City Intends to Dismiss Orca Appeal Again & Tahlequah’s New Baby Boy
The good news: Tahlequah J35 is presumed to be the mother of baby boy J65 and so far he's looking good! We're wishing this little one a long healthy life although about half of SRKW calves survive.
We need your help: the City has announced intent to dismiss the Orca Appeal November 2nd… again. Personalize your message to City Council today.
We won June 1st in the Court of Appeals Div I when a panel of three judges ruled that the city wrongfully dismissed our case and it should go back to the hearing examiner. Eddie Lin then advanced a bill banning all citywide land use appeals assuring council before they voted that it would not impact the Orca Appeal. Hear it on the Seattle Channel website at 2:48:41.
October 8th - delayed 602 days after filing the Feb 13th Hearing Examiner appeal - the city announced they will be using that very same bill to dismiss our case, directly opposing the statement of the bill's sponsor. If nothing else, what the City Attorney is doing undermines any credibility and trust citizens may have in the council’s deliberations prior to voting on legislation. If the City Attorney continues to move to dismiss, it’s telling the public that the intent of the council - as expressed in public statements - does not matter and can be ignored. This is another attack on the democratic process.
The appeal’s goal was to correct major errors regarding endangered species and the failure to assess impacts to water from increased clear-cutting and increasing pollution generating hard surfaces. Interconnectivity between trees and the water cycle impacts endangered species like salmon and orca.
Stand up for democracy by asking the City to honor the stated intent of the bill’s sponsor, Eddie Lin.
Personalize your message so that they aren't thrown out as duplicates:
Dear Council, Staff, and City Attorney:
Before the 7/28/26 vote on the bill (CB121215) sponsored by CM Eddie Lin, he stated it would not preclude the Orca Appeal from going forward to hearing at the Hearing Examiner, and he thinks it should go forward. Lin seems to have made the statement to convince council members to vote "yes" on CB 121215. Council may not be aware that on October 8th their City Attorney indicated an intent to dismiss the Orca Appeal using the bill that Lin said would not preclude the Orca Appeal having a hearing at the Hearing Examiner. Please direct your City Attorney to follow sponsor's intent of the bill and allow the Orca Appeal to have a full hearing at the Hearing Examiner.
If nothing else, what the City Attorney is doing undermines any credibility and trust citizens may have in the council’s deliberations prior to voting on legislation. If the City Attorney continues to move to dismiss, it’s telling the public that the intent of the council - as expressed in public statements - does not matter and can be ignored. This is another attack on the democratic process.
The Court of Appeals already reversed the City's initial wrongful dismissal. Lin then introduced a bill banning this type of appeal and assured Council it would not prevent the Orca Appeal from being heard.
Eddie Lin 7/28/26 @2:48:41:
"I also want to make clear that I believe the Orca appeal to the Hearing Examiner... but I believe that should go forward. And regardless of whether this legislation passes, I believe that and I will be urging the City Attorney’s Office to allow that appeal to move forward expeditiously, expeditiously, before the Hearing Examiner. And this bill does not preclude that from going forward. So, I just want to make that clear."
Sincerely,
_______________