Yesterday my family and I decided we were going to go for a bike ride along the Olympic Discovery Trail. We wanted to ride from Hollywood beach towards Sequim.
I saw more homeless drug addicts out and about in PA than I had ever seen in my 15 years of living in Sequim. It was absolutely stunning!
We stopped at Swain’s along the way and on N. Albert St. I noticed the condemned building on the right side of the intersection.
I think the building was once a Serenity House resource center but I don’t really remember what was once there.
The building is now condemned with gang tags spray painted across the facade. The windows are broken and boarded up. It looks like people are breaking in to live inside and do drugs. There are piles of garbage all over outside.
In one particularly large pile of rubbish was a body of a skeletal man lying in the pile of trash. My 11 year old daughter spotted him and exclaimed that, “There’s a dead guy lying in the garbage mom”.
We drove over to Swain’s and heard that someone had called the Sheriff.
In the Swain’s parking lot was another dude having a psychotic break yelling and mumbling incoherently.
Across the street at the Jessie Webster park there were broken down vehicles/RV’s and an assortment of motley characters who looked like addicts weaving in and out of the trees in the meadow.
We left and drove downtown to Hollywood beach where we saw a dude with a large knife shoved in his belt and another cast of homeless characters dotted across the landscape of the downtown area.
My daughter got scared when she saw the angry, aggressive man with the large knife and we decided that we had seen enough and left.
I left feeling depressed that this is what life has become here.
I don’t have a problem with the homeless. I have a problem with the Homeless Industrial Complex.
Downtown Port Angeles is slowly shaping up to resemble Skid Row in LA.
I’m not really sure how you will attract people to come support all the “cultural art” when you can’t even go downtown without your family being terrified of being stabbed or robbed while in town.
Erin, I've never really toured like you did and had that type of close up reality of PA. I honestly and with true sincerity believe the council members should take the same route you did on your bike and be shown where our taxes are NOT going and understand PA is not yet there as a cultural center to be funded by citizens who are not far behind becoming homeless themselves. Thank you for writing.
Good news. All this will go away soon once the Homeless Highrise has been constructed, using your taxes. In no time you'll be able to safely venture out with your daughter.
Machiavellianism and a twisted form of Communistic Marxism made a baby and named it Clallam County.🤣
I’ll probably get canceled for saying it but I’m tired of the demoralizing tactics being used to upset and scare the population of this county.
I’m really sad to see such a cool place being run into the ground by absolute ignorance.
My family and I moved here to take care of grandma, who now is dying with Alzheimer’s/Dementia. We are planning to move immediately once grandma passes on because of the crazy policy being implemented across the state.
That's so sad, Erin, but understandable. You are doing the right thing, caring for family. Resources for those caring for loved ones experiencing memory loss may seem sparse, but they are out there. Contact me if I can help.
Erin, I'm sad you've had such a bad experience in Clallam County, honestly. We are losing good people like you to what you have stated and it's understandable. It's hard enough for you dealing with your grandma. Jeff does not cancel anyone, that's why this substack works (he may ask someone to clean up their language) Thank you for your insight.
Erin, I don't know if you are new to this substack or not, but I have never seen a huge response of likes for your honest review of PA. You must have hit home to what we are all seeing. I hate to see you leave. Take care my friend!
It’s just getting weirder and weirder Jennifer, and it’s starting to spread into Sequim!
I saw a dude yesterday have a psychotic break on Washington Avenue. Yelling and screaming and flailing around on the sidewalk.
I’m really starting to believe the theory that these poor people ARE being bussed into the Peninsula. How else can we explain the influx of this many unstable people into a previously safe community?
This has become the elephant in the room for the people living in both PA and Sequim.
So, question one, Is the legal? 2- Are these so called people for the tax getting paid to support it? And I have to say otvagain, RECALL OZIAS. HE IS A CROOK.
If this county is in such a dire straits with the income our residents make why would they want to tax them more? Tax, fees they all diminish the quality of life for our county residents. The Olympic Park is our greatest asset. Why haven’t the county representatives forced the Goverment to replace the Lodge. If they are self insured there is no excuse for it not being rebuilt. Wake up people we have very poor leadership in this county.
