Port of Olympia, Rainbow Ceramics, and Cows

Above: The Port of Olympia was seeing an increase in rainbows and revenue at its marine terminal in 2014. The port saw its busiest years in 2013-14 with its contract with Rainbow Ceramics, signed in 2012. According to Port of Olympia executive director Ed Galligan, 15 longshore workers were assigned to the port to assist with the cargo of ceramic proppants, adding more than 30,000 hours in each of those years. The industry has declined ever since. 

By Janine Gates
Little Hollywood

https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

The Port of Olympia contract with Rainbow Ceramics expires July 14, 2019, and for many, it can’t come soon enough.

There is a scheduled discussion and vote on acceptable cargo at the Port of Olympia’s regular Monday night meeting of its commissioners on December 12, 5:30 p.m., at 626 Columbia Street NW, Suite 1-B. 

Staff has drafted a “decision needed” resolution that explains the parameters around the port's imports and exports. 

The resolution centers around the Federal Shipping Act of 1984 that states that “terminal operators cannot unreasonably discriminate in the provision of terminal services.” 

The resolution also makes several statements regarding the port's expectations for law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction to promptly take appropriate action in the event protest activities violate local, state and/or federal laws.

The agenda is available at http://www.portolympia.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2853

The conversation about the port's cargo at its marine terminal has been going on for years, from its long-term contract with the Weyerhaeuser Co., to an eclectic mix of cars, wind blades, garnet, military equipment, corn and cows. 

The previous commission's acceptance in 2012 of a five year contract with Rainbow Ceramics to accept ceramic proppants has particularly attracted the attention of many community members not previously involved with port issues. 

According to port documents, an early September review of the Rainbow Ceramics contract states that the Port of Olympia has received $6,568,102 in revenue from Rainbow Ceramics since 2012.

Expenses related to the acceptance of the cargo totaled $3,893,547 from 2012 through September 2016, for a profit of $2,674,555.

Jeff Smith, port financial officer, said that the expenses involved with the import of ceramic proppants include longshore labor to discharge cargo or load it onto rail or truck to send out, line labor to tie up or loosen ship from dock, discharge and load out machinery, and mandatory security from the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security when there is a vessel in berth.

Vessel counts for 2012 was four, 2013 was 10, 2014 was 11, and in 2015, just one.

It is undetermined how many more proppant shipments the port anticipates.

“The number of ships that Rainbow brings in is predicated on the market. We do not have a forecast,” said the port stated in an emailed response to a request for information.

Above: Union Pacific Train 404 leaves Olympia loaded with 15 cars of ceramic proppants, escorted by the Washington State Patrol and Thurston County Sheriff's Deparmtent, in the early morning hours of November 18.

Union Pacific Train 404, which left the Port of Olympia loaded with 15 cars of ceramic proppants in the early morning hours of Friday, November 18, came back into port on Tuesday, November 22, just before noon.

The train whistle has blown several more times since that date, possibly indicating more shipments, however, requests for information by Little Hollywood to the Port of Olympia to learn if shipments since November 18 have taken place have not been answered.

Keith Bausch, former president of the Local 47, International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), attended Commissioner Zita's community chat last week.

“If I understand correctly from longshore leader Keith Bausch, 13 rail cars of proppants moved out in the recent operation, with 64 bags of proppants per car, approximately 1.5 tons per bag,” said Commissioner Zita to Little Hollywood this weekend.

“If I understand correctly from port finance director Jeff Smith, the Port grosses about $10 per ton of proppants, and nets about $1 per ton after direct expenses. So, 13 cars x 64 bags x 1.5 tons per bag X $1 per ton would net the Port under $2,000, if my calculations are correct.

“When fracking proppant cargos peaked in 2014-2015, the marine terminal was still in the red….What are other costs of doing this business? Greenhouse gas emissions from transport of proppants, fracking operations, and transport and burning of harvested fossil fuels….Environmental, social, and cultural costs of fracking, pipelines, and fossil fuel transport, e.g. Standing Rock….Potential injury and distress to concerned citizens, workers, and/or law enforcement….Polarization of communities such as Olympia.

