but I did look for evidence of it while I was there because I had heard some disturbing things... Anyway, keep up the good work and stay frosty because much is headed our way as "we" continue to save America~!
While we should be VERY careful NOT to support the local companies that are already operating here against the will and/or best interests of the local folks, like the Jamestown tribal government operations that are already robbing us blind and crushing many other small businesses that are here for instance, I FULLY believe in supporting ALL of our existing businesses FIRST~! Nothing could be fairer and in keeping with the American Constitution ;-) Of course, we local folks should already be doing our best to support our good local businesses, but they definitely deserve the opportunity to grow and expand as well. There really are not as many businesses left in our community after the man-made COVID disaster, and VERY few that are large scale employers, so what I was really suggesting is to encourage some new larger scale employers to move their operations here and/or start new larger-scale businesses here. I don't personally want to see a large footprint of heavy Industrial manufacturing here because we are not really capable of dealing with that for a number of reasons, but there are a HUGE number of small to midsized light manufacturing and many other middle sized businesses that would not endanger our environment & eco system with pollution, or strain our existing infrastructure, that we sure could make room for here~! Obviously, once again, the corrupt anti-business and "no growth" policies of the government would have to loosen up enough to accommodate for more single-family housing units, but I am NOT suggesting that we grow too fast without a short and long-term common-sense plan... That is all part of a proper "community development" plan, which always has numerous important moving parts to consider, honestly advise the community about, and plan for... We do have great potential here in Clallam County and it needs to be developed so the treasures that we have are protected and not destroyed or negatively impacted, but where the community AND businesses win together. Win-win outcomes. If the community plan was properly designed and in the hands of good & honorable folks, I am absolutely confident that we could not only protect but actually in some obvious cases expand our current treasures that make our community awesome, but that we could also create NEW long-term treasures to be very proud of. That would make our community even better, more prosperous, and enjoyable! Slow deliberate common-sense growth that is orchestrated reasonably and compassionately is the key to all of our problems here, and I believe that the good folks of this community would be FAR happier if they were told the truth and they truly had a say in these important decisions. Maybe I am wrong, but I just have to believe that a well-informed community that has their wishes respected and honored, always makes for a better community~! It sure would be better than the underhanded back door dealing "Bull in a China shop" wrecking ball approach of these lunatics that we have in government now~! You do ask a VERY good question TLL, so keep up the great work~! ;-)
The Oppression Olympics continue. They hand pick the event organizers to serve in various positions to keep the Oppression Olympics going forward year after year.
This might not seem logical, and it isn't, but the Job Creation portion of the Recompete grant our EDC applied for was not funded. Projects were funded, but there was no actual job creation or accountability. That was the federal decision. Please go back to the Coffee with Colleen program on Recompete for details.
Every time there is a warning about “groupthink,” I have to laugh. It is like watching someone complain about echo chambers while standing in the middle of one with a megaphone. The choreography in that comment section could qualify for synchronized swimming.
And the private sector fairy tale is the same routine. If we just handed everything to developers, we are told, homes would pop up like dandelions and come in under budget out of sheer civic virtue. Meanwhile, in the real world, developers take the subsidies, take the tax breaks, take the goodwill, and then, right before the ribbon cutting, announce the numbers just do not pencil out. Suddenly the “affordable” project is market rate, the rents jump, and the public gets a fine so small it should come with a coupon. Seattle is still trying to forget The Jule, and that is before you even get to places like The Addison or The Lyric, where affordability lasted about as long as a campaign promise. Developers treat affordability the way tourists treat souvenir T shirts, something you buy on the way in and throw away once you are home. And expecting private developers to build supportive housing is like expecting a crocodile to take up veganism. It is not a moral failing; it is just not in the creature’s diet.
The same pattern shows up everywhere else. Following the law on a rebid somehow counts as a procedural breakdown. Unanswered emails get treated like Watergate and answered ones like coverups. A supportive housing project for people with behavioral health needs gets described as if it is a spa for felons, when in reality it is the only kind of housing the private sector will not go near without a hazmat suit. And the funny part is that the “missing” Recompete data being demanded is not even required yet. Year One is setup and infrastructure, not outcomes, and this region is actually ahead of schedule. Treating a startup year like the autopsy of a five year program only works if you never bothered to read the contract, which might explain why the corpse keeps getting blamed for not getting up and walking.
What really stands out is the total lack of curiosity about how any of this works. It is all reflex, no meaningful research. Shaw warned about the danger of false knowledge, and the irony of seeing that quote deployed here would be impressive if it were not so expected. Shaw was talking about people who speak with absolute confidence about things they have barely skimmed. If he were alive, he would probably ask for royalties.
Criticism is healthy. Scrutiny is necessary. But when every topic, housing, workforce, public safety, gets fed through the same grinder, you are not exposing anything. You are just stamping out identical sausages and insisting each one is a revelation. Eventually it stops looking like watchdogging and starts looking like a franchise operation with a very limited menu. The only real mystery left is how someone can run an echo chamber this tight while insisting he is the lone independent mind in the room.
But, Powder, buddy -- we KNOW the name of the writer of the CC Watchdog. We can talk with him, in person. We can beg to disagree and debate him. We can write our own substack columns to rebut him.
