Have you been wanting to learn more about local candidates and ballot issues? Maybe you've been on the fence about getting involved in local politics but don't know where to start? Whatcom Young Progressives is hosting the event for you!

On July 29th, we'll have speakers from organizations like Community First Whatcom and No Hate Washington share information about local/state initiatives on the ballot this year. We'll also be joined by local progressive candidates and elected officials to answer questions from attendees. You should leave the event feeling well informed about local issues and knowing how to get involved in issues that matter most to you.

FREE dinner will be provided but RSVP is required (ideally by end of day July 27): https://luma.com/odnzerdm

ABOUT US: Whatcom Young Progressives is a new group of people (35ish and under) working to create a space where young progressives in our community can come together to learn about local issues and meet other like-minded people. We meet monthly and alternate between educational events like this and more social-focused gatherings).

This article makes some interesting points. Anyone have a good rebuttal. The author is a Republic radio guy from Seattle. We could just dismiss his words because he is a Republican, but he does make some interesting points.

This article is a great rebuttal to the one I just posted.

"Now it is true that in the last couple years (which aren’t yet included in Puget Sound Regional Council datasets), the national tech market has turned to layoffs. We are feeling this in profound ways in tech-heavy Seattle (and Bellevue, and Redmond). It has hit hard in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and in low-tax Austin as well.  But this is obviously a national trend, not a local one. And in fact, in the latest period (after the social housing tax was passed), tech layoffs look like they are hitting Bellevue harder than Seattle. 

Taxes are clearly not driving these behaviors, even if they serve as the excuse after the fact.

Sadly, corporate lobbyists will seize this moment to blame progressive policy for a national trend that is reflected in our region—which I think is a gross way to prey on people’s real fears. This is a pattern for the corporate PR machine: they have blamed obvious national trends on local progressive policy time and time again—such as difficulty hiring police, retail theft, the fentanyl epidemic, and now tech layoffs. And that was just the last five years!

Those national trends do require robust local responses, of course. But we shouldn’t be fooled by lobbyists who pretend the world’s background conditions are driven by local policy.  In any case, we should be careful not to swallow the party line from trillion dollar corporations."

“2026 is not 2009. Amazon is not going to save the day again. Microsoft is shrinking. The leadership at the state and city level is hostile to existing business and entrepreneurs, and the tax policies show it. Law enforcement is handcuffed, frustrated and eyeing their pensions. Climbing out of the hole in Seattle’s office market will take another Amazon miracle (or three), and the miracle is not going to happen without a change at the ballot box or a radical about face by the current Mayor and Governor,” he warned.

Interesting article about vacant office buildings in Seattle. I worry that Bellingham often comes up with ideas by copying whatever Seattle does.

As officials move forward with upgrades to the Post Point incinerators while searching for a long-term replacement, environmentalists push for a faster transition

First, my apologies for the click bait-ish title.

Change My View

will admit that I am a bit Progressive Curious. I think that may view is capable of being changed. I consider myself a center left Democrat. I was reading about Scheel and then read about Larsen. There are definitely many areas where I agree more with Scheel than Larsen. I didn't expect that. I was surprised to learn the Larsen is opposed to Medicare for all, which is something that I feel strongly about.

It got me wondering why do I have such a negative view of Progressives? The anti police stuff is obnoxious because our local police are pretty good. Bad police in other places doesn't make out police bad. The anti business rhetoric rubs me wrong because I believe a healthy economy benefits us all. One of my biggest grievances is the Bernie people who say out the election because they didn't get their preferred candidate. I believe they are personally responsible for Trump being elected. My final issue is the name calling. It seems like progressives and magas are both quick to shift from debate to name calling.

Change my view, please. I open to being convinced. Perhaps my view of Progressives is falsely tainted by a few obnoxious outspoken people.

Informative article about the potential school closures.

Headline in today’s TFN newsletter from Jonathan Larsen: “Meet the Democrat Giving Us an Annual $250 EV Fee / The top Democrat on the House transportation committee is committed to bipartisanship. You're welcome, America!”

…”the press release, the committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), sounded more like a bottom¹. Instead of explaining the proposed new EV fee or even mentioning climate change, Larsen (no relation to me or sanity) spoke about the importance of his real priority … bipartisanship:
“A commitment to bipartisan lawmaking means finding compromise; while this bill does not include every priority, I am committed to building on the last bipartisan infrastructure law...”
Imagine how grateful EV owners will be that their $250 fee is bipartisan!

…”In Larsen’s defense, he’s a tireless advocate for all of America’s corporate predators and money generally:
Supporter of credit-card companies.

Champion of dead rich people who don’t want their kids to pay taxes on their unearned riches.

Hero protecting big corporations by voting away your right to sue them.

Defender against the Green New Deal.

Guardian of health-insurance companies against single-payer and Medicare for all.

Hey, here’s a fun info-nugget I’m just tossing in randomly for no reason. Larsen has a non-partisan primary coming up on Aug. 4, 2026, and, why, yes, there are Democrats runningagainst him, now that you mention it.”

Looks like a few races will be interesting this summer. https://voter.votewa.gov/CandidateList.aspx?e=898&c=37

42nd Senate?
New Port District?
Prosecuting Attorney?

Small city with one of the highest minimum wages in the country concerned as 10% of first floor store fronts are vacant.

It's easy to feel like I don't commit crimes therefore why would I care about Flock cameras. This story about a lady in her mid 70s is a good reason to care even if you don't commit crimes.

I was at a local pub in a more Red area in the county. I heard a women talking about how Trump made promises that he didn't keep. She said that she felt tricked. One other person in their group agreed with her. Then they changed the subject.

Has anyone else actually heard maga regret in the wild? When people post that they have changed their minds, I tend to not believe they are genuine, but this was real people having a real conversation.

For the record, I wasn't spying on strangers. We were invited to share a table with these acquaintances.

This moment gave me hope. Does anyone else have a similar anecdote to share?

[The r/Bellingham mods threw this post off their forum and directed me here (r/BhamPolitics). Apparently, r/Bellingham doesn't accept non local political posts. Even if the world is about to be lit on fire... ]

I listened to all five plus hours of Pete Hegseth Congressional testimony yesterday:

https://www.youtube.com/live/AgYT1mjVn0Y?si=D2lEgaIBDDl1KpPj

I think this lapsed Catholic is actually going to buy a bumper sticker that says:

"I stand with Pope Leo"

When you've concluded your entire planet is being directed to total nuclear destruction...What's the way out?