Democratic Caucuses See Sanders Landslide in Washington

Democratic Caucuses See Sanders Landslide in Washington

thurston county  

Above: A long line of people wrapped around Madison Elementary School as they await the doors to open at their neighborhood caucus Saturday morning. Caucus goers indicate a preference for a presidential candidate, who in turn allocate delegates, who ultimately elect the presidential candidate. After giving a brief speech, Clancy Mullins, in green jacket, was elected at the caucus as a delegate to the county convention. 

By Janine Gates

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

If you saw more people than usual walking on sidewalks early Saturday morning, it could have been that they were going to their Democratic caucuses in support of either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.

Caucuses were held throughout Thurston County in over three dozen locations.

Besides casting ballots for presidential candidates, voters also elected delegates who will represent them at legislative district caucuses and the Thurston County Democrats’ convention on May 1. 

Late Saturday, Thurston County chairperson Katie Nelson said that an estimated 12,000 people participated in the process.

“We are sure that blows any records!” she laughed, in a telephone interview with Little Hollywood.

The unofficial count shows Senator Sanders winning 868 Thurston County delegates and former Secretary of State Clinton with 246 delegates. Three of the delegates elected are uncommitted.

“I’m ecstatic about the turn out, especially by the young people who everyone claims are apathetic. The future of the Democratic Party is looking really good. This is what happens if you throw a party and everyone shows up!” she said.

Nelson disagreed with detractors who think the caucus system is archaic.

“They might say it’s archaic but people are coming together in person and making decisions. That predates the voting system, and with our surrogate affidavit form, we’re still inclusive. This is a very religious week, and it’s important we not block people out who can’t attend, unlike the Republicans,” she said.

Above: Thurston County Democratic Party vice-chairperson Susan Herring, standing on a chair in purple shirt, addresses about 600 participants from six precincts at a caucus held at Madison Elementary School in Olympia’s eastside neighborhood.  

Thurston County Democratic Party vice-chairperson Susan Herring coordinated the activities and protocol for Precincts 215, 230, 247, 248, 250, and 258 at Madison Elementary School. 

Her favorite quote, “Politics is only as good as the people who participate,” was reflected in smiles and neighborly, good spirits as an estimated 600 people crowded into the school gymnasium to participate in the democratic process.

It was often hard to hear in the initially bewildering, noisy environment as each precinct did their business in different corners of the gym. Sporadic applause rewarded first time caucus go-ers, first-time voters, and particularly eloquent speeches that didn’t duplicate well-worn rhetoric.

After submitting a piece of paper indicating one's preferred presidential candidate, there was an opportunity to be swayed by brief, impassioned speeches by supporters of either candidate. Some were undecided. Ballots for each candidate were counted in front of everyone and cross checked by those aligned with the opposing candidate. 

For Precinct 215, the initial raw votes came in with 142 for Sanders, 23 for Clinton, two undecideds, and one for President Obama. 

A woman who was initially undecided was concerned about Sanders’ ultimate electability, and wanted to make a statement, as a woman, to help a woman get elected to the position of President of the United States. 

Wendy Wachsmuth, who volunteered to help count the ballots, spoke about why she is a Clinton supporter.

Darleen Muhly, who works for the state, explained to her neighbors that she is a ‘devout feminist and union member’ and why she is supporting Sanders. Muhly said it was her son, Adrien Simkins, 19, who first told her about Sanders. 

After some conversation, the two undecided voters went with Sanders. The one who voted for President Obama went with Clinton.

Above: Under many watchful eyes, ballots for each candidate are counted. Wendy Wachsmuth, a Clinton supporter, (back to the camera), counts Sanders ballots, while Adrien Simkins, 19, right, a Sanders supporter, counts Clinton ballots. Simkins was later elected as a delegate from his precinct to the county convention.

Next Step: County Convention

Those who wanted to participate in the democratic process further gave brief speeches nominating themselves to be a delegate from their precinct and their legislative district to the county convention. 

Clancy Mullins, a Sanders supporter, was elected to be a delegate. He, his girlfriend Evelyn Blevins, and two daughters went to Seattle to see Sanders at Safeco Field on Friday night.

