County commissioners say their mission is to put residents first. Newly obtained records suggest special interests may have figured out a faster route.
For several years I have watched the commissioners’ meetings and a pattern that has become increasingly difficult for the public to ignore. During campaign season, we hear confident promises about representation, transparency, and service to the people of this county. Yet the conduct displayed in these meetings tells a very different story. Actions speak louder than campaign language, and the actions we see week after week are eroding public trust.
Residents watch and attend the meetings to raise legitimate concerns about safety, governance, and community well being. Too often, those concerns are met with circular responses, vague reassurances, or no answer at all. At times, the public is left listening to word salads rather than receiving clear information. Last week, one commissioner appeared via Zoom and displayed an expression that many of us interpreted as dismissive or mocking toward a commenter. That kind of visible disdain for citizens who take the time to participate is unacceptable in any public office. True public servants, would welcome comments from their constituents.
Another issue is the growing number of boards and committees on which commissioners sit. These positions carry influence, and they also raise questions about conflicts of interest—especially when those same organizations receive public funding or make decisions that intersect with county policy. If commissioners choose to sit on these boards, they should do so without voting power in matters where the county has a stake. Oversight cannot function when the overseers are embedded within the very organizations they are expected to monitor.
The Animal Advisory Committee is one example. At the last two meetings, two commissioners who serve on that board were absent. If there is no genuine interest in participating, those seats should be filled by community members who are committed to the work. Board positions should not be treated as résumé padding; they should be treated as responsibilities.
Many long time residents have shared that especially Ozias and French are not the same people they knew years ago. That is what happens when power goes unchecked. When elected officials begin to see public input as an inconvenience rather than a duty, the community suffers.
But the public is not powerless. Many of us are reaching out to neighbors who do not normally participate in local civic processes, voting and helping them understand why engagement matters and how local decisions affect their daily lives. Change happens one conversation at a time, and when each of us takes responsibility for that outreach, we build a stronger, more informed community.
If speaking up makes us “whiners” or “complainers,” then so be it. We will wear that title proudly. Because silence is what allows questionable practices, conflicts of interest, and disregard for the public to continue. Accountability requires persistence, and the people of this county are not going away.
This is a great article, Jeff. Some people will not see what we see and hear week after week, meeting after meeting. The exposed Sequim City Council draft letter by Ron Allen was upsetting to our community. So if one corporation, NGO, or non-profit does this, then every one will do the same without questions or scrutiny. It becomes a procedural formality no one wants to disrupt. Being a County Comminssioner is hard work, which is why they should not hold any other non-required board and committee positions. When will their breaking points come and at whose expense?
Thank you for once again pointing out the gross deficiencies and derelictions of duty of the so-called "leadership" of our local government Jeff Tozzer~! These paper pushing thugs are just "rubber stamping" their own supporters at the direct expense of all others in the community. Special favors are the "currency" in their sick game of constant "butt kissing" each other as if that is the job that they were hired to do, and there is no due diligence effort made by these clowns to properly determine what is best for the good folks of Clallam County at all~! Quite the opposite, their criminally reckless disregard of the overwhelming will of folks in Clallam County is appalling, and as we have seen has resulted in tremendous economic damage, MANY people being harmed, and even some innocent folks being killed~! Of course, we all know that small amounts of "political donations" have been openly reported to have been paid to these fake and phony corrupt "decision makers", but most know that is just the tip of the iceberg of graft that is REALLY being paid in one way or another. ALL of these serious problems are being driven by the obviously completely corrupt elections that Clallam County has had, where the criminals in and out of government have devised numerous ways to subvert the will and best interests of the good folks of Clallam County for a great many decades~! Yes, it all comes down to us voting because a well-informed public does the best job of determining their preferred direction going forward, however there has clearly existed a ruthless overwhelming control over the very information that folks depend upon AND in combination with the criminally corrupted election process "we" (residents of Clallam County) can only hope to COMPLETELY overwhelm the ballot box to thwart the local criminals from perverting our freedom and rights~! Washington State is currently experiencing the largest scale "revolt" against the criminals entrenched within the state government, as their evil, illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional "Income tax" scheme is being thoroughly rejected by an enormous number of folks who have already signed the petition of rejection~! Beware of tricks and skullduggery, because these criminals of humanity are VERY well experienced, organized, and coordinated between many state, county, and city governments to subvert the will of ALL Americans, and their primary weapon is "word craft" where they have ruthlessly deceived Americans from cradle to grave for generations~! These criminals of humanity prey upon unsuspecting Americans who foolishly underestimate the fact that they will do literally ANYTHING that they need to so they can achieve their evil agenda and to remain in control~! Keep up the great work, and hopefully enough people will wake up to what has been and is still going on with all of these simple-minded games that are being played on us~! Don't let them divide us against each other, because most folks really want the same basic things and THEY are our worst enemies and they always have been~!!!