There has been a meeting scheduled for several months between the commissioners and the head of the park, Sula Jacobs. It was slated for March. A week before the meeting, the date changed to "To be determined" without any explanation, and that is how it has remained throughout April.
The County and the National Park aren't even talking to each other.
Maybe we need to make a NGO and call it save the Alpine Marmots. We could get a Billion Dollar Grant and have the study performed out of the 100 Million Dollar Lodge that was built to house the researchers. The rest could go to the Grant writers.
John, with the dire straits of income for our residents, will the residents actually be able to afford going to the cultural events being funded? Maybe only the hand picked ones!
I'll need to reread this a few times, but what really caught my eye was the citizens being referred to as a "vocal minority". Where does that come from without any form of reference? Obviously, there isn't a vocal minority if they have to hand picked people to speak in support of the initiative. It really means the "minority" is a threatening "majority".
I believe I am one of a "Vocal Minority" standing against taxes to fund "ARTS". Maybe it's time to become more threatening. Didn't I read that Commissioner French professes to endorse public disobedience and actual destruction of property, and references the 'Boston Tea Party' as an example? (There was no property destruction, other than the tea)
Nothing in Clallam County surprises me any more, with these dishonest, corrupt miscreants running the show. We, the people, are a thorn in their sides, obstacles to their agendas. The more they can keep us in the dark the better. Remember the MAT clinic? It was a done deal before we ever heard about it. Now this, and all the rest in between.
Jeff, as always, you are insightful - and infuriating! Bravo!
Sounds like these Commissioners want to make our County another Park City, UT. A longing to live somewhere that is a something to elites seems important to them. Cater to the tourists that want culture and arts. We backwoods citizens don't seem to understand the importance of this, but the Commissioners will make sure we pay for it. Like it or not. Meanwhile, the County Fair gets budget cuts. From the kids in 4H barns, to my Niece and Nephew that enter Lego masterpieces and photography every year, I think there's a lot of art and culture going on in Clallam County. Without taxing the hell out of us for it.
This isn't the last, or first time Ozias has "orchestrated" actions behind the scenes to overcome the "vocal minority" which in my book are actually the majority.
Take for instance this "anonymous" letter he read into the record before anyone else spoke some years ago. One would be hard pressed to imagine he isn't receiving guidance from non-American agenda organizers. Organizers who want to control the agenda, and the citizens at large.
"Clallam County Commissioner Mark Ozias (D) facilitated the meeting and often interrupted those testifying, with various comments such as, ”put on your mask”. He also started off the testimonies with a hand-held letter, which he read at the beginning of the meeting. The letter he said, ”was from a lady”. The letter stated that she supported the mandate. It is unclear how he received the letter and who the author was as this information was not given."
Don't forget the sneaky petition gathering that shut down Towne Road for 2 years, contributed to a family losing its home and pets to fire, and cost this County millions. He's sneaky.
MK, thank you for this article. I never knew about this peaceful protest. Keep it up, I rely on CCWD for local news. I'm sure I would have read about it if CCWD had been around then.
If these sleazy underhanded criminals in the local government close our parks or turn them over to the local tribal government and/or shut down our beloved County fair, we here will IMMEDIATELY engage in a petition process to have these evil fools removed from office ASAP~! If we don't stop these backstabbing thieves, they will destroy our community, and the very safety of the good folks here could in time be in jeopardy again~! There would be no limits as to what crimes these criminals in and outside of the local government would and could engage in~! When you allow a thief to steal something small, they always steal bigger things until they are stopped~!!! Sincerely, Mike
I have an appreciation for the arts. Particularly local tribal art and specifically I admire the dual image art pieces consisting of a wildlife live image and it's spirit image. However;
that is me, my taste and my interest. I have no expectation of my fellow citizens paying for my art interests. Public display of art can be an enjoyment, but not at the expense of many who may not enjoy it. Appreciation for the arts is self explanatory. Taxation for art is not appreciation. It is you will pay for this, you will look at this and you will like it. This is a lot like the WEF credo; "you will own nothing and you will like it". The arts are created, promoted and financed by artists and those who appreciate it enough to pay for it. Take that proposed art tax money and light up some dark intersection or fix a pot-hole. Let the Commissioners buy their own art.
