POWER OF THE PRESS

Thirty years ago, when the original Whatcom Environmental Council defeated Whatcom County at the Washington Supreme Court protecting Critical Areas such as aquifers and salmon streams, the Bellingham Herald demonized us, leading to death threats and vehicular assault. This year, as Water Planning Matters (formerly Blaine Water Coalition) racked up victories against the City of Blaine for destroying Critical Areas --including our municipal drinking water aquifer, Cain Creek, Dakota Creek, and Drayton Harbor--The Northern Light consistently demonized us, repeating baseless, defamatory allegations by City Manager Mike Harmon and Mayor Mary Lou Steward that led to death threats.

Both The Northern Light and Cascadia Daily News (CDN) chose to protect self-dealing developers, including three public officials, rather than hold the City of Blaine accountable for intentional violations of state and federal environmental protection laws and acts prohibiting self-dealing. The Northern Light is apparently chasing real estate advertising, while CDN is apparently biased by the fact its owner, David Syre, was previously a Blaine developer (Trillium Corporation--developer of Semiahmoo Resort). Trillium's logging of Birch Point contributed to significant flooding of Birch Bay Village.

Thirty years ago, only Whatcom Watch--a community forum on government, environmental issues and media--covered the Supreme Court fairly; today, only Whatcom Watch provides balanced reporting.


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