How many more of Jeff's articles do people need to read before they start to appreciate today's well written article and understand that the majority of us hard working taxpayers are not even a close second thought to the machine our commissioners orchestrate via NGOs?
Aside from the attributes Jake Seegers embodies, he's also a vote for term limits to disrupt the corruption machine that forms around second, third, etc term elected officials. If Jake didn't have as much going for him he'd still get my vote just because of the need for fresh ideas and especially perspective.
I'll take one Wedge please, hold the NGO, and a bag of chips.
They are holding the nose of the community tighter than Dr. Turner. Its not possible to create the willing seller willing buyer climate, if there where living wage jobs to provide income.
They have their burning the candle at both ends model and they are telling lies, assaulting property owners and blocking background screens to keep it.
They could have gotten federal grants to clear power lines and make fire breaks but they joined a federal lawsuit on the policy to pay for it. Even if Wheeler doesn't cut the ribbon and chant "Dave Cut-the-grove", the infrastructure, which started at the high school level with "Conservation aide" and the old forest management infrastructure is gone. Furthermore, they don't want to ruin the goal to have this Peninsula designated as an area of "little to no human use."
'Scotch broom" would have fell under the swing of Pulaski's years ago, if it were not for the "willing seller willing buyer "grip on the community's nose. Its comical to think a species like that would bring the community that chased Hells Angels out of town to its knees.
Augment Choice school to resurrect the Conservation Aide class, resurrect Bruneau and Judge Turner, get Freewheeling Franklin out of the stickers, hire local high school grads still living in the basement. Get the federal grant, buy some old military buses and Pulaski's and get to work.
We have all been sold the story that climate change, salmon restoration, natural resource conservation, renewable energy, and for that matter homelessness, drug addiction, police accountability, voter rights, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and reproductive rights are Humanitarian issues. But they are not. They are businesses. They make money for corporations we have relabeled NGO's. If they solve the very problem they claim to fight, poof their money disappears. Wild that we have accepted this is the normal way of things.
I like your Spirit~! It has been about 10 years or so, but I had some folks who were doing some work on a property that we were renting on the East side of Sequim that told me of the community coming together to chase some Hells Angels out of town years before. Other than those guys, you are the first Individual that I have heard who seems to know about that event. That is very interesting to me as an old American Constitutionalist, because it has long been my duty to keep track of these stories that never seem to make it in the established news media reports. I would like to hear more about that event someday, but I know how busy everyone is with the BS circus... Anyway, have a great weekend and keep up the great work~! Get ready for an interesting 4th of July because I am expecting some "fireworks"~!
Thanks again for the great work on this CCWD. I will say it is time for the SHEEPLE to wake the HELL UP!!! and quit supporting this BULLSH!T!!! I don't care who is receiving emails with letters of request, copying and editing , putting on County or City Letterhead having the ELECTED
responsible OFFICIALS sign the document and then sending the RUBBER STAMPED document
back. Everyone involved needs to be replaced in my opinion!!! No excuses for the blatant funding
and land transfers like this, without a options or metrics to be met, just a premade request by the parties requesting the money or land for the Cities, County Officials to approve, sign and TADA it becomes just another handout. PLEASE and THANK YOU CC taxpayers. Some of these requests have opposition by citizens through PETITIONS and or PUBLIC Comment and the citizens still get ignored. NGO's or Special Interest Groups don't get ignored!!
I will keep saying it, that because this County at all levels is not transparent and hands out MONEY like CANDY, an actual AUDIT by an organization like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) should be utilized. Not some organization that is put together by this County, City or State an outside source that is designed to find the waste and fraud. I have enough knowledge of financials to be considered dangerous to myself, but there are individuals that have the knowledge and experience that could actually do this.
It is time to start getting these individuals voted out of office, vote for Common Sense,
Scotch Broom has been used to hold soil together after cutting roadways into native soil. It was latter learned how invasive and destructive to our environment it is. We now spend many tax dollars trying to control it.