To quote the caterpillar (from Alice In Wonderland) "who are you"?
To come in as a mysterious, anonymous critic, (a la Program Think, Spittle, or Michelin Inspectors) gets pretty old. Although you always make SOME good points, the fact you cannot reveal yourself is troubling.
Public debate isn’t a personality contest. The Watchdog’s claims don’t get truer because he signs his name, and mine don’t get weaker because I’m not handing out headshots. If there’s something wrong in what I said, point to it. ‘Who are you?’ isn’t a rebuttal; it’s what people ask when they’ve run out of anything useful to say.
ouch PM... you must have stubbed your toe when you swung out of your tree this morning. Sometimes you just seem to come out swinging, and mostly angry.
Geez, and I've always been your defender.
I think you are devolving into being a contrarian instead of a useful critic.
Monkey, your extreme jealously of Jeff's writing abilities (and able to grow his substack beyond anything anyone would want to read from you) is obvious. What's not obvious, to most, is this is the way you get attention. I agree, I am feeding you peanuts to give you the desired attention. You are good at hitting people's buttons, congratulations to that writing ability!
I’ll give him this much: he’s got a remarkable talent for volume. Not everyone can produce that many words with that little evidence and still say it with a straight face. The jealousy story, the attention story, the AI‑betrayal melodrama, the fan‑club hymn, well, that’s what people reach for when the argument itself is apparently off‑limits. When the evidence runs out, the improvising starts, and it always sounds exactly like this.
However, every writer does evolve to write to the audience (and it's easier to write long than shorter. Believe me, mastering a 500 word essay is difficult.) And, trying to write 5 or 6 days a week -- is an impossible hurdle. One I couldn't do, and I write a lot -- and have for years.
I am amazed how much CCWD is able to produce. But, its a style, and become what people expect.
However, I'm glad that stories are covered that I would (otherwise) not know about. So, the value it brings is worth the long (sometimes repetitive) read. I find it assuring that someone is doing this -- and has spawned some other hyperlocal substacks. This is a good thing.
Silence is not a good thing.
so bring something to the party PM.... besides griping.
The commissioners did not answer yesterday's question about how quickly they have acted on efforts to rename the courthouse while other issues languish for months and years, but the county administrator, Todd Mielke, did (read his reply below). Here is today's question to the commissioners:
Dear Commissioners,
Does it concern you that the County’s Recompete Plan Coordinator — whose job is to help people into sustainable employment — publicly states that part of her work involves “shining a light on white supremacy and capitalism”? Given that Recompete is a multi-million-dollar workforce initiative aimed at economic recovery, do you feel this kind of ideological framing aligns with the primary goal of getting economically struggling residents into jobs?
--------
Good morning, Jeff.
The scheduling of any meetings regarding the request to honor Justice Susan Owens has been driven by me, not the commissioners.
I was first contacted by the Peninsula Chapter of the Washington Women Attorneys last Spring – not long after the death of Justice Owens. They were looking for a way to honor Justice Owens and knew she had got her start as a district court judge in Clallam County – specifically as the district court judge in Forks and also serving as a contracted tribal judge for the Lower Elwha Tribe and Quileute Tribe (have not confirmed whether she also did contract work with the Makah Tribe). At that time, they were interested in the placement of a plaque, monument, or bench somewhere on the Courthouse Campus, noting that Port Angeles is the County Seat (even though Justice Owen’s work as a Clallam County judge was in Forks) . The goal of the group was to have something in place by the anniversary of Justice Owen’s death (late March 2026). They wanted to know what the process would be to have their request approved and proceed.
By early to mid-summer of last year, we introduced the topic to the BOCC at one of their Work Sessions. Commissioners were agreeable to the request and directed me and the Director of the County Parks, Fair, & Facilities Department to work with the group in refining the proposal, determining the cost and the group’s financial commitment, and ultimately the timing of the project. At that point, communication stopped. I assumed the group was working to get cost estimates on a plaque/monument/bench and engage in fundraising.
I was recontacted last Fall (I believe in mid- to late-October)… This time with a revised request to either name the entire Courthouse building or one of the courtrooms in honor of Justice Owens. While County Commissioners throughout Washington are responsible for the “real estate” ownership in each County, I advised this request was significantly different than the original request and that it would need to go back to the BOCC. The month of November proved to be difficult to get anything scheduled before the BOCC due to conflicting schedules, a Leadership Conference, and the Thanksgiving holiday. I was able to speak with commissioners individually during the first half of December. While each was open to discussing the request further, they also wanted me to get input from the judges. Each of the judges that I spoke with – some who had interacted with Justice Owens during their legal careers and considered her a friend – stated they thought Justice Owens would feel being honored in the Clallam County Courthouse would be “awkward” since her only time presiding over court in that building was as a pro-tem judge. Additionally, they pointed out that once Susan Owens became a Supreme Court Justice, her frequent visits back to Clallam County were to Forks – especially for nearly every Fourth of July weekend – and she considered Forks as her “hometown”. When she hosted the entire Supreme Court in Clallam County, she took them to Forks and showed them her courtroom there. She did not take them to the Clallam County Courthouse.