An enrolled Chinook Tribal member and a state worker for 16 years, Mullins said he grew up in a poor family, financed his own education, and still has college debt. 

This was his first caucus.

“I have worked in prisons as a correctional officer and as a classroom facilitator and have seen first-hand how families lives are changed by warehousing people for drug offenses that should be considered a medical addiction issue and not a crime where your freedom is taken away. This Bernie agrees with!

“I also support a healthcare system where anyone can see a doctor and not need to worry about how they will pay for it and if they get sick worry about financial ruin. I also love that Bernie is the only candidate I have heard talk about the Native Americans, the first people to this land and the injustices that occurred to these people. Bernie wants to work and partner with tribal nations,” said Mullins.

The Thurston County Democratic Convention will be held May 1 at Black Hills High School in Tumwater.

Thurston County has four legislative districts – Districts 2, 20, 22 and 35. All but District 2 will caucus at the county convention. Legislative District 2 delegates will caucus on April 17 at Ridgeline Middle School in Yelm.

By late Saturday evening, Sanders won Washington State with 101 delegates, and Alaska with 16 delegates. At this writing, Hawaii is still caucusing.

“When we started this campaign no one thought we would win a single state, let alone 13 out of the first 31. No one thought we could compete financially with the most prolific fundraiser in Democratic Party history, especially by relying on small-dollar contributions from working Americans. We keep proving the political establishment and corporate media wrong. And if we continue to stand together, we are going to win,” said Sanders in a press release.

Above: Presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders in Seattle on Friday evening at Safeco Field.

For more information about the Thurston County Democrats and the caucus system, go to www.thurstondemocrats.org or call (360) 956-0235.

For a previous article published March 16, 2016 about the Thurston County Democratic Party caucuses, go to Little Hollywood, www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and type key words into the search button.

City May Purchase Blighted Griswold Building

City May Purchase Blighted Griswold Building

renewal  

Above: The City of Olympia has entered into an agreement to possibly purchase the former Griswold’s office supply store at 308 and 310 East Fourth Avenue in downtown Olympia for $300,000. Built in 1928, it also served, in its heyday, as the Avalon Theater.

By Janine Gates

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Yep, it's a fixer-upper, but if it checks out, it's all ours.

The City of Olympia has entered into an agreement to possibly purchase the former Griswold’s office supply building at 308 and 310 East Fourth Avenue for $300,000. 

The agreement was on the city council consent calendar and was passed, without comment, along with other agenda items Tuesday night. 

The purchase is contingent on a structural evaluation, title report, an environmental review, and more. Based on those reports, the city has until May 25 to decide whether or not to go ahead with the purchase.

The building is located between Dumpster Values and an alley, and across the street from Jake’s on 4th. 

Built in 1928, it is noted in the city's historic inventory, but is not on any historic register. In its heyday, it was the site of the former Avalon Theater.

The current owners, Clifford and Sean Lee, bought the property in 2007. It was gutted in a fire in 2004 and lost its roof over the main section that backs to Dumpster Values and Old School Pizzeria on Franklin Street. The eastern portion still has a roof, however, it is deteriorated and not usable. 

The Lee's were unable to transform the 7,200 square foot space into something - anything - thus creating a section of blight on a main street of downtown Olympia.

A façade featuring a rainbow mural reading, “Respect and Love Olympia,” currently fronts the space, and makes the street a bit brighter.

City manager Steve Hall said the papers were signed with Cliff Lee on Wednesday.

“If it all checks out, we hope to close by the end of June,” said Hall.

Financing for the possible purchase is from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money and General Fund year end savings, roughly $150,000 from each source.

“There are a number of different activities that are eligible for use of the federal governments CDBG funds including economic development, affordable housing and clearance of slum and blight. We are characterizing this project, at least at this time as removal of slum and blight. In the end it may end up being affordable housing or economic development depending on the nature of how the property is ultimately redeveloped,” said City of Olympia community planning and development director Keith Stahley.

