CC Letters: Issue No. 24

March 9, 2026

Mission Statement: To preserve and publish citizen correspondence with local government as a public record of civic participation.

---

From: Berry, Allison <allison.berry@clallamcountywa.gov>
Date: Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 12:00 PM
Subject: RE: changes in street drug supply
To: [Redacted], French, Mike <Mike.French@clallamcountywa.gov>, Ozias, Mark <mark.ozias@clallamcountywa.gov>, Johnson, Randy <randy.johnson@clallamcountywa.gov>

Hi [Redacted],

Thank you for reaching out. I am so sorry to hear about your experience as a teen. That sounds truly terrifying.

Thank you for sharing these reports. While we do not have community drug checking in Clallam County, we do coordinate with our neighbors in Jefferson who do as well as local treatment clinics to get some information on the types of drugs showing up in our local drug supply. We have seen synthetic opioids in our drug supply – some of which are stronger and some of which are less strong than standardly available fentanyl. We have also seen a veterinary anesthetic called medetomidine show up locally in addition to xylazine. Thankfully these drugs appear rare at present, but it is a situation we are concerned about and monitoring.

We do distribute fentanyl, xylazine, and medetomidine test strips as well as educational materials at the harm reduction health center and those are available to anyone who is concerned. If you know someone who could benefit from that added information, please feel free to connect with us and we can support your efforts. Unfortunately, there are not currently available test strips that would distinguish fentanyl from other synthetic opioids. In case it is of interest to you, the University of Washington posts the results from community drug checking around the state online here: https://adai.uw.edu/WAdata/DrugChecking/. It is one other piece of data we can use to get an idea of what’s out there, and what we need to educate folks about.

Thank you for your efforts,

[Editor’s note: This is a reply to an email in CC Letters Issue No. 23]

---

from: [Redacted]
to: randy.johnson@clallamcountywa.gov
bcc: clallamityjen@gmail.com
date: Feb 26, 2026, 5:38 PM subject: Concerns Regarding Sequim Bay Trust Land Transfer

Commissioner Johnson,

I am writing regarding the proposed transfer of roughly 435 acres of trust land at Sequim Bay, and I want to be candid: I am deeply disappointed by how this process has unfolded.

For a decision of this scale—one that directly affects Clallam County’s trust beneficiaries, local governments, and the broader community—the lack of transparency has been troubling. Trust land has long served as a revenue-generating asset for our schools and essential public services. Yet the public has been given no clear valuation, no explanation of the financial impact, and no meaningful opportunity to understand or respond before the transfer moves forward. It is disheartening to see a process that should be grounded in accountability and fiduciary responsibility instead proceed with so little openness. Clallam County residents deserve better than to learn about this after the fact, with no clear justification for how this action benefits the people who rely on these trust revenues.

I am asking you, as our representative on the Board of Natural Resources, to insist on a pause until:

- A full and publicly accessible valuation of the land is provided;

- The projected financial impact on trust beneficiaries is clearly outlined;

- Clallam County officials and residents are given a real opportunity to review and comment;

- A clear explanation is offered for how this transfer fulfills DNR’s fiduciary obligations.

I expect our local leadership to advocate for transparency and accountability, especially when decisions affect the long-term well-being of our community. I hope you will take these concerns seriously and work to ensure that this process is corrected before any irreversible action is taken.

Sincerely,

[Redacted]

---

On Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 1:10 PM [Redacted] wrote:

Dear Loni,

Please share my correspondence with the Commissioners. Thank you.

Dear Commissioners,

I felt compelled to share an extraordinary event that I read about on the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page this past weekend. The Center Valley Animal Rescue, supported by over 45 dedicated volunteers, successfully organized a much-needed spay and neuter event. For your reference, I have attached screenshots from the Sheriff’s Facebook page.

Should Clallam County be considering an extraordinary community award for March, I firmly believe this event stands as an undeniable candidate. It exemplifies the intelligence, generosity, and compassion of Clallam County’s citizens, who are actively improving the lives of animals and people. I hope this event is praised at your next Commissioners Public meeting and the following individuals are recognized for their compassion and commitment to animal welfare: CVAR Director Sara, Dr. Linda Allen, Animal Control Deputy Ed Bauck, Mel (Founder of Welfare for Animals’ Guild - WAG), Torrie Lewis (Vet Tech), Undersheriff Lorraine Shore, and all participating volunteers. I presume this initiative provides vital services to residents who might otherwise be unable to afford spaying or neutering their animals.

