Stability issues on bluff were apparent before purchase
This letter is my family’s comment on the article that appeared in on the front page of the June 25, 2008 American under the headline “Erosion threatens couple’s bluff home, finances and road.”

We were among the first to purchase property on Croatian Way and have watched with great interest developments on the property, which the Morands now own, since that time. We have also appeared at various hearings held by the Anacortes Planning Commission and City Council since 2007 when this entire matter was getting completely out of hand.

We feel that certain background facts may help to put this latest situation in perspective. County records clearly show that in 2004 the Morands bought a very nice house with a commanding view of Burrows Bay on a parcel of land of almost two acres and 479 feet of waterfront for $520,000. Given the price of comparable properties, at that time, it should have been obvious that there were problems with the property.

Mr. Morand has said as much in public hearings when trying to persuade the Planning Commission or the city to help him. The Morands knew they were buying a problem.

When constructing a sea wall to shore up the bluff, which their house is on, the Morands’ contractors and engineers, presumably at the direction of their principals, built a temporary road and stripped away every bit of vegetation on the property. No measures of any kind were taken to control erosion on the site.

In the intervening period enormous amounts of sand have washed away from the property and the road has collapsed of its own weight. The current state of the property is completely a consequence of the Morands’ own actions.

In our view the property in question was not buildable at the time of purchase and the present owners should have known that, either because the Realtors who sold it to them advised them or because of the price which they paid for it.

If the subsoil on the property is not adequate to support a temporary road, why would any thinking person contemplate the construction of even one additional house there? The effect of the Morands’ cries for help will surely be to shift the responsibility for this mess to their fellow citizens if approval is given for construction because the effort will fail and lawsuits will follow as night follows day.

For those who are concerned with the public safety, we feel the proper answer here is to not permit the construction of houses on this site. It seems impossible that the soil on it would ever support construction of any kind. The three-year monitoring period imposed by the City Council, in light of subsequent events, seems wholly inadequate to ascertain if further work can stabilize the site.
Thomas Foster
Anacortes

Tasers should only be used when life is threatened
Last week’s police blotter report in the American included an incident involving the attempted arrest of a man for DUI/drug use. The suspect resisted and was tased by the officer. Yes, tased!

Now I had read of the arrival of 15 tasers at the Anacortes Police Department with some sense of foreboding. I was uneasy and not a little dismayed as I considered the risk of the “now we have tasers; let’s use them” mind set that seems to prevail elsewhere around the nation. Tasers in Anacortes!

However, I felt reasonably sure that in our small town, although it is growing, it hardly seemed to be a place where tasing would be needed or appropriate. My reasoning was based on the criminal activities that seems to make the weekly blotter.

Of the 248 cases last week criminal activities involved robbery, domestic disputes, fights, car prowls, drug incidents, and of course, our “under the influence” citizens. This seems to be a regular pattern and perhaps will increase as we grow. However, our police department seems to be doing an excellent job and I tended to believe that we were secure in their diligence.

But now come tasers. Tasing has become the mode of the day. One can see regularly TV news reports where horrific incidents show the use of tasers by police or security with seeming disregard for the individual receiving the punishment.

Tasing is not usually fatal and one might say a better choice than use of a gun. But surely, tasing should be limited to when the life of the officer or a citizen is in great danger? Similar to handgun use but with better chance of survival.

An officer has surely had resistance to arrest before? Most citizens do not want to be arrested and DUI folk certainly have impaired judgment. It goes with the territory.

I feel uneasy that our police department may be moving in a direction that will have unfortunate results for all of us. Most of our citizens respect the law and the officers who enforce it. Most try to help out when an officer needs information to help him in his job. Some even try to give a hand.

Let’s keep it that way. Are our citizens to expect a more repressive department? Will tasers become the way it is? Will we still be able to feel that a policeman is the friend to call when we need help? Can we believe the latter will be true?
Wendy Caton
Anacortes

Vote for Jacobs: Commission needs members who can work on solutions
Last Wednesday evening the county commissioner candidates attended a public forum held at the WSU Research and Extension Center. I was impressed most with Commissioner Dahlstedt from District 2, and candidate Leo Jacobs from District 1.

Jacobs, a Sedro-Woolley department manager, is running against Bill Turner, an Anacortes land developer and builder (and City Council member) and local dairy farmer Ron Wesen. Neither Wesen nor Turner could hold a candle to Jacobs. Wesen didn’t have much to say, and Turner got caught up in another conflict. My money is on Leo Jacobs.

When asked about government spending on lawsuits, Turner tried telling the audience that he’s going to call for an end to the steady stream of litigation that has eroded relationships between the county, the cities and the tribes. Solutions are not found in court. Solutions are found sitting down and doing the hard work together, Turner said.

Jacobs reminded Turner that Turner’s vote as a councilman cost taxpayers and the water rate payers nearly $1 million in legal costs, and little was won by the city of Anacortes. It doesn’t sound like Turner actually knows what negotiating is.

It is time to put another fiscally responsible commissioner next to Sharon Dillon and Ken Dahlstedt, and I feel that Leo Jacobs is that person.

Janice Inman
Burlington

Try less rhetoric, more manners to convey message
In her July 2 letter to the editor Lynn Emerson-Walsh clearly acted as a spokesman for the group which she represents making no less than 19 accusations which malign our “Support the Troops” group and cast dispersion on the Anacortes Police Department.