According to county assessor information, the Lee’s bought the property from Billy Griswold in January of 2007 for $257,500. The 2016 assessed land value for the property is $344,950, plus $3,600 structure value, for a total assessed valuation of $348,550.

Under the purchase agreement, the city will pay the seller’s real property excise taxes on the property. Taxes for 2015 are delinquent. With interest and penalties, $5,025.20 is owed. The first half of the 2016 tax principal amount is $2,113.43. 

As to what happens if the city purchases the property, and then can't unload it in a timely manner to a private developer, is undetermined, Stahley said. 

Asked about the role the new Community Renewal Area (CRA), a planning tool used to eliminate blight and encourage economic development, played in potentially making this purchase, Stahley said the CRA may be valuable going forward when the city is ready to sell the property. 

While the city has established the downtown boundary for the CRA, it still needs to put in place a community renewal plan to put the powers of the CRA into effect. The city anticipates doing that between now and the end of the year. 

The plan focuses on specific parcels and projects, like the Water Street Redevelopment Area. An agreement for urban design and planning services for that area was also passed by council at Tuesday night's meeting.

Asked why the city opted to buy it instead of taking the property via eminent domain, Stahley agreed that eminent domain would have been another way of acquiring the property. 

“.…The city would have still paid fair market value. After several rounds of discussion and negotiations we were able to arrive at a mutually agreeable price between the assessed and appraised value,” said Stahley. 

The negotiations took several months.

For more information about the Community Renewal Area, the Downtown Strategy planning efforts, blight, and other issues about downtown Olympia, go to Little Hollywood, www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com, and type key words into the search button.

Above: A close up of the former Griswold's office supply store on Fourth Avenue in downtown Olympia.

Design Review for Second Hotel on Henderson

Design Review for Second Hotel on Henderson

wildwood  

Above: A Hilton Garden Inn on Henderson Boulevard near I-5 and Watershed Park is currently under construction. A new Marriott owned hotel is proposed to be built on two lots adjacent to the Hilton. Both hotels would share a main access road, seen here, stemming from the roundabout on Henderson.

By Janine Gates

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

The city’s Design Review Board will hold a special meeting on November 12, at 6:30 p.m., Room 207, at Olympia City Hall, 601 4th Avenue. This meeting will offer the opportunity for the public to comment on the designof a second new hotel off Henderson Boulevard.

The hotel applicant, SPS Lands, LLC of Lakewood, is Han Kim of Hotel Concepts, and is represented by architect Glenn Wells of Olympia. 

The four story, 113 unit hotel called Olympia Courtyard Hotel would be owned by Marriott and could accommodate 250 persons on a nightly basis. It will have a restaurant, but no swimming pool.

The 2.82 acre property is situated on lots 1 and 2 of a commercially zoned area near I-5 near Watershed Park and the future Olympia Woodland Trail. A Hilton Garden Inn is currently under construction nearby on what is called Lot 3 of the Henderson Commercial Park.

According to the project’s State Environmental Policy Act report, 73.8 percent of the property will be covered by impervious surface, including room for 118 parking stalls.

Moss Lake is on the site, as well as standing water. The lake was filled in due to the construction of I-5, but is still noted on maps. All trees and vegetation would be removed from the site and upland neighborhood views of I-5 and the sky could be obstructed by the hotel. 

Members of the Wildwood Neighborhood Association worked with the city and the applicant of the Hilton Garden Inn to improve its design, and will be communicating their concerns regarding the new hotel, such as visual and light pollution, traffic, and other environmental issues, as well as cumulative impacts to the area. 

The hotels will be a stark visual contrast to the tranquility of nearby Watershed Park, a protected 153 acre area which contains trails, wetlands, and the Moxlie Creek Spring Basin that served as Olympia's first water source.

In a February letter to the city, the Wildwood Neighborhood Association board says that freeway noise has increased substantially since the clearing of the property.

The project is projected to generate 980 trips per day with 64 trips anticipated for the morning peak hour and 72 trips during the evening peak hour. The neighborhood is concerned about the increase in traffic along Henderson Boulevard, which will make the intersection at Henderson and Eskridge even more difficult to navigate.

