City Administration's plans for your neighborhood
Fran McNair revealed there will be a hearing for Simpson’s permit renewal application held in Shelton’s civic center on 9-27-11 (Tues. afternoon) @ 5:00pm. Notice will be published in both Shelton’s Journal and the Daily Olympian. Citizens are urged to attend and participate in this regulatory process which so often leads to the destruction of our environment, air quality, and health due to regulatory/citizen ennui.
Maria Cantwell came to Shelton last night to meet the town’s money more than its residents. At $100/plate, the privileged in our struggling economy were given easy access, the press and ordinary residents were not.
Pay (here) to Play
A small crowd of residents hoping for her Grace’s notice held signs protesting the Biomassacre of our forests and decimation of our children’s health. Senator Cantwell appeared to take no notice or to be indifferent, having taken a resolute position supporting aviation biofuels including the forest destruction needed to enable this profligate boondoggle.
Does Maria know how much a dozen eggs and a gallon of milk cost?
Citizens wished to express their concern after learning Senator Cantwell (along with other senators including our own Senator Patty Murray) had signed a letter directing the federal EPA to suspend/stop enforcing elements of its clean air regulations protecting the nation’s health and environment. The Senator’s reasoning in the letter appeared to urge trading protecting the health of the nation and our environment for ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’…i.e. selling our children, if you will.
8-8-11 Shelton biomassacre protest seeking Senator Cantwell’s support
8-8-11 Shelton Biomassacre Protest seeking… by pinbalwyz
8-8-11 Representative Kathy Haigh interview
8-8-11 No Paparazzi interview @ Senator Cantwell’s $100/plate dinner
8-8-11 No Paparrazi interview @ Senator… by pinbalwyz
As constant as the sun, Commissioner Miles was the only elected official there standing shoulder to shoulder with the community to protect it from the likes of Simpson and other dirty filthy anachronisms intent on receiving corporate welfare as their permit applications move with slight impediment through regulatory agencies such as ORCAA and Washington State’s Dept. of Ecology, given the support for these robber barons at the the local to the highest levels of government extending all the way to the White House itself.
Commissioner Miles Participates in the Struggle to Preserve the Community, Environment
We'll rally round the flag boys, we'll rally once again--shouting out the battle cry for clean air
Shelton’s Journal newspaper admits it knew nothing of Cantwell’s arrival at the $100/plate fundraising dinner until the same day, incorrectly assuming they learned of it at the same time as this reporter. Had they read local community blogs such as John Cox’s, they’d have known better as early as the previous Friday…enough time to have asked the Cantwell staff for permission to cover the event. Once again, the evolution of news gathering in the 21st century has proven today, WE ARE THE MEDIA.
8-8-11 Shelton Journal Late to Cantwell party
Senator Cantwell selects H'ors Deurves at the exclusive Xinh's soiree.
Shelton residents shout out against Senator Maria Cantwell’s support of biomassacre during their protest across the street from her Xinh’s $100/plate soiree after learning she’d slipped inside unnoticed without acknowledging the community’s concern.
8-8-11 Shelton’s Citizens rally against biomassacre near Cantwell soiree
Representative Kathy Haigh may be forgiven for expressing some confusion about exactly what the issue was citizens were protesting since Adage had pulled up stakes. Nothing visible indicated residents were opposed to the bio-fuel flavor of biomassacre and corporate welfare being promoted by Senator Cantwell and DNR’s Peter Goldmark as passionately as they’d hated Adage.
The Cantwell staff displayed considerable indifference as well in that after being contacted the previous Friday for permission to cover the soiree from the INSIDE, Jessica Boad (Senator Cantwell’s aide residing in Olympia) never responded to the e-mail request for an exception to their policy of excluding the press which she, herself, had urged be sent. The Monday evening of the event itself yielded a male staff member promising to relay the same, but verbal request, and return with a response. He never did.
8-8-11 Jessica Boad (Senator Cantwell’s aide) after soiree interview
John Cox and his wife, Christine Armand, collected signatures on a petition directly appealing to Senator Cantwell to reconsider her position supporting bio-fuel bisomassacre while hamstringing the federal EPA from enforcing regulations protecting the nation’s environment and air quality. As the hour grew late, they nervously approached and entered the ‘closed’ restaurant to hand deliver the signatures to the Senator, but were met immediately by staff blocking their path. Senator Cantwell intervened, accepting the document and briefly uttered political banalities while never once waving to or acknowledging the little people of Shelton who’d come to acknowledge/petition her!
