Here's a dirty little secret, there's probably coal under your home, or your farm - it's all over Whatcom County. So why bring coal 1,000 miles when they could mine it right under your house? Remember, you don't own the minerals rights to that coal, so you won't get a penny. Your house values could go down.

There's coal near the town of Glacier. Imagine 100 heavy trucks barreling up and down Mount Baker Highway each day.

Want to see an excellent example of the prosperity coal jobs can bring to Bellingham? Look no further than Appalachia - the poorest region in America. Appalachia, near the east coast of the U.S. has been mining coal for more than 100 years. If coal jobs are so good, why are those families crushingly poor?

I believe that coal companies have always been bad players in American. I mean they have a terrible safety record. I believe they manipulate communities by pitting families, towns, even churches against each other, resulting in devastating poverty.

Once the coal companies control your community, you can't get rid of them.

Richard Navas

Bellingham