After the first of this year, I was contacted again by the Washington Women Attorneys representative inquiring as to the status of the request and emphasizing they were hoping to have something in place by the time of the anniversary of the death of Justice Owens. I then also reached out to Rod Fleck to determine whether Forks was pursuing any form of honoring Justice Owens. Rod stated they were working on a casting of her signature to place inside the courtroom where she presided. They had not had a discussion on whether to actually name the courtroom in her honor.
At that point, I determined I did not have consensus on how best to honor Justice Owens. I placed the item on the agenda for a Work Session before the BOCC in January. Proponents spoke to why they were making the request, and why they felt the honor should be in Port Angeles. Commissioners instructed me to meet with the proponents (which I have done) and develop options for their consideration. I’m working on those and have recommended to Commissioners that they receive public input on the proposal. That is scheduled for March. I have also been researching whether any county in Washington has named their courthouse after someone other than the name of the county (I have found none – but some counties have named other buildings after individuals). While naming buildings after individuals is common practice at the federal level, it appears rare among Washington counties.
So this has been the process and the timeline of events. I received a request…I took that request to the BOCC…and I have been following through on the direction I have received from the BOCC. While you may believe this topic is being “fast tracked”, I can assure you that the proponents and the contact with the Lower Elwha tribe believe just the opposite – that this process has taken far too long.
I do want to mention one additional item. In your more recent comments at one of the Commissioner meetings, you seemed to question whether Justice Owens’ tie to Clallam County was significant enough for recognition, and frankly whether her accomplishments were worthy of recognition (that was my perception of your communication). Justice Owens claimed Clallam County, specifically the Forks area, as her home. Even after rising to the Supreme Court bench, she made frequent visits to the community and stayed in touch with friends living in the area. Very few people are questioning her ties to this community. She rose to the highest level of the Judicial Branch in Washington State – from a small community. Something that has been extremely rare in Washington. She was known as one of the primary judicial experts on domestic violence issues and violence against women up and down the west coast and taught several classes and seminars on the subject. She had a remarkable career, and residents of Clallam County should be proud she considered this her home. I don’t believe we are debating whether she should be honored…I believe the issue at hand is how to best honor her. No final decision has been made…and a sincere effort is being made to gather input before making that decision.
Please let me know if you have any questions on this topic or need additional information.
Regards,
Todd
Below is a modeled good-governance individual commissioner reply: Governing with alignment—ensuring the public narrative and measurable workforce outcomes match.
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for your question regarding the Recompete initiative and the public framing associated with it.
Clallam County’s responsibility in administering any publicly funded workforce program is grounded in constitutional structure and statutory authority. Political power is inherent in the people (Washington State Constitution, art. I, § 1), and county legislative authority must be exercised openly and lawfully (RCW 42.30; Municipal Research and Services Center [MRSC], 2024). As commissioners, our role is governance: setting policy direction, approving contracts, ensuring fiscal stewardship, and evaluating measurable outcomes. We do not direct individual staff messaging, but we are responsible for program alignment.
The most recent Clallam County Community Health Assessment (CHA 2022) continues to identify economic stability, workforce participation, housing affordability, and behavioral health as interconnected drivers of community well-being (Clallam County, 2022). These findings provide the current evidentiary foundation for initiatives like Recompete. The purpose of the Recompete initiative is to expand access to sustainable employment and strengthen long-term economic resilience in distressed communities. That mission is measurable.
This ties directly to what I have described as a Good Governance principle:
"Trust is sustained when public narratives align with measurable results."
Public workforce initiatives must serve all eligible residents neutrally and lawfully. When public communications adopt broader ideological framing, it can create concern if the framing appears disconnected from the statutory mission. The appropriate governance test is not the rhetoric itself — it is whether outcomes demonstrate mission alignment.
Accordingly, the questions I focus on are:
1. Are more residents entering the workforce?
2. Are wages increasing in targeted sectors?
3. Are employers filling critical vacancies?
4. Are federally required performance benchmarks being met?
5. Are deliverables transparently reported to the public?
If measurable outcomes align with the stated purpose of the Recompete grant and the documented needs identified in the 2022 CHA, then the initiative is functioning as intended. If they do not, narrative framing — from any perspective — cannot substitute for documented results.
Public trust grows when what leaders say matches what the data shows. That is the standard I apply to all multi-million-dollar initiatives, including Recompete.
Respectfully,
Commissioner
Clallam County Board of Commissioners
References
Clallam County. (2022). Community health assessment (CHA 2022). https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20545/Community-Health-Assessment-2022
Municipal Research and Services Center. (2024). The Open Public Meetings Act – How it applies to Washington cities, counties, and special purpose districts. https://sao.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-08/Open-Public-Meetings-Act.pdf
Washington State Constitution, art. I, § 1 (1889). https://leg.wa.gov/state-laws-and-rules/washington-state-constitution/
That was a quick reply, Jeff. Of all the chances to respond, you receive one now and a very comprehensive one at that.
Chat GPT can toss word salad for them now!
