Call To Action - November 22, 2020

Last Call To Make Your Donation To The Thurston County Food Bank

Thanks to the generous OI members who donated to the Thurston County Food Bank, we have passed our goal of $1,000 with donations now up to $1,335. With just a few more donations, we could deliver a check for $1,500. The Food Bank is making a “bulk buy” very soon, so our donations will significantly help to increase their purchasing power.  We’ll be delivering a check this Monday, Nov. 23, so making a donation now would be perfect timing.

Donating is easy on the OI website “Donate” page.  You can make a donation via  PayPal, Google Wallet (no fee is taken) or send a check made out to “Olympia Indivisible”. Make your donation HERE.   When you make a donation online or write a check, please indicate “Food Bank.”  In PayPal, after you’ve logged on, look for “Add a Note.” If you are mailing a check and it arrives after Monday, Nov. 23, not a problem.  We’ll be sure to get your donation to the Food Bank.
Thank you generous OI members!

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Protect Sensitive Habitat In Tumwater

By now, many of you are aware that much of our precious natural environment in Thurston County is under threat.  This is the latest.  By speaking out, we citizens can help prevent destructive development that affects our health and the quality of our communities overall.

Puget-Western has submitted a proposal which has received preliminary approval by Tumwater to build a warehouse 65 acres in size, 50 feet tall, with 584 parking stalls for cars plus 234 truck/trailer stalls covering almost the entire lot. 2,547 trees, some over 100 years old, would be cut down for this warehouse. These trees store 12,253 tons of carbon and sequester 412 tons per year. It would destroy important habitat.

US Fish And Wildlife Service Wants To Hear From Interested Parties. They are especially concerned about killing gophers and decreasing their habitat. 

Action:
Send an email of your comments by November 25 

To: wfwocomments@fws.gov 
Subject: “Tumwater Distribution Center HCP” 

Main point:
Puget Western must not be granted an Incidental Take Permit to build their warehouse.

Additional Talking Points: 
There is no mention of climate change and the carbon footprint of this enormous development, at a time when we are experiencing a climate emergency and must do what we can to reduce carbon impacts. Nor is there mention of an entire ecosystem being destroyed, including the endangered Mazama Pocket Gopher, a keystone species of this ecosystem.

The proposal ignores the soon-to-be-adopted Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan and the Tumwater Urban Forestry Management Plan, both of which address tree canopy preservation as a means of carbon sequestration.   National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) requirements are not met.
Puget Western’s Draft Environmental Assessment and Habitat Conservation Plan are erroneous and incomplete in many places, with inadequate assessment of impacts on water, noise, air, aesthetics, and recreation.  It denies that there would be ANY impacts on climate or the immediate environment. This assertion is patently false.

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President-elect Biden Needs YOU!!!

The most important thing we can do to help his administration succeed is to put every ounce of energy NOW into winning the Georgia U.S. Senate runoff in January. The two Senate Democratic candidates, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have a fighting chance if enough democratic voters turn out.

This is where you come in. Every postcard, every phone call to a prospective voter, matters. It takes a real person reaching out to another real person to move them to action. The good news is that it is a wonderful, empowering feeling to act. Action heals worry.

Start with just one action. Commit to act (like right now) and get started. Like eating potato chips, you most likely will keep going!

• Write letters to Georgia voters: https://votefwd.org/
• Write postcards to Georgia voters: Contact Mary Barthomew  postcardrequest@gmail.com and ask for materials.
• Call a Voter in Georgia: sign up here: https://commonpower.org/gasenate#team-calendar or here: https://www.mobilize.us/flipthewest/event/362350/​​

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​Let Secretary Wyman Know We Support Mail-in Voting

Loren Culp is apparently striving to be trump-light, refusing to concede the election despite losing by a double digit margin and then criticizing the integrity of mail in voting. It is not enough for him to pout about his loss; he apparently believes the way to stay relevant is to attack Washington State’s election system and his fellow Republican, Secretary of State Kim Wyman. According to the Seattle Times, Culp, in online video chats “has attacked Wyman for criticizing Trump, and for ‘pushing this vote-by-mail crap’ in Washington and across the nation.” He and his campaign manager are urging “Culp supporters to deluge Wyman with complaints about the state’s voting system.”

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/loren-culp-refusing-to-concede-washington-gubernatorial-race-turns-on-top-republicans/

Action: Contact Secretary Wyman’s office: 360-902-4151, 
                Email: secretaryofstate@sos.wa.gov

Thank Secretary Wyman for conducting a free, fair and efficient election and for standing up to Trump and his undemocratic propaganda. Washington State was a leader in how to conduct an exemplary election. Please assure Secretary Wyman that the voters of Washington appreciate mail-in voting and want to continue the practice.

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Oppose Irresponsible Behavior By Elected Officials Refusing To Enforce Sensible Covid Precaution Measures

​In response to Governor Inslee’s recent orders concerning COVID precautions, at least one elected County Sheriff has announced that they have decided that the Governor’s order is illegal and unconstitutional and will not be enforcing it. Klickitat County Sheriff Songer distributed a message on November 18 to that effect and posted a similar message on their web site[1], and in doing so, encouraged open defiance of the Governors order. This action is problematic on so very many levels.

First, it violates our political system. In Washington, the legislature and the Governor make laws and regulations. The Courts can determine their constitutionality. County Sheriffs can do neither, their role is limited to enforcement of those laws. Second, presumably, their oath also includes a promise to protect their citizens. Sheriff Songer’s unilateral decision to usurp the role of the Courts and to neglect the safety and welfare of his constituents is malfeasance and dereliction of duty.

While Sheriff’s are not legally accountable to state officials, state law prohibits misconduct of this nature.  As with the conflict over enforcement of state gun laws a year ago, it is likely that a number of county sheriffs, not just in Klickitat, will similarly refuse to enforce the COVID precautions and leave their citizens vulnerable. The state of Washington cannot let this form of chaotic local preference frustrate the rights of citizens to be protected from irresponsible actions.

Action:  Contact Attorney General Bob Ferguson and demand that his office send cease and desist letters to local officials such as Sheriff Songer, and prepare to press charges of abuse of office and malfeasance if they do not heed the initial letters.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office:

• Internet:  https://www.atg.wa.gov/contact-us
• Phone:  (360) 753-6200

Script:  My name is __________________ and I am a member of Olympia Indivisible.  I urge Attorney General Bob Ferguson to take on local officials, such as the Klickitat County Sheriff, who are refusing to enforce Governor Inslee’s Executive Order establishing COVID precaution measures that are essential to the public health and safety of all of the citizens of Washington. My health and safety depend on the responsible behavior of my fellow residents. When local officials claim that they will only enforce regulations that they decide are constitutional and legal, they make a mockery of our form of government and put us at risk. Attorney General Ferguson should send cease and desist letters to these officials, and follow that with filing charges of abuse of their official powers and malfeasance for those who continue to behave irresponsibly.  

[1] https://www.klickitatcounty.org/373/Sheriff