Must have ruined his lunch last Thursday. But I had no idea he'd be dining there with his associates from CAITAC; least of all that the hostess would seat us right next to their big round table by the window.
While the serendipity caused me to chuckle, the Japanese were probably having a more karmic moment. Who knows what Ted Mischaikov, Crawford and the land abuse attorneys were contemplating. Seemed to be their salads, as silence fell over the congregation.
But it did eliminate my concern to look further to confirm the rumor Crawford was working for CAITAC. Before we arrived, he was apparently enjoying a collegial luncheon with the rest: lawyers, property managers and other members of the Larrabee Springs lobby.
While you might jump to the conclusion Sam was there for a handout, actually, it's the hosts who are looking for a free lunch. A few gratuities here and there are little more than chump change. Crawford's like a maitre-d' they think can get them a good table at the Whatcom county buffet.
A number of people told me Sam had gone over, and CAITAC now pays him more than we do. I don't buy it; me thinks (sic) it's been that way for some time. It appears the gang is in the regroup mode following Crawford's failure to undo last years rejection of Larrabee Springs' scheme (notwithstanding the blind support of the council newbies, and Mark Nelson's brother.)
I do remember, some years back, one of CAITAC's minions, one of the many who turned the owners of the North Bellingham Golf Course into the biggest milking operation in Whatcom county, apparently offered Barbara Brenner a position as "land use consultant" to their far eastern client.
The potential conflict of interest was too obvious for the spitfire from North Bellingham. But Crawford has a special little program for just this kind of land abuse work. He even has a special little place to send your honorarium and remain anonymous. I imagine, if he got the same offer, Sam'd be jumping up and down like the guy in the movie screaming, "show me the money."
Do you still wonder if ol' Sam (or more likely his Emerald Lake Consulting) has a bank account he's not disclosing to the public? Makes you wonder how much CAITAC might have put in it over the years, who contributed on their behalf, what he's been promised, and who else endows the Samuel Crawford Appreciation Memorial.(SCAM)
It would certainly be surprising to find that Sam, unlike the other samurai with their feet under that table, served uncompensated. Though possible, it would surely not be in keeping with Japanese business customs. For what an insult, and affront to harmony, to fail to provide graciously for $am-san.
No, what was striking, after these many years: the development business in Whatcom county still requires sitting down at the Roundtable. Of course they now refer to themselves as "the affected community" seemingly unperturbed by the double entendre.
Harking back to the era of Ayers Consulting, where Crawford learned his trade, you could almost hear it echo from a council gone, "your business hasn't graced our door lately."
It appears the road to riches remains paved by ordinary folks' taxes that provide the infrastructure to turn these fields of straw into gold. And, as ever, there's some ready to throw in for a few pieces of silver. Ever ready to spare their pals in the growth industry paying their own way. Never ready to accept the mandate of the law, and the desire of the public to protect our farmland and forests from encroaching "civilization."
It seems, the more things change, the more they remain the same. Which brings me to wonder: are Crawford's newly elected helpers so naive, so callous, or such true believers, that they can't see these petty connections?
Are we to take up again the futile effort to frustrate state law and watch county governement devolve into the pointless battles of the Dawson and Starkenburg era? Will this be a re-run of the Keystone Co-ops; and their well paid lawyers glorying in the ignorance of their deluded clients?
So ask yourself, does Crawford believe what's good for CAITAC is good for Whatcom county, or is what's good for CAITAC just good for Crawford? Is Sam in pursuit of the money, or does the money just seem to pursue him?
In any case, it was at least symbolic, when the locals hurried off to their appointed tasks, the gentlemen from the east remained. They sat for some time, signing checks. So who are the chumps?
Sayonara !