John Cox & Christine approach the castle gate
John & Christine disappear into the maw of privileged access
Through The Looking Glass
John Cox and wife, Christine Armand, succeed in hand delivering local signatures petitioning Senator Cantwell’s support in opposing all forms of biomassacre including the bio-fuel for jet aircraft flavor promoted by the Senator and DNR’s Peter Goldmark. John denied any conversation of substance passed between them as Maria accepted the document.
8-8-11 John Cox & Christine recount reception from Senator Cantwell
Typical Downtown Shelton Welcome mat
Keep Off The Grass, Eat Dioxin, Breathe Shit!
A Shelton Senior, having just enjoyed a seafood dinner w/Senator Maria Cantwell, expresses surprise upon learning the shellfish from nearby Oakland Bay are tainted by some of the worst levels of Dioxin contamination in the Puget Sound.
8-8-11 Shelton Senior surprised Oakland Bay Shellfish Tainted by Dioxin
A Shelton family expresses dismay at learning of $100/plate event and Dioxin Tainted local Shellfish, thanks reporter for the information.
8-8-11 Shelton family dismayed at $100/plate, Dioxin Tainted local Shellfish
A couple leaving Senator Maria Cantwell’s $100/plate soiree avoid camera while admitting Dioxin contamination in Oakland Bay discussion in her Grace’s court.
8-8-11 Swells avoid camera, acknowledge Dioxin in Oakland Bay discussed
Portal to Privilege
In Camelot, it only rains at night
They Took All the Trees and Put 'em in a Tree Museum.... -Joni Mitchell-
Crossing Over to the Dark Side
From One of the Little People outside the Soiree
We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to Little People
In Xanadu did Kubla Khan a Stately Pleasure-Dome Decree
Senator Cantwell Savors the Dioxin Tainted Seafood
It Must Have Been Something I Ate
Pass The Dioxin, Please
What's the half-life for Dioxin?
For Whom The Bell Tolls
After witnessing such fine dining and an after dessert speech, it was time to visit where the little folk eat. It was only a block away on S. 2nd St.
Hunger Makes the Best Sauce
Perhaps It's Free because it's Empty?
Unfortunately, as luck would have it, the place was closed…there weren’t even any stragglers around. Perhaps it was that ‘no loitering’ sign?
Bistro of My Heart--the Price is Right, but the Service is Terrible
Perhaps they serve dinner fashionably late, ala European style? Note to Self: Encourage the proprietors to post hours and a menu. The place could become a tourist mecca…for the homeless. Shelton needs all the boosters it can get.
But wait!…there was another subtle clue for the peaceful repose:
Clean Air Freaks
That was IT! These folks were hard core environmentalists, unlike the Swells. And they were going to get Clean Air even if it meant hiking 25+ feet to the next enclave/city-state. Further investigation was called for.
OR…or, had they all rushed to sell their gold & silver to buy stocks, taking advantage of the recent crash and buying opportunities for investors?
After The Gold Rush
Yeah…that was it. It had to be! Unlike the Swells, these homeless geezers were damn clever. After all, you had to be smart to live on the streets…and live to tell about it. A quick turn to the right confirmed this suspicion–the Streets of Shelton, or at least the alleys, were PAVED with Gold!–Old Gold, Marlboro, Lucky Strike, Virginia Slims, and Chesterfield Lights. While the Swells had been gorging themselves on Dioxin, the little people had been preparing for the coming hyper-inflation by investing heavily.
Brought to You by your City's Administration and Dawn Pannell
It looked like the Red Army had been on maneuvers and bivouacked there for a month! Many of the Swells and the Senator herself must have overlooked this goldmine in the heart of our fair city while squeezing in/out of the back entrance to Xinhs. Arguably, perhaps a discerning eye more accustomed to street life was needed because it looked like a town that had crawled out from under a rock and never had a bath. After all, this alley that is Xinhs’ backdoor passes right by Treasures only a block away. Maria, eat your heart out for not being a Shelton native growing up with the best City government money can buy.
The most commonly committed felony in America is a cop lying under oath on a witness stand or committing perjury in a written report. Like their criminal twins, they thought it seemed like a good idea at the time. And, like their criminal counterparts, they believe the ends justify the means…i.e. they must ‘bend’ the law to enforce it–and make certain the ‘bad guy’ actually gets convicted. If that means deploying the fudge factor, so be it.
