Geography Surveyed: City of SeattleNow maybe we can start thinking about how to insure that Ballot Initiatives are about what the citizens of Washington want instead of what special interests want to stick us with. Maybe we can start with regulations that make paid signature gathers wear signs identifying themselves.
Data Collected: 09/19/2006 - 09/20/2006
Release Date: 09/21/2006 9:15 AM ET
Sponsor: KING-TV Seattle
Filtering: SurveyUSA contacted 600 Seattle adults; 513 identified themselves as registered voters and were asked the questions that follow.
Q. #5
Asked of 513 registered voters
Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.2%
Is your opinion of initiative promoter Tim Eyman favorable? Unfavorable? Or neutral?
11% Favorable
65% Unfavorable
23% Neutral
1% Not Sure
...Can't the United States see that when we allow someone to be tortured by our agents, it is not only the victim and the perpetrator who are corrupted, not only the "intelligence" that is contaminated, but also everyone who looked away and said they did not know, everyone who consented tacitly to that outrage so they could sleep a little safer at night, all the citizens who did not march in the streets by the millions to demand the resignation of whoever suggested, even whispered, that torture is inevitable in our day and age, that we must embrace its darkness?
Are we so morally sick, so deaf and dumb and blind, that we do not understand this? Are we so fearful, so in love with our own security and steeped in our own pain, that we are really willing to let people be tortured in the name of America? Have we so lost our bearings that we do not realize that each of us could be that hapless Argentine who sat under the Santiago sun, so possessed by the evil done to him that he could not stop shivering?
Ariel Dorfman, a Chilean American writer and professor at Duke University, is author of "Death and the Maiden."
(full article)
The Pro-Torture Pact
Ari BermanDemocrats chose to outsource their policy on military tribunals to John McCain. And McCain did what he's done best the last year: capitulate to Bush.
"Senators Snatch Defeat From Jaws of Victory: US to be First Nation to Authorize Violations of Geneva," Georgetown University law professor Marty Lederman writes of the so-called "compromise" between Senators McCain/Graham/Warner and President Bush. ...(full article)
The hand writing is on the wall... as it were. Bush's staying-the-course is making things worse. The Neo-cons grand strategy is a nightmare that's destroying our military and making more enemies faster than we can count them.
Spy Agencies Say Iraq War Fuels Terror
The conflict spreads extremism and serves as a laboratory for deadly tactics, says a bleak analysis by 16 U.S. intelligence units.
By Greg Miller, Times Staff Writer
September 24, 2006
WASHINGTON — The war in Iraq has made global terrorism worse by fanning Islamic radicalism and providing a training ground for lethal methods that are increasingly being exported to other countries, according to a sweeping assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies.
The classified document, which represents a consensus view of all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, paints a considerably bleaker picture of the impact of the Iraq war than Bush administration or U.S. intelligence officials have acknowledged publicly, according to officials familiar with the assessment.
"They conclude that the Iraq war has made it worse," said a government official familiar with the document who spoke on condition of anonymity because of its classified nature. ...
... "It paints a fairly stark picture of what we all know, and that this is a movement that is spreading and gaining momentum around the world," said the official familiar with the document. "Things like the Iraq war have given the terrorists recruiting tools and places to ply their trade and a training ground."
