Thanks Jeff Tozzer for your diligence. Both Pam and I are big fans. Pam asked how does Jeff have enough time for his projects? I said, "Follow his podcast". He now has disciples who send him data.
I'm glad you two are liking it. People keep sending me things. Just yesterday I got an envelope in the mail with white powder in it... and I had JUST run out of baking powder for a recipe. People are so thoughtful :)
we need to get a solid, useful ethics rule proposition on the ballot -- pressure on charter review. Because that is the only way, we have a voice, besides an election boot. Or, we could collectively sue them for breach of fiduciary duty.
What if we lived in a world without money and we felt enough love in our hearts to share with ALL of our neighbors. That’s what Jesus’s teachings about. The kingdom of heaven can be here on earth now if we get rid of money and learn to share / care for each other.
LOL. Communist states destroy the concept of equality. Even in East Germany the highest government officials enjoyed a better existence than their constituents. Marx didn't understand the biological nature of humans. No artificial system can conquer the innate desire to dominate.
Wealth is the reason we have heart surgeons who extend our life spans. We are glad they love money because it improves our lives. The founder of Amazon is filthy rich and I don't care about motives. That individual's greed has improved the lives of thousands
Actually our country country could abandon fiat currency in favor of some corruption scheme based upon the price of commodities. It would be similar to the Barter system used in Medieval Europe. The price of copper changes dramatically every day. We are lucky that our country's currency is strong.
It is important to keep in mind that Public Comment is required by the RCW. If they follow Robert's Rules, then they cannot answer questions or discuss what is said/asked in public comment. With that said, ignoring the public is despicable behavior. And, allowing some commenters to speak longer than the time allocated for each speaker while cutting off others is clear bias. This could be "protected class bias," "we agree with the speaker bias," OR what I call "we feel bad" bias. Nonetheless, allowing exceptions is what, at least in other places maybe not here, gets boards sued or investigated. Another thing to note is the Commission's website states as part of their vision - mission objectives "Putting the translated desires of our residents into action through effective communication" and "Providing comprehensive and exemplary public service levels in a prompt responsive manner." It appears they are not doing either of these. Further, having meetings mid morning on a weekday, while great for them, also limits participation by anyone with a daytime job. Some people get into public service to serve the people and do the work. Others get into it for the cushy compensation and public photo ops. (I am not sure what it is now. No one answered the phone to confirm but according to an article in the PDN and a search of salaries in 2024, compensation is just about $9,000 per month.) When we vote it is important we listen to peoples words, read what they write to in response to difficult questions (not personal statements - that's fluff), and vote based on integrity of the person, not how much we see them at event photo ops.
It was ONLY in 2019 (if I remember correctly) that the city of Port Angeles, and the County moved to a 3 minute limit. Prior it was a gentleman's agreement that you would keep your comments brief and to the point. But, when some people began to just ramble, and when the public comment period was in 'great debate" (and council meetings began to last for 4 or 5 hours, or more) the city of PA installed their light system, and rigid rules. The rigidity is dumb, though, because if there are only a small number there to speak, then they should have the full public comment period. That would allow us to organize and let the most efficient/eloquent of our speakers -- speak for us, and take our time.
The reason that the meetings became short was because no-one wanted to sit at them (meaning staff) and the government must PAY their employees, which became either overtime, or workday "time off". It's all about keeping happy employees, not happy citizens.
We are lucky we aren't in a town that has made it a 1minute limit...
3 to 5 minutes sounds pretty standard per person. If a lot of people want to speak then the commission should more than consider what they are doing. I would suggest that they have public comment at the start for topics not on the agenda, and then a public comment time for each item on the agenda when they get to that item on the agenda. This is not hard to manage on the agenda or in action. It streamlines comments, and is topic appropriate.
I do have a question, aren't staff already on the clock in the mornings when the meetings are???
To be fair, Norma Turner, is one of the few remaining doyenne's of our community. So, if she gave money or not, she deserves some respect. (Do I agree with her political bent, no, but I will always listen to her. She has the advantage of a long perspective, and her oral history is fantastic.)
I'm surprised these Young Turks respect their elders.
I can see both sides of the ICE debate. I have known many people who could never achieve the barrier to live in the US, makes me really abhor those who came in "freely" without jumping the hoops. There is a lot that can be said of the entire system, laws that have not been enforced, and the problems with open borders, and lax attention. Its all very sad.
The media is quick to show all the "bad bad" things, and the crazy actions which I find to be chilling. Yes when you cast a wide net, you capture things which were never supposed to be snagged. Humans at their worst engage in mob behavior, and it seems our two party system is akin to two warring tribes. I'm not big on rooting for sports teams, either.
The "no grey area" is an echo of McCarthyism, which I don't really enjoy the thought of.
The fact this is so politically divisive saddens me. The lack of responsiveness and bias of our commissioners should be dealt with in an ethics complaint, and/or just vote the bastards out -- which means staying engaged, and taking the time to vote.
Commissioners ozias,french,johnson need to go asap, i wish there was a recall in the works it does not take many votes.These three lunatic libtards have shown their disrespect for the community and clallam counties tax $$$ they have squandered.A big billboard with a recall petition with ozias,french,johnson on it would be refreshing.
Fascinating take. But like many things in Clallam civic life, it's worth asking: are we witnessing principled outrage --or just riding the civic commentary rollercoaster with no safety bar?
The real issue isn’t whether public engagement has vanished (though nine months without a town hall is telling), but whether we’ve mistaken every comment for equal insight. Democracy thrives on participation, sure… but it withers when conspiratorial theatrics crowd out policy-savvy voices.
Take recent Climate Council debates: one speaker warns of "jet stream treason" and ICLEI infiltration, while another calmly suggests community-led weatherization and worker protections. Should both be heard? Yes. Should both steer the ship? Absolutely not.
And as for campaign donations --let’s be honest. Access often favors familiarity, and familiarity sometimes arrives with a check. But that doesn't mean every exchange is corrupt. It means we should stop pretending the mic is the only metric that matters.