But cops aren’t alone in this scheme of orchestrating a police state. The US Supreme Court Justices have egged them on. Here’s a couple of examples before delving into the nuts & bolts of uniformed organizations arguably worse than the mob:
Community Property?–not when the police want a new break room microwave or cushier office chairs. Michigan (a community property State) set up a sting looking for Johns patronizing hookers in the tenderloin. A black man was busted by the undercover policewoman posing as a whore. His car was impounded as an item used in the commission of a crime. The department proceeded to auction it and take the proceeds for their own purposes. The man, a ne’er do well unemployed lout was married to a hard working black mother who was paid so poorly she still qualified for welfare benefits. By dint of hard work and years of struggling, she managed to feed her children, eventually saving enough to purchase the used car seized by the Michigan police. Naturally she objected. It was bad enough her shiftless unfaithful husband had been arrested, but now she once again had no transportation. She wanted it back. The police refused. They said it had been used in the commission of a crime even though she had known nothing of what her old man was up to. She then insisted the police at least turn over half of the proceeds to her since the vehicle was, under Michigan law, community property, i.e. half hers. They refused. She took the matter to court in Michigan and lost. She appealed. She lost. She eventually appealed all the way to the US Supreme Court. She lost. What’s theirs is theirs and what’s yours is theirs too!
A Florida yacht brokerage/leasing company owned an expensively handsome 2 masted schooner. They leased it to a company who signed an agreement to pay the rather steep monthly rent along with a deposit and initial fees. Not so long after, the boat disappeared and the monthly rental payments ceased. The owners began a concerted diligent search for their property, in an effort to recover it. Unbeknownst to them, the miscreants who had rented it used it to smuggle marijuana. At some point during the boat’s absence, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico authorities searched and seized the boat after finding evidence on it of the smuggling activities. They proceeded to auction the vessel and received a substantial sum for it. The actual owners were never notified by the Puerto Rican authorities nor was any attempt made by them to do so. These facts are not disputed in the case that ultimately wound its way to the US Supreme Court. Nevertheless, the Justices upheld Puerto Rico’s seizure, auction, and refusal to reimburse/pay the rightful owners despite the innocence or any wrong doing by those owners.
Upshot: A thief or smuggler can steal your property, use it unlawfully, and YOU (the victim) can be forced to pick up the tab in an action known as IN REM (as opposed to IN PERSONUM) against the property itself.
It’s a pretty sweet deal for the government with ancient origins dating back to trials where inanimate objects and cows were burned at the stake for crimes against the Crown. It’s also a stubbornly remaining stain of the anachronistic theory in government of The Divine Right Of Kings–i.e. The King/Sovereign (being God’s representative with dominion over all God’s subjects and realm) CAN DO NO WRONG…A bit offensive to the modern notion of a government of and by the people, eh? Incidentally, that’s also where the idea of sovereign immunity comes from, which remains part of our Anglo-Judeo legal system. Some consider it an oxymoron in an age where legitimacy is supposed to flow only from the consent of the governed.
6 Ways To Leave Your Lover–or from here to Mars w/o the Intergalactic Laxative
Police Violence catalyzes Protests
Patrol Cars, Bus, Shops torched
“At one point rioters were seen beating up a man attempting to take film footage of the scene.” “They’ve beaten up a man for talking to the fire brigade.”
“Many lined up with makeshift weapons including metal bars and baseball bats to confront the line of police…” “At one point, rioters broke through police ranks and attempted to storm Tottenham’s police station, pelting officers with bricks, bottles and eggs. As a police helicopter flew over Tottenham High Road, youths in masks and hoods added combustible material to two burned out police cars, included a bundle of documents and an awning ripped down from one of the shops.”
Shelton Officer Stomps Handcuffed Suspect’s Head, Breaks Jaw
The Mason County Sheriff has a tank…to serve warrants?…so they said. The department along with the Shelton police has a history of abusing citizens with excessive force and the gratuitous use of tasers. When this police misconduct is brought to court, the cover-up continues and the uniformed perpetrators are rarely held accountable by judges who never met a cop they didn’t like. News gatherers and photojournalists seek to shed light on this kind of crime along with those of any violent law breakers. A fully informed electorate is vital to any functioning true democracy. When one member of the community in injured, their rights violated, all members of the community have been injured!
However, how is the public to be informed of these critical events when those attempting to bear the message themselves are threatened, attacked, beaten, reviled, and prevented from exercising…and thereby preserving…some of our most precious inalienable rights?
One might think our most visible community activists would be on board with preserving our liberties along with our environment. But, with apologies to Porgy & Bess, it ain’t necessarily so! Disgustingly un-American behavior emanates from even some of those [Shawnie Vedder/Whelan?] who are among the 1st to insist on the very right they deprecate by attacking livestock, vandalizing mailboxes, engaging in perjury and abuse of process, defrauding the government, etc. Even the Shelton Journal has been seen to be lacking the kind of deference to 1st Amendment principles one would hope for in a news gathering organization. From public meetings, to courthouse hallway/sidewalk encounters, the hypocrisy abounds.