Developers hope to break ground in spring of 2016.

Comments about this project may be submitted to Cari Hornbein, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development Department, City of Olympia, 601 4^th Avenue East, Olympia, Washington 98501 or chornbei@ci.olympia.wa.usor (360) 753-8048.

For past articles about the land use history of the Henderson Business Park area, the hotels on Henderson Boulevard and the Wildwood Neighborhood, go to Little Hollywood, www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and type key words into the search engine.

PSE Investigates Electrical Load of Olympia Marijuana Operation

PSE Investigates Electrical Load of Olympia Marijuana Operation

zoning  

By Janine Unsoeld

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Puget Sound Energy has completed its investigation into electrical loading issues at a home in a northeast neighborhood in Olympia. The home is alleged by a neighbor to be used for a commercial marijuana grow operation, and not a collective garden as the resident says. 

The Thurston County Narcotics Task Force made an unannounced visit to the home on July 7 and found the marijuana operation in compliance with that of a state licensed collective garden.

The neighbor, Melinda Spencer, believes that recent utility line fires were caused by the operation next door to her home. Through telephone calls and emails since June, she requested information and assistance from city code enforcement, law enforcement, and Puget Sound Energy. Finally, she addressed the Olympia city council on August 18.

Amy Tousley, Puget Sound Energy's (PSE) municipal liaison manager and Bryan McConaughy, PSE senior local government representative, wrote a letter today to Olympia city manager Steve Hall and council members explaining their investigation and recommendations. The letter does not delve into the possible reason for the electrical loading issues.

In late August, PSE installed a volt recorder meter to conduct readings at Spencer’s home and that of her neighbor’s. 

 

The letter states that Spencer’s home readings were determined to be well within normal swing limits for electrical usage. 

The readings at the neighbor’s house,  “…indicated a steady state of electrical load with high fluctuations well above electrical tolerances. This type of usage demand does not allow the equipment to cool. Our investigation also determined that the existing 100 amp circuit panel for (the address) is not sufficient to...meet the load being placed upon the equipment. To meet the existing load, PSE recommends that the circuit panel be increased to a 300 amp meter base. It is PSE’s assessment that without improvements to the service line and circuit panel, existing and additional increases in electrical load will continue to affect the service….”

To address the load, PSE recommends the installation of a larger wire for the service, replacement of the mast-head and anchoring for the new service wire, and an upgrade of the circuit panel.

The customer is required to contact PSE Customer Construction Services to submit an application for a service upgrade. 

“If PSE were to make improvements to the service line without the masthead and circuit panel being upgraded, there will more than likely be continued service issues at this location including the potential for a structural fire.”

PSE has contacted the property owner to explain the issues associated with the service to the property, and has sent the customer living at the rental home a letter informing him of his options.  Those options are to obtain the services of an electrician and submit an application to PSE for improvements, curtail the additional load being placed onto the system, or disconnect the electrical service due to ongoing safety concerns.

The letter places the burden on the city to address the underlying issue or what may or may not be going on at the property in question, and suggests that the city request access to the home in order to ensure that any alterations to the existing circuit panel are compliant with code.

“We are also concerned about rumors of an expansion of the ancillary use to the detached structure on the parcel….We greatly appreciate our partnership with the City to ensure proper permits are obtained prior to any expansion occurring.” 

After city manager Steve Hall briefly reviewed the PSE letter with councilmembers, Councilmember Julie Hankins asked a couple of follow up questions about grow operations in a residential area, which prompted a longer conversation about referring the issue to the city's Land Use committee and the city’s Planning Commission for further review.

For more information about this case, go to Little Hollywood at www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com, and use the search engine to type in key words. Three previous articles are dated August 18 and August 23, 2015.

Editor’s Note: Although Puget Sound Energy’s letter to the city manager and councilmembers mentions the address of the home in question, Little Hollywood is choosing not to print it. Little Hollywood initially printed it the evening of August 18, but chose to retract the address the next day. Little Hollywood does not believe the address is relevant, as the issue is one that is widespread throughout the city, and one that will need to be addressed.

