Reader Objects to Book Review and Author Replies

Reader Objects to Whatcom Watch Review of “Blinds Spots”

To the Editor:

Friends recently alerted me to the fact that I had been skewered in a book review done by Tom Pratum in the July edition of the Whatcom Watch. I am not a regular reader of the Watch, but I did locate a copy and read Pratum’s ‘review.’

I don’t know Jay Taber, the author of “Blind Spots,” the book reviewed by Pratum, but friends do and describe him as an environmental activitist/extremist who left town some years ago when his welcome and his resources dried up.

I do know some of the people attacked both in Taber’s book and in Pratum’s review. The book’s/review’s characterizations of Jean Freestone, Bill Geyer and Bruce Ayers in particular are not only grossly unfair, but border on libelous. I hope their good names can be cleared with an apology. If not, other options may need to be explored.

Freestone, Geyer and Ayers were mentioned in Pratum’s review because they took positions opposite from Taber’s. Pratum took things a big step further with me. I wasn’t even mentioned in “Blind Spots,” but that didn’t stop Pratum from taking a shot at me, calling my statements before the City and County Councils on property rights and building industry interests ‘railings.’ I have never even raised my voice at a council meeting, let alone ‘railed.’ Presented strong arguments—yes. Railed? Oh, come on!

What I did do before both councils was to introduce to them issues they didn’t or wouldn’t understand, present facts and perspectives they didn’t want to hear, and demand a balance in council agendae that have become embarrassingly, dangerously and perhaps unlawfully biased. Railings? I think not. Sounds to me and my colleagues more like closed minds and very, very thin skins.

It takes courage to stand up to the unending barrage of nonsense like Taber’s and Pratum’s; courage that all too few in our community seem to have. Freestone, Geyer and Ayers have it. I like to think that I showed some too. The courage of expressing an opposing view is a constitutionally-guaranteed right, even in Bellingham, Washington. Those who offer them deserve better than the attacks of extremists like Jay Taber and Tom Pratum. They and the Whatcom Watch know it...or do they?

“Blind Spots” Book Review Author Clarifies Statements

In my review of “Blind Spots,” it unfortunately appears to some that I have linked Jean Freestone, Skip Richards, Bruce Ayers, Bob Weisen and Bill Geyer with racism. In Taber’s book, he asserts his belief that racism is involved in some property rights battles, but certainly this should not be construed as indicating that all property rights advocates are racists. I am sure that it is likely that none of them are. I apologize to the listed individuals for any misunderstanding my wording caused—they are all “property rights stalwarts” but are not racists.

Ms. Freestone has provided her own well-written review of the book in this issue. I hope everyone interested will read this review (page 4) to see the “other side” of the story.

Regarding my comments with respect to Mr. Emerson: perhaps I was a bit uncharitable in my characterization of Mr. Emerson, especially given the fact that he is a relative newcomer to the area and did not appear on the scene until well after the events described in “Blind Spots” unfolded.

True, Mr. Emerson doesn’t generally use abusive language in his public comments, and therefore this does not fit the dictionary definition of “railing.” I apologize for my unfortunate choice of words.

However, I think Mr. Emerson would have done well to let this one rest. After all, this isn’t the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County Newsletter, it is Whatcom Watch, a publication which Mr. Emerson described in a recent message to the City Council as being used for “….lining my birdcage….” If Mr. Emerson is looking for some very thin-skinned individuals he will likely have great success by looking in the mirror.

The positions I have observed Mr. Emerson present to the County Council during his brief tenure with the BIA are in diametric opposition to those espoused by a vast majority of Whatcom Watch readers, as well as those held by a majority of the citizens of the city of Bellingham. I consider it a great honor to be labeled an “extremist” by a man of Mr. Emerson’s ilk.