The official said the estimate touches on a number of factors fueling the jihadist movement, but that "the reference to Iraq was the main one." ...(full article)
| 2006 Primary Election Results Total Registered Voters: 102,452 Number of ballots returned to date: 41,106 -- Approximately 40% voter turnout -- Approximately 4,600 ballots left to count | |||
| State Senator District #42 - Whatcom* | |||
| Candidate | Party | Vote | Vote % |
| Jesse Salomon | Democrat | 10324 | 54.2% |
| Dale Brandland | Republican | 8709 | 45.8% |
| Vote Totals | 19033 | 100% | |
| State Representative District #42 Position #1 - Whatcom* | |||
| Candidate | Party | Vote | Vote % |
| Jasper MacSlarrow | Democrat | 10228 | 54.0% |
| Doug Ericksen | Republican | 8723 | 46.0% |
| Vote Totals | 18951 | 100% | |
| State Representative District #42 Position #2 - Whatcom* | |||
| Candidate | Party | Vote | Vote % |
| Kelli Linville | Democrat | 11081 | 56.6% |
| Craig Mayberry | Republican | 8504 | 43.4% |
| Vote Totals | 19585 | 100% | |
| Whatcom County 2002 Primary Election Total Registered Voters: 90,104 Total Turnout: 32.59 (0%) | ||
| 42nd Legislative Senator | ||
| Peter Tassoni (GRN) | 885 | 04.17% |
| Dale Brandland (R) | 11537 | 54.38% |
| Georgia Gardner (D) | 8397 | 39.58% |
| Donald Crawford (L) | 398 | 01.88% |
| 42nd Legislative Rep Pos 1 | ||
| Doug Ericksen (R) | 12571 | 61.12% |
| Jim Boyle (D) | 7998 | 38.88% |
| 42nd Legislative Rep Pos 2 | ||
| Gene Goldsmith (R) | 9438 | 45.53% |
| Kelli Linville (D) | 11289 | 54.47% |
| Whatcom County 2002 General Election Total Active Registered Voters: 91656 Total Turnout: 55066 (60.08%) | ||
| 42nd Leg Dist Senator | ||
| Georgia Gardner (D) | 17565 | 46.20% |
| Dale Brandland (R) | 18721 | 49.25% |
| Donald Crawford (L) | 724 | 01.90% |
| Peter Tassoni (GRN) | 1006 | 02.65% |
| 42nd Leg Dist Rep Pos 1 | ||
| Jim Boyle (D) | 15726 | 42.44% |
| Doug Ericksen (R) | 21328 | 57.56% |
| 42nd Leg Dist Rep Pos 2 | ||
| Kelli Linville (D) | 20950 | 56.49% |
| Gene Goldsmith (R) | 16138 | 43.51% |
- PUBLIC SAFETY -
Fire wards raising red flag on growth
Emergency service letters withheld on housing projects
JOHN STARK
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Faced with rapid population growth and a shortage of money, North Whatcom Fire and Rescue District commissioners have decided to take a step that could bring new subdivision approval to a halt across a broad swath of the northern county.
The district has stopped issuing letters agreeing to provide emergency services to new real estate developments. Developers apparently need those letters as one of several legal requirements for subdivision approval.
North Whatcom Fire Chief Tom Fields said the issue is money: The district doesn't get enough from its property tax levy to keep up with residential growth. If hundreds of new homes are added to North Whatcom's service area, Fields said, its response time for fires and medical emergencies could drop to potentially dangerous levels. ... ( full article)
CIA ‘refused to operate’ secret jailsBy Guy Dinmore in Washington
Published: September 20 2006 22:07 | Last updated: September 20 2006 22:07
The Bush administration had to empty its secret prisons and transfer terror suspects to the military-run detention centre at Guantánamo this month in part because CIA interrogators had refused to carry out further interrogations and run the secret facilities, according to former CIA officials and people close to the programme.
The former officials said the CIA interrogators’ refusal was a factor in forcing the Bush administration to act earlier than it might have wished. ...
... But the former CIA officials said Mr Bush’s hand was forced because interrogators had refused to continue their work until the legal situation was clarified because they were concerned they could be prosecuted for using illegal techniques. One intelligence source also said the CIA had refused to keep the secret prisons going. ... (source: Financial Times)
Bush and his pals have operated beyond the law long enough that nearly everybody has figured it out.
IN TREATMENT OF POWs, THE U.S. SHOULD…
Source: CBS News
Follow international agreements63%
Do what it thinks right, regardless of what other nations think
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez calls President Bush 'the devil' during speech at U.N.
UNITED NATIONS, Sep. 21, 2006
By IAN JAMES Associated Press Writer
(AP photo)
... "The devil came here," Chavez said. "Right here. Right here. And it smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of."
He then made the sign of the cross, brought his hands together as if praying and looked up to the ceiling.
Chavez's words drew tentative giggles at times from the audience, but also some applause.
He later spoke to hundreds of New Yorkers who filled a college hall Wednesday night, saying he hopes Americans choose an "intelligent president" in the future.
"I'm not an enemy of the United States. I'm a friend of the United States ... the people of the United States," Chavez said during his speech to an audience including union organizers and professors. "They're two very different things _ you the people of the United States, and the government that's installed there." ...
Walker summed it up beautifully here
thanks to Noemie and all that made this happen!