I would like to set the record straight. I hope we can agree that there is a quantum leap between accusation and guilt. Simply saying something doesn’t make it so. For clarification, a second face leads to identity crisis and confusion. Is this the same Ms. Emerson-Walsh who often passes time in lighthearted conversation with my wife as she awaits light changes on the contentious corner of 12th Street and Commercial Avenue on Sundays?

A correctional note to Ms. Walsh: The greater portion of the “Support our Troops” musical selections range from military hymns and parade selections to many accepted traditional pieces which exalt and honor our country and history. These are interspersed by other “G” rated country and popular selections containing a positive and patriotic message.

I would also pose a question to my liberal friends. At what point did someone wave the magic wand which transformed our “Support the Troops” group into “War-Mongers” while simultaneously transforming the “War Protesters” into simple “Peace Vigilers,” from “Pro-Abortion” to “Pro-Choice” or when “God Bless America” became “God Forgive America” or “God Damn America”?

Regarding a presence in my Web site “Hall of Shame” page, the entrance criterion is posted and quite specific. The pictures speak for themselves; the captions are simple truths, no slander involved. For those seeking clarification, the address is http://go-patriots.com/Hall_of_Shame.htm.

Ms. Walsh alleges accusations of personal assault. I suggest that there is a distinction between adversarial commentary and assault. Her referenced sign displays a message with which we all concur, “Peace is Healthy for Children and Other Living Things.” We simply added another dimension which states, and rightly so, that “Peace is bought by Soldiers and Other Loyal Patriots.” Not so bad when you see it in black and white rather than in a non-descript accusatory framework, is it?

It needs being said that a single disgruntled, misguided malcontent does not displace or diminish the countless dozens upon dozens of veterans and active duty personnel and families who have stopped and extended their heartfelt thanks for our support and our presence.

We are finally at the part of Ms. Walsh’s letter which belabors the left wing textbook rant and past the section which deals with displaying the flag upside down. I will argue that having our nation’s ensign being drug publicly across posteriors and stepped on, in the dirt, goes a step beyond the maritime “distress signal” intended for such a display.

Ms. Walsh has painted a fairly bleak picture of the Anacortes Police Department that demands clarification. She stated that in previous instances of alleged altercation her group made statements regarding the incidents and nothing was done. In those instances, other opposing and counter statements were also made and filed. I suspect that the end result was the weight of all factors adding up to no harm being done to any person or persons.

The quality and quantity of the musical selections so fervently endorsed by Ms. Walsh was covered in a June 18 letter by a visitor to Anacortes who described accurately and admonished publicly the vulgar and distasteful content.



I would note that the responding officer’s repeated reminder to your “children” regarding the excessive volume level of their high-powered amplifier located a mere few feet from an active summer berry stand somehow does not seem out of line.

Ms. Walsh expressed bias and indignation because the police patrols fail to wave or give a “thumbs-up” to her and her associates as they pass. I would pose the following question. Precisely, Ms. Walsh, what have you, individually or collectively, done lately to endear yourself to those who protect and serve our community? Are you aware that the son of one of these officers you are so quick to accuse has just returned from his third voluntary tour in Iraq where he spent the last 15 months serving our nation?

We have taken the time to extend congratulations for his service. We salute both the father and son for their dedication to duty and county and community. As a group, we have waved to these officers every Sunday for nearly seven years, a simple gesture and a friendly response. Some we have known personally for many years longer. When they return a wave or provide a gesture of approval, they do so as friends. They just happen to be public officials.

I suggest that the conduct displayed by your young people, specifically actions like “goose stepping” in the street with the right arm extended while exhibiting the country’s flag in a most dishonorable position and manner while shouting “Zieg Heil” at a passing police car does little to endear them, yourself or your “anti-war protest group” to the members of the department you are so quick to accuse and judge.

Perhaps a little less emphasis on rhetoric and more emphasis on manners during your indoctrination of these “poster children” would seem more appropriate.
Andy Stevens
Anacortes

Patriots support values, victory over terrorists
Lynn Emerson-Walsh certainly has a right to express her feelings and concerns regarding the patriots who support the troops and our nation. I had a hard time finding anything I could agree with her on.

They are not war-mongers or pro-war but support freedom for all including Iraq and therefore, support victory. Saddam Hussein did not promote freedom and liberty and murdered thousands of his own people.

In 1990 Saddam started planning an aerial assault with deadly toxins against Israel. He was convinced by an adviser that it wouldn’t be successful because of Israel’s advanced early warning systems. WMDs were transported out of Iraq into Syria by truck and by a 747 and several 727s converted from passenger planes to transports in the summer of 2002.

I have never heard anything offensive coming from their bull horn — usually just “thank you” and their music is patriotic music supportive of our country and I’ve never heard any foul language.

I’m saddened when I see the pagan peace flag representing nuclear disarmament, a flag approved of by a well-known atheist because with the inverted cross it could represent hatred of Christians. Why not a flag with a dove?

 In response to someone who said we should learn to work with Democrats, it’s a two way street and we should all learn to work together as we once did. I was a proud Democrat but I had to leave when the humanist movement took over the party and trampled on the good Democrats and somehow managed to convince them that they had all the solutions. Solutions like more government, more entitlements leading to socialism which is on the horizon, the destruction of family, and the unborn, and coming up, the free rights of Christians.

I’m grateful to our president for his strong moral beliefs and his support for unborn babies and family values and his willingness to protect us from the terrorists that want to take over America. Some Muslims in the Northeast recently said we may soon see the Muslim flag flying over the White House. But again, Lynn and her friends have their right to express their feelings as we all do, I personally have to check the Word to make sure I’m on the right path.
Beverly Bass
Anacortes