I like "The Arts". I don't like deals done in the dead of the night. Five years ago I probably would have supported the small tax increase. But we had $2.70 diesel. You could buy breakfast for two at a local cafe for $25.00 and property taxes were just a little over half of what they are now. Being relatively new in this community I held my judgement on the MAT clinic as drug addiction has affected my family personally and I'm all for treatment when a person has had enough and needs help to change. I use Jamestown Medical. I'm grateful for some of the Tribes Sevices. I suppose we'll see how far they go when the spigot of grant monies flow gets turned lower. In these times of eroding purchasing power and the single party State Legislature ratcheting up taxes this really needs to go to a public vote. I'm opposed to this for one reason. That is because its being back doored through. In a public vote I'd seriously look at it.
"Herbelin wasn’t writing to the public. He was emailing a group of “undisclosed recipients” asking for help swaying public meetings—before the public even knew the tax was back on the table."
Sounds like the commissioners and Sequim council are taking notes from each other. Arrangements being made for pro culture tax comments before the public knew the tax was back on; and Sequim council and their friends creating a 40-something page report on reasons to cancel the fireworks show, along with their friends speaking during public comment, before the public even knew fireworks were being discussed. Gee, I wonder how that happens?
From Wikipedia: "People's World, official successor to the Daily Worker, is a Marxist-Leninist and American leftist national daily online news publication. Founded by activists, socialists, communists, and those active in the labor movement in the early 1900s..."
Both. They win with lies, especially when coming from Timothy Wheeler. I remember reading this and wondering how Downer "changed the district she represented." I also remember reading on the PDC it's illegal to run just to oust someone, and that's exactly what she did. She stayed on council for a while then quit, guess it didn't matter any more as long as she had done her job and ousted Armacost.
Interesting article written in 2023. Many familiar names. The sure bet that the Democrats would win in the 2024 elections because Clallam County was the "bellwether" didn't pan out. Thanks again.
Winner or loser? What do you want to be? There is nothing in between, nothing. Best laid plans & a coordination of efforts & goals gets the win. Sitting back & watching it happen or expecting a win to manifest itself gets nothing. Crying about it later is a loser, period. I chose to win & so should anyone who cares about how their money is being spent. Any “Nays” yet?
You stated it, Jeff! Why do they need a tax when art is so profitable?! The scheme to bring in coordinated public comments by pro-arts tax supporters has been very evident at all the BoCC meetings. I'll keep speaking against it, too. So, all those opposed to ANOTHER tax, join us on Tuesday for the 10:00 BoCC meeting to voice your protest. This Wednesday is the deadline for the first installment for property taxes. I'll definitely be at that meeting to say my piece!
I listen in on the meetings occasionally, and once signed up to speak remotely. It's possible to still be as engaged as anyone else who attends in-person.
Their infatuation with property taxes smacks of the Soros goal to end private property ownership.
They just refuse to go after the world economy and Soros for requiring such a shipping emissions footprint. But taxing Soros would come out of their end of the kitty. So we get the property tax assault.
Yesterday my family and I decided we were going to go for a bike ride along the Olympic Discovery Trail. We wanted to ride from Hollywood beach towards Sequim.
I saw more homeless drug addicts out and about in PA than I had ever seen in my 15 years of living in Sequim. It was absolutely stunning!
We stopped at Swain’s along the way and on N. Albert St. I noticed the condemned building on the right side of the intersection.
I think the building was once a Serenity House resource center but I don’t really remember what was once there.
The building is now condemned with gang tags spray painted across the facade. The windows are broken and boarded up. It looks like people are breaking in to live inside and do drugs. There are piles of garbage all over outside.
In one particularly large pile of rubbish was a body of a skeletal man lying in the pile of trash. My 11 year old daughter spotted him and exclaimed that, “There’s a dead guy lying in the garbage mom”.
We drove over to Swain’s and heard that someone had called the Sheriff.
In the Swain’s parking lot was another dude having a psychotic break yelling and mumbling incoherently.
Across the street at the Jessie Webster park there were broken down vehicles/RV’s and an assortment of motley characters who looked like addicts weaving in and out of the trees in the meadow.
