The Bellingham Herald reports:
The No Coal! initiative banning the transport of coal through the city will not get to voters in November.
On Friday, Aug. 3, Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Charles Snyder granted the city of Bellingham an injunction that blocks the Whatcom County Auditor from putting the measure on the ballot. (Read more here...)
Although supporters garnered enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot, Judge Snyder ruled that it would be misleading to do so because it runs counter to constitutional principles that would ultimately render it illegal.
He said the initiative would "give the people in the community the impression they are doing something they cannot. ... It clearly would diminish faith in city government."
A word to the wise: Just because CELDF and other anti-Constitution groups have been dealt a minor setback (in one city of many where they're promoting this illiberal agenda), do not think that they won't be back, or that their next attempt won't be successful. Similar measures have been serially rejected by voters in Spokane, but by smaller and smaller margins. Every time it gets thrown out, CELDF refines their message. Without perpetual vigilance, this toxic agenda could eventually become reality.
The No Coal! initiative banning the transport of coal through the city will not get to voters in November.
On Friday, Aug. 3, Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Charles Snyder granted the city of Bellingham an injunction that blocks the Whatcom County Auditor from putting the measure on the ballot. (Read more here...)
Although supporters garnered enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot, Judge Snyder ruled that it would be misleading to do so because it runs counter to constitutional principles that would ultimately render it illegal.
He said the initiative would "give the people in the community the impression they are doing something they cannot. ... It clearly would diminish faith in city government."
A word to the wise: Just because CELDF and other anti-Constitution groups have been dealt a minor setback (in one city of many where they're promoting this illiberal agenda), do not think that they won't be back, or that their next attempt won't be successful. Similar measures have been serially rejected by voters in Spokane, but by smaller and smaller margins. Every time it gets thrown out, CELDF refines their message. Without perpetual vigilance, this toxic agenda could eventually become reality.
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