Whatcom/Skagit Organizing Meeting! Don't Miss It!

Things have been a little quiet on the Commerce Corridor issue following the initial burst of concern, publicity, and activity. Upcoming hearings on the corridor have been maneuvered beyond the Nov. 2nd election. Doug Ericksen probably has his dear friends at the DOT to thank for that. But in spite of all this manuevering folks in Whatcom and Skagit County are not content to sit idly by: Here's the update from Nan Laney: A Whatcom / Skagit citizens group is planning a Washington Commerce Corridor Workshop for 7:00 - 9:00 PM on Wednesday September 22nd at Acme Elementary School. Acme Elementary School is located on Turkington Road in Acme (turn west just south of the South Fork Nooksack River bridge). The school is about 1/4 mile down Turkington Road on your right. The purpose of the workshop is to organize local citizens to respond to the Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) Commerce Corridor Feasibility Study that is currently in process. This meeting is a call to action, and although general information will be provided, we would like you to come with your thoughts about what YOU are willing to DO. The workshop will provide opportunity for brainstorming, and will offer guidance for taking action as well as opportunities for further involvement. For those who don't have background information on the Commerce Corridor Feasibility Study - the study is examining the feasibility of privately constructed and operated freight and passenger toll roads (up to 10 lanes), freight and passenger rail lines, and utilities (power lines and pipelines) in a corridor east of Interstate 5 -- roughly following the route of Highway 9 in Skagit and Whatcom Counties. While this may seem like a "far fetched" notion, the WSDOT is due to submit it's final report to the Washington State Legislative Transportation Committee by Dec. 1, 2004. The Transportation Committee then will then make its recommendations to the Washington State Legislature by Jan. 2005. It is for this reason that it is important to make our thoughts and opinions known now about this proposal --- before it moves any further at the state and federal levels. In general, the steering committee of this yet-to-be-named citizens group is looking for people who are willing to assist with: A creative name for our group Getting the word out Organizing events Fundraising Networking with other organizations / groups Setting up and managing an informational website Research (in many areas) Interacting with politicians (and motivating others to do so) Going to elected official and government meetings at the city, county, state and/or regional levels Public outreach (distributing information, petitions, etc) Making signs, posters and buttons Respectfully, Nan Laney Sedro-Woolley, WA