“We need open, civil discussions to weigh costs and benefits of this fracking business. Public servants have an obligation to share relevant information with the public, to facilitate open, civil discussions, and to weigh costs and benefits in decision making,” said Zita.

Bausch also told her that corn was loaded and ready to go by rail to its destination.  

“I am generally not informed about port movements of cargo, despite repeated requests to the executive director,” said Zita.

There is ample evidence to refute the Port’s assertion that it just accepts whatever cargo comes its way.

An article, “Port Cargo Concerns Community,” by Hildi Flores was published in the South Sound Green Pages’ Spring 2013 issue, and explores the same questions and concerns raised by community members now.

In the article, Flores describes how the Port actively solicited the contract of Rainbow Ceramics by sending its port business development manager, Jim Knight, to North Dakota. According to Knight, the cargo was a good fit for the port’s break-bulk facilities.

In keeping with the conversation in 2013, meeting minutes for the April 22 port meeting indicate that former port commissioner Jeff Davis asked that if the port should decide against shipping proppants through the port, what would the next step be to halt fracking in the Midwest? 

Davis, a longshore worker, said it might be beneficial to commissioners to learn what that might entail because the port has deferred shipment of other materials only to have them shipped from another port. 

As for studies related to climate change and the industry's use of proppants, employing fracking to extract oil, and the impacts of the use of petroleum products, the port does not have any such studies in conjunction with or related to contracting with Rainbow Ceramics. 

“Industry-wide impacts would constitute Scope 3 emissions from a carbon accounting standpoint. Department of Ecology’s greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting methodology that is used for those entities with emissions large enough to mandate reporting, excluded Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions. Scope 2 emissions are excluded due to the high risk for double counting that would result from their inclusion. Scope 3 emissions are excluded due to their being outside of the jurisdiction of the reporting entity. Scope 3 emissions are those outside of the Port's capacity and capability to directly affect,” wrote Galligan in an email to Commissioner Zita in September.

Cameron Powell, operations and service manager for Rainbow Ceramics in Houston, coordinates logistics from Rainbow Ceramics' manufacturing plants in China to Canada and U.S. ports, which are the Port of Houston Authority, San Antonio, and Olympia. 

Her job is to “research new projects to capitalize on various shale plays such as the Bakken, Eagle Ford, and Permian Basin, analyze inventory and reports of incoming and outgoing ceramic proppant, and manage rail cars going to and from transloading facilities in North America.”

Per Powell’s request, rather than speaking on the phone, Little Hollywood offered a written list of about 15 questions on December 1 pertaining to its business and contract with the Port of Olympia. Those questions have yet to be answered.

As for alternatives to ceramic proppants and other controversial cargo, community member Greg Schundler was one of the speakers at a recent port meeting who encouraged the Port to use data to drive its goals toward a more sustainable existence.

He offered his research on this issue, available at www.slideshare.net/gregschundler/port-of-olympia-from-extraction-economy-to-sustainable-growth

Oh, and those cows?

In November 2015, the Port of Olympia was proud to announce their involvement in the movement of 1,400 head of dairy cattle to Vietnam.

According to the port’s press release at the time, Vietnam launched a campaign geared toward minimizing childhood malnourishment through a strategy of providing one glass of milk per child per day. The dairy cows came from Idaho and Washington farms, and following a required holding period, were then loaded onto a ship.

Through a public records request, Little Hollywood found out that the port showed net revenue of approximately $25,000 for the shipment.

Based on economic viability, its ongoing conflicts with the City of Olympia, and stress on local, regional and state law enforcement agencies, the Port of Olympia marine terminal may be looking at some hard choices in its future.

