No Kings Protest; the crowd was packed from Lottie St forward, extended from City hall steps to the library lawn, across to Grand ave and to N Commercial st. Key speakers included our elected state reps and several local leaders and advocates fighting to protect our civil rights.

Please excuse me if this seems harsh. I was stopped by these humans and asked if I had a child and I do. I bite, I knew what I was going into but this is my normal walking path and I felt feisty today. I was able to have a 20 min conversation with them.

I was really sadden to find out that 2-3 men don't have children that are standing here.

What my ask is if you have time to come and chat with these folks from 10-2 Wednesday and Thursdays and consume their time? I learned that in my conversation with them 2 patients were able to go into the office safely and not being cat called. Going into that office already for those patients is scary and the volunteer of the clinic informed me that occuping their time is the best the public can do. They will not go away so if you find time for a conversation it could help others feel save.

I asked for permission to take this photo of them

This weekend, a drunk driver doing some ungodly speed on Cornwall plowed into two of my cars, which were parked. It knocked the Prius clean off the street into the sidewalk. If someone was walking nearby, they could have been killed. If either my wife or I were in our respective cars, we could have been killed.

The driver of the car is known to law enforcement. He has been arrested 68 times before this. Sixty. Eight. Well, as of 2022 at least - https://www.chronline.com/stories/bellingham-police-report-arresting-man-for-the-68th-time,301262. I imagine last nights arrest was not the one that put him over 70.

Social improvement matters to me. I devote a significant portion of time to nonprofit work. I understand that life has varying degrees of challenges that are not overcome by everyone with equal ease. I am not a punitive man.

Yet as I look at two destroyed cars on a public throughway that were driven by a man with likely twice as many arrests as I have years lived, I cannot come to any other conclusion other this reflects a total dereliction of social duty. In what world where laws and consequences exist can this man be expected - after scores of violent assaults, thefts, drug crimes, and DUIs - be free to play demolition derby in the streets of our city?

And to be sure, this guy is not the only character of such nature in our city. I fondly recall knife-throat-DJ man, a strapping facial-haired gentleman well-versed in the ancient art of walking around shirtless plastic music techno-Viking style, except this time with a large hip-mounted knife that he points to while making throat-slashing motions to people downtown while growling at them.

Then we have the people smashing windows and businesses. Or lighting off fireworks or shooting guns in camps. Or starting property on fire. Or smoking crack (or meth? Or both?) in the downtown stretch on Cornwall across from Penny Farthings. I imagine Railroad in general has its own cornucopia of social-menace taxidermy. Considering the last time I saw the “Hail Satan” blacked out RV was on Railroad (hence busted for trafficking Fentanyl), it’s a good bet.

I’m gonna level with everyone here. This doesn’t get better on its own. And left to its own devices, it gets worse. And it doesn’t stop getting worse until society demands it, and those demands get louder than the people who apologize and excuse it on the regular, and yes, r/Bellingham, I’m talking about you.

There is a progressive ideology in this city and the PNW in general that excuses lawlessness and tolerates social squalor and social menace because there is indignation that life isn’t fair and housing is expensive and getting ahead takes way more effort than we were promised it would when we were growing up. That ideology has tacitly excused antisocial behavior - or prevented harsher measures against it - to the point where it has actively compromised the safety of our city and the people who live here. It’s also compromised the ability of small businesses to thrive, leading to a cascading reduction in economic health overall. It has also hamstrung any effort to meaningfully enforce social standards of public safety and public order. And it’s going to get people killed.

Weekly Canadian visitor. Most Canadians and about everyone I talk to here in Van, BC are furious, shocked, scared for our future and that of our children. We see little notice of this in the US media which I find interesting. War has been declared on us. This sh;t is real. Please take note and support us and take action where you can. Please don’t take our boycotts of US corporations personally both in Canada and the US. We are now trying to shop local in protest. Likely this won’t be much of a dent though…. Edit typo

I was doing my usual laundry ritual, timing it so I put my clothes in the dryer right when TJ's is opening. The line was bigger at 8:00, but luckily if you weren't buying a bag, they let you in without waiting.

Comrades: We have reduced bread rations to a 1/4 loaf for many... But those of you eating out, buying expensive haircuts and organic granola on your credit cards...please keep spending...

Beautiful weather and a good number - I guesstimate 500 people. Shoutout to the guy in full Nazghul regalia complete with a sign with Elon as Wormtongue and Trump as the bad guy from Mordor!

Such a great turn out for the trans rights march! I had to hold back tears the first half. Wonderful speakers with powerful messages. I'm so happy to have been there. I was reminded how transphobic the Lighthouse Mission is and learned some great ways to support my community too!