Respectfully,

[Redacted]

---

from: [Redacted]
to: Clallam county commissars clerk <Loni.Gores@clallamcountywa.gov>
cc: mike.french@clallamcountywa.gov,
randy.johnson@clallamcountywa.gov,
mark.ozias@clallamcountywa.gov
date: Mar 4, 2026, 6:50 AM subject: Tell us the story

Dear Commissioners,

I would like to know. We the residence of Clallam County are being left in the dark on what is happening right under your noses. We need to know, tell our story, good or bad to the Peninsula Daily News and KONP. I see plenty of bad on social media, which many label misinformation or unreliable. Often people are scorned because of their background. No. No. No a public Information Officer will not help. You have the numbers, successes and failures, quality of life, crime, and business trials and tribulations. Just a walk in the park would be a positive story. We need timely information somehow projected to the people you were elected to represent. Tell our story Clallam County. It’s not all at an office or in a meeting or inside a courtroom. We need more truthful information and just what do County workers and officials see everyday. What brings people here? What “chases” them away.

[Redacted]

---

from: [Redacted]
to: ”Riggs, Shoona” <shoona.riggs@clallamcountywa.gov>
bcc: clallamityjen@gmail.com
date: Mar 6, 2026, 10:01 AM subject: Re: After a Voided Election, CCD Faces a Test of Trust

Dear Shoona,

To my knowledge, I have received no response to my email of 2-12-26.

I would appreciate a response, as the CCD’s election (that will depend on LWV volunteers) is on-going, and your office appears to be actively promoting the LWV (publicly affiliated in events with the Indivisible group) as an “unaffiliated” entity:

https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/167/Political-Organizations-Precinct-Committ?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Thank you,

[Redacted]

On Thu, Feb 12, 2026 at 9:44 AM [Redacted] wrote:

Dear Shoona,

I am forwarding an article regarding the Conservation District’s upcoming county-wide election (for which only those who know to request a mail-in ballot by next Wednesday will be able to participate).

The RCWs and WACs address the appropriate role and participation of the political parties. However, we now have ideological off-shoots that seem to be very politically active (and appear to be publicly aligned with particular candidates), yet those members seem to have unfettered access to the election procedure itself -- from collecting ballots, to sorting ballots, to signature verification, etc.

Do you have any response to the issues raised in this article surrounding election participation by members of the League of Women Voters or the Indivisible organizations related to the mail-in elections conducted by either the Conservation District or your office?

Thank you,

[Redacted]

---

From: [Redacted]
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 10:07 AM
To: Amy Miller <Amiller@cityofpa.us>; Jon Hamilton <Jhamilton@cityofpa.us>
Cc: 4PA <info@4pa.org>; Gores, Loni <loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov>; allison.berry@clallamcountywa.gov <allison.berry@clallamcountywa.gov>
Subject: Why do we need harm reduction? Per Google: Harm reduction is a public health strategy that was developed initially for adults with substance abuse problems for whom abstinence was not feasible. Is harm reduction a new concept? “Harm reduction” is a dec...

Dear Council Members Miller and Hamilton,

Thank you for the presentations provided at last night’s council meeting by the Homeless Task Force, Harm Reduction, and Behavioral Health departments.

I would like to share some feedback regarding the session. I found the Harm Reduction presentation particularly difficult to follow and believe the delivery would have benefited from a slower, clearer pace. Additionally, while the 4PA Touchstone Campus was mentioned, there appeared to be a lack of agency coordination between the three presenters.

While I appreciate the information shared, I am concerned that the presentations did not address the open drug use, increased crime, and debris associated with these programs. No clear solutions were offered to mitigate these specific issues. Without direct action from the Port Angeles City Council, I am concerned that taxpayer funds will continue to be utilized without significant improvement. Furthermore, this environment discourages new business investment, as safety remains a primary concern for potential stakeholders.