Electrical Needs For a Marijuana Grow Operation

Electrical Needs For a Marijuana Grow Operation

wire  

Above: Electrical lines at sunset in a northeast Olympia neighborhood off of Puget Street. 

By Janine Unsoeld

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

On Friday, August 21, Little Hollywood sat down with representatives of Puget Sound Energy to discuss the Olympia case involving a marijuana grow operation in an Olympia northeast neighborhood. PSE has been in contact with both customers involved in the dispute.

Puget Sound Energy is responsible for the utility connections to homes and businesses.

 

Amy Tousley, municipal liaison manager for Thurston County, and Bryan McConaughy, senior local government affairs representative, discussed what they knew about the case, answered questions, and explained their next steps.

Puget Sound Energy has told the City of Olympia that the repair work done on a line after three utility line fires was safe, and that PSE was continuing to monitor the condition of the line. PSE concluded that the line fire cause was due to the age of, or damage to, the line.

Tousley said she will give the Olympia city council an update on the situation at their September 1 meeting.

“Our business is having a safe system…and to work closely with cities and counties to see what we can do to help them,” said Tousley. 

Above: The transformer in question in a northeast Olympia neighborhood.

According to PSE, a PSE employee made a service call to Melinda Spencer’s house and her neighbor’s several months ago because Spencer’s neighbor asked if he could pay PSE to upgrade the transformer. The tenant indicated that he didn’t think the service line or transformer serving the home could support the equipment used in his marijuana grow operation.

That PSE employee reported seeing a large number of marijuana plants, much more than what would be considered as a collective grow. The tenant also said to the employee that he intended to expand his operation to a detached garage.

The tenant never followed through with paying to have a larger transformer installed, so the original transformer, which serves six homes on the street, is still in place. In addition, the service line, which is sized for residential electrical loads, continues to serve that property.

On August 15, a volt recording meter was installed on the Spencer’s house. It measures voltage and amperage. The levels were normal at the Spencer’s house, and well within what is called a “voltage swing,” determined to be 114 - 126 volts.

On Thursday, August 20, a volt meter was installed on the neighbor’s house in question. The results will be available next Wednesday, August 26. The volt meter is put on the transformer right on the live line to get the best data available to see if that transformer is overheating. The volt meter data will measure whether or not too much load is being pulled through the wire, and whether or not the wire is too small.

“The transformer is large enough but the wire may not be because of what may be pulled through,” said Tousley.

If an upgrade is needed and if the wire needs to be changed out, then it is the customer’s responsibility. If the customer is a renter and the renter leaves, the property owner would bear that cost.

“Our lineman was taken to a detached garage and was told there might be an expansion into that structure. Whether or not that has already occurred, they have already disclosed their intention, and that would very much require more electricity,” said Tousley. 

“PSE is taking action on this. We are doing the monitoring and testing to make sure we provide ourselves the best information so we can find out what the next step is, otherwise, we’re just going to be making a lot of speculation based on what we think might be occurring….This is an issue we’ll be seeing more of throughout our region. It’s probably something we need to put together a team and say, ok, this is going to be happening…how are we going to address this? Do we encourage cities to add some code component, or request that they do, or defer to the cities and say it’s the cities’ responsibility? We need to figure that out….” said McConaughy.

Tousley said that the repair work that was done after the line fires may look a little like undone shoestrings, but its appearance is a standard method of splicing and repairing of the line.

Marijuana operations aren’t the only type of business that may draw more electricity. Beauty shops, automotive shops, small internet service providers, and radio stations are other examples commonly seen within a residential area. PSE has different customer classifications based on usage, but it is up the city to determine if a business is taking place within a home.

Asked how often PSE is responding to cases similar to this one, Tousley said it is happening more and more because they are wondering more often why their equipment is giving way.

“We’re becoming very familiar with this on the industrial side of the pot growing operations. Because they have to go through proper permitting to become an actual facility, we are usually brought into the loop earlier because some of these larger operations are 200,000 square feet, like the one in Lacey. There’s going to be a need for a couple megawatts of power. We actually have a special person inside PSE that works with these official businesses to help them through the process and make sure the load in our system is prepared to handle that...,said McConaughy.

