From: Tukayote Helianthus <emailme@tukayote.com>Date: Friday, July 11, 2025 at 07:26To: mayorsoffice@cob.org <mayorsoffice@cob.org>, ccmail@cob.org <ccmail@cob.org>, hestone@cob.org <hestone@cob.org>, hahuthman@cob.org <hahuthman@cob.org>, dchammill@cob.org <dchammill@cob.org>, Cotton, Jace A. <jacotton@cob.org>, ehwilliams@cob.org <ehwilliams@cob.org>, laanderson@cob.org <laanderson@cob.org>, mlilliquist@cob.org <mlilliquist@cob.org>, council@co.whatcom.wa.us <council@co.whatcom.wa.us>, CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us <CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us>, kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us <kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us <bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us <tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us <tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us>, kkershne@co.whatcom.wa.us <kkershne@co.whatcom.wa.us>, belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us <belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us <DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us>, ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us <ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us>, Jon Scanlon <jscanlon@co.whatcom.wa.us>Subject: Follow-Up: No Response on Cooling Center Plans Ahead of Dangerous Heat Dear Bellingham and Whatcom County Officials, I am following up on my previous emails dated June 2, 2024, and June 3, 2025, regarding the urgent need for cooling centers as we approach another dangerously hot week. As of today, I have not received a response to the email on June 3, 2025 nor have I seen any public announcements regarding emergency cooling center availability for next week. Forecasted highs in the mid-80s—combined with direct sun and humidity—pose serious and well-documented health risks, especially to our unhoused […]
Read MorePost Tagged with: "whatcom county"
Open Letter to Whatcom/Bellingham Leaders – Emergency Hot Weather Cooling Centers
From: Tukayote Helianthus <emailme@tukayote.com>Sent: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 10:43:18 AMTo: mayorsoffice@cob.org <mayorsoffice@cob.org>; ccmail@cob.org <ccmail@cob.org>; hestone@cob.org <hestone@cob.org>; hahuthman@cob.org <hahuthman@cob.org>; dchammill@cob.org <dchammill@cob.org>; Cotton, Jace A. <jacotton@cob.org>; ehwilliams@cob.org <ehwilliams@cob.org>; laanderson@cob.org <laanderson@cob.org>; mlilliquist@cob.org <mlilliquist@cob.org>; council@co.whatcom.wa.us <council@co.whatcom.wa.us>; CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us <CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us>; kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us <kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us>; bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us <bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us>; tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us <tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us>; tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us <tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us>; kkershne@co.whatcom.wa.us <kkershne@co.whatcom.wa.us>; belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us <belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us>; DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us <DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us>; ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us <ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us>; Jon Scanlon <jscanlon@co.whatcom.wa.us>Subject: Re: Inquiry on Emergency Hot Weather Cooling Centers Dear Bellingham and Whatcom County Leaders, My name is Tukayote Helianthus, a Bellingham resident, certified peer supporter, and founder of Operation Water Drop—a grassroots initiative that has distributed over 60,000 bottles of water to unhoused and water-insecure residents across Whatcom County since its inception. I am writing with serious concern regarding the forecasted high temperatures this weekend in Bellingham and throughout Whatcom County. With predicted highs in the 80s in some locations and potentially hazardous heat index levels due to humidity and sun exposure, the risk of heat exhaustion […]
Read MoreOpen Letter to Whatcom & Bellingham Leaders – Gratitude for Extended Shelter Operations & Urgent Need for Warming Centers
From: Tukayote Helianthus <emailme@tukayote.com>Date: Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 14:05To: mayorsoffice@cob.org <mayorsoffice@cob.org>, ccmail@cob.org <ccmail@cob.org>, hestone@cob.org <hestone@cob.org>, hahuthman@cob.org <hahuthman@cob.org>, dchammill@cob.org <dchammill@cob.org>, Cotton, Jace A. <jacotton@cob.org>, ehwilliams@cob.org <ehwilliams@cob.org>, laanderson@cob.org <laanderson@cob.org>, mlilliquist@cob.org <mlilliquist@cob.org>, Council <council@co.whatcom.wa.us>, kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us <kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us <bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us <tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us <tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us>, belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us <belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us <DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us>, ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us <ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us>, Jon Scanlon <JScanlon@co.whatcom.wa.us>Subject: Gratitude for Extended Shelter Operations & Urgent Need for Warming Centers Dear Government Leaders, I want to start by sincerely thanking you, along with the dedicated staff and volunteers, for the recent 10-day opening of the Whatcom Severe Weather Shelter from February 2nd through February 11th. This consistent operation has been a vital lifeline for many in our community, and I deeply appreciate the efforts made to ensure our unhoused neighbors have a safe, warm place to go during these dangerously cold nights. However, I remain concerned about the lack of daytime warming centers and the uncertainty surrounding shelter operations beyond […]
Read MoreOpen Letter to Local Government: Open the Shelter!