The European green crab (Carcinus maenas) is a damaging invasive species that poses a threat to native shellfish, eelgrass, and estuary habitat critical for salmon and many other species.
Is the non-native shellfish that Jamestown Corporation is introducing into OUR waters possibly going to create the same type problems as Scotch Broom, or Green Crab?
The commissioners did not reply to questions asking if they would use their positions in the WSAC lobbying NGO to advocate for revisiting the 75/25 fuel tax agreement with Washington State tribes. Here is today's email sent to the commissioners:
Dear Commissioners,
Recent public records appear to show that an outside nonprofit drafted a letter of support that was later issued under the Board of County Commissioners' name with little or no substantive revision.
Can you explain what policies or procedures are in place to ensure that letters issued by the Board represent the commissioners' independent analysis and judgment rather than language supplied by the organizations seeking the Board's endorsement?
Maybe the residents should form an NGO with a catchy name and ask for a letter of support. We could then ask for monetary support for the projects we find necessary.
Imagine if one of us here could become dictator of Clallam County! In one year, or less, the BS would be replaced by low taxes, fairness, and a thriving economy!
It's pretty much S-O-P (standard operating procedure) for entities asking for letters of support to provide draft verbiage, showing what they would like the letter to say. That doesn't excuse the commissioners from researching the issue, seeking public comment, and making appropriate changes to the draft before issuing any letter of support.
Interesting. I originally come from NJ where it's not unusual to see contractors write the requirements for local government RFPs so that only they can get the jobs. They work hand in glove together and if you raise the issue, you're the bad guy.
Interestingly when a Non-Profit or NGO makes a request (those that bottom feed for taxpayer money) their benevolence is implicit when shrouded in the buzzwords of the moment thusly avoiding scrutiny.
Question for Jake Seegers: If you had been a Commissioner in April, how would you have voted on the letter drafted for the BOCC's consideration by the 10,000 Years Institute?
It's not clear to me, what did the institute provide as evidence of their claims that would allow for some questions by a Commissioner to understand how to respond?
More reasons to get new blood. These entrenched grifters on the board now have shown us they dont care about taxpayers. Their actions speak loudly. Well, we hear ya now. We're voting for someone else.
The Watchdog helpfully informs us that “supporters will undoubtedly argue” that nonprofits routinely provide draft support letters and governments routinely edit and adopt them. This is a bold prediction, mostly because it is true, universal, and documented in every grant manual from here to the Department of the Interior.
It’s a bit like writing:
“Supporters will undoubtedly argue that gravity makes things fall.”
Yes. They will. Because it does.
It’s always impressive when an article manages to turn routine administrative workflow into a political thriller. Clallam County may not have a Trader Joe’s, but according to this piece, it apparently has a shadow government run by the Scotch Broom Lobby, the Invasive Species Industrial Complex, and one extremely powerful Word document.
The scandal, we are told, is that a nonprofit wrote a draft support letter for a grant application. In other news, water is wet, commissioners use chairs, and staff occasionally request documents in advance so meetings don’t devolve into improv theater.
The Watchdog treats the sentence “Please send me the letter of support” as if it were the local equivalent of the Pentagon Papers, rather than the universal phrase every government staffer uses when they would like to get home before 7 p.m.
We are then invited to gasp--quietly, reverently--at the revelation that the final letter resembled the draft. This is shocking only if you believe commissioners personally hand craft each paragraph with a quill pen after conducting a Socratic inquiry into knotweed.
The Watchdog also implies that because Scotch broom still exists, invasive species programs have failed. By this logic, firefighters should be fired because fires continue to occur, and dentists should be investigated because cavities persist in the wild.
Then comes the grand crescendo: a list of unrelated county issues, all solemnly presented as victims of the Great Letterhead Conspiracy. Flooding, traffic, federal road closures, refuge policy, tribal tax questions…apparently all stalled because a clerk formatted a document.
If only residents had known the true bottleneck all along: Microsoft Word.
In the end, the thesis boils down to this: “Government followed the same process every government follows, and therefore something sinister must be happening.”
For several years I have watched the commissioners’ meetings and a pattern that has become increasingly difficult for the public to ignore. During campaign season, we hear confident promises about representation, transparency, and service to the people of this county. Yet the conduct displayed in these meetings tells a very different story. Actions speak louder than campaign language, and the actions we see week after week are eroding public trust.
