Culture of Exclusion

BLAINE COMMUNITY FORUM

Ending the Culture of Exclusion at Blaine City Hall

As the city of Blaine experienced unprecedented growth over the last couple of years, citizens from Semiahmoo, Salishan and East Blaine contributed ideas on how to protect critical areas (city aquifer, Cain Creek, Drayton Harbor), how to kickstart prosperity at our civic center (new library, art center), and how to facilitate meaningful public participation in planning our future.

As these citizens soon discovered, corruption by Blaine officials of the planning process required under the Washington State Growth Management Act put critical areas, prosperity, and public participation at risk. When these citizens asked questions concerning conflicts of interest, self-dealing, and the city conspiring to violate the Growth Management Act, the city council retaliated.

Now that the City of Blaine has closed public comment at their meetings—making Blaine the only city in Whatcom County that excludes public participation—these citizens of Blaine have decided to host a community forum ​to share what they've learned and to discuss ways to end the culture of exclusion at city hall. 

The Growth Management Act requires "early, continuous, and inclusive public involvement throughout the planning process." In a time of unprecedented growth in Blaine, the city has not held one educational workshop to involve the citizens of Blaine in planning its future. Public hearings where we are allowed to comment in writing on backroom deals between city hall and developers is not the same thing.

The significant changes to zoning and development regulations by Blaine City Council—absent from public participation—a​re not just ten-year updates to our comprehensive plan, cumulatively they are a once-in-a-century major makeover of our community. Expediting planning amendments by resolution to build momentum absent public participation is contrary to the law.

While other cities look for ways to engage with their citizens in reimagining and recreating their communities, Blaine has closed the door to all the goodwill, leadership and volunteerism that could emerge were we treated with respect. As asked in a letter to the Northern Light editor by Ray Leone, "How can a mayor and council that choose to react versus seeking to respond truly help Blaine?"