From: Tukayote Helianthus <emailme@tukayote.com>Date: Friday, January 31, 2025 at 13:31To: mayorsoffice@cob.org <mayorsoffice@cob.org>, ccmail@cob.org <ccmail@cob.org>, hestone@cob.org <hestone@cob.org>, hahuthman@cob.org <hahuthman@cob.org>, dchammill@cob.org <dchammill@cob.org>, Cotton, Jace A. <jacotton@cob.org>, ehwilliams@cob.org <ehwilliams@cob.org>, laanderson@cob.org <laanderson@cob.org>, mlilliquist@cob.org <mlilliquist@cob.org>, Council <council@co.whatcom.wa.us>, CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us <CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us>, kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us <kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us <bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us <tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us <tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us>, belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us <belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us <DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us>, ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us <ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us>, Jon Scanlon <JScanlon@co.whatcom.wa.us>Subject: Whatcom Severe Winter Shelter – Closed on Saturday and 45% of the nights that met the 32F threshold Dear Executive Satpal Sidhu, Whatcom County Council Members, Mayor Kim Lund, Bellingham City Council, and Sheriff Tanksley, I am writing to you with urgent concern regarding the continued failures in operating the Whatcom Severe Weather Shelter, particularly in light of the Winter Storm Watch issued for our region this weekend. As of now, the Whatcom County Severe Weather Shelter is not scheduled to open on Saturday, February 1st, despite forecasted temperatures of 31°F without wind chill factored in, and significant snowfall […]
Read MoreUnderstanding Homelessness: National, State, County, and City Perspectives and Local Resources
Homelessness is a complex issue impacting communities across the United States. This post takes a closer look at homelessness on a national level, zooming in on Washington State, Whatcom County, and the city of Bellingham to explore the challenges and responses in each area. Homelessness in the United States Nationwide, homelessness remains a persistent challenge, with hundreds of thousands of individuals experiencing it on any given night. Key factors contributing to homelessness include the lack of affordable housing, economic disparities, mental health issues, and substance use disorders. Resources like the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Alliance to End Homelessness provide comprehensive research and tools to better understand the crisis. Studies show that on a single night in January 2022, over 580,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the U.S. While programs like Housing First and federal funding have made strides, the need for systemic, long-term solutions is evident. […]
Read MoreOpen Letter to City/County Leadership: Immediate Action Required: Severe Weather Shelter Capacity Crisis
From: Tukayote Helianthus <emailme@tukayote.com>Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 18:39To: mayorsoffice@cob.org <mayorsoffice@cob.org>, ccmail@cob.org <ccmail@cob.org>, hestone@cob.org <hestone@cob.org>, hahuthman@cob.org <hahuthman@cob.org>, dchammill@cob.org <dchammill@cob.org>, Cotton, Jace A. <jacotton@cob.org>, ehwilliams@cob.org <ehwilliams@cob.org>, laanderson@cob.org <laanderson@cob.org>, mlilliquist@cob.org <mlilliquist@cob.org>, Council <council@co.whatcom.wa.us>, CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us <CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us>, kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us <kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us <bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us <tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us <tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us>, belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us <belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us <DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us>, ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us <ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us>, Jon Scanlon <JScanlon@co.whatcom.wa.us> Dear Executive Satpal Sidhu, Whatcom County Council Members, Mayor Kim Lund, Bellingham City Council, and Sheriff Tanksley, I am writing to express grave concern over the severe weather shelter crisis in Whatcom County. Tonight, Saturday, January 18th, the Bellingham Severe Weather Shelter reached full capacity early in the evening, leaving over 1,000 people unsheltered during one of the coldest nights forecasted this winter. With temperatures plummeting to 25°F and wind chill making conditions even more dangerous, many in our community are left exposed to life-threatening conditions. This situation is unacceptable and constitutes an emergency requiring immediate action. Key Facts […]
