A Wild Olympics "community workshop" coordinated by staff from Rep. Norm Dicks' and Sen. Patty Murray's offices drew a large crowd and considerable consternation in Hoquiam on December 4.
Twenty minutes after the "community workshop" was scheduled to open, an unidentified staffer "welcomed" attendees and thanked the large crowd for coming. He explained that six staff members each for Dicks and Murray were on site to "listen to what you have to say."
The staffer's "clarification" that the event wasn't really a "public forum," bur rather a write-down-your-comment and drop-it-in-the-box format drew angry responses
"I came here for open public testimony" said one man. "We want to speak our piece." The staffer responded, "Come talk to us," which was clearly not what most people had in mind for a "public for
um."
A dozen or so "Water - Forests - Fish: Our Future - Wild Olympics" signs sprouted around the Central Elementary School gymnasium, but majority sentiment seemed squarely in the other camp. Several "Public Notice: Wild Olympics Kills Jobs" signs were on hand. Hand-lettered signage included:
"Enough government programs! We need jobs!"
"Wild Olympics? How about Wild Washington?
Let's make the whole state a park. Hello."
"Wild Olympics means higher unemployment."
Perhaps revealing more than she intended, one Wild Olympics proponent was heard to say, "All they care about are jobs. Logging jobs are all going overseas. I'd rather save our forests."
The controversy surrounding the Wild Olympics Campaign isn't likely to die down soon. Grays Harbor Republicans are on record as opposing the campaign.
No comments:
Post a Comment