Citizens Protest Smoke-and-Mirrors “Environmental Open House”

As invited representatives of local environmental groups arrived at Port of Seattle headquarters on Thursday afternoon, 24 October, for an “environmental open house”, they were met by more than two dozen protestors carrying signs reading, “Lora Lake: Example of Port's Environmental Responsibility”, “Hey Port, why are you appealing the water quality permit?”, “Why is the Port suing our anti-pollution agency?”, “Say no to greenwashing”, and “Have a drink from Lora Lake”.

Protesters planned to pass out pamphlets to environmentalists as they entered the meeting. However, the actual environmentalists present were greatly outnumbered by Port staff and protesters.

Port spokespersons had no comment on the picketers, but called the police. Three Port police patrol cars responded. One Port Commissioner even called King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson, to ask that she do something about the protesters.

In the meeting, Port staff tried to claim that the “green”color of Lora Lake was a “natural phenomenon,” although they didn’t explain why it only happened to Lora Lake and not to other nearby lakes. The general theme appeared to be that the Port is committed to living up to all anti-pollution rules. There was no opportunity for public response, no chance to ask why the Port is so strongly objecting to the tough requirements in its new sec. 401 certificate or to ask why the Port had failed to file its annual water-quality monitoring reports.

Although the meeting had originally been by invitation only, the Port was forced to call it a public meeting because Port Commissioners attended. Many of the picketers then attended the meeting where they blasted the Port’s attempt to “greenwash” its environmental record using the open house.