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

A CNL2 VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Saturday, August 24, 2024
by 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 State Ferries’ inter-island service that extended from late-June through mid-August.

Only 10 days ago, San Juan County Council Chair Jane Fuller received a call from a representative of the Governor. Fuller learned the Governor would not be saying yes to a proposal for State funds to run a more robust private or contracted passenger ferry and small barge service to provide trips across the water when WSF canceled sailings.

Days later, the Governor’s office scheduled a meeting with five local leaders in the San Juans. The subject was ferries. That meeting was held at 1:00 p.m. today; it lasted just 1/2 hour. When the meeting was over, Fuller was filled with hope and optimism again.

Fuller told CNL2 that the Governor seems open to doing more. She said he seemed highly engaged in data presented by Richard Uri, Behavioral Health Specialist in the County’s Human Services Department, detailing how the County is assisting privately-run water taxi efforts here. And Fuller was especially grateful for tips Inslee shared on how to form legislative “asks” in the upcoming session of the State legislature.

The Governor is often criticized by locals for flying into and out of the San Juans by State plane. But today a woman approached a CNL2 reporter to say she saw the Governor riding to the San Juans on the ferry.

On his way off island, the Governor granted a six-minute interview with CNL2.

Prior to the interview, Inslee received a container of “blondie” cookies fresh-baked by Laura Jo Severson, a longtime Democrat. Severson first met Inslee in Bellevue, when he was a U.S. Congressman years ago. Severson wanted to see Inslee today and remind him that every time their paths crossed back in the day, he was always quick to ask, “How can I help?” She showed up with fresh cookies today to get a chance to encourage him to help the San Juans.

In the CNL2 interview, the Governor started by describing what transpired in the meeting with local leaders today.

At 1:55 minutes into the interview, Inslee indicated there might be a way to fund private passenger service. He did not elaborate.

(2:30) A mention of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association’s (MEBA) contract entering arbitration yesterday.

(3:00) He is asked to react to the knock on San Juans citizens by some critics in other parts of Western Washington that we are not grateful enough for WSF service, such as being the only route with four boats. Inslee was asked if the people of the San Juans are expecting too much from the ferries.

(4:00) He spoke of the need for more boats, and stated again that diesel boats would be delivered a year later than the hybrid electric boats for which boat builders are preparing bids at this time.

(5:00) Inslee spoke of the reasons why the San Juans need services and resources that are being provided by the Climate Commitment Act, and the need as he sees it to defeat Initiative 2117 in the upcoming general election, which would repeal the CCA.

This CNL2 video is approximately 6-1/2 minutes in duration.