As for the non-industrial side of the operation, McConaughy said, “We’re having to address a whole new scenario…(it’s) new case law, a brand new legal arena.” 

Above: Of course, fire was the first source of light, as the Olympic Mountain Family Fire Dancers demonstrated Sunday night at the Love our Local Fest event in Olympia's northeast neighborhood.

For more information about this case, go to Little Hollywood, www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and type key words into the search engine.

Olympia Dispute over Marijuana Operation Raises Questions

Olympia Dispute over Marijuana Operation Raises Questions

utility  

Above: Medical Marijuana

By Janine Unsoeld

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Questions are being raised in a community issue involving medical marijuana, code and law enforcement, he-said-she-said neighbor disputes, and three utility line fires that involve Puget Sound Energy. Throw in a breakdown in communication and you have a messy situation.

Little Hollywood has learned that the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force did what is called a “knock and talk” at a marijuana operation in an Olympia northeast neighborhood on July 7. 

The unannounced visit to the home was in response to a neighbor complaint by Melinda Spencer, who alleges that her neighbor is operating a commercial marijuana grow operation.

In a telephone interview on Wednesday with narcotics task force captain Dave Johnson and the detective who actually visited the home, both said that the tenants were cooperative and invited law enforcement inside. The tenants showed the proper paperwork for a collective grow. Captain Johnson said that the residents gave the detectives a tour of the entire property and it was found to be in compliance with current medical marijuana law.

Captain Johnson said that in the last three years since the passage of state legislation, they have dealt with a lot of complaints about grow operations.

“The law is going to change next July, and it’s going to get cleaned up a little bit, but until then, it’s a Catch-22 law, and not easy to deal with,” said Johnson.

Collective grows are not required to register with the state or local authorities, so police have no idea how many are in operation, and neighbors and concerned neighbors wonder where to turn to for information and assistance.

Utility Line Fires and Communication Timeline

The information about the narcotic task force’s “knock and talk” was never provided to Melinda Spencer, who complained about her neighbor’s operation at Tuesday night’s Olympia city council meeting in public testimony.

City manager Steve Hall mentioned it during council comments and regretted the lack of communication with Spencer.

Spencer said that she believes that three recent utility line fires, one occurring as recently as July 30 near her home, were caused by the grow operation in her northeast neighborhood. She says that her neighbor in question has repeatedly and openly referred to his operation as a wholesale grow for sale to medical dispensaries.

Spencer began communicating her concerns with the city and other authorities in the third week of June, before the fires.

In a June 29 email, the date of the first utility line fire, Chris Grabowski, lead city code enforcement officer, told Spencer and her husband that their concern had been forwarded to the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, saying this was not a city zoning or code enforcement issue, but a law enforcement issue.

That same day, a sergeant at the Olympia Police Department said that the task force will make contact with the residents when time permits and determine if there are any law violations. Spencer responded to Grabowski, and thanked him for getting her concern pointed in the right direction. 

Another utility line fire occurred in early July.

Spencer continued to do research and contacted Puget Sound Energy. She also wrote the city attorney on July 8, specifically detailing her concerns and to ask if the operation has the proper permits. Spencer says she never got a response from the city attorney.

A third utility line fire occurred July 30.

Spencer and several other neighbors co-wrote a letter on August 1 to the property owner informing him that they have authorized their insurance agents to pursue damages against him if any activities occurring at his property harm persons or property in the vicinity. She sent copies to several city officials, including the fire chief, the police chief, and city attorney.

Spencer wrote an email to Olympia city council on August 13. She says she did not receive a response from any councilmembers. That same day, she contacted Puget Sound Energy to provide details about the grow operation so it could better evaluate if those activities contributed to the service line fires.

On Tuesday, August 18, Spencer felt compelled to speak publicly about the situation.

Communication from Code Enforcement

On Wednesday, the day after she spoke at city council, Chris Grabowski, the city’s lead code enforcement officer, sent Spencer an email providing details about the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force visit, but did not provide her the date. That information was provided to her by Little Hollywood.