Residents watch and attend the meetings to raise legitimate concerns about safety, governance, and community well being. Too often, those concerns are met with circular responses, vague reassurances, or no answer at all. At times, the public is left listening to word salads rather than receiving clear information. Last week, one commissioner appeared via Zoom and displayed an expression that many of us interpreted as dismissive or mocking toward a commenter. That kind of visible disdain for citizens who take the time to participate is unacceptable in any public office. True public servants, would welcome comments from their constituents.
Another issue is the growing number of boards and committees on which commissioners sit. These positions carry influence, and they also raise questions about conflicts of interest—especially when those same organizations receive public funding or make decisions that intersect with county policy. If commissioners choose to sit on these boards, they should do so without voting power in matters where the county has a stake. Oversight cannot function when the overseers are embedded within the very organizations they are expected to monitor.
The Animal Advisory Committee is one example. At the last two meetings, two commissioners who serve on that board were absent. If there is no genuine interest in participating, those seats should be filled by community members who are committed to the work. Board positions should not be treated as résumé padding; they should be treated as responsibilities.
Many long time residents have shared that especially Ozias and French are not the same people they knew years ago. That is what happens when power goes unchecked. When elected officials begin to see public input as an inconvenience rather than a duty, the community suffers.
But the public is not powerless. Many of us are reaching out to neighbors who do not normally participate in local civic processes, voting and helping them understand why engagement matters and how local decisions affect their daily lives. Change happens one conversation at a time, and when each of us takes responsibility for that outreach, we build a stronger, more informed community.
If speaking up makes us “whiners” or “complainers,” then so be it. We will wear that title proudly. Because silence is what allows questionable practices, conflicts of interest, and disregard for the public to continue. Accountability requires persistence, and the people of this county are not going away.
Excellent!
My thoughts exactly>>Excellent!
Well said, CAS!
This is a great article, Jeff. Some people will not see what we see and hear week after week, meeting after meeting. The exposed Sequim City Council draft letter by Ron Allen was upsetting to our community. So if one corporation, NGO, or non-profit does this, then every one will do the same without questions or scrutiny. It becomes a procedural formality no one wants to disrupt. Being a County Comminssioner is hard work, which is why they should not hold any other non-required board and committee positions. When will their breaking points come and at whose expense?
Thank you for once again pointing out the gross deficiencies and derelictions of duty of the so-called "leadership" of our local government Jeff Tozzer~! These paper pushing thugs are just "rubber stamping" their own supporters at the direct expense of all others in the community. Special favors are the "currency" in their sick game of constant "butt kissing" each other as if that is the job that they were hired to do, and there is no due diligence effort made by these clowns to properly determine what is best for the good folks of Clallam County at all~! Quite the opposite, their criminally reckless disregard of the overwhelming will of folks in Clallam County is appalling, and as we have seen has resulted in tremendous economic damage, MANY people being harmed, and even some innocent folks being killed~! Of course, we all know that small amounts of "political donations" have been openly reported to have been paid to these fake and phony corrupt "decision makers", but most know that is just the tip of the iceberg of graft that is REALLY being paid in one way or another. ALL of these serious problems are being driven by the obviously completely corrupt elections that Clallam County has had, where the criminals in and out of government have devised numerous ways to subvert the will and best interests of the good folks of Clallam County for a great many decades~! Yes, it all comes down to us voting because a well-informed public does the best job of determining their preferred direction going forward, however there has clearly existed a ruthless overwhelming control over the very information that folks depend upon AND in combination with the criminally corrupted election process "we" (residents of Clallam County) can only hope to COMPLETELY overwhelm the ballot box to thwart the local criminals from perverting our freedom and rights~! Washington State is currently experiencing the largest scale "revolt" against the criminals entrenched within the state government, as their evil, illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional "Income tax" scheme is being thoroughly rejected by an enormous number of folks who have already signed the petition of rejection~! Beware of tricks and skullduggery, because these criminals of humanity are VERY well experienced, organized, and coordinated between many state, county, and city governments to subvert the will of ALL Americans, and their primary weapon is "word craft" where they have ruthlessly deceived Americans from cradle to grave for generations~! These criminals of humanity prey upon unsuspecting Americans who foolishly underestimate the fact that they will do literally ANYTHING that they need to so they can achieve their evil agenda and to remain in control~! Keep up the great work, and hopefully enough people will wake up to what has been and is still going on with all of these simple-minded games that are being played on us~! Don't let them divide us against each other, because most folks really want the same basic things and THEY are our worst enemies and they always have been~!!!
