Dan Bloemker
@danbloemker.bsky.social
City of Bellingham, WA Planning Commissioner. Chemical Engineer. Strong Towns Bellingham 📌. Build Housing. Build Industry. Build Trains. Build Cities. 🇺🇦🇺🇸
Exactly! Send the LGBT refugees from red states back where they came from, sure they'll be fine right?
November 22, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Exactly! Send the LGBT refugees from red states back where they came from, sure they'll be fine right?
I think a big thing is the city has started doing the math and found that low density residential annexations actually cost them more than they get in taxes.
www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/aug/26/...
www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/aug/26/...
Amid budget woes, Bellingham council denies long-planned Britton Road annexation | Cascadia Daily News
New property tax base wouldn’t cover costs of city services, infrastructure
www.cascadiadaily.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I think a big thing is the city has started doing the math and found that low density residential annexations actually cost them more than they get in taxes.
www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/aug/26/...
www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/aug/26/...
And where we are Fire Service is much more expensive in the county so we get a lot of requests for annexation as taxes and utilities go down somewhat in the city. We're in the unique situation where the city is turning down annexation requests.
November 21, 2025 at 6:37 PM
And where we are Fire Service is much more expensive in the county so we get a lot of requests for annexation as taxes and utilities go down somewhat in the city. We're in the unique situation where the city is turning down annexation requests.
$107k/unit is absolutely insane work. There are homes in other states that cost less than that.
November 21, 2025 at 6:28 PM
$107k/unit is absolutely insane work. There are homes in other states that cost less than that.
The surcharge is one way to discourage the creation of these enclaves. Surprised more cities don't do it. In Washington, state law tries to discourage growth outside defined cities as well.
November 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The surcharge is one way to discourage the creation of these enclaves. Surprised more cities don't do it. In Washington, state law tries to discourage growth outside defined cities as well.
Yeah, New England seems to at least make sense for the times. Just don't look at the boundaries for the city of LA.
November 21, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Yeah, New England seems to at least make sense for the times. Just don't look at the boundaries for the city of LA.
Enclaves/exclaves get real weird on the West coast because racism/classism. Though Cambridge refusing to be a part of Boston kinda fits in.
November 21, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Enclaves/exclaves get real weird on the West coast because racism/classism. Though Cambridge refusing to be a part of Boston kinda fits in.
So the county runs the municipal water and wastewater system? I'm largely referring to areas like this that have no facilities in them but are contained within the city.
November 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
So the county runs the municipal water and wastewater system? I'm largely referring to areas like this that have no facilities in them but are contained within the city.
Out of personal curiosity, does the city of Fresno charge its enclaves more for services? We do (50% surcharge) and I'm wondering if it's a common pattern.
November 21, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Out of personal curiosity, does the city of Fresno charge its enclaves more for services? We do (50% surcharge) and I'm wondering if it's a common pattern.
We also swear by spot saver. Faster than TSA pre check or Clear by far and free/no sign up from the Port. We usually set the time a lil later than we'd actually show up so we have a backup way to speed through if we're late. www.portseattle.org/SEAspotsaver
SEA Spot Saver
Skip the Security Line Available daily from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Your time while traveling is important, SEA Spot Saver can help! Experience expedited screening without a membership and for free. Book in...
www.portseattle.org
November 18, 2025 at 6:41 PM
We also swear by spot saver. Faster than TSA pre check or Clear by far and free/no sign up from the Port. We usually set the time a lil later than we'd actually show up so we have a backup way to speed through if we're late. www.portseattle.org/SEAspotsaver
Oh yeah, and SeaTac did reopen the one security line so now they have 6.
November 18, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Oh yeah, and SeaTac did reopen the one security line so now they have 6.
We flew to Chicago last week and might have set a record for how fast we got to our gate at SeaTac. Maybe 8 minutes from outside door to gate. Our return flight did get cancelled though and holidays are wild.
November 18, 2025 at 5:18 PM
We flew to Chicago last week and might have set a record for how fast we got to our gate at SeaTac. Maybe 8 minutes from outside door to gate. Our return flight did get cancelled though and holidays are wild.
Love the cackle!
November 18, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Love the cackle!
True, but this is an average price. Those that engage in load balancing get discounts that bring the average down. Most data centers are likely paying above the average rate.
November 14, 2025 at 1:10 AM
True, but this is an average price. Those that engage in load balancing get discounts that bring the average down. Most data centers are likely paying above the average rate.
Not saying they can't but their consumption is more expensive per kwh to modify.
Not all industries can do it but I know most air separation/aluminum plants have electrical contracts that basically dictate their production patterns.
Not all industries can do it but I know most air separation/aluminum plants have electrical contracts that basically dictate their production patterns.
November 14, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Not saying they can't but their consumption is more expensive per kwh to modify.
Not all industries can do it but I know most air separation/aluminum plants have electrical contracts that basically dictate their production patterns.
Not all industries can do it but I know most air separation/aluminum plants have electrical contracts that basically dictate their production patterns.
These the same Federal officials that photoshopped MS13 tattoos onto deportees? Not sure I'm buying the "gangster" description from them.
November 14, 2025 at 12:36 AM
These the same Federal officials that photoshopped MS13 tattoos onto deportees? Not sure I'm buying the "gangster" description from them.
Okay but what's the cost of service? I imagine it's much cheaper to serve one 100 MW site than the equivalent 80,000 homes. They can also serve as load balancing in a way residential and commercial can't.
November 14, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Okay but what's the cost of service? I imagine it's much cheaper to serve one 100 MW site than the equivalent 80,000 homes. They can also serve as load balancing in a way residential and commercial can't.
Hopefully in 20 years we have a similar chart for health insurance middlemen.
November 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Hopefully in 20 years we have a similar chart for health insurance middlemen.