Grabowski said in the email that detectives counted 50 plants on site.

 

“At the time of the inspection, that was slightly above the maximum 45 allowed, but under the new laws now in effect, the amount has gone up to 60 plants.  (The detective) told me that the grow was a legal one, and that (the task force) had no plans to go back and re-inspect as there was no indication of any illegal activity,” wrote Grabowski.

In an interview, Spencer says she appreciated the email, but it came a little too late.

“No one ever closed the loop with us,” Spencer said.

“This really is such a gray area and I feel pretty whipped and overexposed by this whole situation. I did get some staff to focus on this issue and follow up with me -- with prodding. I asked a lot of questions that were never definitively answered…but what makes me bitter is the big lapse by whoever should have let us know that the task force had done its job and made its conclusions. My emails after the inspection on July 7 should have reminded someone at city hall that crucial information had never been sent to me....” said Spencer to Little Hollywoodlate this week.

Spencer says she would have preferred to not have spoken publicly, nor ask for media attention, but felt she had no choice. Spencer still has concerns regarding the electrical safety of her home, and other homes on her street.

The Other Side of the Story

Little Hollywood has spoken several times with the resident at the address in question to get his side of this story.

The resident, who does not want to be named, says he is a medical marijuana user. He says he is a retired engineer on Social Security and disability. He says he has had brain surgery and uses the medicine to prevent seizures. He says he has been very up front with his neighbors about his collective garden, and gets along well with many of them. He is upset with his neighbor, Melinda Spencer, who he feels has been harassing him. He says the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force has come to his home twice and he has showed them the proper paperwork.  He admits he put about 50 plants outside during a recent heatwave. The air conditioning runs fulltime because he says marijuana is a fickle plant and needs to stay at a cool temperature. He says his crop is grown organically and he does not use chemicals. He did some work on the home for the owners late last year and says they are aware of his collective garden. He says the house used to be the worst looking one on the block.

“.…I’ve only been doing this since November. This is an expensive thing to do if you’re going to do it right. I’ve got nothing to hide. There’s no 100 plants. This hurts…it’s life changing stuff….” he said.

He currently has an option to buy the home, but now feels like he needs to break his contract and leave the neighborhood. He says he has retained an attorney.

The tenant says he knows of at least seven grow operations within four blocks of his house.

Collective and Cooperative Marijuana Garden Law

A collective grow is not a business, since the intent of the marijuana grow, under current Washington State law, is for the members of the collective to pool their resources to grow medicinal plants for their own consumption. 

According to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB), a “collective garden” means qualifying patients share the responsibility for acquiring and supplying the resources required to produce and process cannabis for medical use such as, for example, a location for a collective garden; equipment, supplies, and labor necessary to plant, grow, and harvest cannabis; cannabis plants, seeds, and cuttings; and equipment, supplies, and labor necessary for proper construction, plumbing, wiring, and ventilation of a garden of cannabis plants.

Starting on July 1, 2016, collective gardens will be eliminated, but will allow for the creation of medical marijuana “cooperatives” that may be formed by up to four qualifying patients or designated providers.

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed new legislation in July that will make marijuana laws more restrictive. The new law repeals RCW 69.51A.140, which granted cities and counties the authority to adopt and enforce requirements related to medical marijuana, including zoning.

Rules regarding marijuana cooperatives state that they cannot be located within one mile of marijuana retailers; the location must be registered with the WSLCB; they must be located in a domicile of one of the participants; are limited to one cooperative per tax parcel; and may grow up to the total number of plants authorized for each patient, a maximum of 60 plants. Qualifying patients or designated providers may only participate in one cooperative, and are subject to inspection by the WSLCB and law enforcement. The WSLCB may adopt rules relating to security and traceability requirements for cooperatives.

Above: The northeast Olympia neighborhood rocked tonight at the Love our Local Fest on Bethel and San Francisco Avenue. DBST played funkadelic rock.

For more information about this case, go to Little Hollywood, www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and type key words into the search engine.