Clallam needs robust dialogue, not theatrical monologues. It needs oversight, not overexcitement. And it deserves leadership that can tell the difference… preferably before approving another $369K buried in the consent agenda.
Cue my solution: the Commenter Credibility Scorecard™ the unofficial metric to separate the thoughtful from the theatrical. Because while democracy demands open ears, it doesn't mean every speaker deserves a TED Talk. and democracy shouldn’t sound like a YouTube comments section.
Just like golf, the numbers matter. Unlike golf, shouting about chemtrails won’t improve your score.
• Evidence-Based Insight (0–5): Cites real data, policy, or law --not memes.
• Conspiratorial Free Zone (0–5): No mentions of globalists, lizard people, or weather control.
• Constructive Proposals (0–5): Offers actionable ideas rather than doom scrolls with audio (i.e. Solutions > Complaints.)
• Community Representation (0–5): Speaks for more than just their cat and a Facebook group.
• Procedural Awareness (0–5): Actually understands what commissioners do.
• Delivery & Respect (0–5): Speaks with clarity and civility. Bonus: no finger-pointing.
• Bonus Flag: Campaign Donor? (Not scored --but let’s be honest, it’s part of the show.)
Here is a sample Scorecard Entry: "I’m Just Asking Questions" Guy
• Constructiveness: 1 (“Fire everybody and start fresh”)
• Representation: 1 (Claims to speak for “the awakened”)
• Procedural: 0 (Believes commissioners control NASA)
• Respect: 2 (Ended with “God help us” and left mid-meeting)
Total: 5/30 : Mic privilege extended with caution.
Reminder: Democracy thrives when we hear from everyone. Civic engagement thrives on inclusivity and discernment. Not every voice deserves the same weight, but every speaker deserves a fair listen… until proven otherwise via an impromptu rant about space lasers.
So, you think YOU are elite and to score another's credibility and judge another's ABILITY to speak at the microphone and determine who and what is listened to and what weight to be assigned TO PUBLIC comment, according to YOU. Your arrogance exemplifies the need for we peons to be heard and not have YOU decide what WEIGHT to assign to commentators.
Oof--someone brought the all-caps and a pitchfork to the party. Always festive when reason gets chased out by torches and indignation.
Let’s be clear: weighing the credibility of public comment isn’t a coronation ceremony; it’s basic civic hygiene. Suggesting that all perspectives deserve equal weight regardless of coherence or relevance is like insisting every Yelp review, whether from a seasoned critic or a guy who’s furious his burrito wasn’t shaped like a dolphin, deserves the same authority. That’s not democracy, that’s chaos with a megaphone.
You say it's "arrogance" to apply discernment. I say it's self-respect to avoid being gaslit by performative rage dressed up as grassroots authenticity. Not every shout from the mic is a cry for justice...sometimes it’s just feedback from someone who’s a little too emotionally bonded to their own echo.
So no, I’m not determining who gets to speak. Speak away. But the weight of a comment should be earned, not demanded by volume. You call that elitism; I call it not confusing civic engagement with open mic night at the indignation café.
The weight of a comment should be earned, not demanded by volume? Maybe if the commissioners earned the public's respect by making eye contact and listening - not picking at fingernails or eating - or maybe if they at least responded to emails, at the very least to let you know it was received - there wouldn't be so many people commenting from your so-called "indignation café". As it is now those comments need repeating, otherwise the issue fades away without being heard. And that's exactly what the commissioners are hoping for.
You’re right. If commissioners are visibly disengaged, that’s a credibility problem they’ve earned. Eye contact and basic attentiveness aren’t optional at public forums; they’re table stakes for legitimacy.
But let’s also be honest: when civic commentary becomes a loop of grievances without evolution or new substance, it stops being advocacy and starts sounding like an audio file stuck on repeat. That doesn’t mean the concern isn’t real, but repetition without refinement risks turning a valid issue into background noise. Volume doesn’t magically transmute nonsense into wisdom --it just makes it louder nonsense with better acoustics. Repetition is only powerful when the idea being repeated holds substance. Otherwise, it's just so much civic karaoke.
So yes, concerns should be heard, and yes, officials should be held accountable for creating environments where people feel ignored. But it’s not unreasonable for anyone, official or observer, to respond with a bit of fatigue when the same talking points resurface like clockwork, untouched and unexpanded.
Ideally, we’d see responsiveness and rhetorical growth. But until then, we’re left trusting that each repetition isn’t just theater, but someone’s genuine last-ditch effort to be acknowledged.
It was donated with the stipulation it be a public park. They already had the auction, no one bid on any of the buildings so now they have to figure out what to do with them (tear down, etc.)
I live 6 miles from downtown Sequim. I CAN'T VOTE IN MY LOCAL ELECTIONS. ONLY PA WHERE I NEVER GO, don't care or want to vote in a town I don't live in. 5 minute walk to the spit. My address is Sequim. So, I have no representation.
It didn't appear that way. I would think she would be invited into his office or the small boardroom if an appointment had been scheduled. It seemed to me that he hurried to reach her before she left the boardroom.
Ha Ha Ha!!! This wonderful article just triggered me to channel an "Austin Powers" like response to these local criminals and their sick & twisted perversion of so-called "government"~!
I hope this gives the good folks of Clallam County reason to smile & laugh~!!!
The federal government by strict law absolutely MUST now quickly remove the criminal illegal aliens from our country~! ALL illegal aliens are criminals by statute and legal definition~! There are indeed some of us who fully understand that Obama and Biden were NEVER legitimate lawful Presidents, so "we" do also understand that absolutely nothing that either of them did was, is, or will ever be valid or binding in any way, shape, or form. Fraud literally "voids" all acts and actions of those who commit the crime of fraud, so these emotionally hysterical fools who have the gall to support the criminal invasion of America by criminal invaders are in fact committing treason and are Individually liable for their crimes accordingly~! Yes, it is sad that so many foolish foreigners made the conscious decision to break our long-standing and well-known laws, however in doing so they also took the stupid chance to enter the US completely illegally and that is NOT acceptable under any circumstances. You play, you pay~! If these criminal illegal aliens do not IMMEDIATELY leave the US on their own accord, they will be forcibly removed and banned from ever entering the US again because of THEIR choice to violate our most basic laws~! Enjoy a wonderful weekend! Sincerely, Mike
It is the second week the Democrats have spoken against ICE and portrayed illegal immigrant criminals as poor victims. Who did Ozias race to pander to after this last meeting? With his actions, he has betrayed his constituents for criminals who engage in human trafficking, labor trafficking, and drug trafficking. Ozias has made his choice clear. We are fodder for his greed and avarice. He's a wolf indeed.
