Something to keep in mind, I think, is that the Tribes don't want to see this go to the Supremes, at least this group of Supremes. Lots of risk, I think, to reopening enough of Boldt to deal with catch sharing, negotiations, and all that.

Also, these are independent tribes. Several that get “low holed” by others. Some that would benefit from a more open process.

That is exactly what I was alluding to in my earlier post......there is certainly risk on the other side with a lot to lose.

Take a look at the Puyallup's new casino being built alongside I-5 and I read that the Mucks are proposing a huge new hotel development and something about the Tulalips adding to their casino/hotel property.

Don’t forget about Mike Grossmann’s professed strategy of “Cooperate and wait”. According to Mike, all we need to do is keep cooperating with the tribes and eventually they will start to return the good will.

This I remind everyone, was what Grossmann, Carpenter, Warren and Unsworth told us was department guidance!!


Ya boys, how’s that been working out!

Transparency in government is important enough to forego an entire fishing season. We need a game plan that is longer than our next fishing weekend.

Whatever decisions a government agency (WDFW) makes, those decisions should be made in full and clear public view. I'm equally opposed to the state Legislature trying to exempt itself from the Public Records Act. Every politician and agency representative who hides from transparency is on my sh!t list.

If the government was transparent there would be a revolution.

They are a huge group of thieves with a pension cashing cult following.

Next step and the link will get you to interesting reading.

June 3, 2019 Update #3- WDFW refuses to turn over records of salmon season setting, Advocacy responds with subpoena for WDFW Rules Coordinator Scott Bird to appear in a video deposition

The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) requires that WDFW maintain a record of rule making proceedings available for public review (RCW 34.05.370). On May 29, 2019, Advocacy attorney Joe Frawley notified AAG Mike Grossman that he and Advocacy President Tim Hamilton would be arriving at 3 o'clock the following afternoon at the office of Scott Bird located at 600 Capitol Way N. in Olympia to review the file for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Both Grossman and Bird joined in asking the Advocacy to cancel the visit. The request was denied and both were notified the visit would take place as planned.

Upon arrival at Mr. Bird's WDFW office, counter staff informed the delegation that Mr. Bird was not in his office and Mr. Bird was in the Natural Resources Building behind the Enforcement Division Headquarters counter. The delegation proceeded to the location which has high security darkened windows with a microphone and security teller drawyer.

Mr. Hamilton asked to speak to Mr. Bird and the staffer went behind closed doors and returned with a letter addressed to Mr. Frawley containing a public document request form and a letter from Grossman making it clear we could not review the public file. The security glassed in counter with a locked door made it clear access to Mr. Bird was denied as well.

The following day, Frawley transmitted a letter to Grossman outlining the Advocacy's position that the Department was not operating in compliance with the public transparecy laws of the State of Washington. He attached a copy of a subpoena for Mr. Bird to appear in a video deposition on July 1, 2019 at 10 am in Olympia.
WDFW is expected to fight the subpoena of its staff. The Advocacy will likely have to file a motion with the court to compel his appearance. The Department would likely file a motion to quash.
One way or another, the Advocacy is committed to opening closed doors and blackened windows to allow the public the ability to see how WDFW and its co-managment partners are setting salmon seasons in Washington state. Frawley's letter to Grossman is an interesting read. The letter and the subpoena issued to Mr. Bird are available for viewing or downloading HERE https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-_hSO0O6FQcJgzJEontTXYbyZdset4CL/view

and here https://drive.google.com/file/d/160dx0U6nhwg5VyGHlb1QYBVeFj89QRw4/view

Wow, how quickly the gloves have come off and we are barely into the second chapter.

Edit: I just checked the Commission's webpage for upcoming meetings and they have yet to post an agenda for the 14/15 June meeting in Port Angeles.