We left and drove downtown to Hollywood beach where we saw a dude with a large knife shoved in his belt and another cast of homeless characters dotted across the landscape of the downtown area.
My daughter got scared when she saw the angry, aggressive man with the large knife and we decided that we had seen enough and left.
I left feeling depressed that this is what life has become here.
I don’t have a problem with the homeless. I have a problem with the Homeless Industrial Complex.
Downtown Port Angeles is slowly shaping up to resemble Skid Row in LA.
I’m not really sure how you will attract people to come support all the “cultural art” when you can’t even go downtown without your family being terrified of being stabbed or robbed while in town.
Erin, I've never really toured like you did and had that type of close up reality of PA. I honestly and with true sincerity believe the council members should take the same route you did on your bike and be shown where our taxes are NOT going and understand PA is not yet there as a cultural center to be funded by citizens who are not far behind becoming homeless themselves. Thank you for writing.
Apologies for my bad writing, my storytelling was unclear. We never rode our bikes.
We were driving around town running errands and were making our way to Hollywood Beach.
By the time we arrived downtown by the Fiero Center parking lot my daughter was scared and we left.
I feel really sad about this experience. I’m pretty sure my daughter was traumatized. I know I was!!!
Good news. All this will go away soon once the Homeless Highrise has been constructed, using your taxes. In no time you'll be able to safely venture out with your daughter.
MK, yes, and the homeless highrisers will be walking nicely bathed dogs next to you
Machiavellianism and a twisted form of Communistic Marxism made a baby and named it Clallam County.🤣
I’ll probably get canceled for saying it but I’m tired of the demoralizing tactics being used to upset and scare the population of this county.
I’m really sad to see such a cool place being run into the ground by absolute ignorance.
My family and I moved here to take care of grandma, who now is dying with Alzheimer’s/Dementia. We are planning to move immediately once grandma passes on because of the crazy policy being implemented across the state.
That's so sad, Erin, but understandable. You are doing the right thing, caring for family. Resources for those caring for loved ones experiencing memory loss may seem sparse, but they are out there. Contact me if I can help.
Thank you kindly Jeff. That really means a lot. We are into the third year of grandma’s decline and I will say that she is one tough cookie!
Erin, I'm sad you've had such a bad experience in Clallam County, honestly. We are losing good people like you to what you have stated and it's understandable. It's hard enough for you dealing with your grandma. Jeff does not cancel anyone, that's why this substack works (he may ask someone to clean up their language) Thank you for your insight.
Erin, I don't know if you are new to this substack or not, but I have never seen a huge response of likes for your honest review of PA. You must have hit home to what we are all seeing. I hate to see you leave. Take care my friend!
It’s just getting weirder and weirder Jennifer, and it’s starting to spread into Sequim!
I saw a dude yesterday have a psychotic break on Washington Avenue. Yelling and screaming and flailing around on the sidewalk.
I’m really starting to believe the theory that these poor people ARE being bussed into the Peninsula. How else can we explain the influx of this many unstable people into a previously safe community?
This has become the elephant in the room for the people living in both PA and Sequim.
This won’t be the last you hear from me!!!
So, question one, Is the legal? 2- Are these so called people for the tax getting paid to support it? And I have to say otvagain, RECALL OZIAS. HE IS A CROOK.
If this county is in such a dire straits with the income our residents make why would they want to tax them more? Tax, fees they all diminish the quality of life for our county residents. The Olympic Park is our greatest asset. Why haven’t the county representatives forced the Goverment to replace the Lodge. If they are self insured there is no excuse for it not being rebuilt. Wake up people we have very poor leadership in this county.
There has been a meeting scheduled for several months between the commissioners and the head of the park, Sula Jacobs. It was slated for March. A week before the meeting, the date changed to "To be determined" without any explanation, and that is how it has remained throughout April.
The County and the National Park aren't even talking to each other.
Maybe we need to make a NGO and call it save the Alpine Marmots. We could get a Billion Dollar Grant and have the study performed out of the 100 Million Dollar Lodge that was built to house the researchers. The rest could go to the Grant writers.
John, with the dire straits of income for our residents, will the residents actually be able to afford going to the cultural events being funded? Maybe only the hand picked ones!