 Kelli and Jasper wave to passing motorists on the Ferndale Main Street Bridge. |
 Supporters wave to motorist going the other way. |
 Jasper and supporters wave and commuters smile and wave back. |
 The reaction from commuters was 99.99% positive. |
I've been meaning to write about Jim Hightowers appearance at Town Hall Seattle. Ever since we got back home Thursday night, I've been meaning to write about what a pleasure it was to actually meet Jim Hightower and shake his hand. Meaning to write about what an awesome job Noemie Maxwell did organizing the event. Meaning to write about how great the Seattle Peace Chorus was and how they warmed up the crowd before Jim spoke. Meaning to write about how funny and inspiring Hightower was. Meaning to write about what a great time everyone had.
come and screen the new Robert Greenwald film with friends and neighborsMajority Rules Blog Files Public Dislosure Commission Complaint Against Groen Supporters
... Zemke's complaint is based on violation of RCW 42.17.020 (43) which states that the "Sponsor of an electioneering communications, independent expenditures, or political advertising" means the person paying for the electioneering communication, independent expenditure, or political advertising. If a person acts as an agent for another or is reimbursed by another for the payment, the original source of the payment is the sponsor."
The sponsor not the agent needs to be identified under Washington law. Americans Against Frivolous Lawsuits is obviously just a phony name to hide the true identity of the funds.
Because this election will be decided in the Sept 19, 2006 primary Zemke asks that the PDC tell Americans Tired of Lawsuit Abuse to immediately identify to the public the source of their funding. ...
The Bellingham City Council couldn't have made a better pick than Tim Douglas.Council taps Douglas as interim mayor
Former mayor says he won't run for office next year
JON GAMBRELL
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Former Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas will return to helm the city for the next year, a divided City Council decided Monday night, providing stability after the surprise resignation of Mayor Mark Asmundson.
Former Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas will return to helm the city for the next year, a divided City Council decided Monday night, providing stability after the surprise resignation of Mayor Mark Asmundson.
The council's 4-3 vote ended sharp debate between individual council members, several of whom openly vied for the seat. It also gives voters a wide-open mayoral election next year, as Douglas has said he will not run for the position. ...
... "We know there is a lot in front of us," Douglas said. "I will do what I can to work very closely and cooperatively with the council."Douglas, previously a city councilman, served as mayor from 1983 through 1995. His tenure as the city's top elected official saw the City Council allow the construction of Bellis Fair mall, which Douglas opposed. When he stepped down in 1995, he pointed to remodeling of City Hall, the library, police and fire stations and adding new trails and parks as his major accomplishments.After serving as mayor, Douglas worked as director of the state's Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. He resigned in 1999 and served as a Peace Corps director in Russia. ... (full article)
Declaration of Interdependence
I-933 is wrong: Private property rights and the common good must be protected together
By NOEMIE MAXWELL
Institute for Washington’s Future
The property rights movement, which has been gaining increasing political power in Washington state, proposes an interesting foundation for human rights: property ownership. Citizens’ Alliance for Property Rights, a Washington group that backs I-933, the “property fairness” initiative, tells us that “Property rights are really human rights and the very foundation of a free society.” So, what about the rights of people who don’t own property? Full article
Noemie Maxwell is on the board of the Institute for Washington’s Future, a nonprofit research and education center dedicated to the renewal of progressive values: community, equity, participation, and a sound environment. The Institute for Washington’s Future is sponsoring “On Common Ground: Innovations in Energy and Agriculture and a New Civic Awakening,” a forum with Jim Hightower. It’s part of the institute’s Back to the Roots program, which facilitates dialog and action on critical questions of sustainable development, environment, and community. Town Hall, 8th and Seneca, Thurs., Sept. 14, at 7 p.m More informationand read Noemie's excellent piece: September 14: Jim Hightower at Town Hall -- Will Speak On the Political Momentum for Sustainability
author: Noemie Maxwell Sep 04, 2006 17:11(i have tickets!! and i'm so looking forward to this!!!!)
WA State Senate (42nd LD) Candidate Jesse Salomon and
Here's what Jesse had to say to the gathering:
JESSE SALOMON: Prior to running I worked as a prosecuting attorney for the Lummi Nation, focused on child welfare and hunting and fishing laws. I am a proud graduate of WWU and obtained a law degree at the UW School of law. I have been involved in public service for over a decade, getting my start working in the non profit sector with homeless youth. I also worked in Olympia on behalf of higher ed… and spent some time learning the political ropes in Washiongton DC.
I will talk about growth, Ag, HC, Education, and taxes. While I respect Mr. Brandland for the years of public service he has given to Whatcom County, we need to a change of representation in the senate. The Senate is so closely divided beween parties and common sense bill like stem cell research civil rights and medically accurate sex ed have been blocked by Sen Brandland and his republican collegues.I will discuss the ideas I have for helping Whatcom county and Washington state and how my opponent has voted on these issues.
