Blue Canyon bullies?
So - what is going on at the Blue Canyon, down at the south end of Lake Whatcom? Who is Stephen Scott and who is Rita Foley and why have the responsible County departments allowed a creek to be clear
So - what is going on at the Blue Canyon, down at the south end of Lake Whatcom? Who is Stephen Scott and who is Rita Foley and why have the responsible County departments allowed a creek to be clear
I've talked to some in the Court House and to some of the activists. Seems Rita Foley, an environmentalist who has lived next to a creek for over 30 years, has complained repeatedly to the county about her new neighbor trashing the watershed as he 'improves' his property. Now the two are in court with him accusing her of harassment - and, get this - with a county employee as a witness.
Back in the '90s, a guy named Philip Marble was being defrauded of his land by some good old boys with a little help from inside the court house. Philip was told that if he went to the news media that then they would really trash him in court - and they had the money to do it. Phil was scared and about to sign away part of his land to keep the rest. Well, we got Phil's side of the story printed in the Whatcom Watch and his fortunes turned. He won a lawsuit and a county employee was fired. And he kept all his land. A little light on an issue is always a good thing.
I have been warned about looking into this case - by county courthouse people who tell me that Rita is a pest and that I "don't know what I'm talking about". Well, I agree that I don't know. But I also know a rancid smell. I am going to try and look into this. By reading the documents and doing some public disclosure requests of county records. As I try and do this, I will take you along on the process. We will let the chips fall where they may.
Take a look at the lakewhatcom.org page and get a first feel for this.
Meanwhile, I trust Sharon Crozier will keep us briefed on the Ellen Murphy court process. This is a case of the city legal department and the municipal judge, Debra Lev, working closely together to railroad Ellen. This is a repeating scenario of our Bellingham Municipal Court.