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Connecting Some Dots

9/6/2013

5 Comments

 
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On August 29, the Bellingham Herald published this article about the possible untimely release of a criminally insane mental patient into unsupervised leave in open society. Fortunately, Sheriff Bill Elfo and his counterparts in other counties managed to stall the release for the time being.

The article states, "[Per Olaf] Johansson, 35, is notorious in Whatcom County. He was arrested in December 2010 and charged with second-degree murder and second-degree assault. According to charging papers, he stabbed his father at least 30 times in a deluded rage, and stabbed his mother and 13-year-old niece. The two women survived; Johansson’s father didn’t."

There are dreamers who say that criminals should be rehabilitated. Maybe they should be -- if they can be. There are dreamers who say that other cultures put the victim and the perpetrator together face-to-face in the town square (instead of a jail or prison) to make them resolve their differences, making both whole again. Uh huh. Force them to shake hands and make up. If only it were that easy. 


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Anyway, WE told you that so WE could show you this: The dreamers in Olympia evidently think  "low barrier" housing for sex offenders, felons, fugitives, and drug users would be a good idea. The Freedom Foundation published another expose' of foolhardiness and wishful thinking at the citizens' expense. The article contains a litany of neglected priorities and unwise trade-offs. 

Not only does this housing project open the door for dangerous occupants, the article states, "the Olympia City Council and Thurston County Commissioner Valenzuela want to take the approach of no questions asked, no ID needed, no idea who is staying at the “low-barrier” homeless project in Olympia. Their preference means there’s $400,000 less to use for families and children who are homeless."

WE think it would be wise for elected officials and bureaucrats to consider these two articles in context of one another before going off half-cocked on risky Utopian 'progressive' policies. 

5 Comments
Karl Uppiano link
9/7/2013 04:58:47 am

I find it interesting that, at the same time the Olympia city council is working to make "low-barrier" homeless housing a reality in Thurston County, the Ferndale City Council is working on zoning for an enormous setback for the new Whatcom County jail (if built) so that (dangerous) prisoners cannot see the neighbors, and vice-versa.

It's a NIMBY thing. Evidently the neighbors see some risk in having dodgy characters coming and going even under close supervision. Either that ... or it's merely a distraction for some people who are opposed to the concept of a jail, and they're just throwing chairs in the aisle.

Reply
Lisa
9/17/2013 01:07:13 am

"Interesting that a blog so committed to transparency and openness is so opaque about its contributors." - thanks to Riley Sweeney for this quote and I agree. http://sweeneypolitics.com/2012/09/05/the-whatcom-excavator-abuses-flowcharts/

Reply
Spartacus
9/17/2013 06:45:48 am

So "Lisa," speaking of transparency, tell us all about yourself as you seem to feel some (qualified?) need to judge. Or was that just another Junkie-led heckle?

Reply
Lisa
9/17/2013 01:34:27 pm

I am not the one publishing the blog, My identity is not relevant. Just wondering who is behind such strong comments and commentary.

Reply
Spartacus
9/17/2013 06:45:57 pm

Read the Excavator's ABOUT US. This site focuses on news, events, and ideas. If the "connections" crowd can't handle that approach, so be it.

Reply

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