LOL once my nice neighborhood in Los Angeles changed the official language from English to Spanish the homicide rate increased exponentially. Our leaders are not dunces. They must understand this phenomenon. The process is definitely intentional but I don't understand the profit if civilization is ruined by sordid policies.
Denise Lapio I don't understand what motivates government robots. If we examine all of the city governments across our country what is the general pattern that dominates these institutions? The answer might be unpleasant.
Of course, by calling this loud-mouthed Norma clown a "Lady" I believe that you are being unfair to the real wonderful and Intelligent Ladies of our community and beyond, but you are being most generous~! Ha! Anyway, these criminals within our country have indeed taken advantage of "our" compassion towards others, and I for one am most grateful for you pointing out the facts and the truth in such clear wording~! Cheers~! Sincerely, Mike
I purchased my first house in 1980. The neighborhood was friendly and everyone spoke English. Eventually nobody spoke English and Cartel shootings were common. Nobody went outside after the sunset. The emotion of compassion is only profitable if applied to family and local group. Compassion displayed to a foreign enterprise leads to extermination. The destruction of the Roman Empire might be an important example.
So, what part of California was your first house in?
Ha Ha Ha Ha! Sorry, your story just sounded SO familiar~!
I definitely don't have any problem with folks speaking different languages, but it is bad form when they do so in a country that speaks a another language. It is very important to expect that all Americans speak English, or American as the case may be, because that keeps us together as a group and not as easily divided. It was pretty great to hear that President Trump declared English the official language of America ;-) I greatly admire the Spirit of Compassion in all folks, but we are obviously always in danger of the criminals taking advantage of us to do tremendous harm. This has been done time & time again to Americans over our short history as a country, so we must put a stop to being abused by those who weaponize our Goodley compassion. We must all guard our good and proper Spirit of compassion as well, because America MUST be a nation of reason, generosity, fairness, and justice, or we put ourselves and our country in severe danger. It looks like we are going back to a Constitutional common law matrix and that in and of itself will be extremely important! The fall of the Roman Empire was definitely orchestrated, and the "power elite" who had been in control simply "rebranded" themselves by inventing a new country called "The Sovereign Vatican State" where they, and other power elite, eventually joined as the very ones who are now losing their criminally corrupt domination over earth. We need to avoid repeating THAT ugly history at all costs~! This has nothing to do with the good folks of the catholic or any other religious faith. Our problems are with those who worship Satan and/or pure evil. I know how difficult that can be for most to grasp, but it is time when most will have to deal with it as best they can. Thank God "we" are being given this chance to change the course of America and hopefully eventually the world for the better! Keep the faith~! Sincerely, Mike
I'm sorry, Norma has been active in the community for a long time. She has always been engaged (something that most old ladies are not). Just because you don't agree with her politics does NOT mean you should discount her. She was very fair in all of the Charter Reviews she was engaged in (and the nonsense going on this time would have never happened if she were running the meetings). She and her late husband were very nice people. I have enjoyed every conversation I've ever had with her. She is intelligent, and engaging.
She is of the "silent generation" that was between the "boomers" and the "builders" (aka the "greatest generation"). It was called the "silent generation" because of the chilling influence McCarthyism had on the culture. She has seen a great deal of change in the world --- at a rapid pace, much more rapid that what the boomers are aware of. In 1928 (the start of the SG) saw the discovery of penicillin, and polio vaccines, watched as the world population boomed from 2 billion to 8 billion, the rise of communism, massive technological changes, and cultural shifts. I think, that being politically engaged for as long as she has (no matter what I agree or disagree with) is valuable, and she offers an insight that won't hurt you to listen to.
I actually agree with much of what you say, as always, however I was ONLY specifically referring to the information that Norma "apparently" had some sort of problem with the lawful efforts of the current federal administration that is heroically and Constitutionally methodically removing illegal aliens from the US~! Like you, I highly value the rights of every American to speak their minds, HOWEVER, I detest and reject anyone who in ANY way supports illegal aliens in America for any reason. The reason is because I lived the horrors of the illegal alien invasion in America all of my life on the front lines, and in ways that few here in the Pacific Northwest could possibly understand or even imagine. As a wide awake real estate analyst with many decades of experience and strong connections to law enforcement at all levels I know about an enormous number of cases that the corrupt mainstream media intentionally hides from the average Americans who are therefore completely ignorant of the terrible crimes that many illegal aliens are actually engaged in. I know Americans that were murdered in ways that would exceed any Hollywood horror flick and families that they destroyed, so any American who is ignorant of the ongoing atrocities and supporting it to continue will never get my support or respect. I know that "ALL" illegal aliens are not bad folks; however they are ALL criminals by legal definition, and I deeply resent the insult to our laws that illegal aliens represent AND how they make a mockery of those great immigrants who came to America to become productive legal Americans. I have ALWAYS admired the older generations even as a young child because of the history that they lived through and many times the strength & creativity that they exhibited along the way. There have been many great Americans in our short history as a country. The truth, however, is that NONE of the previous generations, especially Norma's, properly confronted the criminals in the American governmental system as "we" are today. The so-called "elite" criminals of humanity who are only a handful of people/families that control well over 90% of the world's total wealth have literally played all generations of Americans for complete fools because of their evil "hidden hand" of power that has controlled the criminals in our American government for well over 150 years. This is actually "the swamp" (the deep state) that "we" (American Patriots) are destroying now, no thanks to those who remain ignorant of what is really going on today~! You are very correct that Norma's generation accomplished some great things that should be respected, but they as a