I'll need to reread this a few times, but what really caught my eye was the citizens being referred to as a "vocal minority". Where does that come from without any form of reference? Obviously, there isn't a vocal minority if they have to hand picked people to speak in support of the initiative. It really means the "minority" is a threatening "majority".
Terrific point.
I believe I am one of a "Vocal Minority" standing against taxes to fund "ARTS". Maybe it's time to become more threatening. Didn't I read that Commissioner French professes to endorse public disobedience and actual destruction of property, and references the 'Boston Tea Party' as an example? (There was no property destruction, other than the tea)
Yep, "Property destruction is not only fine, it's usually the only way we've ever seen actual change happen."
https://www.ccwatchdog.com/p/commissioner-condones-property-crime
This one killed me. Beyond the line by a mile....
I believe Comm. French is referring to those of us in the Peanut Gallery, who attend weekly when we can.
Bring peanuts next time and crack them open while they're talking?
Nothing in Clallam County surprises me any more, with these dishonest, corrupt miscreants running the show. We, the people, are a thorn in their sides, obstacles to their agendas. The more they can keep us in the dark the better. Remember the MAT clinic? It was a done deal before we ever heard about it. Now this, and all the rest in between.
Jeff, as always, you are insightful - and infuriating! Bravo!
Sounds like these Commissioners want to make our County another Park City, UT. A longing to live somewhere that is a something to elites seems important to them. Cater to the tourists that want culture and arts. We backwoods citizens don't seem to understand the importance of this, but the Commissioners will make sure we pay for it. Like it or not. Meanwhile, the County Fair gets budget cuts. From the kids in 4H barns, to my Niece and Nephew that enter Lego masterpieces and photography every year, I think there's a lot of art and culture going on in Clallam County. Without taxing the hell out of us for it.
Insightful and infuriating? I hear that at least once a day. Are you married to me too? Thanks as always for commenting.
Lol! I'm sure we BOTH mean that in a good way 😁👌🏻
And we keep coming back to the common denominator, Ozias and French.
"The way you do one thing, is how you do everything."
Always those two. I've seen French heartily enjoying the County Fair BTW... takes alot not to get in his face in public.
GOOD JOURNALISM! Thank you!
You're welcome :)
This isn't the last, or first time Ozias has "orchestrated" actions behind the scenes to overcome the "vocal minority" which in my book are actually the majority.
Take for instance this "anonymous" letter he read into the record before anyone else spoke some years ago. One would be hard pressed to imagine he isn't receiving guidance from non-American agenda organizers. Organizers who want to control the agenda, and the citizens at large.
"Clallam County Commissioner Mark Ozias (D) facilitated the meeting and often interrupted those testifying, with various comments such as, ”put on your mask”. He also started off the testimonies with a hand-held letter, which he read at the beginning of the meeting. The letter he said, ”was from a lady”. The letter stated that she supported the mandate. It is unclear how he received the letter and who the author was as this information was not given."
https://citizenreview.org/citizens-hold-peaceful-protest-and-express-concerns-and-dismay-at-county-commissioners-hearing-over-passport-mandate/
Don't forget the sneaky petition gathering that shut down Towne Road for 2 years, contributed to a family losing its home and pets to fire, and cost this County millions. He's sneaky.
MK, thank you for this article. I never knew about this peaceful protest. Keep it up, I rely on CCWD for local news. I'm sure I would have read about it if CCWD had been around then.
If these sleazy underhanded criminals in the local government close our parks or turn them over to the local tribal government and/or shut down our beloved County fair, we here will IMMEDIATELY engage in a petition process to have these evil fools removed from office ASAP~! If we don't stop these backstabbing thieves, they will destroy our community, and the very safety of the good folks here could in time be in jeopardy again~! There would be no limits as to what crimes these criminals in and outside of the local government would and could engage in~! When you allow a thief to steal something small, they always steal bigger things until they are stopped~!!! Sincerely, Mike
I have an appreciation for the arts. Particularly local tribal art and specifically I admire the dual image art pieces consisting of a wildlife live image and it's spirit image. However;
that is me, my taste and my interest. I have no expectation of my fellow citizens paying for my art interests. Public display of art can be an enjoyment, but not at the expense of many who may not enjoy it. Appreciation for the arts is self explanatory. Taxation for art is not appreciation. It is you will pay for this, you will look at this and you will like it. This is a lot like the WEF credo; "you will own nothing and you will like it". The arts are created, promoted and financed by artists and those who appreciate it enough to pay for it. Take that proposed art tax money and light up some dark intersection or fix a pot-hole. Let the Commissioners buy their own art.
