Photo courtesy of Dave Onkels

By Roger Almskaar, CAPR Whatcom Published in the Business Pulse, Fall 2013 issue:

Whatcom County’s Rural Lands; For Nature and People?

From "The American Thinker" October 24, 2013 Virginia Farmer Starts Property Rights Legal Revolution By Mark J. Fitzgibbons Long and growing is the list of property rights abuses by federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency. Even at the state level, wetlands and other laws are being used to invade and destroy private property rights. Last term, the United States Supreme Court in Koontz v. St. Johns River Water Management District brushed back the government on its bullying treatment of private property owners, but the case was remanded for further litigation. Private property owners can go bankrupt litigating to defend and protect their property rights, and government bureaucrats and lawyers rely on that as part of their strategy to push their extortive agendas. Property owners have skin in the game; government bureaucrats and lawyers do not.

The Latest Update on the Mills Case! Most of the contributions to CAPR are to the Legal fund. This tells us that most people think the way to protect our property is through legal battles. If you are among those who believe we need to fight the property rights battle through the court, then NOW is the time for CAPR to marshal resources and forge ahead! The Clean Water Act contains provisions for “citizen suits” that allow “citizen attorneys general” to sue violators in federal court. At the most basic level, these provisions provide compensation for citizens who bring litigation against the federal government to enforce the federal laws.

An Update on the Mills Case! Most of the contributions to CAPR are to the Legal fund.  This tells us that most people think the way to protect our property is through legal battles. If you are among those who believe we need to fight the property rights battle through the court, then now is the time to step up to the plate! For decades, the environmental movement has been funding their lobbying and land use control agenda through a method of suing the government.

On Sept. 11, the surrounding communities of Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Leavenworth and Wenatchee were basking in temperatures between 91 and 97 degrees with a forecast of more of the same. These communities, having witnessed the devastation of 97,000 acres going up in smoke last September have all been anxiously hoping to get through this September without a repeat of last years fires.  An all out burn ban had been in place, and private property owners were holding their collective breath until the rains of September could lessen the wildfire danger. A column of smoke rising from the hills under these weather conditions was the last thing anyone in these communities wanted to see.  The lack of concern over what the people of these communities might have thought when they saw that column of smoke rising shows a decided absence of any degree of common sense.

Ravalli County commissioners object to USFS water rights claim.

August 9, 2013 By Perry Backus

Is there a problem with the power wielded by government of any size?  The city code enforcement goes over the top with a swat raid on a small farm in order to force code compliance.  What if the law enforcement in this small town took the view that a swat raid was not a response that fit the crime?  Should the citizens of towns everywhere be pushing for law to limit the use of swat teams?  This would certainly need to be a libertarian based action, as you could see that not all people choose to live the same lifestyle, but the lifestyle should be tolerated if not harmful to others.  Who making law would like to have their property rights invaded in this way?

Mimi Steel of CAPR San Francisco Bay Area  explains the problems with Plan Bay Area in an article for Exurbia Chronicles:Thank you Mary Baker of  CAPR SanDiego/Orange! http://www.exurbiachronicles.com/?p=892 PLF files suit over Plan Bay Area: http://www.pacificlegal.org/sentry/PLF-sues-over-stack-and-pack-housing-mandate-for-Bay-Area?utm_source=Sentry+-+8-7-13++Plan+Bay+Area&utm_campaign=Sentry+-+8%2F7%2F13+Plan+Bay+Area&utm_medium=email Opinion in the National Review regarding PLF's Suit and the trouble we can all expect with Stack and Pack!

You may make your voice heard in this decision making campaign. Check this website to see details and scheduled meetings. http://mbssustainableroads.wordpress.com/public-meetings/schedule/ Find out what sustainable means in this case.