Above: Bags of ceramic proppants are still at the Port of Olympia, as seen in November. Commissioner Zita was told at her informal community chat that there were about 20 rail cars of proppants still at the port with no set date for shipment.  

Editor’s Comment/Full Disclosure: The South Sound Green Pages was a print and online publication of the South Puget Environmental Education Clearinghouse (SPEECH). Janine Gates, then Janine Unsoeld, was president of the organization and editor of the publication at the time. The article by Hildi Flores is at http://oly-wa.us/GreenPages/Article.php?id=2013;05;201305e

For more pictures and information about the rail blockade of the Union Pacific train in downtown Olympia in November, the Port of Olympia, Rainbow Ceramics, ceramic proppants, and the City of Olympia, go to Little Hollywood, http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com, and type key words into the search button.

Ho-Ho-Hobo: The People’s Holiday Stand

Above: Tim and Charity were making wreathes at the Ho-Ho-Hobo wreath stand located near Old School Pizzeria in downtown Olympia on Thursday. Charity says this was her second wreath. “The first one took me an hour and a half but it was fun! This will be a tradition, even if we have a home,” she laughed.

By Janine Gates

http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Ho-Ho-Hobo…no, that’s not a tastless joke…it’s the name of a fun, innovative wreath stand created by and for the street community, who make the beautiful holiday wreaths at the stand with love and humor in downtown Olympia.

Located in the parking lot of Old School Pizzeria at 108 Franklin Street between 4th Avenue and State Street, the wreath stand's hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., everyday except Wednesdays, until Christmas. 

Wreath stand volunteer Walker Stephens and a crew of others serve hot drinks and help members of the street community make the wreaths out of natural and found materials.

Donations for the wreaths are accepted on a sliding scale, but Stephens recommends $30. For that amount, $5.00 immediately goes to the person who made the wreath, $5.00 goes toward the person who collects brush for the wreaths, $5.00 goes toward gas and supplies, $10 goes toward laundry, and $5.00 goes toward a grand prize and holiday party. All additional profits go back into the community.

The project is into its second season. Last year, the stand sold 400 wreaths, which put $2,000 directly into street people’s pockets. 

A woman named Charity was busy making a wreath, her second one. 

“My first one sold already!” she said, with a beautiful smile. Charity said she is from Spokane and has been homeless for four years. She’s been in Olympia since October.

“...Homelessness just kind of happened, and it stays that way without you realizing how long it’s been….”

Above: Sean McCartney made a wreath at the Ho-Ho-Hobos stand. He is homeless and is willing to do odd jobs such as putting up Christmas lights.

Sean McCartney also made a wreath and said he stayed at Salvation Army on Wednesday night. He was third to the last one in before the shelter said they had no more room. He said he felt lucky, and tried to give his bed away to an older gentleman who couldn’t get in, but the man wouldn’t take it.

McCartney says he has been clean and sober for over just over two years. He doesn’t have a telephone with minutes on it, but asked Little Hollywood to let readers know that he is looking for work and willing to do odd jobs such as putting up Christmas lights. He is raising funds so he can get to California to see his sister’s wedding in a couple weeks. He said interested folks can stop by the wreath stand on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. to meet him and chat.

Asked how he got involved organizing this activity, Stephens said that wreaths are the tree spirits’ way to welcome vulnerable spirits into the warmth of the home.

“I’m housed now, but I haven’t always been. This is to empower unhoused community members to advocate for themselves. Providing this service offers a little extra bump,” said Stephens.

Stephens said that due to city ordinances that criminalize survival, camps face constant evictions and sweeps, leading to ruined equipment. He was incredulous when he heard that the City of Olympia recently asked for bids from firms for up to $250,000 to clean up the mess caused by these evictions and relocations.

“It’s a mess street folks are proud to clean up themselves given the opportunity. Last year, our real focus was collecting soiled wet blankets and jackets. Through wreath revenues, we provided transportation and money for the laundry mat,” said Stephens. He is doing that again this year.

