voice of bainbridge

Olaf Ribeiro emails the Council Members about tree cutting on the island

Dear Council members,
I wish to record my great disappointment at the tree cutting rampage that has occurred in the past couple of weeks on the island. Without a tree ordinance and lack of enforcement, tree cutting companies have discovered that they have free reign to take down magnificent healthy trees with no consideration for the subsequent cost to the environment.

The redesigned city website

The city website has been "redesigned". Is it better now?
I don't think so. The changes appear (to me) mostly cosmetic: there is no real improvement about the way the city and our elected officials communicate with the rest of us.
The blog revolution is still totally ignored and there is no attempt -yet- to use digital audio or for that matter video.
The buzz is not noted among the "local newspapers", meaning the most modern interned based source of information is ignored. There is no reference to any local blog.
My conclusion: the same old wine in a somehow new presentation. I don't dare asking if there has been a price tag for this "redesign" or if it is was home made by the city permanent IT team of 6?

The blog solution for local media and civic life

The bad news is I have been frustrated with our local media (The Bainbridge Review, the Kitsap Sun, the Bainbridge Islander, BIB) for quite a while. I think the City website is abysmal and our elected officials totally fail in  responding to our needs to be informed about what's happening to our community under their watch.

Candidates for Mayor and money

I went back to the public disclosure commission site because Steve Gardner wrote in a Kitsap Sun article that Will Peddy now had raised $ 14.350 from 40 donors while Darlene had $ 9.460 from 83 donors.
Checking is pretty tedious because the system does not allow for a quick and easy read.
I still thought it would be worth a closer look to see who were those supporters.

Against computers in the classrooms (again)

Here is an article published in Orion Magazine about the damaging effects of computers within the classroom.

Beach combers vs beach owners

An interesting decision in Michigan: Read   
The Michigan Supreme Court noted that “walking the beach below the ordinary high water mark is inherent in the exercise of traditionally protected public rights and falls within the scope of the public trust.”  The court added: “This activity remains subject to regulation, as is any use of the public trust.”
Listen (3 min)
The most complete presentation on the site of the Michigan Land Use Institute
Additional relevant links about this story: here and here.

The high cost of free parking

The high cost of free parking is the title of the new book published by UCLA Professor Donald Shoup.
It should be required reading for everybody: elected city officials, planners, citizens. One problem is the high cost of the book published by the American Planning Association: $60! What went wrong with the printing? But what are $60 to start dealing with all the misconceptions about parking?

Social Security Forum with Jay Inslee

Jay Inslee hosted sunday evening a Social Security Forum to hear constituents' opinions about the President's plan to change Social Security through private accounts. The meeting covers the problems currently faced by the program and examine the President's Social Security proposal. The forum includes guest speaker Kenneth Buffin, a professional actuary and economist who has dealt with Social Security reform issues with the American Academy of Actuaries. LISTEN (87 min)

Interview with Congressman Jay Inslee

This Monday, Philippe Boucher sat with Jay Inslee on a sunny bench at the Farmer's market.
Jay talks about a recent trip to Europe where he had the opportunity to voice his concerns about Airbus vs Boeing. He  gives several examples of new technologies to improve  energy use but is Detroit ready for them? As a follow up on the presentation given by Amory Lovins on February 11, he  explains how the Pentagon can play a key role to help.
Islanders had asked VoB to transmit questions to Jay about the filibuster and the electoral reform (paper trail etc), here are his answers.
At the end we discussed the ferry problem, the fares and why we are in this situation.
Listen (16 min).

Iranian blogger sentenced to 14 years in prison

Arash Siardhi has been sentenced to 14 years in jail according to Reporters without borders. A few days earlier another blogger, Mojtaba Lofti  was sentenced to 3,5 years.
What can be done to help them?