Mr Mielke, I feel you have opened a line of communication with the taxpayer. I believe you have a sincere desire to relay the progress of the issues raised. I will quote a paragraph you wrote, as I feel this is important:
“Commissioners instructed me to meet with the proponents (which I have done) and develop options for their consideration. I’m working on those and have recommended to Commissioners that they receive public input on the proposal. That is scheduled for March. I have also been researching whether any county in Washington has named their courthouse after someone other than the name of the county (I have found none – but some counties have named other buildings after individuals). While naming buildings after individuals is common practice at the federal level, it appears rare among Washington counties."
The renaming of courthouses is rare because those counties have enough common sense not to.It would show preference over others 'prejudice-racism ect ect ect but some clallam county employees & others do not have enough common sense to figure this out beforehand.
It certainly would not be a display of common sense and funds used for all the people.
When they left get mad they won’t have a statue to tear down, so will the court house be ripped apart out of protest? This is yet another Clallam County episode of majoring in the minors.
Let's rename Clallam County: FRANCE. You know, after Kommissar French.
Changing the name of the court house is one topic, but more importantly is changing the names of people who work in the courthouse! READ THIS
https://www.olympicherald.com/p/disgraceful-effort-to-silence-public/comments
Disgraceful Effort to Silence Public Discussions About Port Angeles Attorney’s Adultery and Misconduct.
I know of some terrible stories about both parties -- crazy stuff and "good old boy" favoritism that causes people to lose money because ... well because those two colluded.
The worst thing is that the only option left in WA for OPMA (open public meetings act) violations, or ethics violations, or even running in an election while not qualified --- is to file a lawsuit. With complicit (appointed by Inslee) judges ... who operate on the lawyer cabal rules -- there is absolutely zero ability to be heard, with a great risk of $$.
No single person has the money to be heard, it's outrageous court cost plus lawyer fees. Even Arbitration is through the roof! Been there and doing it as we speak, I'm 2 years in. Too deep to back out. It always comes down to "the winner is the one with the most money"
I don't envy your position. I remember a Charles Dickens novel in which a huge estate was devoured by legal fees the eat upon it like termites
I feel like we don’t have a boss we can report egregious behavior to. When the Three Amigos are at the top of the heap, the average citizen has no where to turn except voting this thug-ring out. I would just like to report them and state some of the culpable behavior.
How do you release such angst and not let the slime pull you under ? Is purgatory where politicians are placed for all eternity? Not Catholic but a good afterlife scheme.
You'll enjoy this latest ruling.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17Xo6mzTUv/
the irony that someone named Nixon was against missing recorded minutes.
The French Connection
Let's hope we can say, French got Fried
you spelled that wrong, it's FIRED
He is a Muth-air.
Todd, very few people are questioning her ties to Clallam County because we have short or non existent memories of her. She deserves a bench. The cost to rename a street, a building or an administration are beyond reason. This county does not have funds to do a “feel good”
because a woman held a seat of importance. Just the time spent on this discussion should anger tax payers. I bet if you got 10 citizens together they could think of 10 worthy candidates to rename a building after. But honestly, who gives a rats behind?
Will punctuation count on the final?
What about spelling?
What if you are sick that day?
If we fail do we get to go to graduation?
What if we can’t pass the make up test?
Seniors learn to ask a bunch of nonsensical questions, but cant make change because they altered George Washington’s look. ( it’s on the quarter, kids)
Jeff did you recognize the huge number grammatical and punctual errors?
Good Governance Daily Proverb:
In a constitutional system, sovereignty rests with the people. Public officials are temporary stewards of taxpayer resources. Trust is sustained when public narratives align with measurable results.
Temporary. Public officials get cozy thinking it's a lifetime appointment.
except ALL of the laws that protected citizens have been neutered and teeth pulled. The best we can do is gum them and spit on them.
Good morning Jeff,
It amazes me always...we watch all the virtue signaling with no grasp of reality. Big government is nothing but waste on top of waste. As long as you can spew out the lies and sleep at night, good to go... I have zero tolerance for that !
Thanks for all you do and have a great day. I'm picking up more CC watchdog stickers today. Let me know who wants one all.
Molly Pringle's LinkedIn page describes her motives as fighting against white people and entrepreneurship. How does a communist ideologue become top dog in an organization that reaches out to the community to include everyone so that the economy can produce individual freedoms? This is why CC fails. Mike French's dependence on gov't to solve our problems will only breed misery, depair, and destitution.
Jake Seegers 2026!
Portland!
Denise Lapio I have met hundreds of social-justice warriors who share the resume and philosophy of Molly. There must be some education factory somewhere programming them to all use the same stale euphemisms and rhetoric. Politically her ilk are very effective not only in government but inside the greedy corporate world and law schools. The basic problem I see is that our evolution designed us to value security over freedom. "Individual freedom" creates a better society but once freedom occurs Secretariat is separated from "Mr. Ed". The modern thought process does not allow for the concept of superior humans. Everyone must be the same. Your last sentence reminded me of a quote by Thomas Hobbes. Ha Ha
LOL I bet Mollie lives inside a White neighborhood and everybody at that location expresses shame for European genetics. Is that performance art of political calculation?
I see a lot of gas lighting. Lie, lie often, direct the truth elsewhere, so people think there’s no issue.