New this year is a competition for best wreath maker. Anyone may vote once per day from now until Christmas, and the overall winner will receive $200. Downtown workers and residents are encouraged to stop by regularly, and check out the constantly revolving selection of wreaths. Some wreaths are particularly stunning.

The wreath stand is also excited to repeat last year’s successful Christmas party with pizza provided by Old School Pizzeria. The idea is the spirit of giving: it is a party thrown by the street community, for the larger community. 

Connie Phegley, owner of Old School Pizzeria, is also vice-chair of the downtown Olympia Parking & Business Improvement Area (PBIA) board. The PBIA is a self-taxing district of over 400 downtown businesses. She is supportive of the Ho-Ho-Hobo stand, and offered up two business parking spaces for the effort. 

Phegley was also present at Thursday evening's neighborhood meeting to discuss the temporary use permit for Interfaith Works to open a daytime warming shelter. The PBIA board thanked the City of Olympia for its financial support of Interfaith Works at a recent council meeting.

“Street dependency presents many difficult realities that our business community struggles to address. We are very encouraged by Interfaith Works creating, and the greater community supporting, a safe and clean space for people to go during the day in the cold winter months for shelter, warmth and access to bathrooms and social services,” the board wrote in a November 22 letter to Olympia city councilmembers.

The group is accepting donations of warm survival supplies, interesting brush, such as pine, twigs, and holly, terracotta pots, candles, wreath frames and craft materials, and old campaign signs, which are perfect for cutting up to be used as name tags for the wreaths.

“It is a joyous opportunity for our community to get together and know itself better,” said Stephens.

To be on Ho-Ho-Hobo all volunteer staff, go down to the booth and sign up!

Above: Walker Stephens, in green coat, and volunteers keep the Ho-Ho-Hobo wreath stand productive. It is located in the parking lot next to Old School Pizzeria on Franklin Street, and just behind Dumpster Values in downtown Olympia. Walker is grateful to Old School Pizzeria and Bar Francis, a coffee shop inside Dumpster Values, which is providing the stand with hot coffee at cost.

Downtown Olympia Winter Warming Center Permit Sought

Above: As snow fell on South Sound late Thursday afternoon, a daytime winter warming center can’t open soon enough for some of Olympia's most vulnerable residents. Interfaith Works is seeking a temporary use permit to use the historic Hyak Lumber Building, seen above, as a warming center with community social service resources, as soon as possible through March 2017.

By Janine Gates

http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

An unanticipated delay due to funding setbacks in the opening of the Providence Community Care Center has caused the need for a full time winter warming center.

The Center was scheduled to open in early Fall at the corner of State Street and Franklin Street.

To fill the gap, Interfaith Works, a community non-profit, has requested a temporary use permit from the City of Olympia for the use of a building, the former location of Alpine Experience, as a daytime winter warming center. 

The historic Hyak Lumber Building is owned by Joe Hyer and his family, and is located at 408 Olympia Avenue NE, near the LOTT Clean Water Alliance and the Hands On Children's Museum. 

The warming center would provide relief for vulnerable people experiencing homelessness, physical or mental health challenges and substance use related challenges.

An informal meeting about the proposal was hosted by city staff at Olympia City Hall on Thursday evening. A handful of community members, some representing downtown businesses or organizations, were in attendance to hear more and ask questions. 

Interfaith Works executive director Danny Kadden and emergency overnight shelter manager Meg Martin answered those concerns and more. The informal setting allowed for a deeper conversation about local homelessness issues and current community efforts.

City of Olympia community planning and development director Keith Stahley said he expects to issue the permit with reasonable conditions next week. 

Stahley complimented Interfaith Works staff on the level of detail in their operations and staff training manuals and said he has heard some community concerns about issues such as people smoking or congregating around the outside of the building.