Sincerely, Mike
How many more of Jeff's articles do people need to read before they start to appreciate today's well written article and understand that the majority of us hard working taxpayers are not even a close second thought to the machine our commissioners orchestrate via NGOs?
Aside from the attributes Jake Seegers embodies, he's also a vote for term limits to disrupt the corruption machine that forms around second, third, etc term elected officials. If Jake didn't have as much going for him he'd still get my vote just because of the need for fresh ideas and especially perspective.
I'll take one Wedge please, hold the NGO, and a bag of chips.
Vote for Jake.
They are holding the nose of the community tighter than Dr. Turner. Its not possible to create the willing seller willing buyer climate, if there where living wage jobs to provide income.
They have their burning the candle at both ends model and they are telling lies, assaulting property owners and blocking background screens to keep it.
They could have gotten federal grants to clear power lines and make fire breaks but they joined a federal lawsuit on the policy to pay for it. Even if Wheeler doesn't cut the ribbon and chant "Dave Cut-the-grove", the infrastructure, which started at the high school level with "Conservation aide" and the old forest management infrastructure is gone. Furthermore, they don't want to ruin the goal to have this Peninsula designated as an area of "little to no human use."
'Scotch broom" would have fell under the swing of Pulaski's years ago, if it were not for the "willing seller willing buyer "grip on the community's nose. Its comical to think a species like that would bring the community that chased Hells Angels out of town to its knees.
Augment Choice school to resurrect the Conservation Aide class, resurrect Bruneau and Judge Turner, get Freewheeling Franklin out of the stickers, hire local high school grads still living in the basement. Get the federal grant, buy some old military buses and Pulaski's and get to work.
We have all been sold the story that climate change, salmon restoration, natural resource conservation, renewable energy, and for that matter homelessness, drug addiction, police accountability, voter rights, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and reproductive rights are Humanitarian issues. But they are not. They are businesses. They make money for corporations we have relabeled NGO's. If they solve the very problem they claim to fight, poof their money disappears. Wild that we have accepted this is the normal way of things.
Uninformed people fall for the words they want to hear and never look back to verify whether what they agreed to matches what is happening.
And those people saying the words, know exactly what key words to say to reel those folks in.
The Oppression Olympics is big business...."Is it safe?"
That is exactly why you'll never see a cure for cancer or heart disease.
Good comment, Patriot John Worthington~!
I like your Spirit~! It has been about 10 years or so, but I had some folks who were doing some work on a property that we were renting on the East side of Sequim that told me of the community coming together to chase some Hells Angels out of town years before. Other than those guys, you are the first Individual that I have heard who seems to know about that event. That is very interesting to me as an old American Constitutionalist, because it has long been my duty to keep track of these stories that never seem to make it in the established news media reports. I would like to hear more about that event someday, but I know how busy everyone is with the BS circus... Anyway, have a great weekend and keep up the great work~! Get ready for an interesting 4th of July because I am expecting some "fireworks"~!
Sincerely, Mike
It's true!
Indeed!
Have a great Friday evening, Patriot TLL~!
Enjoy the mellow weekend as well ;-)
Sincerely, Mike
None dare call it collusion.
Thanks again for the great work on this CCWD. I will say it is time for the SHEEPLE to wake the HELL UP!!! and quit supporting this BULLSH!T!!! I don't care who is receiving emails with letters of request, copying and editing , putting on County or City Letterhead having the ELECTED
responsible OFFICIALS sign the document and then sending the RUBBER STAMPED document
back. Everyone involved needs to be replaced in my opinion!!! No excuses for the blatant funding
and land transfers like this, without a options or metrics to be met, just a premade request by the parties requesting the money or land for the Cities, County Officials to approve, sign and TADA it becomes just another handout. PLEASE and THANK YOU CC taxpayers. Some of these requests have opposition by citizens through PETITIONS and or PUBLIC Comment and the citizens still get ignored. NGO's or Special Interest Groups don't get ignored!!
I will keep saying it, that because this County at all levels is not transparent and hands out MONEY like CANDY, an actual AUDIT by an organization like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) should be utilized. Not some organization that is put together by this County, City or State an outside source that is designed to find the waste and fraud. I have enough knowledge of financials to be considered dangerous to myself, but there are individuals that have the knowledge and experience that could actually do this.
It is time to start getting these individuals voted out of office, vote for Common Sense,
Vote Jake and Virginia our two wedges.