whole COMPLETELY failed to even understand, let alone address, the root of the problems that have led us all to this extremely dangerous and deadly point in history. People who do not completely understand that "we" (humanity) is STILL dealing with the largest scale mass murder genocide in history right now, would COMPLETELY fail to understand the gravity and depth of the problems that we are fighting against today and therefore their personal "opinions" would be weak, deeply flawed, and extremely dangerous! To be fair, I am not sure that any previous generations had much of a chance to even understand what was really going on and just how they were being played for fools by the few so-called "super elite" Individuals/families on earth, so I don't condemn them but I definitely do NOT paint the past history of America or the world as "great" in any way either~! I am an American patriot, not an emotional fool ;-) Much has been and will continue to be revealed, that absolutely proves what I am saying, so be patient... Many in the generations of today are in fact heroically destroying these criminal "elites" and their very old evil stranglehold upon humanity and I thank God for that~! So, yes, I agree with much of what you have said to at least some degree, and there is a lot that "we" should learn from ALL people including older folks (I am no spring chicken myself ;-) however this is no time for people who have no clue what is really going on to get into the way. Ha! This afternoon there were a few "useful idiots" with signs in downtown Sequim who have absolutely no clue that America is a Republic and NOT a Democracy! They are clearly sad Ignorant victims of the corrupt media. They are foolishly protesting against the great heroes who are risking everything to save them~! Ha! Most of them were complete embarrassments to "old geezers" like me who have actually dedicated their entire lives to America and the real problems that we all face today. The problem of Ignorant people is VERY serious, and the mainstream media and criminally corrupt people in government have betrayed their trust. For a few years we rented a home on the East side of Sequim that was the scene of an illegal alien attack upon two older folks, where they were assaulted, robbed, and imprisoned, while the two illegal alien criminals got away. No warning to the community from the local media or the police, and they were definitely armed and dangerous to everyone in the community! This happened at least 15 years ago, and I know that only a couple of people here ever heard about it, so Ignorance kills. Yes, one of the victims of this assault died not long after the tragic crime because he was SO traumatized~! That is a local example, and I gave the "Mary Poppins" version ;-) I would not be surprised if Norma had some worthwhile things to say, but anyone who wants to support the destructive, dangerous, and all too often deadly illegal alien population in my presence had better come with demonstrable facts and not rose-colored glasses of Ignorance~! Have a great day and I am sure that by the end of this year MANY more truths will be revealed that absolutely prove what I am saying... Thank God! Sincerely, Mike
I have long disliked the open-border policy. What most (middle aged white people) failed to see was that the people who bore the brunt of the steady path of south-of-the-border were those of hispanic/latino (whatever the newest moniker is) origins, here legally.
I lived in East Oakland for more than a decade, and, although most of my neighbors have passed on, would often hear about how the gangs were robbing, killing, raping — pretty much at will. These were reports from people who came here legally, and also spoke Spanish.
(After all, the majority of “us” group all those “mexican talking people” together, right?) They aren’t one big happy group eating tacos and burritos.
In fact, the gang presence from these open-door policies are many. From MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha), Tren de Aragua, and Clan de Golfo, Marrio 18, Los Rastrojos, the Sinaloa Cartel, the CJNG (Jalisco new Generation), and the Gulf Cartel, the Los Zetas, Juarez, Tijuana, La Union Tepito, Medellin Cartel, Cali Cartel and Clan del Golfo. The are all interfighting/waging war one each other, and all looking for their piece of the American Pie.
These aren’t just happy little journaleros or chalanes, or pleasant little obrero, as our media (and little old ladies) like to think of them.
In Los Angeles, alone, there are over 450 street gangs, with more then 36,000 members. What do they do? theft, burglary, vandalism, violent crime. 42% of female homicides are of hispanic women.
We look the other way — and ignore that the Tijuana murder rate is 87.88 per 100,000 (7th most dangerous city globally — and it’s dropped some) yet we pretend these are all happy little visitors, all looking to assimilate into our culture?
LOL Who is Norma? I am currently suspended from Nextdoor so my research is limited. Perhaps she reported me to a monitor. That is an important reason to block potential enemies because if they cannot read your ideas they can't tattle tale to the thought police.
You guys just sound like a bunch of racist hillbillies. Maybe learn the history of this land. Indigenous people were nomadic. They traveled from Alaska to Peru, freely. We are the ones that put up borders and now want to say that people, human beings are illegal on land we stole from them… and then didn’t even give them citizenship in their own land until the 1920s…. Also, it is not a felony to enter this country illegally. It’s a misdemeanor pretty much the same as a damn traffic ticket… Also, every human in this country deserves to due process, not to just be kidnapped and deported to a foreign country, and/or imprisoned
When is the next election for commissioners? It's time to start working to replace these awful.people.
Commissioner Mike French, November 2026. Commissioner Mark Ozias November 2027.
That gives us plenty of time to get rid of them.
We're all ears...
Thanks Jeff Tozzer for your diligence. Both Pam and I are big fans. Pam asked how does Jeff have enough time for his projects? I said, "Follow his podcast". He now has disciples who send him data.
I'm glad you two are liking it. People keep sending me things. Just yesterday I got an envelope in the mail with white powder in it... and I had JUST run out of baking powder for a recipe. People are so thoughtful :)
I absolutely agree!
we need to get a solid, useful ethics rule proposition on the ballot -- pressure on charter review. Because that is the only way, we have a voice, besides an election boot. Or, we could collectively sue them for breach of fiduciary duty.
Public comments to Clerk of the Board loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov
Mark.Ozias@ClallamCountyWA.gov; Randy.Johnson@ClallamCountyWA.gov; Mike.French@ClallamCountyWA.gov
Maybe a three commissioner recall, they don't work for us anymore, they seem to forget they are to work for us. Time to bring in DOGE and ICE
The venue for recalls if you'd like to start a recall is:
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.56.110
DOGE nor ICE from my understanding have no role in that process. Many people call for it, but no one will lift a finger to initiate one.