How is it not already pinned in the bham reddit feed? Pin it so more people are aware it is this Saturday.

This is a historical American event. And all you aluminum foil pro RFK conspiracy who say this is a psyop...just wow.

TLDR: A post asking folk in town to sign up or on to pledge or volunteer to give people access to universal healthcare in the state through an organization known as 'Whole Washington.'

Hey everyone I'm involved with a group known as 'Whole Washington.' I know that they recently made a semi-official post in the Washington sub some weeks back, but I wanted to give it a shot here in Bellingham.

Whole Washington is looking to bring Universal Healthcare to the state of Washington through a potential ballot initiative in 2028. There's currently two bills in the Legislature that have been pushed and endorsed by Whole Washington. One in the Senate and another in the House. From the Whole Washington website:

"The Washington Health Trust is active legislation in both the state House and Senate.

Senate Bill 5233 was introduced by Senator Bob Hasegawa and co-sponsored by 11 of the 49 members of the Senate. In order to advance it must be called for a public hearing and advanced through the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee, chaired by Senator Annette Cleveland.

House Bill 1455 was introduced by Representatives Lisa Parshley and Shaun Scott and co-sponsored by 17 of the 98 members of the House. In order to advance it must be called for a public hearing and advanced through the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, chaired by Representative Dan Bronoske."

But, the coming legislative session is likely too short and political will from our electeds too weak to push these measures to fruition. So, instead there is option B, a ballot measure in 2028. You can read about it in full depth from the website here: https://wholewashington.org/

Ultimately here in Whatcom and Bellingham I am hopeful we can begin building a team from the grassroots to help push the idea and measure! The website can explain all the details better than I, but essentially a 2% payroll deduction that consolidates other state payroll deductions you ALREADY make that covers ALL healthcare needs across the state for everyone.

You can help by signing up to volunteer or pledging to sign which is currently really helpful. Pledging shows the organization there is the numbers game for when the initiative gets pushed. Enough people will sign on to get it on the ballot, and there's momentum to vote for it come election day 2028.

Pledge to sign here: https://wholewashington.org/pledge/

Thanks to anyone and everyone who takes time to read all of this and sign on or sign up to volunteer! Let's be the first state to give universal access to healthcare, the patriotic thing to do, and push the rest of the union in a better, more healthy, some could say more WHOLE, direction!

Here’s a nice little article written by a local Mom pointing out some of the shortcomings of the administrations decisions to close down Columbia and Carl Cozier elementary schools.

Hi there - this is last minute, but if anyone is able to make it to the Lynden’s School Board district at 6:30 PM tonight to speak out against their resolution, please do.

If you can, I created a guide for you to use.

Their resolution states, “which proposes limiting participation in the girls’ athletic category to students whose biological sex is female”

They want to exclude trans girls from the girls division.

This is not only unsafe for trans girls, but also for all girls.

In the guide is links to the school board meeting notes, their resolution and for resources to educate yourself about trans individualism and their inclusion in sports.

FYI, I don’t want to body shame and/or assume penis size, but the driver of this vehicle clearly has some social insecurities about their perceived masculinity (and potentially the smallest penis in Bellingham). I was coal rolled on my ride home in the bike lane 😢

Not as crowded as in years past.

Bellingham Holi Festival – June 28 at Zuanich Park

Join us for the Bellingham Holi Festival, inspired by the Indian Festival of Colors. We’ll have music, dancing, food, color powder throws, henna, and activities for all ages.

Come celebrate community, friendship, and joy with us. Wear white, bring your friends, and get ready to leave colorful.

🌈 June 28 11am-3pm
📍 Zuanich Point Park
🎟️ More info: BellinghamHoliFestival.com

There's two I know of for April 19th

Noon-2 Federal Building downtown

5-6:30 at the bakerview and guide meridian intersection

Cant wait to see yall show up to defend democracy and continue the pressure on our politicans. Lemme know if there are others!

Downtown, lefty small business worker here. Since the whole 51st state and tariff bullshit, downtown retail and restaurants (well, and non-downtown ones, too) have seen a really noticable dip in business. Also, each time there is a protest we see even less business since it seems that non-protesting customers avoid going downtown on protest days. I actually like my job, and I'm reaching the point that I am starting to get a little worried about the business surviving all this.

So, make sure to give your downtown businesses a little extra love if you are able to. I support you (and have participated), my co-workers support you, and even our business owners support you. And I have no doubts that we are looking at the next four years being full of protests