Scotch Broom has been used to hold soil together after cutting roadways into native soil. It was latter learned how invasive and destructive to our environment it is. We now spend many tax dollars trying to control it.
The European green crab (Carcinus maenas) is a damaging invasive species that poses a threat to native shellfish, eelgrass, and estuary habitat critical for salmon and many other species.
Is the non-native shellfish that Jamestown Corporation is introducing into OUR waters possibly going to create the same type problems as Scotch Broom, or Green Crab?
Yes!
Good question!
The commissioners did not reply to questions asking if they would use their positions in the WSAC lobbying NGO to advocate for revisiting the 75/25 fuel tax agreement with Washington State tribes. Here is today's email sent to the commissioners:
Dear Commissioners,
Recent public records appear to show that an outside nonprofit drafted a letter of support that was later issued under the Board of County Commissioners' name with little or no substantive revision.
Can you explain what policies or procedures are in place to ensure that letters issued by the Board represent the commissioners' independent analysis and judgment rather than language supplied by the organizations seeking the Board's endorsement?
Saw Jake’s billboard on First street Yesterday! 🤩
Maybe the residents should form an NGO with a catchy name and ask for a letter of support. We could then ask for monetary support for the projects we find necessary.
Love it!
Imagine if one of us here could become dictator of Clallam County! In one year, or less, the BS would be replaced by low taxes, fairness, and a thriving economy!
It's pretty much S-O-P (standard operating procedure) for entities asking for letters of support to provide draft verbiage, showing what they would like the letter to say. That doesn't excuse the commissioners from researching the issue, seeking public comment, and making appropriate changes to the draft before issuing any letter of support.
Interesting. I originally come from NJ where it's not unusual to see contractors write the requirements for local government RFPs so that only they can get the jobs. They work hand in glove together and if you raise the issue, you're the bad guy.
Interestingly when a Non-Profit or NGO makes a request (those that bottom feed for taxpayer money) their benevolence is implicit when shrouded in the buzzwords of the moment thusly avoiding scrutiny.
Question for Jake Seegers: If you had been a Commissioner in April, how would you have voted on the letter drafted for the BOCC's consideration by the 10,000 Years Institute?
Jake can be reached directly by emailing vote@jakeseegers.com.
It's not clear to me, what did the institute provide as evidence of their claims that would allow for some questions by a Commissioner to understand how to respond?
At the March 30th work session, Jill Silver gave a 7-minute slide show. It's right at the end of the tape if you watch it online.
More reasons to get new blood. These entrenched grifters on the board now have shown us they dont care about taxpayers. Their actions speak loudly. Well, we hear ya now. We're voting for someone else.
The Watchdog helpfully informs us that “supporters will undoubtedly argue” that nonprofits routinely provide draft support letters and governments routinely edit and adopt them. This is a bold prediction, mostly because it is true, universal, and documented in every grant manual from here to the Department of the Interior.
It’s a bit like writing:
“Supporters will undoubtedly argue that gravity makes things fall.”
Yes. They will. Because it does.
It’s always impressive when an article manages to turn routine administrative workflow into a political thriller. Clallam County may not have a Trader Joe’s, but according to this piece, it apparently has a shadow government run by the Scotch Broom Lobby, the Invasive Species Industrial Complex, and one extremely powerful Word document.
The scandal, we are told, is that a nonprofit wrote a draft support letter for a grant application. In other news, water is wet, commissioners use chairs, and staff occasionally request documents in advance so meetings don’t devolve into improv theater.
The Watchdog treats the sentence “Please send me the letter of support” as if it were the local equivalent of the Pentagon Papers, rather than the universal phrase every government staffer uses when they would like to get home before 7 p.m.
We are then invited to gasp--quietly, reverently--at the revelation that the final letter resembled the draft. This is shocking only if you believe commissioners personally hand craft each paragraph with a quill pen after conducting a Socratic inquiry into knotweed.
The Watchdog also implies that because Scotch broom still exists, invasive species programs have failed. By this logic, firefighters should be fired because fires continue to occur, and dentists should be investigated because cavities persist in the wild.
Then comes the grand crescendo: a list of unrelated county issues, all solemnly presented as victims of the Great Letterhead Conspiracy. Flooding, traffic, federal road closures, refuge policy, tribal tax questions…apparently all stalled because a clerk formatted a document.
If only residents had known the true bottleneck all along: Microsoft Word.
In the end, the thesis boils down to this: “Government followed the same process every government follows, and therefore something sinister must be happening.”