The bible says, money is the root of all evil. Lots of evil in this state. It took a while. Clallam County is behind but catching up fast.
Lloyd: Correction: The Bible says "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil." We could not function without money?
What if we lived in a world without money and we felt enough love in our hearts to share with ALL of our neighbors. That’s what Jesus’s teachings about. The kingdom of heaven can be here on earth now if we get rid of money and learn to share / care for each other.
Why?
whoa, that is the start of communism and socialism.
LOL. Communist states destroy the concept of equality. Even in East Germany the highest government officials enjoyed a better existence than their constituents. Marx didn't understand the biological nature of humans. No artificial system can conquer the innate desire to dominate.
Wealth is the reason we have heart surgeons who extend our life spans. We are glad they love money because it improves our lives. The founder of Amazon is filthy rich and I don't care about motives. That individual's greed has improved the lives of thousands
Actually our country country could abandon fiat currency in favor of some corruption scheme based upon the price of commodities. It would be similar to the Barter system used in Medieval Europe. The price of copper changes dramatically every day. We are lucky that our country's currency is strong.
Was the short versian.... Now define function and apply it to Washington state.
It is important to keep in mind that Public Comment is required by the RCW. If they follow Robert's Rules, then they cannot answer questions or discuss what is said/asked in public comment. With that said, ignoring the public is despicable behavior. And, allowing some commenters to speak longer than the time allocated for each speaker while cutting off others is clear bias. This could be "protected class bias," "we agree with the speaker bias," OR what I call "we feel bad" bias. Nonetheless, allowing exceptions is what, at least in other places maybe not here, gets boards sued or investigated. Another thing to note is the Commission's website states as part of their vision - mission objectives "Putting the translated desires of our residents into action through effective communication" and "Providing comprehensive and exemplary public service levels in a prompt responsive manner." It appears they are not doing either of these. Further, having meetings mid morning on a weekday, while great for them, also limits participation by anyone with a daytime job. Some people get into public service to serve the people and do the work. Others get into it for the cushy compensation and public photo ops. (I am not sure what it is now. No one answered the phone to confirm but according to an article in the PDN and a search of salaries in 2024, compensation is just about $9,000 per month.) When we vote it is important we listen to peoples words, read what they write to in response to difficult questions (not personal statements - that's fluff), and vote based on integrity of the person, not how much we see them at event photo ops.
$9,000 a month? That is pretty good salary for sitting in a meeting and pretending to listen to what the people that hired you are saying!!!
It was ONLY in 2019 (if I remember correctly) that the city of Port Angeles, and the County moved to a 3 minute limit. Prior it was a gentleman's agreement that you would keep your comments brief and to the point. But, when some people began to just ramble, and when the public comment period was in 'great debate" (and council meetings began to last for 4 or 5 hours, or more) the city of PA installed their light system, and rigid rules. The rigidity is dumb, though, because if there are only a small number there to speak, then they should have the full public comment period. That would allow us to organize and let the most efficient/eloquent of our speakers -- speak for us, and take our time.
The reason that the meetings became short was because no-one wanted to sit at them (meaning staff) and the government must PAY their employees, which became either overtime, or workday "time off". It's all about keeping happy employees, not happy citizens.
We are lucky we aren't in a town that has made it a 1minute limit...
I really appreciate the history!
3 to 5 minutes sounds pretty standard per person. If a lot of people want to speak then the commission should more than consider what they are doing. I would suggest that they have public comment at the start for topics not on the agenda, and then a public comment time for each item on the agenda when they get to that item on the agenda. This is not hard to manage on the agenda or in action. It streamlines comments, and is topic appropriate.
I do have a question, aren't staff already on the clock in the mornings when the meetings are???
extra evening meetings --- like the City of PA's meetings, or a Town Hall in the evening for the county ... aren't daytime.
Absoutely sickening.. Very third world. Seattle and Portland here we come. (By design)
To be fair, Norma Turner, is one of the few remaining doyenne's of our community. So, if she gave money or not, she deserves some respect. (Do I agree with her political bent, no, but I will always listen to her. She has the advantage of a long perspective, and her oral history is fantastic.)
I'm surprised these Young Turks respect their elders.
I can see both sides of the ICE debate. I have known many people who could never achieve the barrier to live in the US, makes me really abhor those who came in "freely" without jumping the hoops. There is a lot that can be said of the entire system, laws that have not been enforced, and the problems with open borders, and lax attention. Its all very sad.
The media is quick to show all the "bad bad" things, and the crazy actions which I find to be chilling. Yes when you cast a wide net, you capture things which were never supposed to be snagged. Humans at their worst engage in mob behavior, and it seems our two party system is akin to two warring tribes. I'm not big on rooting for sports teams, either.
The "no grey area" is an echo of McCarthyism, which I don't really enjoy the thought of.
The fact this is so politically divisive saddens me. The lack of responsiveness and bias of our commissioners should be dealt with in an ethics complaint, and/or just vote the bastards out -- which means staying engaged, and taking the time to vote.
Commissioners ozias,french,johnson need to go asap, i wish there was a recall in the works it does not take many votes.These three lunatic libtards have shown their disrespect for the community and clallam counties tax $$$ they have squandered.A big billboard with a recall petition with ozias,french,johnson on it would be refreshing.
Here is the link process for recall. Go ahead and start it: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.56.110
Do you have a billboard i can paste the recall to.
Fascinating take. But like many things in Clallam civic life, it's worth asking: are we witnessing principled outrage --or just riding the civic commentary rollercoaster with no safety bar?
The real issue isn’t whether public engagement has vanished (though nine months without a town hall is telling), but whether we’ve mistaken every comment for equal insight. Democracy thrives on participation, sure… but it withers when conspiratorial theatrics crowd out policy-savvy voices.
Take recent Climate Council debates: one speaker warns of "jet stream treason" and ICLEI infiltration, while another calmly suggests community-led weatherization and worker protections. Should both be heard? Yes. Should both steer the ship? Absolutely not.