We need to do a better job of controlling growth and preventing urban sprawl. There have been government missteps and overreaches which have hurt landowners and we must address that, but we must also continue to plan for growth. We need to do a better job of purchasing development rights so farmers are paid the value of their development rights in exchange for making sure the farmland remains as farmland and is not turned into urban sprawl. We need to infill our urban areas in a way that maintains architectural character and quality of life.
Instead of finding constructive approaches to controlling urban sprawl while ensuring that property rights are respected, my opponent took the radical step of voting to abolish the growth management hearings board which would render growth planning more confusing (See bill digest for SB 5282 and attached roll call vote showing B voted for the bill).
Clean and renewable energy provides us with an opportunity to use our farmland and open space and natural resources in a way that helps our environment and economy. Whatcom County has over 60,000 dairy cows which produce an average of 1.2 million gallons of manure per day (WCfarmfriends.com). Already, a biodigester is extracting methane energy from this local resource. We need to expand this technology so that all farmers can sell this resource for a profit. We need to make use of our abundant wind to create electricity and we can develop a biodiesel and ethanol industry in this state and help get away from high gas prices. Unfortunately, Mr. Brandland voted against the biofuels bill designed to increase local clean fuels. The time is ripe for change in our energy policy, we must be inventive and creative and not stand in the way of new ideas. We must do it for our economy, for our environment, and for energy independence.
Health care is a mess. We need to find ways to increase accessibility and affordability for everyone. 600,000 Washingtonians are uninsured including 3,000 children in Whatcom County. Prescription drug prices are increasing about 15 percent per year. Nearly three times as many families file for bankruptcy due to medical emergencies than did a decade ago.(WSLC.org) No one person has all the answers and reforming the health care system and it will require a bipartisan cooperation. Mr. Brandland will likely talk about his work to cap damages, but we can’t rely on taking a jury’s right to compensate victims of medical malpractice as the solution to our health care problems. It is too easy to blame lawyers, but it won’t solve the problem.
One positive step the legislature took last session was to make it more affordable for small businesses to provide insurance for their employees. Again, Mr. Brandland voted against this bill and voted against providing the funding mechanisms for it.
Getting back to the issue of prescription medicine, the very same drugs are often sold for less than half the U.S. price in Canada and now it is time to expand this drug purchasing pool to allow all government entities and private purchasers to join in the savings. Mr. Brandland voted in 2005 against allowing the state to purchase drugs in bulk and driving down costs. Luckily, the bill passed the Senate, but only by one vote. We must take the next step and authorizing the re-importation of less costly prescription drugs from Canada. Illinois and Minnesota have already passed such laws. Republican talking points urge legislators to say they voted against it because the drugs are not safe, but that is not true, we are talking about the same drugs we use here at home. It is time for legislators to stop cow towing to pharmaceutical and insurance lobbyists. Massachusets has passed a bill that makes HC accessible for all. We can take bold steps here at home to do the same.
Education is the number one duty of the state government according to our state’s constitution and by many measures, we are failing. Washington ranks 46th nationally on
K-12 public school funding (WSLC.org). We need to invest in early childhood learning, so that all kids get the best start in life. We need to lower the cost of tuition and also introduce better vocational education in high school, so our kids have the best options when they graduate. Mr. Brandland campaigned in 2002 on a promise to assure higher education is funded” yet he voted against the budgets the last two sessions. In fact he has not voted to fund public education one single cent since 2004.
People often say that these are good ideas, but want to know how we will fund them without raising taxes. There are currently 30 billion dollars worth of tax loopholes, which is more than the entire state budget. Last session the legislature passed a bill to audit tax loopholes so they can consider closing them if the loopholes are not producing jobs. The money collected by closing any unnecessary special interest loopholes can be put into education, health care, and economic development and reducing property taxes for people on fixed incomes. Too often people who have lived in their home for years are victimized by rising property taxes. They never plan to sell their home and thus will not profit from the housing boom, only pay for it in increased taxes. Auditing and closing special interest tax loophole is smart fiscal stewardship, and I differ from my opponent in that I would have voted for this bill.
If elected, you will find that I am a hardworking, practical minded legislator rather than a partisan one. We have important issues in Whatcom County that must be solved. I have talked to thousands of people in Whatcom County and have learned so much. I am committed to being a great Senator for Whatcom County. Thank You.