The building lease would be paid for through Thurston County, and City of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater housing funds. Martin said that the Hyer family is leasing the building for the cost of utilities.

Since early November, Interfaith Works has operated a warming center five days a week using two rotating downtown locations, The United Churches of Olympia, and First Christian Church. 

Due to scheduling issues, the warming center is closed on two days, Tuesdays and Sundays. 

At the new location, the group plans a full time operation as soon as possible through March 31, 2017. The hours of operation would be 7:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. daily and replace the two church locations. Staff would also be on site just prior and just after open hours. 

As it does now, Interfaith Works would provide the necessary supplies, supervision and support services to conduct the operations of the warming center. At least two Interfaith Works emergency shelter staff would be on site daily, plus volunteer support. 

Community support services will be available on site and include the SeaMar Community Health Care Management Team, the PATH program through Capital Recovery Center, Behavioral Health Resources, Providence Health Services, Olympia Free Clinic providing acute medical care and first aid relief and SideWalk, providing access to rapid rehousing, coordinated entry and shelter diversion programs.

Martin said that the current warming centers see nearly 100 guests per day, but they are not all there at the same time. 

“Homeless people are busy. They have errands to run, with many health, medical, and food services located outside of the downtown core,” said Martin.

She described the space as a calm environment. Some stop by to get warmed up, sleep, visit friends, or dry their belongings. In the new location, when they are not meeting with social service providers, they will do the same, as well as watch movies or play games. They are also actively involved in the upkeep of the surrounding area. 

“They want to be good neighbors. They sweep and pick up trash. Their house is the sidewalk and they are interested in keeping it clean,” said Martin.

Martin said that at the end of the last year's warming center season, about 130 guests per day signed in. 

Olympia Police Department Lieutenant Sam Costello manages the downtown foot patrol and downtown safety programs. He was positive about Interfaith Works' management of the current warming centers and the emergency overnight shelter. 

“The interactions officers will have with street individuals will be more friendly if they have a place to tell them to go,” said Costello.  

Shelter staff managed last winter's warming center program, and trained in de-escalation and emergency intervention skills. Staff will manage an outdoor smoking space to minimize impact on immediate neighbors, and all guests will be expected to sign good neighbor guest agreement.

Above: Interfaith Works seeks to use a portion of the Hyak Lumber Building, about 7,000 square feet, in downtown Olympia to serve the community. The space was most recently leased by the Thurston County Democrats.

Interviewed today at the building, Joe Hyer said he is excited about the opportunity to lease a portion of the building to Interfaith Works. Hyer says the Thurston County Democrats leased a portion of the building and left November 15.

“I like Interfaith Works. They know what they’re doing. I like their attitude,” he said.

Hyer said the building, recently used as a former commercial space, is all up to code with fire sprinklers, modern wiring, and plenty of outlets. Hyer said he is leaving the Wi-Fi set up so guests and staff can use their phones in and around the building.

Hyer is also excited that the Thurston County Democrats left numerous room dividers, desks, and office equipment in the building, and are donating the supplies for the warming center's use. 

The building has two restrooms. Interfaith Works will also provide two outdoor port-a-potties to accommodate demand, which will be locked when the warming center is not open.

At the meeting, Connie Phegley, owner of Old School Pizza, said that she is not happy that the public bathrooms at East Bay Plaza are closed, and yet Interfaith Works has to pay for port-a-potties at the nearby warming center. 

“Not only that, the port-a-potties are being put up for a certain population. I'm not happy about that and I haven't been for quite some time,” she said. The bathrooms, located near the Hands On Children's Museum and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance, are closed due to ongoing vandalism and drug use.

Hands On Children's Museum executive director Patty Belmonte was in attendance, and said that despite best efforts, there will be some parents who will very concerned and many others who will not be concerned. 

“We will work to educate our families and ensure their safety. The reality is, we will hear from many families. Undoubtedly, some families will be unhappy. We will work with Interfaith Works to make it as smooth a transition as possible,” she said. 