And as for campaign donations --let’s be honest. Access often favors familiarity, and familiarity sometimes arrives with a check. But that doesn't mean every exchange is corrupt. It means we should stop pretending the mic is the only metric that matters.
Clallam needs robust dialogue, not theatrical monologues. It needs oversight, not overexcitement. And it deserves leadership that can tell the difference… preferably before approving another $369K buried in the consent agenda.
Cue my solution: the Commenter Credibility Scorecard™ the unofficial metric to separate the thoughtful from the theatrical. Because while democracy demands open ears, it doesn't mean every speaker deserves a TED Talk. and democracy shouldn’t sound like a YouTube comments section.
Just like golf, the numbers matter. Unlike golf, shouting about chemtrails won’t improve your score.
• Evidence-Based Insight (0–5): Cites real data, policy, or law --not memes.
• Conspiratorial Free Zone (0–5): No mentions of globalists, lizard people, or weather control.
• Constructive Proposals (0–5): Offers actionable ideas rather than doom scrolls with audio (i.e. Solutions > Complaints.)
• Community Representation (0–5): Speaks for more than just their cat and a Facebook group.
• Procedural Awareness (0–5): Actually understands what commissioners do.
• Delivery & Respect (0–5): Speaks with clarity and civility. Bonus: no finger-pointing.
• Bonus Flag: Campaign Donor? (Not scored --but let’s be honest, it’s part of the show.)
Here is a sample Scorecard Entry: "I’m Just Asking Questions" Guy
• Insight: 1 (He misquoted Ben Franklin twice)
• Conspiracies: 0 (Referenced HAARP controlling clams)
• Constructiveness: 1 (“Fire everybody and start fresh”)
• Representation: 1 (Claims to speak for “the awakened”)
• Procedural: 0 (Believes commissioners control NASA)
• Respect: 2 (Ended with “God help us” and left mid-meeting)
Total: 5/30 : Mic privilege extended with caution.
Reminder: Democracy thrives when we hear from everyone. Civic engagement thrives on inclusivity and discernment. Not every voice deserves the same weight, but every speaker deserves a fair listen… until proven otherwise via an impromptu rant about space lasers.
Let’s raise the volume on reason.
So, you think YOU are elite and to score another's credibility and judge another's ABILITY to speak at the microphone and determine who and what is listened to and what weight to be assigned TO PUBLIC comment, according to YOU. Your arrogance exemplifies the need for we peons to be heard and not have YOU decide what WEIGHT to assign to commentators.
Oof--someone brought the all-caps and a pitchfork to the party. Always festive when reason gets chased out by torches and indignation.
Let’s be clear: weighing the credibility of public comment isn’t a coronation ceremony; it’s basic civic hygiene. Suggesting that all perspectives deserve equal weight regardless of coherence or relevance is like insisting every Yelp review, whether from a seasoned critic or a guy who’s furious his burrito wasn’t shaped like a dolphin, deserves the same authority. That’s not democracy, that’s chaos with a megaphone.
You say it's "arrogance" to apply discernment. I say it's self-respect to avoid being gaslit by performative rage dressed up as grassroots authenticity. Not every shout from the mic is a cry for justice...sometimes it’s just feedback from someone who’s a little too emotionally bonded to their own echo.
So no, I’m not determining who gets to speak. Speak away. But the weight of a comment should be earned, not demanded by volume. You call that elitism; I call it not confusing civic engagement with open mic night at the indignation café.
The weight of a comment should be earned, not demanded by volume? Maybe if the commissioners earned the public's respect by making eye contact and listening - not picking at fingernails or eating - or maybe if they at least responded to emails, at the very least to let you know it was received - there wouldn't be so many people commenting from your so-called "indignation café". As it is now those comments need repeating, otherwise the issue fades away without being heard. And that's exactly what the commissioners are hoping for.
You’re right. If commissioners are visibly disengaged, that’s a credibility problem they’ve earned. Eye contact and basic attentiveness aren’t optional at public forums; they’re table stakes for legitimacy.
But let’s also be honest: when civic commentary becomes a loop of grievances without evolution or new substance, it stops being advocacy and starts sounding like an audio file stuck on repeat. That doesn’t mean the concern isn’t real, but repetition without refinement risks turning a valid issue into background noise. Volume doesn’t magically transmute nonsense into wisdom --it just makes it louder nonsense with better acoustics. Repetition is only powerful when the idea being repeated holds substance. Otherwise, it's just so much civic karaoke.
So yes, concerns should be heard, and yes, officials should be held accountable for creating environments where people feel ignored. But it’s not unreasonable for anyone, official or observer, to respond with a bit of fatigue when the same talking points resurface like clockwork, untouched and unexpanded.
Ideally, we’d see responsiveness and rhetorical growth. But until then, we’re left trusting that each repetition isn’t just theater, but someone’s genuine last-ditch effort to be acknowledged.
I noticed that yesterday there were a large group of Sequim City employees infesting Gerdheart Park on 3rd Street.
There was some sort of a BBQ/party going on. I wonder if it was on the taxpayer dime?
I hear that they are selling the old house and outbuildings at auction? Wasn’t that land supposed to stay in the public’s hands?
It was donated with the stipulation it be a public park. They already had the auction, no one bid on any of the buildings so now they have to figure out what to do with them (tear down, etc.)
Interesting! Thank you Kathy.
Ah! Thanks for that!!
I live 6 miles from downtown Sequim. I CAN'T VOTE IN MY LOCAL ELECTIONS. ONLY PA WHERE I NEVER GO, don't care or want to vote in a town I don't live in. 5 minute walk to the spit. My address is Sequim. So, I have no representation.
Had you thought about the possibility that the commissioner had scheduled an appointment with Turner?
It didn't appear that way. I would think she would be invited into his office or the small boardroom if an appointment had been scheduled. It seemed to me that he hurried to reach her before she left the boardroom.
"Frenching Ozias" and a big nasty "Johnson"~! ;-)
Ha Ha Ha!!! This wonderful article just triggered me to channel an "Austin Powers" like response to these local criminals and their sick & twisted perversion of so-called "government"~!
