GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ON WSF: “The San Juans community has been tolerant to the ‘nth degree…”
| | |

GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ON WSF: “The San Juans community has been tolerant to the ‘nth degree…”

ByJeff Noedel

A CNL2 VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE Saturday, August 24, 2024by Jeff Noedel Governor Jay Inslee visited San Juan Island today, and he rekindled hope that the State may help with with some kind of solution – temporary or permanent – if and when we experience the kind of meltdown of Washington…

IMPASSE TO BE BROKEN: WSF Engineers’ union and State of Washington enter arbitration today
| |

IMPASSE TO BE BROKEN: WSF Engineers’ union and State of Washington enter arbitration today

ByJeff Noedel

Friday, August 23, 2024 Washington State Ferries’ engine room crew represented by their union, the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, and state negotiators in the Washington Office of Financial Management reached an impasse in bargaining over terms and conditions of their contract. They begin interest arbitration today, Friday, August 23. Arbitration is expected to be complete by next Friday,…

BREAKING: Governor rejects San Juan County funding proposal for expanded walk-on ferry services during WSF inter-island outages
| | | |

BREAKING: Governor rejects San Juan County funding proposal for expanded walk-on ferry services during WSF inter-island outages

ByJeff Noedel

ORIGINAL: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 @ 12:50 p.m. Asked and answered.And the answer is no. CNL2 has learned that a representative for Governor Jay Inslee have told leaders of San Juan County government that the State will not agree to the proposal made by the County for special supplemental passenger ferry and small barge services…

UPDATED: Many San Juan County residents thankful for smooth ferry service during County Fair week
|

UPDATED: Many San Juan County residents thankful for smooth ferry service during County Fair week

ByJeff Noedel

UPDATED: Tuesday, August 20, 2024by Jeff Noedel It was like a thing of the past: reliable service in the San Juans provided by Washington State Ferries from the day before the Fair (set-up day) through the day after the Fair, with accumulating lateness in some trips as Monday wore on. One candidate for San Juan…

WHEN THE ‘WHEELS CAME OFF’ THE FERRIES: 171 sailings canceled in 3-1/2 weeks in July
| |

WHEN THE ‘WHEELS CAME OFF’ THE FERRIES: 171 sailings canceled in 3-1/2 weeks in July

ByJeff Noedel

Wednesday, August 14, 2024by Jeff Noedel A two-page fact sheet prepared by San Juan County government for, among other constituents, the Governor of the the State of Washington, was released to the public yesterday. It can be seen here. It’s an important and sobering read. The County Council instructed County employees to gather facts (quantitative…

Ferry Data from County Staff and Local Partners Shapes Council Request for ‘Executive Relief’ from WA State
|

Ferry Data from County Staff and Local Partners Shapes Council Request for ‘Executive Relief’ from WA State

BySanJuans.Today Newsroom

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT BY SAN JUAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT The Council remains grateful for the state’s continued attention and hopeful for additional support. San Juan County remains committed to working with state officials to improve Washington State Ferry (WSF) service in the San Juan Islands. This summer, the County gathered survey…

SEVEN SETS OF QUESTIONS CNL2 has about WSF – Roadmap to our reporting in coming months

SEVEN SETS OF QUESTIONS CNL2 has about WSF – Roadmap to our reporting in coming months

BySanJuans.Today Newsroom

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 @ 2:25 a.m. CNL2 continues to ask the toughest questions — questions other media don’t ask: If you have insights into any of these questions, CNL2 would like to hear from you. Please write to [email protected].

WSF engineers to vote on State’s contract offer – If rejected arbitration starts in 2 weeks
|

WSF engineers to vote on State’s contract offer – If rejected arbitration starts in 2 weeks

BySanJuans.Today Newsroom

FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT BY THE MARINE ENGINEERS’ BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION Friday, August 9, 2024 Seattle, WA –  Members of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A) Washington State Ferry workers bargaining team are taking the state’s offer of a pay scale 30% lower than deck crew to their members.  If members reject the offer, the parties…

Rick Hughes urges Governor, OFM and MEBA to resolve their differences
|

Rick Hughes urges Governor, OFM and MEBA to resolve their differences

BySanJuans.Today Newsroom

A CNL2 VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE Friday, August 9, 2024 Rick Hughes is a candidate for San Juan County Council district 2 (Orcas). He asked for time on CNL2 Wednesday afternoon to address the state of Washington State Ferry in the San Juans. But he wanted to stress that he was…

WSF Engineers detail complaints at Tuesday’s M.E.B.A. press conference
|

WSF Engineers detail complaints at Tuesday’s M.E.B.A. press conference

ByJeremy Tyler

CNL2 traveled to Downtown Seattle Tuesday to cover a press conference of the union for Washington State Ferry engineers. The 175-year-old Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) has approximately 400 members who keep the WSF vessels running. The first part of the interview includes multiple engineers reading prepared remarks. Then union officials make statements and answer…

SURPRISE! WSF Commits Additional Crews to Inter-island Route to Ensure Service During County Fair Week
|

SURPRISE! WSF Commits Additional Crews to Inter-island Route to Ensure Service During County Fair Week

BySanJuans.Today Newsroom

FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT RELEASED BY SAN JUAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 8, 2024 – San Juan County is thrilled to announce that Washington State Ferry (WSF) officials are taking concrete steps to ensure consistent inter-island service during the week of the County Fair. From August 14-18, islanders will be able to confidently use…

Justin Paulsen sheds light on what San Juan County might ask for in a Governor’s executive order – Is worried about curbed service’s impact on County Fair
| |

Justin Paulsen sheds light on what San Juan County might ask for in a Governor’s executive order – Is worried about curbed service’s impact on County Fair

ByJeremy Tyler

A CNL2 VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE This CNL2 interview was recorded a week ago. CNL2 chose not to publish this interview until San Juan County Council chair Jane Fuller felt it would not get in the way of her attempts to negotiate with the Governor’s Office. This is a fast-changing situation,…

UPDATED: 2nd Day Straight – Full Collapse of WSF Inter-island Service – #3 Chelan Returned to Service Mid-afternoon

UPDATED: 2nd Day Straight – Full Collapse of WSF Inter-island Service – #3 Chelan Returned to Service Mid-afternoon

ByJeff Noedel

DEVELOPING STORY — CNL2 IS INVESTIGATING For the second day in a row, Washington State Ferry inter-island service has been canceled. Additionally, the 43-year-old #3 Chelan vessel (Issaquah Class, 1981) was out of service all morning and into mid-afternoon due to necessary unscheduled vessel maintenance. The current two day period of canceled inter-island service is…

‘This is an Outrage’ – Sheriff Peter Reacts to Tillikum Ferry Captain’s Remarks in Court
| |

‘This is an Outrage’ – Sheriff Peter Reacts to Tillikum Ferry Captain’s Remarks in Court

BySanJuans.Today Newsroom

A CNL2 VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE This morning, San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter asked to make a statement on CNL2; we were happy to oblige. The subject is Washington State Ferries. First, the Sheriff described the kind of problems the Sheriff’s department is experiencing with the unreliability of ferry service…

Waves of Harm to a Lopez Island Business: Restaurant Co-owner Speaks of Frustration Due to Ferry Cancelations
| |

Waves of Harm to a Lopez Island Business: Restaurant Co-owner Speaks of Frustration Due to Ferry Cancelations

ByJeremy Tyler

A CNL2 VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE We get used to the drumbeat of canceled sailings and extremely late arrivals. The memory of the previous days’ failings fades, especially if we go a few days of normal service. But each day of failed service did some damage to San Juan County businesses….