Belmonte said she is developing a 'frequently asked questions' page to the children's museum website to help educate children's museum members about the warming center.

Interfaith Works has communicated diligently with nearby businesses, including Crawford Auctions, ACME Fuel, the Hands On Children’s Museum, and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance, and Martin agreed that open communication with families is key.

“We are also serving families. Families come to the warming centers everyday. There's not enough beds at Pear Blossom Place or Rosie's Place at Community Youth Services. We're a mixed population. Some stay up all night and just need a place to sleep or if they are sick....”

Stahley brought up the question of possible sex offenders at the center. Martin explained that Level 2 or 3 sex offenders are not allowed.

“All I can comment on is our experience. We have had zero incidents and zero threats related to sexual offenses. We've served 700 unique individuals in two years and all are screened. Many we will serve in the new location have already been screened. As a behavioral based shelter, we know that when people do not have access to services, they are more likely to reoffend. Whatever criminal behavior they may have, when basic needs are met, our entire community is safer,” said Martin.

“Our day to day experience builds a tremendous amount of skills and that's reflected in our relationships,” said Kadden. 

“A lot of thought goes into contingency planning. Challenging episodes happen rarely but when they do, we're prepared....This will be a dress rehearsal for when the Providence Community Care Center opens. Connecting people with services will help us make that a success and professionalize our homeless services....We're trying to bring the community together in the long term. We're going to do everything we can to be mindful in response to calls and interactions,” added Kadden.

Eastside neighborhood parent Whitney Bowerman is the parent of two small children, and said she is a member of the children's museum. 

Bowerman said she first met Martin when she opposed an Eastside neighborhood location once considered for a warming center. She has come a long way in her personal education about homelessness issues and credited that knowledge to Martin's work and patience. 

“Knowledge is power, and there are preconceived notions. When you clear that up, it's magic,” she said. 

Now, she and her children deliver meals to the shelters, and have gotten to know the guests and the names of their dogs. 

“It's been a good experience for my children, to talk about compassion, to help them see the big picture. I started way far from where I am now. I was afraid of these people (the homeless), but I'm impressed with the program. They do a great job,” she said. 

Her friend Joellen Wilhelm agreed. She and her young family are also Eastside residents and members of the children's museum and the YMCA.

“A warming center is a basic human right. There's space for all of us,” she said. 

Current warming shelter information:

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays at United Churches, Social Hall, lower level at 110 11th Ave. SE; entrance is in the rear parking lot on Washington St. between Union and 11th Ave. Open for guests from 7:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. 

Thursdays and Saturdays at First Christian Church, Koinonia Hall (upstairs), 701 Franklin St. SE; open for guests from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. 

Donation Requests: Coffee, sugar, creamer, herbal tea, socks, gloves, hats and hand warmers for use after guests leave shelter. Round tables are also being sought for use in the new location.

For more information about Interfaith Works and its programs and projects, go to interfaith-works.org. 

For more information about the Emergency Overnight Shelter and how to donate supplies, go to www.iwshelter.org.

For more information about the lack of 24 hour public restrooms, including the ones at East Bay Plaza, the LOTT Clean Water Alliance, Interfaith Works, homeslessness issues, the emergency overnight shelter, and Meg Martin, go to Little Hollywood, http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com, and type key words in the search button.

Above: The Hyak Lumber Building on Olympia Avenue was also home to the Olympia Shingle Company and may have been built as early as 1946.

Olympia Port Exec Galligan Addresses Council, Protesters Disrupt Meeting

Above: Protesters disrupted the City of Olympia council meeting Tuesday evening. One person, above, spoke for nearly seven minutes, without a council or television audience. The meeting reconvened in another room. Protesters wanted Mayor Cheryl Selby to continue the public comment period beyond the 30 minute limit, instead of waiting for another public comment period near the end of the agenda. 

