Reply #4: Read all about VICTORY!!!

[eridani]

FINAL VICTORY! Together, We Saved Maury Island
Analysis on final week and why your actions mattered.
2008-2010 Mobilization in Photos and Video (reverse chronological order--Backbone Campaign website)
A Case Study: Why Local Organizing and Direct Action is Essential for Building a Movement Through Local Victories by Bill Moyer
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FINAL VICTORY!!!
Maury Island will have a PARK NOT A MINE.

Nice work everyone! Recent lobbying efforts may have been the straw that broke this camel's back. So, I'd like to start with the end and delve into what just happened using a measure of research and a large pinch of informed speculation.

On Wednesday, November 10, 2010 a press conference was called to announce that CalPortland aka GlacierNW and King County (via Cascade Land Conservancy) signed a purchase agreement for 250 acres of land bordering the only state designated Aquatic Reserve in Central Puget Sound. This appears to be the end of a 13 year fight to protect an important part of shoreline where salmon, orca whales and many species feed and/or spawn. Transnational gravel conglomerate Taiheiyo Cement's subsidiary CalPortland's subsidiary Glacier NW planned to build an an industrial gravel mine and barge loading facility. They had planned to remove 3-7 million tons a year for 25 years also endangering a sole-source aquifer, not to mention the credibility of the entire environmental regulatory system.

Though battles have been fought for years - with a string of victories in the past two - this marks an actual final victory and an end to the conflict. Approximately ten years ago, when approached with an offer to purchase the land, the company (then called Lone Star) said not to bother unless offering $65 million. With land prices nearly doubling in that time, the $36 million dollars - less than the very recent appraisal of $39.5 million marks a significant public victory - and a growing awareness by the seller that their prospects were on a downward trend.

I'd like to speculate about timing and the significance of very recent actions. The purchase agreement between Cascade Land Conservancy and CalPortland was signed on Tuesday 10/10, after a final skirmish in the County Council on Monday 10/09. In that skirmish, a cadre of industry-friendly council members attempted to push through a "mineral resource" exception to a "Natural" (aka protected) designation in Shoreline Management Plan that hadn't been updated in 30 years. Intense grassroots lobbying was led by State Senator elect Sharon Nelson, Preserve Our Islands, the Washington League of Conservation Voters, People for Puget Sound and the Backbone Campaign - see "Take Action Puget Sound - You Are About to Be Screwed!" Together, we defeated the mining company's last best chance.

Interesting Background on Jan Drago Appointment

Jan Drago, a corporate-friendly Democratic refugee of Seattle City Council politics, after a failed bid for Mayor of Seattle was maneuvered into an appointment to temporarily fill the very seat representing the district that includes Vashon and Maury Island. The position had been held by Dow Constantine (D) a strong progressive advocate for our community who resigned after winning his bid for County Executive.

Drago was one of four candidates recommended by an ad hoc committee. The appointment process was deadlocked along party lines (despite the council being officially "non-partisan") with Republicans supporting Drago (corporate friendly D), and Democrats backing then State Senator Joe McDermott (now our Councilmember elect). Councilmember Larry Phillips (D) sided with Republican members to break the impasse to get the 8th District "represented." But Drago, who lives in Pioneer Square in Seattle had almost zero connection to her new constituents and lived on the very fringe of the district she was to represent.

Here's the most interesting part: Jan Drago's former mayoral campaign consultant was lobbyist, fundraiser Joe Quintana. Mr. Quintana has been a lobbyist for Seattle Business League, co-founded the PAC Forward Seattle (to which Glacier NW contributed) and seems a bit of a political opportunist having given to Bush (II), Doc Hastings (R), as well as DLC Democrats Adam Smith, Norm Dicks, and Patty Murray. Quintana was hired by CalPortland to lobby the King County Council to pass the "mineral resource" exception in the SMP.

This is the only explanation that makes sense out of Drago's otherwise unfathomable reply to my inquiries in which she described the issue of the shoreline designation as "Complex." Not at all complex if you are part of the vast majority of the community she represents, but understandably "complex" for her due to political allegiances unrelated to Puget Sound's health or her obligation to represent her constituents. (Glacier has consistently been brilliant at making things "complex" for elected officials. It was their $50k to the re-election campaign of defeated Lands Commissioner in 2008 that got them their 11th our lease of State aquatic land in the Reserve. Of course, it was that quid pro quo offense that mobilized the direct action campaign.)

Thanks to YOU - the Council received countless call and emails over the last month, as well as a final barrage in the last week. The "heat" that many of you applied - insisting that the Council either approve the "Natural" designation without a "mineral resources" exception - OR - postpone the vote until our actually elected representative takes his seat at the end o this month did the trick.