All I see is our tax payer money going out but not getting good results
I agree but my federal income tax bill punishes success.
I have a job for Miss Pringle! Why does OUR taxpayer money keep going to Seattle and Tacoma contractors for PA schools? It is about 150M in tax dollars slated to go to COs
outside our tax base. What a boom to our economy in CC if it stayed here. The problem is that they do not care! The JPS building was going to Seattle based COs and now we have an opportunity to keep it here. Private construction projects seem to use local EC workers (Amazon, Shipley Center,Tribe remodel Casino,Drving Range, Pavillion, and quite a few
other projects I have supplied.It seems this she/her Miss Pringle might do her job description and work FOR our needs instead of her/ she priorities. We do not need more Portland idealogic people running our County. Go Home Miss Pringle! Oh maybe you can take Frenchie with u.
I don't know Miss Pringle but I know the type. They are addicted to certificates of merit. For some unknown reason they now wear huge eye glasses. When I was younger nobody wished to be a "four eyes". People paid for surgery to correct vision. Now myopia is a status symbol. I guarantee next hearing aids will become popular.
I think she /her is blind, deaf and dumber. They get that way by living in Oregon. I think it is something in their water or toilet. Steve maybe we should flush the toilet
The JPS building has still not rebid. This story was first exposed on CCWD by me 4 months ago.. an outside Seattle Electric Co bid 1.1 m lower than our local contractors. They left off
quite a few items. Hopefully a local contractors will be sucessful this next go around. I will let you know after rebid.
Whoever is tasked with reading the bids should be aware of whether the bidder has addressed all the requirements the job. A bid coming in far below others should be an indication of a problem and should be investigated. Who is deciphering the bids? Also, language requiring local employment MUST be included in the request for bid.
Your public officials address the bids. Incompetently at its finest. They do not care about the local contractors. On the JPS job local contractors were 2nd and third with local electrical subs. Now we will see what happens next go around.
you mean like how a marketing company REQUIRED (in all bid notices) to be in good standing with Washington corporate papers, wasn't even listed as a foreign corporation?
Anybody that pulls their bid should penalized.
There was a bid bond required at bid time and they obviously let the EC out of the obligation of a $700k penalty. It would be interesting to see how that was handled.
LOL Eric Fehrmann your second sentence reminded me of a film I saw a long time ago. The Towering Inferno. I am always suspicious of any cost existing far below the competitive bids. I generally though do not accept the opposite thesis either and especially regarding restaurant cuisine and service.
jedj, I do remember your first comment on this subject and it made me raise an eyebrow. You have given subsequent comments and facts, which I do follow. Keep us informed as I think this is an evolving story behind a story.
The light of truth. Finding documented evidence of dispensing our county monies to those who are not residents could be explained if, big if, there were no alternatives. Most people forget the use of out of county contractors has an added costs. Travel and outside suppliers. Secondly, to include individuals whose prejudices are publicized ("shining a light on white supremacy and capitalism") defies our laws.
Sheldon Right on! I sell most of the products on these jobs and work for the local tax paying CC when we get the order. That said it sucks when a distributor not in our area gets to furnish the gear and lighting on PA schools. Bought in Tacoma and no tax money for PA. No wonder they are broke.
…can hardly wait for Nov.
SUCCESS!!! Take as much of your money as possible. Spend it, spent more than you have.
Have no positive metrics to show for it.
SUCCESS!! And you fall for it over and over... "But I heard French did good things..."
I enjoyed the first two lines of your statement. I will pretend I did not read the third and I love the final line and the part about falling for a deception over and over.
Just say the words. If I was hiring anyone and they trot out the ridiculous and conflicting terminology I'd look elsewhere.
Isn't Pringle white?
Who hired her?
But she's a different kind of white person. So, that makes things different. And she'll get different results. It makes all the difference.
Hucksters. No different than snake oil salesman, CEOs, PBH CEO, etc, I could go on.
She's nearly KKK white.
That was a very colorful metaphor
When I attended junior high the White students with the tropical in January were unmasked. They were the wealthy ones who flew to Acapulco for vacation during America Christmas.
Denise, that's a different way to look at it.
LOL, Jennifer!
Did you two pass paper notes in high school?
Possibly.
They hire themselves and we should not misunderstand their legislative and judicial power. Unfortunately my data base is experience and not controlled experiments but the feminist justice-Warriers who write grants are far less angry than feminist attorneys. Their profession depends upon conflicting terminology.
It aways amazes me that politicians keep wanting to do MORE, MORE, MORE so they demand MORE, MORE, MORE tax money, and then do a crappy job with it, as evidenced by fiascos like Newscum's $30B non-existent bullet train to nowhere, and locally a growing "homeless" problem.
Most people simply want the basics-- Sheriff, Fire Dept, schools, libraries, an emergency fund, and want their "leaders" to do excellent jobs with those and keep taxes to a minimum. Yet, these "leaders" do the opposite-- try to do too much, do a shitty job of it, then cry for more money.
The new projected cost to finish bullet train has a 98.1 billion $ price tag. That makes your point much stronger of SPEND MORE. If we could only tax the people that vote for this crap we would not have any taxes.