The chamber was packed with those who wished to speak about the recent rail blockade of a Union Pacific train from leaving the Port of Olympia with a load of ceramic proppants. Others wanted to speak against the Olympia Police Department, and for the city to take a stronger stance against the Port's shipments of ceramic proppants, as well as a range of other viewpoints and issues.

By Janine Gates

http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

City of Olympia Mayor Cheryl Selby’s opening remarks at Tuesday night's council meeting, combined with Port of Olympia executive director Ed Galligan’s public comments, set off what was just the beginning of yet another wild public meeting.

The council chamber was packed, with an overflow crowd in the lobby watching the meeting on television monitors. 

It's a dysfunctional relationship, and the lack of communication between the Port of Olympia, City of Olympia, Olympia Police Department, and the community continued into yet another week. 

There's enough blame to go around, said one protester who took over the City of Olympia council chamber podium during a disruption of the meeting. 

It’s been rough, especially since the Union Pacific train was blocked on November 11 by protesters taking direct action to prevent it from leaving the Port of Olympia with 15 cars of ceramic proppants, a product used in hydraulic fracking.

The raid by law enforcement on the encampment in the early morning hours of November 18 has left many asking questions, and wondering about future shipments, resulting in packed meetings for both public entities.

Olympia Police Chief Ronnie Roberts denounced the Port of Olympia and its acceptance of ceramic proppants during a council meeting on November 22.

Olympia city council was off last week, but in the meantime, last Monday’s Port of Olympia meeting resulted in port commissioners tabling meeting discussions with the city. Commissioner Downing said he was open to a meeting with the city through established channels, which would be between Olympia city manager Steve Hall and port executive director Ed Galligan.

If anyone thought that Galligan had signed up first to speak at Tuesday evening’s council meeting to extend an olive branch to the city, suggest a joint session to discuss mutual issues, or begin dispute resolution, forget it. He didn't.

Then, shortly before 8:00 p.m., after Galligan and other members of the public spoke during public comment, Galligan, Port Commissioner Joe Downing, and an entourage of port staff and supporters left the chambers, along with some members of the public.

Some community members who had been in the audience re-entered the chambers, loudly stating that they wanted Mayor Selby to continue the public comment period. She refused. Business had already continued onto the next item on the agenda, but they persisted, repeatedly shouting, “Can’t drink oil, keep it in the soil!”

Mayor Selby made a motion to recess and reconvene in a few minutes. Television cameras were cut off. As one protester continued to speak at the podium with a hot mic, Mayor Selby, councilmembers and staff reconvened and quickly voted to continue the meeting upstairs in Room 207.

Councilmembers, staff, representatives of The Olympian and Little Hollywood, as well as those scheduled to speak to agenda items, were ushered to the room where business on the agenda continued. The room was already set up for a council meeting just in case it was needed.

After the meeting, Mayor Selby was asked about what happened earlier, and what rule she used to move the meeting. She said that she followed protocol to be used in the event of disruptions to business meetings, developed by city attorneys last spring.

During the time council was not present and television cameras were off, one person spoke for nearly seven minutes: 

“...I would like to respond to Chief Ronnie Roberts' statement...it was a nicely crafted message and I can tell you put a lot of work into it. First, I do want to thank you for calling out the port, but that's about it. I don't appreciate sly words...the way you finagled your language makes it sound like you're actually with us when you're not. The way you come up with fluffy ways to hide the fact that you were directing OPD...to hide the fact that your police officers were there brutalizing folks....

I've seen Ronnie Roberts blame the port, the port blame Ronnie Roberts, the city council blame the public. There's blame everywhere. And lastly, where's OPD and city council standing up and taking responsibility for their role in all of this?

I don't appreciate your words about protesters' confrontational behavior, Ronnie Roberts, when your police force was initiating confrontational behavior. How about the cops in riot gear confronting peaceful protesters? It was obviously done in the shadow of the morning when people waking up in Olympia couldn't witness this shit....

