Steve Klein addresses current issues impacting Yelm and vicinity and provides a meeting place for anyone with an interest in this area to provide their ideas and opinions
Welcome the stunning jewelry of Yael Klein to our InGenius! repertoire!
Virtual Shopping is on! Curbside pickup and local delivery are available. Give the gift of InGenius! locally made art and artisan goods and support our local economy!
Today’s featured InGenius! artist is Yael Klein of Yelm with stunning handworked .999 silver jewelry including handmade chains, rings and pendants. She does her own lapidary work and fashions each piece as an individual work of art. Message us here when you see anything you love and want to purchase or if you want more info or your own virtual tour!
Jolene Unsoeld in 2016. Courtesy of John Hughes via The Olympian
*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM TUESDAY ***
The Olympian: Jolene Unsoeld, who represented Olympia area in legislature and Congress, is dead at 89 [Ed. note: I for fortunate to get to know Rep. Unsoeld when in the state legislature in the late 1980s, and Congress in the early 1990s, as we shared a mutual interest in environmental issues and advocating for our county. Blessings to her family. R.I.P. Jolene!]
The Lancet: The epidemiological relevance of the COVID-19-vaccinated population is increasing – “High COVID-19 vaccination rates were expected to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in populations by reducing the number of possible sources for transmission and thereby to reduce the burden of COVID-19 disease. Recent data, however, indicate that the epidemiological relevance of COVID-19 vaccinated individuals is increasing.”
Yelm’s City Councils of the last 20 years have all had majorities that were weak and/or “rubber-stamped” the mayors, lacking responsibility of Executive branch oversight, costing taxpayers in the millions!
Yelm’s Mayor has a maximum contract limit without going to the council of $35,000. Any contract over that amount must be directed by the Yelm City Council via an Action item in a public meeting. Yet Foster unilaterally signed a contract for $2.1 million dollars.
+ Seattle’s Foster Garvey was hired as the law firm to advise the city on resolving the L.I.D.’s foreclosure.
+ The key part of the presentation was DiJulio’s response to a question put to him by Council member and Mayor-elect Joe DePinto.
+ DePinto asked if Mayor Foster had the “blanket authorization” to sign into the Dec. 2017 L.I.D. contract regardless of the amount.
+ Mr. DiJulio responded that he understood his firm, in working with the city, had the authority to proceed with that$2.1 million contract, which Foster signed. Who gave him that idea? Foster?
+ Yelm’s Mayor has a maximum contract limit without going to the council of $35,000. Any contract over that amount must be directed by the Yelm City Council via an agenda Action item in a public meeting.
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+The Yelm Protocol Manual states the Council’s authority is to approve contracts: 2.02 A 1e, “Summary of Council Duties and Responsibilities as Provided in, but not Limited to, the Washington Administrative Code and Revised Code of Washington, Establish Policy, Approve contracts.”
+RCW 42.30.070, “No governing body of a public agency shall adopt any ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, order, or directive, except in a meeting open to the public.”
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+ Attorney DiJulio said, “The question is whether or not the mayor had authority independent of the council to implement the council’s direction in July 2016, is a question that the city will ask internally.” DePinto said Foster perhaps would speak to it – yet Foster said nothing! Click here for the video, start at 1:44.
+ Where are the voices of the other council members in doing their job of oversight in asking Mayor Foster why he signed a $2.1 million contract independent of the council!
+ If this council remains silent through the rest of Foster’s term (ending Dec. 31st), then the State Auditor should be informed for an investigation into the council not doing their job of oversight.
BOTTOM LINE:
DiJulio’s answer was correct, as he and his law firm do not adjudicate the council’s responsibilities in oversight of the city’s Executive branch.
Mayor Foster has continued to remain silent on why he did not follow the RCW and the Yelm Municipal Code.
The Yelm City Councils of the last 20 years have all had majorities that were weak. The minority of council members that wanted to hold Mayors Rivas, Harding and Foster accountable have always been overridden by a majority of councilors wanting to keep the status quo. This has cost the city dearly in the cumulative millions of dollars in poor decisions borne on the backs of local taxpayers.
With Mayor-elect DePinto’s state legislature experience, he understands the process of governing. A new dawn is arising here.
The time has come for a directive to be issued that each and every council member read the Yelm Municipal Code (YMC) cover to cover, plus council’s duties and responsibilities as outlined in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
Yelm is now a city of over 10,000 people, and the new council needs to take governing seriously, and follow their number one responsibility – oversight!
Editor’s note: I post news about Trump on this blog because so much of his party is still influenced by his attempt to control the outcome of future elections, subverting voting rights, and even democracy itself.
This story should serve as a cautionary warning published inThe Washington Post:
Democracy is coming to an end in this country when election integrity has been corrupted right down to local governments. The 2022 elections will be the bellwether of that occurring.
All authoritarian rulers have used this very playbook for centuries to overthrow the will of their people.
Editor’s note: The sudden and unexpected passing of Stephen Sondheim on Friday, Nov. 26 at age 91 shook Broadway and stages around the world. As has been said by many, there will never be another lyricist and musician like Sondheim.
Kennedy Center Honors: Stephen Sondheim honored in Dec. 1993. Click here for the tribute video.
CBS News Sunday Morning Video: Patti LuPone one-on-one with Stephen Sondheim: In 2020 Patti LuPone (star of the new Broadway revival of “Company”) spoke with musical theater legend Stephen Sondheim for “CBS Sunday Morning,” to discuss his craft, his favorite character, and his college acting career. With the passing of Sondheim on Friday, November 26 at age 91, we offer their conversation – and her appreciation of Sondheim’s artistry.
MSNBC’s All In With Chris Hayes: Lawyer who tried to overturn Trump loss appointed to U.S. election board – Lawyer Cleta Mitchell was on the infamous Trump phone call trying to bully Georgia officials into overturning the election. Now she’s advising the agency responsible for making elections more secure.
“GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
“Join the movement and give – each Tuesday and every day – whether it’s some of your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in your local community.
“It’s a simple idea: whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.“
“Local artist Dave Sederberg has created another glowing art installation, this time for the winter holidays. The trees were initially put up along Capitol Lake, but they will be installed on buildings for LoveOly Winter Fest and the holiday season.” Courtesy photo via The Olympian
“If you’re looking for holiday spirit in Yelm this year, it won’t be hard to find. From a winter market and Selfie Spots to a “Keep the Cheer Here” campaign to support local businesses, the season will be in full swing as of November 27, also known as Small Business Saturday. Yelm Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Line Roy hopes Yelm shoppers will take advantage of the many specials and promotions local companies are offering and make Yelm their first stop when it comes to holiday shopping.
““Keep the Cheer Here” will run from November 27 through December 22. Anyone who shops at a local small business can submit their receipt to the chamber for a chance to have their entire purchase of up to $200 reimbursed. Drawings will happen once a week. “We did this last year and had a ton of entries,” says Roy. “It was really fun.” Local shoppers can also win prizes by posting a photo of themselves at one of the many Selfie Spots at businesses around town.”
