McCarthy's Deceit

In her November 26, 2024, article on downtown building heights, Grace McCarthy, editor of The Northern Light, shows she has mastered the art of concealing the truth. Granted, she answers to Patrick Grubb, publisher of The Northern Light, but that doesn't excuse her abetting fraud by Blaine City Council.

In her article, she justifies the illegal council action upzoning properties downtown by referencing the downtown advisory committee support for increasing building heights but does not mention that the committee's vote involved financial conflicts of interest on the part of two committee members--Gurdeep Bains and Scott Meaker--as well as the improper voting by committee member Kevin Owens, a Blaine Planning Commissioner. 

This advisory committee was revamped by Mayor Steward, City Manager Mike Harmon, and Community Development Services director Alex Wenger into a voting body despite the inherent conflicts of interest. Their corrupt vote to increase building heights and reduce parking requirements for downtown developers--such as council member Mike Hill--preceded any public participation in planning the redevelopment of Blaine's Central Business District.




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