People are still coughing because of the unknown chemicals used....Your statements about people being injured is completely false...so your actions do not align with your words.

You want to talk about community values...People have bruises and wounds and are still healing, not to mention healing from the trauma they faced from being brutalized in the middle of the street in their town, in their city, at 4 o'clock in the morning....If you didn't want to be a part of this, why were you there?

....The police here is part of the city government - we have every right to be critical about what they do and they need to be accountable for their actions.” 

Above: Port of Olympia executive director Ed Galligan addresses City of Olympia councilmembers on Tuesday night.

Port of Olympia executive director Ed Galligan’s comments are as follows:

The Executive Director is the highest level staff position at the Port. With that position, comes personnel responsibilities I take very seriously. Those responsibilities include maintaining a positive and safe working environment. This is a duty that I know you take very seriously within your organization, as well.

While the intention may not have been there, and I believe Chief Roberts to be an honorable man that was sharing genuine frustration after an exhausting and stressful event, his comments two weeks ago have had significant negative consequences which have reverberated through the Port of Olympia.

When Chief Roberts said, “It angers me to have to put our officers in combat gear to face off with members of our community over something I don’t believe in myself,” my staff heard that statement as blaming them for the criminal activity that required police intervention.

I am here to voice my concerns and those of my 50 hardworking Port of Olympia colleagues, 31 members of the Local 47 Long Shore, port customers, and local law enforcement. None are to be blamed for the acts of vandalism, trespassing, and harassing behavior of others in this community.

The port has had rocks thrown through our office windows, graffiti spray painted on the walls, lit flares thrown over marine terminal fences, threatening phone calls, and most recently, a port maintenance employee was accosted by protesters while driving a port vehicle through downtown Olympia to purchase supplies at a local merchant. Employees at the Port do not feel safe in their current work environment. They question whether or not they will be protected by the City of Olympia police for the next incident after the remarks made by Chief Roberts. My staff does not deserve this treatment. I hope you agree with that sentiment – and that this treatment is not a tenant of Olympia’s community values.

My desire is to work together towards understanding the roles, constraints, and intent of our actions.

I am committed to fulfilling my role as the executive director of the Port of Olympia. I cannot stand idly by as it is implied, or expressly stated, that those who are doing their job at the Port of Olympia are to be blamed for the criminal actions of others.

In my 11 years of service to the Port of Olympia, port and city staffs have served Olympia by working well together, finding mutually agreeable and positive solutions to many challenges over the decade. We’ve worked together in a professional, collegial and enjoyable manner. 

What changed?”

Speakers during public comment addressed a variety of issues, but several spoke to the Port of Olympia’s contract with Rainbow Ceramics and participation in the fossil fuel industry.

Former port citizen advisory committee member Clydia Cuykendall said she supports hydraulic fracking and would like to know the council’s opinion on Chief Roberts’ statement. 

Others supported the protesters who blocked the train, such as Bourtai Hargrove, who strongly suggested that, lacking federal direction, the responsibility for climate progress may well fall to municipalities like the City of Olympia and Thurston County.

“It’s a big responsibility,” she said.

Zoltan Grossman, a faculty member at The Evergreen State College said, “The world is watching Olympia....”  

Editor's Note, 12/10/2016: Little Hollywood has been informed that the person at the mic who spoke for nearly seven minutes is a non binary trans person. Little Hollywood has made the appropriate changes in referencing the person, regrets the error, and apologizes for misgendering them. 

For more photos and information about the Port of Olympia, ceramic proppants, the rail blockade, and last week's port meeting, go to Little Hollywood, https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com, and type key words into the search button.

To read Olympia Police Chief Ronnie Roberts' statement, go to http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com/2016/11/olympia-police-chief-denounces-port-of.html

To read the blow by blow of last week's contentious Port of Olympia meeting, go to http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com/2016/11/risky-business-olympia-port-commission.html