I hope this gives the good folks of Clallam County reason to smile & laugh~!!!
Cheers~!
Mike
so that's where PA city council learned it from!
it was the other way around.
Excellent comment Patriot Mark Swanson~!
The federal government by strict law absolutely MUST now quickly remove the criminal illegal aliens from our country~! ALL illegal aliens are criminals by statute and legal definition~! There are indeed some of us who fully understand that Obama and Biden were NEVER legitimate lawful Presidents, so "we" do also understand that absolutely nothing that either of them did was, is, or will ever be valid or binding in any way, shape, or form. Fraud literally "voids" all acts and actions of those who commit the crime of fraud, so these emotionally hysterical fools who have the gall to support the criminal invasion of America by criminal invaders are in fact committing treason and are Individually liable for their crimes accordingly~! Yes, it is sad that so many foolish foreigners made the conscious decision to break our long-standing and well-known laws, however in doing so they also took the stupid chance to enter the US completely illegally and that is NOT acceptable under any circumstances. You play, you pay~! If these criminal illegal aliens do not IMMEDIATELY leave the US on their own accord, they will be forcibly removed and banned from ever entering the US again because of THEIR choice to violate our most basic laws~! Enjoy a wonderful weekend! Sincerely, Mike
And I would support you!
It is the second week the Democrats have spoken against ICE and portrayed illegal immigrant criminals as poor victims. Who did Ozias race to pander to after this last meeting? With his actions, he has betrayed his constituents for criminals who engage in human trafficking, labor trafficking, and drug trafficking. Ozias has made his choice clear. We are fodder for his greed and avarice. He's a wolf indeed.
LOL once my nice neighborhood in Los Angeles changed the official language from English to Spanish the homicide rate increased exponentially. Our leaders are not dunces. They must understand this phenomenon. The process is definitely intentional but I don't understand the profit if civilization is ruined by sordid policies.
Denise Lapio I don't understand what motivates government robots. If we examine all of the city governments across our country what is the general pattern that dominates these institutions? The answer might be unpleasant.
Unpleasant indeed, Steve O
GREAT comment Patriot Ken Wahl~!
Of course, by calling this loud-mouthed Norma clown a "Lady" I believe that you are being unfair to the real wonderful and Intelligent Ladies of our community and beyond, but you are being most generous~! Ha! Anyway, these criminals within our country have indeed taken advantage of "our" compassion towards others, and I for one am most grateful for you pointing out the facts and the truth in such clear wording~! Cheers~! Sincerely, Mike
I purchased my first house in 1980. The neighborhood was friendly and everyone spoke English. Eventually nobody spoke English and Cartel shootings were common. Nobody went outside after the sunset. The emotion of compassion is only profitable if applied to family and local group. Compassion displayed to a foreign enterprise leads to extermination. The destruction of the Roman Empire might be an important example.
So, what part of California was your first house in?
Ha Ha Ha Ha! Sorry, your story just sounded SO familiar~!
I definitely don't have any problem with folks speaking different languages, but it is bad form when they do so in a country that speaks a another language. It is very important to expect that all Americans speak English, or American as the case may be, because that keeps us together as a group and not as easily divided. It was pretty great to hear that President Trump declared English the official language of America ;-) I greatly admire the Spirit of Compassion in all folks, but we are obviously always in danger of the criminals taking advantage of us to do tremendous harm. This has been done time & time again to Americans over our short history as a country, so we must put a stop to being abused by those who weaponize our Goodley compassion. We must all guard our good and proper Spirit of compassion as well, because America MUST be a nation of reason, generosity, fairness, and justice, or we put ourselves and our country in severe danger. It looks like we are going back to a Constitutional common law matrix and that in and of itself will be extremely important! The fall of the Roman Empire was definitely orchestrated, and the "power elite" who had been in control simply "rebranded" themselves by inventing a new country called "The Sovereign Vatican State" where they, and other power elite, eventually joined as the very ones who are now losing their criminally corrupt domination over earth. We need to avoid repeating THAT ugly history at all costs~! This has nothing to do with the good folks of the catholic or any other religious faith. Our problems are with those who worship Satan and/or pure evil. I know how difficult that can be for most to grasp, but it is time when most will have to deal with it as best they can. Thank God "we" are being given this chance to change the course of America and hopefully eventually the world for the better! Keep the faith~! Sincerely, Mike
I'm sorry, Norma has been active in the community for a long time. She has always been engaged (something that most old ladies are not). Just because you don't agree with her politics does NOT mean you should discount her. She was very fair in all of the Charter Reviews she was engaged in (and the nonsense going on this time would have never happened if she were running the meetings). She and her late husband were very nice people. I have enjoyed every conversation I've ever had with her. She is intelligent, and engaging.
She is of the "silent generation" that was between the "boomers" and the "builders" (aka the "greatest generation"). It was called the "silent generation" because of the chilling influence McCarthyism had on the culture. She has seen a great deal of change in the world --- at a rapid pace, much more rapid that what the boomers are aware of. In 1928 (the start of the SG) saw the discovery of penicillin, and polio vaccines, watched as the world population boomed from 2 billion to 8 billion, the rise of communism, massive technological changes, and cultural shifts. I think, that being politically engaged for as long as she has (no matter what I agree or disagree with) is valuable, and she offers an insight that won't hurt you to listen to.
Hi Mimi Smith-Dvorak~!
