This last week, our family carried out an exercise in
public service scrutiny. We “met” the Port of Bellingham. I have lived in
Whatcom County since Dec 30, 1994, but there is so much that I have not known.
In the late 1990’s, I worked as an electrician on the total remodel of the Port
of Bellingham office building. I have not passed through those doors again
until three days ago, Tuesday afternoon.
First impressions—the port commissioners meeting reminded
me of a school board meeting. The
executive, Rob Fix sat at a table with the three commissioners and the
executive secretary. A panel of department managers and the legal counsel sat
at the second table. Managers gave reports and commissioners voted on various
items.
The meeting started with public comment. The frequent
fliers were there representing the progressive lobby. Along with their causes
of environmental concern and “job creation”, they raised an unholy ruckus over
the lack of a video record of the boards meetings. Even county commissioner Rud
Browne showed up to grace the effort, suggesting that the Port administrators
partner join the happy technology and services that the County will likely roll
out – some enhanced video airings of the County Council meetings. Browne said
he was speaking as a private citizen, of course!?
Why the screaming call for video? I would suggest the
progressive movement and its media allies in Bellingham have an insatiable
appetite for public controversy. If you have a degree in a field that lends
itself to “community organizing”, you must have stories to fire up your
neighborhood controversies. Visuals can be groomed to just the right “message”,
and every traditional service can be “retooled” into another cog for the
progressive redistribution of wealth machine.
Of course, access to audio or video recordings of port meetings does provide archival records which are a part of due public process. And, if the Port Authority is moving towards providing such, a person with balance will be grateful and patient, rather than pompous and demanding.
What were we doing at the Port? Our family home schools.
As our young people consider life works, we have pushed an entrepreneurial
mindset. A major aspect in business startups is capital development and
application. In other words, getting and growing money by providing worthwhile
services. When I heard that the Port may do an RFP (request for proposal) for
video services, we decided to walk a few hundred feet in those shoes. My
daughter and I took some simple video equipment in, and recorded about 45
minutes of the 2.5 hour meeting.
The video turned out fine. Sound quality was variable. The
Port’s AV system has an upgrade expense line in the budget. Commissioner
McCauley has a problem projecting his voice. Otherwise, he did a very
acceptable job of keeping the meeting moving. We tested microphone and camera
placements. We would need to upgrade our equipment. What else is new! It was a
good chance to meet some of the decision makers.
We also watched a bit of a side show, as another group
did a video recording dry run. Somehow they obtained a WI-FI hotspot on the
port’s network—without adequate authorization. They wanted to demo live
streaming. When the hotspot was discovered and taken from them, there was a
howl of protest about the Port obscuring its public meetings. Otherwise, they
made their recording peaceably as well.
On the home front, this last month has been full with
farm projects. More hay has been purchased and brought in. Broken trailer wheel
brakes still need repair. A small portable egg laying hen house was designed
and put together with the boys. Maybe there will be some takers if this is
offered to urban farmers under the new chickens in the back yard rules.
Lambing is in full swing. It is a joy to see new life
squirt out, dry off and begin to crave milk. It is sad when newborns are missed
and cool off and die. It is a hassle when the baby monitor in the barn
transmits those “groans” at three in the morning. The fresh sheep’s milk, and
the improved health of our daughter on that milk makes it worth while.
This week, my wife Bev has been attending a three day
seminar on cheese making, a five hundred dollar gift from a fellow farmer who
decided to not attend and share his seat. Thank you, my friend! It is kindnesses
like this that build community.
Farming is hard work. Milking animals is slogging hard
work, with limited respites. Making cheese is also hard work. Burnout and
personal physical injuries are issues we as adults in our fifth decade of life
must consider. Again, the pressures of fast capital infusion are evident, as
that new creamery equipment others at the cheese making class are buying must
be quickly brought on line to pay down the loans. We have survived with the
willing help of family who work together. And by staying out of debt. We are “doing
our own time” in our life shackles.
Yesterday, with my wife out of the saddle, I went with
our young people to an after school club they lead at Kendall Elementary
School. Forewarned, I went prepared to ride shotgun on a certain group of boys
that have been turning the club into their own ego show.
Sure enough, a cherubic little ten year old drank his
milk quickly, then put the carton down and stomped out a loud pop, easing back
in “surprise” when all heads turned his way. Too busy to eat their snacks
during the snack time, the boys settled down to discuss their concerns in the
back row while they loudly chomped their food in contest with the leader up
front.
After an hour of moving ten year old boys farther and
farther apart, things settled down to a dull roar in the back row. It is
amazing the energy protesters have when there is a joint cause. It is also
amazing the grateful responses of little girls who wait for these boys to be
quieted so they can peacefully do the games and hear the stories.
So, I return to public comments at the port. Sometimes,
the little boys and girls never grow up inside, becoming adults who still love
to show off in public comment. Do they seek the public good? Or, are they more concerned
with turns of wit, with showing off extraneous knowledge while they take down
leaders who have “done their time” and proven themselves in public service.
These activists are also doing time, but in a different prison.
--
JK
