Warm Reception for Gov. Gregoire

Please notice that this picture is posted as far-right as blogger will let me. Edel Sokol, Port Townsend's resident conservative, was down at the Public House protesting the governor's appearance and asking for a re-vote. Although you can't see them on the sign, there are several "statistics" (that I will not verify) regarding the governor's election.

Not to worry, the "re-vote"will be taking place next year, just like we every four years. Funny how three years of protesting a governor election is fine, but three weeks trying to count the presidential election is way to long.

Edel also mentioned something to me about the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and how federal assistance to farmers is in jeopardy if their lands are designated critical areas. I'll be looking into this issue a little bit further in a later story.

Edel wasn't the only person there. There was one other protester who was not happy about the budget that the legislature produced and the $2.25 million for the NW Maritime Center. He was the only one though, everyone else in PT seemed happy to get the money.

Inside the Public House, there was a large crowd gathering. Rep. Lynn Kessler gave the famous "introduction-for-someone-who-needs-no-introduction" and a standing ovation for the governor. Sorry about the rather poor quality, but you get the general idea.


Gregoire gave a short speech, and a there was a "Q & A" session that mostly consisted of rambling stories and analogy followed by most sincere thanks. As stated in a previous post, is dealing with a lot of controversial issues. I at least appreciate her candor and seemingly forthright methods, we still have some bridges that need to be crossed. Transportation and education are going to continue to be hot button issues, I think that this election will be more about what Gregoire has accomplished in her term and not the failings of the King County elections. David Postman has a good story on former US Attorney John McKay's take on the election Link. To summarize, incompetence leaves a bad taste in our mouth, but criminal conspiracy requires proof.

Governor comes to Port Townsend

Our esteemed governor will be at the Public House this Friday at 3:30. The gathering is being touted as a meet and greet with local government officials to celebrate the NW Maritime Center and its recent appropriation.

Gregoire has been one of the most controversial governors in recent memory. Her election over Dino Rossi was incredibly close, and wrought with scandal and numerous accusations of wrongdoing on the part of King County elections.

The issues that she has had to address as governor have flummoxed her predecessors, but it appears that she will be the governor to finally address transportation solutions (520 bridge, 99,and the light rail) in the Central Puget Sound region as well as numerous social issues like gay marriage or civil unions or whatever.

For the local folks of rural Jefferson County, the instream flow rule making process has been poorly received by everyone except for environmental groups who do not seem to care about anything other than the fish in the stream. Port Townsend is so wildly liberal to the point where they may accuse Gregoire of being "too conservative," but the rest of the rural areas of Jefferson County are not like minded.

I'm a little ambivalent about the governor currently, I still like her better than Dino Rossi, but I'd like to see her reach out a little more to people outside of the party. The democrats are riding pretty high after the last election, but they have the burden of the majority and coming up with policies that the people can get behind, or at least not get upset over. What I have observed is that the party is trying to become more liberal, or at least the more liberal wing of the party is trying to exert more influence over some of the more moderate party members.

I am predicting that there will be some local detractors showing up, I just wonder how many it will be.

Rhody Week!! (Weak for Rhody?)

Ok everyone, the (pick a work: dreaded, anticipated) Rhody festivities are upon us and I'm not sure how I'm feeling. Excited? Stressed? Yay - spring and warm weather are here. Bummed - all these parades (kiddie, pet, main one) and the carnival that sucks the money out of my pocket are coming up. Excited - I get to see my friends and their kids out and about! So much to get ready for and remember! Wait - is the pet parade Thursday or Friday? When are the trike races? Bed Races? or is that kinetic? Can't we all just get along? I'm feeling too much pressure! I think I'm going to forget to tell my kids about some of the things that are happening. I'm going to have a drink or two before (and during) the festivities. : )

On Notice

Happy Mother's Day

I moved back to Port Townsend in 2003, about that time Aldrich's burned down. There was a HUGE outpouring of support for the owner David Hamilton. I don't recall how much money was raised (no pun intended) to assist with rebuilding the store. Of course condo sales sure do help too, but that may need its own story.

Now, I'm sure that most people in PT were a little upset when they found out that Hamilton had recently sold the uptown establishment. It has only been a few years since the rebuild.

My cousin Mariana has been working at Aldrich's part-time for the last year while she goes to school at the local Peninsula College branch and raises her 2 year old son Ryker (aka Hootie). I stopped in around 6-7 to get some dinner and say hi when she was on her shift. It was a slow evening, not many customers at all, a few people upstairs using the wi-fi.

I had been there about an hour, Mariana came up once for about a minute to see what I was doing and catch up and she was back downstairs at the checkstand. A little bit later, her boyfriend, who was babysitting that evening, dropped in with Ryker. They were probably the only customers in the store at that time.

Shortly after this had happened my cousin came back upstairs and was visibly upset. She informed me that she had just quit her job there. When I asked why she told me, that the new owners (who I have not met yet) wanted to know if Ryker came by the store when she was on shift. The manager told her about this and she quit immediately.

Now, I don't know if Ryker was coming in regularly during Mariana's shift or not or if he was a distraction from her job duties.

I'm not sure what to think about this. I think that the owner's expectation that Ryker not come in to the store is a little unrealistic, everyone goes to Aldrich's. The owner certainly is entitled to have reasonable expectations of their employee's conduct and performance, but it's not like she made the choice to bring him in to see her. That was the babysitter's choice.

The manager could have just as easily let this go. It wasn't busy. Ryker wasn't keeping his mom from her job. But he was just doing his job.

Never mind the fact that it's MOTHER'S DAY!!! That is what blows me away more than anything. Why can't a son see his mom on Mother's Day?

Anyway, I won't be going to Aldrich's anymore. Management and I have a different set of values that are irreconcilable.