I actually agree with much of what you say, as always, however I was ONLY specifically referring to the information that Norma "apparently" had some sort of problem with the lawful efforts of the current federal administration that is heroically and Constitutionally methodically removing illegal aliens from the US~! Like you, I highly value the rights of every American to speak their minds, HOWEVER, I detest and reject anyone who in ANY way supports illegal aliens in America for any reason. The reason is because I lived the horrors of the illegal alien invasion in America all of my life on the front lines, and in ways that few here in the Pacific Northwest could possibly understand or even imagine. As a wide awake real estate analyst with many decades of experience and strong connections to law enforcement at all levels I know about an enormous number of cases that the corrupt mainstream media intentionally hides from the average Americans who are therefore completely ignorant of the terrible crimes that many illegal aliens are actually engaged in. I know Americans that were murdered in ways that would exceed any Hollywood horror flick and families that they destroyed, so any American who is ignorant of the ongoing atrocities and supporting it to continue will never get my support or respect. I know that "ALL" illegal aliens are not bad folks; however they are ALL criminals by legal definition, and I deeply resent the insult to our laws that illegal aliens represent AND how they make a mockery of those great immigrants who came to America to become productive legal Americans. I have ALWAYS admired the older generations even as a young child because of the history that they lived through and many times the strength & creativity that they exhibited along the way. There have been many great Americans in our short history as a country. The truth, however, is that NONE of the previous generations, especially Norma's, properly confronted the criminals in the American governmental system as "we" are today. The so-called "elite" criminals of humanity who are only a handful of people/families that control well over 90% of the world's total wealth have literally played all generations of Americans for complete fools because of their evil "hidden hand" of power that has controlled the criminals in our American government for well over 150 years. This is actually "the swamp" (the deep state) that "we" (American Patriots) are destroying now, no thanks to those who remain ignorant of what is really going on today~! You are very correct that Norma's generation accomplished some great things that should be respected, but they as a whole COMPLETELY failed to even understand, let alone address, the root of the problems that have led us all to this extremely dangerous and deadly point in history. People who do not completely understand that "we" (humanity) is STILL dealing with the largest scale mass murder genocide in history right now, would COMPLETELY fail to understand the gravity and depth of the problems that we are fighting against today and therefore their personal "opinions" would be weak, deeply flawed, and extremely dangerous! To be fair, I am not sure that any previous generations had much of a chance to even understand what was really going on and just how they were being played for fools by the few so-called "super elite" Individuals/families on earth, so I don't condemn them but I definitely do NOT paint the past history of America or the world as "great" in any way either~! I am an American patriot, not an emotional fool ;-) Much has been and will continue to be revealed, that absolutely proves what I am saying, so be patient... Many in the generations of today are in fact heroically destroying these criminal "elites" and their very old evil stranglehold upon humanity and I thank God for that~! So, yes, I agree with much of what you have said to at least some degree, and there is a lot that "we" should learn from ALL people including older folks (I am no spring chicken myself ;-) however this is no time for people who have no clue what is really going on to get into the way. Ha! This afternoon there were a few "useful idiots" with signs in downtown Sequim who have absolutely no clue that America is a Republic and NOT a Democracy! They are clearly sad Ignorant victims of the corrupt media. They are foolishly protesting against the great heroes who are risking everything to save them~! Ha! Most of them were complete embarrassments to "old geezers" like me who have actually dedicated their entire lives to America and the real problems that we all face today. The problem of Ignorant people is VERY serious, and the mainstream media and criminally corrupt people in government have betrayed their trust. For a few years we rented a home on the East side of Sequim that was the scene of an illegal alien attack upon two older folks, where they were assaulted, robbed, and imprisoned, while the two illegal alien criminals got away. No warning to the community from the local media or the police, and they were definitely armed and dangerous to everyone in the community! This happened at least 15 years ago, and I know that only a couple of people here ever heard about it, so Ignorance kills. Yes, one of the victims of this assault died not long after the tragic crime because he was SO traumatized~! That is a local example, and I gave the "Mary Poppins" version ;-) I would not be surprised if Norma had some worthwhile things to say, but anyone who wants to support the destructive, dangerous, and all too often deadly illegal alien population in my presence had better come with demonstrable facts and not rose-colored glasses of Ignorance~! Have a great day and I am sure that by the end of this year MANY more truths will be revealed that absolutely prove what I am saying... Thank God! Sincerely, Mike
I have long disliked the open-border policy. What most (middle aged white people) failed to see was that the people who bore the brunt of the steady path of south-of-the-border were those of hispanic/latino (whatever the newest moniker is) origins, here legally.
I lived in East Oakland for more than a decade, and, although most of my neighbors have passed on, would often hear about how the gangs were robbing, killing, raping — pretty much at will. These were reports from people who came here legally, and also spoke Spanish.
(After all, the majority of “us” group all those “mexican talking people” together, right?) They aren’t one big happy group eating tacos and burritos.
In fact, the gang presence from these open-door policies are many. From MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha), Tren de Aragua, and Clan de Golfo, Marrio 18, Los Rastrojos, the Sinaloa Cartel, the CJNG (Jalisco new Generation), and the Gulf Cartel, the Los Zetas, Juarez, Tijuana, La Union Tepito, Medellin Cartel, Cali Cartel and Clan del Golfo. The are all interfighting/waging war one each other, and all looking for their piece of the American Pie.
These aren’t just happy little journaleros or chalanes, or pleasant little obrero, as our media (and little old ladies) like to think of them.
In Los Angeles, alone, there are over 450 street gangs, with more then 36,000 members. What do they do? theft, burglary, vandalism, violent crime. 42% of female homicides are of hispanic women.
We look the other way — and ignore that the Tijuana murder rate is 87.88 per 100,000 (7th most dangerous city globally — and it’s dropped some) yet we pretend these are all happy little visitors, all looking to assimilate into our culture?
Nope.
LOL Who is Norma? I am currently suspended from Nextdoor so my research is limited. Perhaps she reported me to a monitor. That is an important reason to block potential enemies because if they cannot read your ideas they can't tattle tale to the thought police.
You guys just sound like a bunch of racist hillbillies. Maybe learn the history of this land. Indigenous people were nomadic. They traveled from Alaska to Peru, freely. We are the ones that put up borders and now want to say that people, human beings are illegal on land we stole from them… and then didn’t even give them citizenship in their own land until the 1920s…. Also, it is not a felony to enter this country illegally. It’s a misdemeanor pretty much the same as a damn traffic ticket… Also, every human in this country deserves to due process, not to just be kidnapped and deported to a foreign country, and/or imprisoned
Ken Wahl I agree 100%.