IT WORKED! GlacierNW's influence on Drago via Joe Quintana was not enough. She wisely joined four others, 3 Democratic allies of our community, i.e. Julia Paterson, Larry Gossett, Larry Phillips (hopefully eager to avert a disaster resulting from his compromise on the Drago appointment), and one Republican representing a district across the water that would certainly benefit from a park rather than a mine voted to postpone by sending the SMP back to the Transportation and Environment committee. The Democratic chair of the Council, Bob Ferguson who seems to have been conflicted in his attempt to both protect the Council from a Glacier lawsuit by meeting a deadline on the SMP and his commitment to the "natural" designation of the Maury shoreline. Regardless, the 5 to 4 result guaranteed that it would not be voted on until our new Councilmember elect and long time ally Joe McDermott took his seat!

The Straw that Broke the Mining Company's Will

This seems to have signaled to CalPortland that in this political micro-climate, the value of their Maury Island land had nowhere to go but down, and thus makes perfect sense that on Tuesday afternoon, October 9th they finally agreed to sell. Jan Drago averted a disaster for Puget Sound and for her legacy. The Council averted lawsuits and violating the public trust. Dow, Sharon and all their allies delivered an historic victory for Puget Sound. AND YOUR actions made all the difference.

On a beautiful Wednesday, Nov. 10th Dow Constantine hosted a 1pm press conference on the shore of West Seattle with the waves clapping against the bulkhead. Amongst tears and hollers of joy, historic words were spoken. Constantine, Nelson, Goldmark and many others stepped up to the podium. Even Drago had some quaint though somewhat vague remarks that sounded more like a farewell address. CalPortland's Ron Summers, who less than two years ago claimed that nothing would keep the mine from expanding struck a sportsmanlike tone. Of course - $36 million is not $65 million, but it's not chump change.

It was fascinating to see everyone come together. It was also typical that the only folks not actually invited were the rabble (us). Luckily, I found out about it by chance, fetched the puppet and headed in. I have discussed and speculated about only a tiny part of a thirteen year struggle. This fight had so many chapters, fronts, and flanks. Though the various flanks did not always work in perfect harmony, they did in my opinion (and some more politically minded would disagree) never work at cross purposes. It is already an amazing case study of the inter-relationship between legislative, litigation, acquisition, and direct action flanks; and how each has a vital role in delivering victory.

Now the fight is all but over. $2 million in private funds must be raised, but I am certain it will be found by the December 31 deadline.

I would like to close with an invitation to celebrate how PEOPLE POWER via creative direct action made all the difference. You won't hear it from many other sources. The speeches and most of the press will mostly gloss over it. But if you live here - you know in your heart that everything changed when when the grassroots campaign kicked into gear.

In the right hand column I have included in reverse chonological order, a sampling of the earned media received since the Sutherland quid pro quo lease was granted. I believe it is an inspiring and instructive outline of how the direct action campaign turned the tide for this struggle. As a reporter confidentially said to me two days before the Martinez decision against Glacier in August of 2009 - "this issue will be won in the court of public opinion. And we both know where that is going." I wasn't so sure. But in hindsight - I can see that he was right. Congratulations all!


Follow-up Actions for King County Council and others:

I highly recommend "Thank you!" calls and emails to King County Council.

Long time and consistent allies on the council Larry Gossett <[phone] larry.gossett {at} kingcounty.gov>

and Julia Patterson <[phone] julia.patterson {at} kingcounty.gov> voted for sending the SMP back to committee until we could be represented.

So did Larry Phillips <[phone] arry.phillips {at} kingcounty.gov >, averting disaster from his capitulation on Drago appointment.

Jan Drago <[phone] Jan.Drago {at} kingcounty.gov> did the right thing despite her relationship to GlacierNW lobbyist. Wishing her well and is just the decent thing to do.

Bob Ferguson <[phone] bob.ferguson {at} kingcounty.gov> seems to have been confused on Monday, i.e. for some reason he couldn't see that he could still meet the Dec. 1 deadline for a vote AND have our community actually represented. BUT, his support for the land purchase and his opposition to Glacier's evil plans are evident and essential. He needs to be thanked and encouraged.

Pete von Reichbauer <[phone] pete.vonreichbauer {at} kingcounty.gov> - also surprisingly voted in our interest. I'm not sure why due to his history of support for Glacier. Possibly it's because he can see that a park across the water from his district is better than a mine across the water. Let's get him excited about that.

Gratitude and congratulatory calls and emails are also due to:
Senator-elect Sharon Nelson
King County Executive Dow Constantine
State Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark
Councilmember-elect Joe McDermott
Preserve Our Islands - Amy Carey and the POI Boards and Volunteers (past and present
Vashon Land Trust
Cascade Land Conservancy
People for Puget Sound
Washington League of Conservation Voters
I'm sure there are others.

Join me in making a contribution to the land purchase here. (The link is unfortunately temporarily not working.)

The Backbone Campaign needs your support as well. Please consider making a one time end-of-year contribution and/or becoming a member of the Lumbar Club by committing to a small monthly or quarterly contribution. Backbone staff are having to not cash paychecks right now, so your support is rather urgent. Hopefully, it is clear that we are an excellent investment.