Growing up and now retired as a member of the only unrecognized minority, ( Caucasian, male and heterosexual ), in the construction industry, I learned first hand what discrimination was. Government, via all public works projects, mandated and may still mandate varying "minority" ownership participation percentages in any and all projects. 100% minority participation is legally fine, but 100% non-minority participation is not. Along with those mandates came staffed offices of compliance, certification, voluminous documentation and monitoring with their staggering tax payer costs. It was beyond frustrating to be the successful bidder on a project that was not allowed the work because of my Caucasian, male, heterosexual handicap. Even more frustrating was that the system failed at it's goal. The emerging need for MWBE participation in construction projects was so great that those qualifying as MWBE were awarded too much work with the associated cash flow challenges forcing them into bankruptcy. With minority status being ubiquitous and something that can never not exist the MWBE program was and remains completely fruitless. If the goal of making some minority status does succeed in making that status a majority, a new minority is born. It is a tail chase. The only true measure of competence, deservedness or success is merit. Merit is color, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation blind. Without merit the fastest 100 yard dash competitor would not win the race because of deemed inadequate physical characteristics. Government has no place in social engineering. We do not pay taxes to insure a dark skin toned, lesbian, female gets some position. We pay taxes in the hope that the most competent will represent us, regardless of physical characteristics or ethnicity. It bears repeating that there can never not be minorities. That is the nature of nature.
Garry, IMO President Trump is in agreement with you. Next he will hit the "Indian Preference" hiring practices in some government jobs. It was never fair.
Jennifer, the right and left both seem to hate him now because Pam Bondi is hated by the right wing. I hope that it is political theater.
Well, as Jeff Tozzer has done his usual excellent job outlining the issues regarding this absolutely bizarre approach to problem solving that French and the blatantly local political production of the "Freakish French Follies" are busy orchestrating, I don't need to attempt to reinvent the wheel. However, I have always intensely studied the honorable science of Economics and this all-important subject of "Economic Development" which we are being told is supposed to be desired by the local government management. Is it? Really? I just have to wonder if the REAL goal of the Ozias, Johnson & French clown show (AKA; "The Three Stooges") is to actually improve our local economy at all? Is their underhanded goal the exact opposite of what they are openly stating? Could there be a completely different evil destructive agenda that "we" are not properly understanding here, that is being cloaked by the usual treasonously anti-constitutional crowd? I would hope that by now most Americans would understand that this "White supremacy" BS is nothing but a disgusting "dog whistle" to agitate the lower primitive life forms of the sickest & least Intelligent primates, so I will pay no attention to that total garbage. That is very clearly just a pre-planned "feel good" excuse for their INTENTIONAL policy failures... Ah, but the subject of "Capitalism" is in fact the heart of the issue~! I find it the sickest of Ironies (perverted jokes) that the very criminals in our society, politics and government who have been methodically destroying "Free Market Capitalism" (and common law standards) for decades, to replace it with THEIR own "crony capitalism" (AKA; "kings and queens") that always excludes the free market and picks THEIR own "winners", are now the very ones who push this phony "anti-capitalism" BS~! So, hopefully understanding that you CAN"T have a truly functional economy without fostering a vibrant free market economy that embraces a healthy honest capitalistic environment, let us ask just ONE real question so we can best understand what The Three Stooges and their local Three Ringed Circus are REALLY doing~! Anyone with a modicum of understanding of Economic reality who possesses a minimum of functioning brain cells would take just one look at this "supposed" effort to improve the local economy and ask just ONE very serious question. Has ANYONE who is involved in this government management debacle so much as even attempted to seek business owners who may be interested in either relocating their existing business or building new businesses here? Only a complete idiot would expect that the struggling existing businesses here would be in any position to substantially increase their wages and/or hire more employees without needing them~! I find it hard to believe that anyone would be ignorant of the fact that an enormous number of businesses are fleeing numerous states like California, New York and others in droves, to relocate in other states that are more than happy to welcome their operations. Of course, the economy killing policies & actions of The Three Stooges would and do definitely concern ANY reasonably intelligent business owner, so that serious problem needs to be addressed first because no one is going to relocate their business from one inhospitable economic environment to another, but has ANYONE who is managing this "supposed" government effort to improve the economy made any phone calls, placed any ads, put out the word, or made ANY effort at all to look for existing businesses or new businesses that may be interested in operating in our community? That is in fact the very job description of ANY individual who has the title of "Economic Development manager"~! If the answer to this key question is "no" or "only a minimally weak effort", we know beyond any and all doubt that this phony facade of improving our communities' economic health and providing more good paying jobs is nothing but an evil political scam, has been all along, and is also in fact an intentional outright attack upon our community~! No if's, and's, or but's, because there is no way that any economy can EVER be improved, unless the same very basic steps are followed to accomplish that goal~! The real field of Economics is one of absolutely strict science and NEVER an "interpretative dance" of endless subjective "imaginary truths", any more than the science of human biology can ever be perverted to support the preposterous claim that there are more than two sexes, so the sooner that these political agenda driven freak shows are eliminated from our government and society the better~! No amount of money will EVER accomplish the goal of economic health, unless and until that local community that desires economic health PROVES that it will foster and support the environment that is conducive to economic health~!