It’s high time the community took stock and engaged in some introspection if we truly value the proud principles and protections we share as Americans. Poorly trained law enforcement officers are among the most disturbing in this loathsome mix of those who would pervert the fundamental principles for which this nation was founded.
This article represents the 1st in a series of articles questioning the American public’s understanding of 1st Amendment guarantees, photojournalism, and news gathering confrontations. An increasing pattern of assaults and attacks against journalists in general, photojournalists in particular, by elements from both ends of the political spectrum has become apparent of late.
Recently, the Shelton Journal (a local weekly newspaper) ran an editorial urging local residents to be more tolerant of this news gathering organization instead of displaying hostility for it pursuing an independent editorial policy, and even toward its reporters themselves. But a recent event places that editorial in contrast with the reportedly rude manner it (Jesse, the Journal’s operations mgr) treated Bob (a long time Shelton resident) when approached with a photo of a woman wearing a Muslim headdress at the 2011 Mason Area Fair inside the Mason County Democrats booth.
Bob thought the photo merited publication and was newsworthy because, as he put it, he believed the combination of the T-shirt logo, the nature of the booth, and the woman’s attire were making a ‘statement’. The Journal, exercising its editorial independence, disagreed for a variety of reasons, none of which are necessary under the circumstances. Bob argued he’d have accepted The Journal’s discretion on the matter, but objected to the rude ejection he endured as though he were promoting racism or bigotry. Jesse, on the other hand, stated (during a fact checking interview) he exercised restraint and civility in having Bob escorted from the building.
An independent shot of the woman in question is displayed here for readers to decide for themselves whether it merited such an acrimonious exchange, displays a ‘statement’, or was even notable or newsworthy:
Is this woman making a 'statement'?
When news organizations and photojournalists are being attacked ever more frequently by a broad spectrum of political proponents or even poorly trained law enforcement officers, it behooves those who love 1st Amendment liberties to lead by example. If Bob’s allegation regarding his rude reception is accurate, The Journal was out of line and being inconsistent with its own editorial regarding such issues. If true, it certainly isn’t the kind of example to set in an environment where so much confusion exists with respect to photojournalists’ and reporters’ rights under the 1st Amendment.
It’s been said a reporter (at least a good one) has no friends…and shouldn’t! A fully informed public is vital to the proper functioning mechanism of a true democracy. The Journal’s (and any journalist’s) right to exercise its independence and 1st Amendment guarantees must be respected, even applauded. Those who would trample on that right are un-American. Similarly, The Journal must be consistent in honoring those same rights it demands…and do so politely! It may have failed to meet that simple standard in this instance.
The following video clips were taken to reveal the positions and credibility of candidates running for local political offices, Mayor of Shelton and Port of Shelton Commissioner in this instance:
This series of video clips featuring Candidates for Shelton area elected offices begins with the Port of Shelton Commissioner race, then the Mayor of Shelton race. The candidates for Port of Shelton Commissioner are, Jack Miles (incumbent), Dick Taylor, and Brian Avery. For the Mayor of Shelton race, the candiates are: Dawn Pannell (currently a City commissioner), Gary Cronce, and Tracy Moore. Further commentary about the Mayoral race can be found at:
CLICK here for more commentary on these Shelton area candidates
07-28-11 Shelton Area Candidates Forum 1/6
07-28-11 Shelton Area Candidates Forum 2/6
07-28-11 Shelton Area Candidates Forum 1/6 by pinbalwyz
07-28-11 Shelton Area Candidates Forum 3/6
07-28-11 Shelton Area Candidates Forum 4/6
07-28-11 Shelton Area Candidates Forum 5/6
07-28-11 Shelton Area Candidates Forum 5/6 by pinbalwyz
07-28-11 Shelton Area Candidates Forum 6/6
Mr. Avery hopes to be elected as Port of Shelton Commissioner, has never held elective office (other than precinct), but speaks out against Adage as having been a bad choice for the local community though envisioning the Port as an underutilized economic engine.
07-28-11 Avery short interview for Port of Shelton Commissioner race
Gary Cronce is running for Mayor of Shelton without any previous experience in elective office, but cites his bonafides as a local area businessman while claiming to have too little knowledge on local environmental issues to take a position on additional smokestack industries (past, present, or future) impacting the community…acknowledged being politically aligned with most of County Commissioner Tim Sheldon’s views.