I believe that incarceration should be considered as a starting point for addressing these challenges, as the Department of Corrections provides the necessary structure, job training, and a clear path toward abstinence. To that end, do you intend to invite the Clallam County Sheriff and the Port Angeles and Sequim Police Chiefs to speak on potential solutions in the near future?

Finally, a significant missing piece in this discussion is the participation of our Sovereign partners. Millions of taxpayer dollars have been invested in the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe MAT clinic, with further expansion planned, yet their role was not mentioned.

Thank you for your time and for your consideration of these concerns.

Best regards,

[Redacted]

— — —

From: Jon Hamilton <Jhamilton@cityofpa.us>
Date: Wed, Mar 4, 2026, 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: Why do we need harm reduction? Per Google: Harm reduction is a public health strategy that was developed initially for adults with substance abuse problems for whom abstinence was not feasible. Is harm reduction a new concept? “Harm reduction” is a...
To: [Redacted]

[Redacted],

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts following last night’s presentations. I appreciate you watching the session and providing feedback.

The purpose of the presentations was to help Council and the public establish a baseline, factual understanding of the work currently being done by the Clallam County Homeless Task Force, the Harm Reduction program, and Peninsula Behavioral Health. These organizations operate across multiple jurisdictions and service areas, and the goal of the session was to better understand what each agency does and how their work intersects with broader community issues such as affordable housing, camping, and homelessness.

The information presented last night is being considered together with the presentations provided on February 17 and the additional presentations scheduled for March 17. Taken collectively, these sessions are intended to provide Council and the public with a clearer picture of the range of services, programs, and agencies involved in addressing housing instability, behavioral health, and related community impacts in Port Angeles and the broader region.

You raise important questions about coordination, public safety, and the impacts on neighborhoods and local businesses. Those are issues that continue to be part of the broader regional conversation involving the City, Clallam County, local law enforcement agencies, healthcare providers, service organizations, and tribal partners.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your perspective and engage in the discussion.

Sincerely,

Jon Hamilton

City of Port Angeles

Council Member, Position #7

(360) 565-3807

jhamilton@cityofpa.us

Please note: I am communicating in my individual capacity as a Councilmember (Position #7). Unless specifically noted as an adopted legislative priority, these views are my own and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Port Angeles City Council or the City of Port Angeles.

---

from: [Redacted]
to: ”Johnson, Randy” <randy.johnson@clallamcountywa.gov>,
[Redacted],
Clallamity Jen <Clallamityjen@gmail.com>
date: Feb 27, 2026, 9:03 PM subject: Opposition to the sale and/or transfer of OUR public lands~!

Randy Johnson,

This communication is to inform you that there IS in fact enormous public opposition to ANY sale and/or transfer of any and ALL of OUR state or county public lands & properties to any other entity or individual at any time for any reason! Any such transfer or sale will be remembered, contested, AND reported to the appropriate authorities for criminal prosecution regardless of excuses. ALL who engage in such criminal activities will be held strictly liable~! We here are among the many in our community who are very closely watching what has been going on within OUR government, we know what is going on, and we strongly suggest that our government servants focus upon their limited scope of duties without further engaging in these kinds of outrageous activities and plots to further gaslight & defraud the good folks of Clallam County~!

Thank you for your attention on this urgent matter~!

[Redacted]

Next Issue: Thursday, March 12, 2026

Clallam County Letters:

Clallam County commissioners can be redressed by the people via email:

• Mark Ozias: Mark.Ozias@clallamcountywa.gov

• Randy Johnson: Randy.Johnson@clallamcountywa.gov

• Mike French: Mike.French@clallamcountywa.gov

• Loni Gores, Clerk: Loni.Gores@clallamcountywa.gov

Find all other Clallam County officials, offices, and employees in the staff directory.

To have your letter published in Clallam County Letters, please include clallamityjen@gmail.com in the CC field.

Public Record Notice:

Published correspondences were transmitted to local government offices and copied, or forwarded by the sender, to the publisher. They are reproduced here as received.

Personal identifiers have been redacted where appropriate to protect individual privacy. No substantive alterations have been made.

Publication of this material is for record-keeping and transparency purposes only and does not constitute endorsement, analysis, or opinion by the publisher.