Sincerely, Mike
Mike the Three Stooges destroyed the pluming structures of Beverly Hills mansions. They belonged inside a mental institution. When I was in elementary school every male imitated a favorite stooge yet no female enjoyed the same humor.
Good evening, Patriot Steve O~!
You get it~!!! Yes, that was my very point! This local idiot clown show is destroying our community very much like The Three Stooges were a thin facade of slapstick humor that was really intended to disrupt & destroy the American society in communities, schools and at homes all across the US! There was also Laurel & Hardy, Jerry Lewis, Jim Carey, and every other jerk weed that was a nightmare of a societal wrecking ball wrapped up in a twisted sense of humor~! I am not against comedy mind you, but even as a little child myself I also could see the effects of these Hollywood jokers & fools on society. You are very observant :) Ha! At one point, when I was still in elementary school, I remember watching cartoons on TV and sure as heck, there were other children in the playground who were reenacting the exact same script just hours later~! Of course, back then there were only three TV stations where I lived, so it was far easier to notice and put the pieces together... HA! So, like you, I have been observing "Humonkey" behavior for a very long time ;-) We as a species are quite a sight! I sure am glad that I missed the Bevis & Butthead and Rin & Stimpy years~! Good God~! Yes, The Three Stooges were mildly entertaining, and Laurel & Hardy did have their moments, but the great WC Fields had an in-your-face sharp intellect that was pretty direct and he could insult people but make them think it was a compliment! Probably my favorite as a young child was Peter Sellers, especially in the original Pink Panther~! What a wild ride that was for me as a young Goomer! Sadly, the world got pretty dark & ugly over the past 20 years or so, thanks to the evil satanic Globalists, but I have been somewhat of a comedian all my life so occasionally I strike a blow for laughter every now and then out of spite~! ;-)) Much will be coming out about the entertainment industry and especially the Hollywood criminal cabal, but folks need to be thankful for the good entertainment that they had over the years and learn not to worship these fake heroes that they have been putting on pedestals... Everyone needs to be their own hero and do their best to live up to it~! My mom's side of the family was deeply involved in the Hollywood entertainment industry since the black & white days, so I always knew more of what was really going on and I didn't get caught up in the world of fakery like most others do. I even worked in the industry for a couple of months in the late 80's, but that was more to do my Constitutional duty than anything else. I never personally saw any of the dark stuff that is coming out now, but I did look for evidence of it while I was there because I had heard some disturbing things... Anyway, keep up the good work and stay frosty because much is headed our way as "we" continue to save America~!
Sincerely, Mike
What about local companies that may want to or would like to expand.
Absolutely, Patriot TLL~!
While we should be VERY careful NOT to support the local companies that are already operating here against the will and/or best interests of the local folks, like the Jamestown tribal government operations that are already robbing us blind and crushing many other small businesses that are here for instance, I FULLY believe in supporting ALL of our existing businesses FIRST~! Nothing could be fairer and in keeping with the American Constitution ;-) Of course, we local folks should already be doing our best to support our good local businesses, but they definitely deserve the opportunity to grow and expand as well. There really are not as many businesses left in our community after the man-made COVID disaster, and VERY few that are large scale employers, so what I was really suggesting is to encourage some new larger scale employers to move their operations here and/or start new larger-scale businesses here. I don't personally want to see a large footprint of heavy Industrial manufacturing here because we are not really capable of dealing with that for a number of reasons, but there are a HUGE number of small to midsized light manufacturing and many other middle sized businesses that would not endanger our environment & eco system with pollution, or strain our existing infrastructure, that we sure could make room for here~! Obviously, once again, the corrupt anti-business and "no growth" policies of the government would have to loosen up enough to accommodate for more single-family housing units, but I am NOT suggesting that we grow too fast without a short and long-term common-sense plan... That is all part of a proper "community development" plan, which always has numerous important moving parts to consider, honestly advise the community about, and plan for... We do have great potential here in Clallam County and it needs to be developed so the treasures that we have are protected and not destroyed or negatively impacted, but where the community AND businesses win together. Win-win outcomes. If the community plan was properly designed and in the hands of good & honorable folks, I am absolutely confident that we could not only protect but actually in some obvious cases expand our current treasures that make our community awesome, but that we could also create NEW long-term treasures to be very proud of. That would make our community even better, more prosperous, and enjoyable! Slow deliberate common-sense growth that is orchestrated reasonably and compassionately is the key to all of our problems here, and I believe that the good folks of this community would be FAR happier if they were told the truth and they truly had a say in these important decisions. Maybe I am wrong, but I just have to believe that a well-informed community that has their wishes respected and honored, always makes for a better community~! It sure would be better than the underhanded back door dealing "Bull in a China shop" wrecking ball approach of these lunatics that we have in government now~! You do ask a VERY good question TLL, so keep up the great work~! ;-)
Sincerely, Mike
The Oppression Olympics continue. They hand pick the event organizers to serve in various positions to keep the Oppression Olympics going forward year after year.
This might not seem logical, and it isn't, but the Job Creation portion of the Recompete grant our EDC applied for was not funded. Projects were funded, but there was no actual job creation or accountability. That was the federal decision. Please go back to the Coffee with Colleen program on Recompete for details.