Read MoreFollow-Up: Request to Open Severe Weather Shelter During January Encampment Clearing
Subject: Follow-Up: Request to Open Severe Weather Shelter During January Encampment Clearing Dear Mayor Kim Lund, Members of the Bellingham City Council, Members of the Whatcom County Council, and County Executive Satpal Sidhu, I am writing again to express my deep concern regarding the upcoming clearing of the Bakerview and Northwest Avenue encampment, scheduled to begin the week of January 20, 2025. As previously mentioned, this action will displace approximately 75–100 individuals, many of whom have no other shelter options. With the risks posed by cold weather and limited alternatives for those affected, I urge you to take immediate action to mitigate the harm caused by this clearing. Specifically, I ask that you open the severe weather shelter for 14 days starting on January 15, 2025. This step would provide a safe, warm place for those being displaced, ensuring that lives are not unnecessarily put at risk during this transition. […]
Read MoreFollow Up: The Inhumanity of Encampment Sweeps and 32F Shelter Thresholds
Dear Whatcom County and Bellingham City Leaders, This email serves as a follow-up to my November 21 letter (included below), which has yet to receive any response. The deafening silence on these critical issues is deeply troubling, especially as winter deepens and the urgency to protect our community’s most vulnerable residents grows. My earlier letter highlighted the need to raise the winter weather shelter operating threshold to 40°F and to end the harmful practice of encampment sweeps during cold weather. These are not abstract concerns—they are matters of life and death for hundreds of individuals in our community. The lack of engagement from city and county leadership on these issues is both disheartening and unacceptable. Critical Concerns 1. The Human Cost: The planned removal of 75–100 individuals from the Bakerview encampment in January, without adequate shelter alternatives or long-term housing solutions, is cruel and counterproductive. Displacing individuals during the […]
Read More32F – No low barrier winter weather shelter open
Freezing outside. Misting too. No low barrier winter weather shelter is open Why? Because it has to be forecasted days in advance that temperature will be below 32F for a minimum of four hours. Real time weather events do not matter. Anyone else tired of watching people suffer in the cold because of this kind of government bureaucracy?
Read MoreBellingham and Whatcom Leaders – Raise Shelter Threshold & End Harmful Sweeps
To: mayorsoffice@cob.org <mayorsoffice@cob.org>, ccmail@cob.org <ccmail@cob.org>, hestone@cob.org <hestone@cob.org>, hahuthman@cob.org <hahuthman@cob.org>, dchammill@cob.org <dchammill@cob.org>, ehwilliams@cob.org <ehwilliams@cob.org>, laanderson@cob.org <laanderson@cob.org>, mlilliquist@cob.org <mlilliquist@cob.org>, Council <council@co.whatcom.wa.us>, CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us <CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us>, kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us <kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us <bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us <tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us <tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us>, kkershne@co.whatcom.wa.us <kkershne@co.whatcom.wa.us>, belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us <belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us <DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us>, ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us <ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us>, jcotton@cob.org <jcotton@cob.org>Subject: Raise Shelter Threshold & End Harmful Sweeps Dear Whatcom County and Bellingham City Leaders, I am writing to implore Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham governments to work together to raise the winter weather shelter operating threshold to 40°F, including wind chill, whichever is lower. I also urge you to end the counterproductive practice of sweeping homeless encampments during cold weather and to prioritize evidence-based solutions to address the fentanyl crisis. These interconnected issues require compassion, collaboration, and long-term planning—not punitive measures that worsen the challenges faced by our community. The Risks of the Current Shelter Threshold The current shelter threshold of 32°F does not account for the compounded dangers […]
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