I like "The Arts". I don't like deals done in the dead of the night. Five years ago I probably would have supported the small tax increase. But we had $2.70 diesel. You could buy breakfast for two at a local cafe for $25.00 and property taxes were just a little over half of what they are now. Being relatively new in this community I held my judgement on the MAT clinic as drug addiction has affected my family personally and I'm all for treatment when a person has had enough and needs help to change. I use Jamestown Medical. I'm grateful for some of the Tribes Sevices. I suppose we'll see how far they go when the spigot of grant monies flow gets turned lower. In these times of eroding purchasing power and the single party State Legislature ratcheting up taxes this really needs to go to a public vote. I'm opposed to this for one reason. That is because its being back doored through. In a public vote I'd seriously look at it.
"Herbelin wasn’t writing to the public. He was emailing a group of “undisclosed recipients” asking for help swaying public meetings—before the public even knew the tax was back on the table."
Sounds like the commissioners and Sequim council are taking notes from each other. Arrangements being made for pro culture tax comments before the public knew the tax was back on; and Sequim council and their friends creating a 40-something page report on reasons to cancel the fireworks show, along with their friends speaking during public comment, before the public even knew fireworks were being discussed. Gee, I wonder how that happens?
Yes, I wonder who that could be, behind the scenes. Communists, SGGL, or a combination of both?
"Clallam County Commissioner, Mark Ozias, was there with his wife, Lisa. He won reelection with 64.86% of the vote."
https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/small-town-swept-up-in-the-anti-maga-wave/
From Wikipedia: "People's World, official successor to the Daily Worker, is a Marxist-Leninist and American leftist national daily online news publication. Founded by activists, socialists, communists, and those active in the labor movement in the early 1900s..."
Then the tactics those movements leverage appear consistent here.
Both. They win with lies, especially when coming from Timothy Wheeler. I remember reading this and wondering how Downer "changed the district she represented." I also remember reading on the PDC it's illegal to run just to oust someone, and that's exactly what she did. She stayed on council for a while then quit, guess it didn't matter any more as long as she had done her job and ousted Armacost.
You can call the PDC and ask them whether the information you have is sufficient to file a review of the matter.
Interesting article written in 2023. Many familiar names. The sure bet that the Democrats would win in the 2024 elections because Clallam County was the "bellwether" didn't pan out. Thanks again.
Winner or loser? What do you want to be? There is nothing in between, nothing. Best laid plans & a coordination of efforts & goals gets the win. Sitting back & watching it happen or expecting a win to manifest itself gets nothing. Crying about it later is a loser, period. I chose to win & so should anyone who cares about how their money is being spent. Any “Nays” yet?
You stated it, Jeff! Why do they need a tax when art is so profitable?! The scheme to bring in coordinated public comments by pro-arts tax supporters has been very evident at all the BoCC meetings. I'll keep speaking against it, too. So, all those opposed to ANOTHER tax, join us on Tuesday for the 10:00 BoCC meeting to voice your protest. This Wednesday is the deadline for the first installment for property taxes. I'll definitely be at that meeting to say my piece!
I hadn't even thought of that point until a very nice lady mentioned it to me at a recent commissioners meeting. I wish I could remember her name 😉.
I'm sure she wouldn't mind me saying that you penned it so much better!
Denise, it is people like you that are the voice of people like me that cannot attend meetings. Thank you so much : )
You're welcome, Jennifer. I love your witty comments and engagement on CCWD!
I listen in on the meetings occasionally, and once signed up to speak remotely. It's possible to still be as engaged as anyone else who attends in-person.
Yes!
Their infatuation with property taxes smacks of the Soros goal to end private property ownership.
They just refuse to go after the world economy and Soros for requiring such a shipping emissions footprint. But taxing Soros would come out of their end of the kitty. So we get the property tax assault.