UnincorporatedLike it or not, Lynden is expanding. The Homestead developments are filling up north of downtown, and the elementary schools are getting a tad crowded. Even City Hall is looking (begging) for a little more elbow room.Who lives in Lynden? Depends on how you define "Lynden." If you mean "within city limits," maybe the local stereotypes still apply: Dutch Calvinists, really uptight about their lawns and the Sabbath. If you mean "has a Lynden address," the stereotypes begin to break down. My wife and I moved up here last year from King County (don't panic: My wife is a WA native, and I've lived here for 21 years, and I'm NOT from California), and we had both heard such dire predictions about this place that we were a bit on edge about moving in with all of our bumper stickers and crazy lefty ideas. We were pleasantly surprised.While the redneck racist element exists (witness the unhinged white woman in the laundromat yelling epithets and racial slurs at the Hispanic woman because she's using too many machines), and Roulstone and McGavick yard signs abound in this election cycle, my house sits between a very nice liberal family on our left, and a very nice apolitical or conservative couple on our right. An educated guess, there; they don't talk about politics much.We've been here a year: So far, so good.No matter how beautiful it is in Whatcom County, though, we still have a psychopathic primate in the White House, and that affects every last human in this country. If your income exceeds several million dollars per year, you're cheering, and throwing bananas toward D.C. You're a champion of Bring It On wars that enrich the wealthy at the expense of the poor, more tax cuts (they'll benefit you the most), and an ideology that Charles Dickens would instantly recognize: A small, wealthy, ruling elite, and everybody else.If you're not an ultra-millionaire, you're struggling to keep what you have, and if you're married, both of you work. If you have kids, a good chunk of that second income is lost to child care and transportation. We non-millionaires know all too well how much it costs to own and operate a car. And if you're a single parent, well, you're "uniquely American," according to the Simian King. Maybe you're working two or three jobs to keep those other folks in Hummers and Armani. Have a credit card? Of course you do: How else can you cover co-pays and medication? Well, thanks to legislation written largely by credit industry lobbyists, if you miss a payment or otherwise transgress Bank Amerishark's fine print, they can jack your interest rate to 30%. I'm still thanking Rick Larsen for that one.Jeez, I haven't even caught up to this year yet.A few days ago, I heard that President Stay The Course and Team Goebbels are spending 20 million dollars to dig up some good news on the Iraq Occupation (BTW: It's an occupation, not a war. Start saying this out loud; we can't keep using Frank Lunz's frames). Twenty million bucks! Hell, I could find good news about a porn movie starring Ann Coulter for that kind of coin. But perhaps, he mused in an understated, yet sardonic way, that's the idea. I might even be able to pay off most of my credit cards.And don't get me started on the concept of W even attempting to read Camus between bouts of brush clearing while on Vacation in Crawford. I don't think even Tony Snow took that one seriously.
- BeefyD
ABC Insider Assures Right-Wing Bloggers: ‘The Message of the Clinton Admin Failures Remains Fully Intact’
House Democrats Demand Accuracy in ABC 9/11 Film
Representatives John Conyers, Jr., John Dingell, Jane Harman, and Louise Slaughter today called on ABC to fix the inaccuracies in its mini-series The Path to 9/11, before its scheduled airing on September 10th and 11th. Read the letter:
Comments:So, Great; here's an anonymous commenter spewing the talking points of Right-wing race-baiting demagogues. But that's fine. Let's go ahead and talk about slanted views akin to anarchy and those who do not respect the law. Yes! Let's talk about Speeders!
Yeah, what a shame when the authorities actually ENFORCE the laws, and go after people who ILLEGALLY enter and/or work in our country!
Your slanted views are akin to anarchy. Why bother having laws anyway?
Your characterization of the matter, using the word "terrorized", indicates you sympathize with those who do not respect the law. ...
# posted by Anonymous : 12:40 PM
Traffic Safety FactsThat's right, Speeders are a menace threatening to destroy our Nation! They're scofflaws stealing from our economy at the rate of $76,865 every single minute! They killed 13,192 in 2004! Those Speeders are everywhere and there are more of them all the time! It's not safe on the streets anymore because of the Speeders.
2004 Data - Speeding
... Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by NHTSA to be $40.4 billion per year. In 2004, speeding was a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes, and 13,192 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.
Motor vehicle crashes cost society an estimated $7,300 per second. The total economic cost of crashes was estimated at $230.6 billion in 2000. In 2000, the cost of speeding-related crashes was estimated to be $40.4 billion — $76,865 per minute or $1,281 per second. ...