Every time there is a warning about “groupthink,” I have to laugh. It is like watching someone complain about echo chambers while standing in the middle of one with a megaphone. The choreography in that comment section could qualify for synchronized swimming.
And the private sector fairy tale is the same routine. If we just handed everything to developers, we are told, homes would pop up like dandelions and come in under budget out of sheer civic virtue. Meanwhile, in the real world, developers take the subsidies, take the tax breaks, take the goodwill, and then, right before the ribbon cutting, announce the numbers just do not pencil out. Suddenly the “affordable” project is market rate, the rents jump, and the public gets a fine so small it should come with a coupon. Seattle is still trying to forget The Jule, and that is before you even get to places like The Addison or The Lyric, where affordability lasted about as long as a campaign promise. Developers treat affordability the way tourists treat souvenir T shirts, something you buy on the way in and throw away once you are home. And expecting private developers to build supportive housing is like expecting a crocodile to take up veganism. It is not a moral failing; it is just not in the creature’s diet.
The same pattern shows up everywhere else. Following the law on a rebid somehow counts as a procedural breakdown. Unanswered emails get treated like Watergate and answered ones like coverups. A supportive housing project for people with behavioral health needs gets described as if it is a spa for felons, when in reality it is the only kind of housing the private sector will not go near without a hazmat suit. And the funny part is that the “missing” Recompete data being demanded is not even required yet. Year One is setup and infrastructure, not outcomes, and this region is actually ahead of schedule. Treating a startup year like the autopsy of a five year program only works if you never bothered to read the contract, which might explain why the corpse keeps getting blamed for not getting up and walking.
What really stands out is the total lack of curiosity about how any of this works. It is all reflex, no meaningful research. Shaw warned about the danger of false knowledge, and the irony of seeing that quote deployed here would be impressive if it were not so expected. Shaw was talking about people who speak with absolute confidence about things they have barely skimmed. If he were alive, he would probably ask for royalties.
Criticism is healthy. Scrutiny is necessary. But when every topic, housing, workforce, public safety, gets fed through the same grinder, you are not exposing anything. You are just stamping out identical sausages and insisting each one is a revelation. Eventually it stops looking like watchdogging and starts looking like a franchise operation with a very limited menu. The only real mystery left is how someone can run an echo chamber this tight while insisting he is the lone independent mind in the room.
But, Powder, buddy -- we KNOW the name of the writer of the CC Watchdog. We can talk with him, in person. We can beg to disagree and debate him. We can write our own substack columns to rebut him.
To quote the caterpillar (from Alice In Wonderland) "who are you"?
To come in as a mysterious, anonymous critic, (a la Program Think, Spittle, or Michelin Inspectors) gets pretty old. Although you always make SOME good points, the fact you cannot reveal yourself is troubling.
Jeff will accept any points of opposition.
Blah blah blah...
Public debate isn’t a personality contest. The Watchdog’s claims don’t get truer because he signs his name, and mine don’t get weaker because I’m not handing out headshots. If there’s something wrong in what I said, point to it. ‘Who are you?’ isn’t a rebuttal; it’s what people ask when they’ve run out of anything useful to say.
ouch PM... you must have stubbed your toe when you swung out of your tree this morning. Sometimes you just seem to come out swinging, and mostly angry.
Geez, and I've always been your defender.
I think you are devolving into being a contrarian instead of a useful critic.
The metaphor is perfect Mimi Smith-Dvorak but why is PM so angry? Did you insult his mother?
Powdermonkey at this time what statement would be useful?
Monkey, your extreme jealously of Jeff's writing abilities (and able to grow his substack beyond anything anyone would want to read from you) is obvious. What's not obvious, to most, is this is the way you get attention. I agree, I am feeding you peanuts to give you the desired attention. You are good at hitting people's buttons, congratulations to that writing ability!
PS Monkey, I'm glad you gave up relying on AI. Even AI turned on you. No matter how you fed it, it wouldn't agree with you.
I’ll give him this much: he’s got a remarkable talent for volume. Not everyone can produce that many words with that little evidence and still say it with a straight face. The jealousy story, the attention story, the AI‑betrayal melodrama, the fan‑club hymn, well, that’s what people reach for when the argument itself is apparently off‑limits. When the evidence runs out, the improvising starts, and it always sounds exactly like this.
Powder, TLTR is a real issue.
However, every writer does evolve to write to the audience (and it's easier to write long than shorter. Believe me, mastering a 500 word essay is difficult.) And, trying to write 5 or 6 days a week -- is an impossible hurdle. One I couldn't do, and I write a lot -- and have for years.
I am amazed how much CCWD is able to produce. But, its a style, and become what people expect.
However, I'm glad that stories are covered that I would (otherwise) not know about. So, the value it brings is worth the long (sometimes repetitive) read. I find it assuring that someone is doing this -- and has spawned some other hyperlocal substacks. This is a good thing.
Silence is not a good thing.
so bring something to the party PM.... besides griping.
Join the party.
Silence is not a good thing.
The metaphor was powerful. Monkeys and peanuts. Thanks Jennifer.
its not jealousy. PM is a very good writer.