07-28-11 Gary Cronce short interview for City of Shelton Mayoral race
Dick Taylor cites previous elective office in local area along with lengthy experience as a local area businessman. Dick promises to hold meetings, if elected, welcoming citizen input but shies away from addressing the current conflicts within the Port of Shelton on precisely such democratic principles. He also sidesteps the question of area environmental integrity by observing Simpson’s proposed additional incinerator is a City of Shelton issue. Yet Dick acerbically admitted in an earlier telephonic interview to having been an ardent supporter of Adage as a member of Citizens For A Prosperous Mason County.
07-28-11 Dick Taylor short interview for Port of Shelton Commissioner race
Having previously complained of having read the blog where such photos and video clips end up, retiring City of Shelton Mayor Tarrant snarls angrily at the camera. Misidentified in the bright sunlight as Mr. Butros, Tarrant evidences the kind of demeanor that can be expected from his hand picked successor, ‘stonewall’ Dawn Pannell.
07-28-11 Retiring City of Shelton Mayor Tarrant snarls at the camera
The sound was lost on this interview due to the mike not being turned on. But, Tracy Moore is perhaps the ‘squishiest’ of the 3 candidates for Mayor. When interviewed (by phone), she was clueless as to what branch of the government a City Commissioner belongs. Given Dawn Pannell’s ill conceived notions of refusing to reveal her opinions on public policies surrounding the Mayor’s office, such ignorance of fundamental government structure is unacceptable. A more recent interview (of her husband) revealed a waffling on whether Ms. Moore would leave her existing employment to dedicate herself full-time (if elected) to her duties as Mayor.
07-28-11 Tracy Moore short interview for City of Shelton Mayoral race w/o sound
Shelton Police warn citizens to acquire training before deploying defensive weapons, but admit they know of no place local citizens may go to gain it.
08-02-11 Shelton Police give tips on defensive weapons
PUD3 gives demonstration warning of fatal electric hazards from downed power lines, proximity to ground based transformers, trees touching power lines, while urging residents to call their PUD immediately when observing such emergencies.
08-02-11 PUD3 warns of fatal electric power hazards
Mason County Sheriff deputies caught in an impromptu interview at the 2011 Mason Fair respond to questions about the tank (armored personnel carrier) their department uses, reportedly, to serve warrants. They eagerly extol its virtues for ensuring the safety of deputies while emphasizing only SWAT members utilize it. Some initial confusion is expressed as to whether it is currently operational.
07-29-11 Mason County Sheriff Tank labeled necessary
City Administration's plans for your neighborhood
The recent Congressional impasse over raising the national debt ceiling limit has brought about some compromise including the reduction of entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security benefits. Why?…especially after so many have worked so hard to contribute to these programs all of their working lives? Well…because of waste, fraud, & abuse! See the following picture narrative link for a classic example:
Local Young Social Security Disability Recipient vacations in Shanghai, protests poverty
WELFARE QUEEN?:
When a relatively young mentally ill woman receiving lifetime disability benefits because she supposedly is incapable of working to support herself can afford to vacation in Shanghai, commute to the Evergreen State College to endlessly take art & photography classes, and even contemplate purchasing her ‘dream’ 4×4 Jeep while the rest of us dumb schmucks labor to pay our taxes and keep the lights on…something is very wrong and broken with our system! NO WONDER SOCIAL SECURITY IS ON THE ROCKS.
Even the ‘exceptional’ and the destitute are required to work…and cheerfully do so when given the opportunity. The blog’s author is spot on in contrasting the ubiquitous filth and industrial blight under Shelton’s current City Administration with Shanghai’s clean city streets and neighborhoods. But she ignores the fact public leaches are destroying our social fabric by cannibalizing the public purse out of indolence and a misplaced sense of entitlement. When a young woman as physically healthy as an ox is permitted to enrich herself at the public’s expense because she refuses to work and exaggerates a condition that clearly poses no impediment to her maintaining several community blogs/websites, filing frivolous lawsuits wherein she represents herself, raises 2 children, plans assaults on mountain peaks, livestock, and mailboxes, the community suffers as a result.
The referenced blog recently had a great quote:
“A man steals a goose from the commons and is jailed. But the man who steals the commons is rewarded!”
Those who defraud the public purse under the feigned guise of ‘disability’ when they’re capable of working (attending college, planing mountain treks, covering community events as a photo-journalist, raising a family, etc.) but simply WON’T, are as big a blight on the community as the filthy dirty anachronisms (like Simpson) who pollute and destroy it or City administrations (Dawn Pannell?) who continue their senicure while doing little to protect residents…even stonewalling those who ask what protection the official is willing to afford the community.
SHAME on those who plead poverty while stealing from their neighbors and the public purse!
Teresa Rebo vs. Pork of Shelton