White House compares illegal immigration to speeding
Bill Sammon, The Examiner
May 26, 2006 12:13 PM
WASHINGTON - The White House on Friday said a Senate bill that would grant legal status to illegal immigrants is analogous to a traffic law that allows a speeder to pay a fine and continue driving.
"If you had a traffic ticket and you paid it, you're not forever a speeder, are you?" White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said in response to questions from The Examiner.
"So the fact is, you have paid your debt to society," he added. "And we have come up with a way to make sure that the debt to society gets paid. Then you move forward." ...
August 31, 2006I emailed Rosalinda and got some more details:
Alert! Local Workplace Terrorized
Bellingham, WA
Yesterday, Wednesday August 30, a group of Federal Officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) raided a local workplace and removed 28 workers. 40 Federal agents in bullet proof vests with weapons, terrorized the local business, quickly rounding people up, while two special agents from Seattle in dark suits and ties stood at the main entrance and monitored traffic coming in and out. These workers, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters were transported to a detention facility in Tacoma . One of the workers taken away is a pregnant Mom, her baby is due next week. According to eyewitnesses it was a traumatic experience filled with fear, people crying and others trying to keep calm. Five of the detained workers, including the pregnant Mom, were eventually released because they were identified as the primary caregivers of children.
Word of this raid has traveled quickly in our County and today there is a palpable chill in the immigrant and Latino community. We object strongly to Federal Enforcement agents from I.C.E., which is part of the Dept. of Homeland Security, coming into our community and terrorizing workers. There is a devastating ripple affect of this kind of "lawful" enforcement to immigrant families in Whatcom County . We cannot and should not tolerate this disrespect to our community from our Federal Agencies. This is our home and the folks terrorized yesterday are our friends, neighbors and contributing members of our community and as usual even our local authorities have no access to information about this incident. We in Community to Community are outraged, because we know that there is a more just and humane way to deal with immigration issues in our community. ...
- Rosalinda Guillen
Executive Director, Community to Community
... These were not arrests - these were immigrant workers removed with excessive force from their workplace for deportation to their home countries, they are not criminals - there were 28 removed – 23 of them are now in detention in Tacoma at an I.C.E. Immigrant detention Center. And no none of the local media covered this incident and Sheriff Elfo and the Bellingham Police Chief knew nothing about it, until I called them and notified themAnd finally this morning the local paper covered the story:
Rosalinda
Saturday, September 2, 2006concluding the article is a quote from the ICE spokeswoman:
PUBLIC SAFETY
Immigration agents raid firm
26 Mexican workers are arrested at Northwest Health Care Linen
JON GAMBRELL
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Federal immigration agents arrested 26 Mexican nationals working at a Bellingham company Wednesday on suspicion of being in the country illegally, an official said Friday.
The raid took place midmorning at Northwest Health Care Linen, located on Strider Loop Road just off of East Bakerview and Hannegan roads. Armed with a sealed civil search warrant, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered the business to question employees, said ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice. ...
... Jim Hall, owner of Northwest Health Care Linen, said all of his 90 employees pay taxes and had completed I-9 forms. The company, which supplies linens for hospitals throughout Puget Sound, was shut down for two hours as armed agents in bulletproof vests interviewed workers, he said.
However, Hall questioned the need for Wednesday's operation. He said the agent investigating his business promised to give him a list of employees with questionable documents within 60 days. Instead, agents raided the business, which Hall described as an "extremely emotional event" that could have been avoided.
"It was just too bad that it was handled this way," he said. "It sure leaves a lot of questions for Whatcom County with what Homeland Security is doing." ...
"We see this as a very important part to restore the integrity to our nation's immigration system," Kice said. "We need to ensure people who are coming here are who they say they are."I can't remember the last time there was an immigration raid up here in Whatcom County and this one seems awfully odd. I'm left wondering if this wasn't more about creating some talking points for WA-02 Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen's Republican challenger who thinks that the Minutemen border vigilantes are "a program that makes sense".
...The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Blaine sector, which includes the Peace Arch border crossing, remains 400 officers short, said Ronald Henley, the sector's chief patrol agent. While adding an unmanned aerial drone to patrol the border from the coast to Montana would help, Henley said technology could only do so much.
"It doesn't do any good to see anything at the top of the Cascades if I can't respond to it," he said. ...
... Earlier this month, the Government Accountability Office told Congress that undercover investigators had entered the United States using fake documents repeatedly this year - including some cases in which Homeland Security Department agents didn't ask for identification.
At nine border crossings on the Mexico and Canadian borders, agents "never questioned the authenticity of the counterfeit documents," according to the GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, ... (source)
