Interesting editorial in today's Olympian newspaper.

"Published March 09, 2008

Activism must not cross line to harassment

Legal costs at the Port of Olympia have skyrocketed from $90,000 in 2003 to an average of $410,582 in 2006 and 2007. Those dollars, spent in defense of multiple — mostly unsuccessful — lawsuits come directly out of the pockets of Thurston County taxpayers.

Port Commissioner Paul Telford calls the legal maneuvering “harassment.”

A Supreme Court commissioner recently fined two litigants $500 each for what the commissioner said were frivolous complaints that lacked merit. “Petitioners make numerous assertions in their complaint that have no grounding in fact,” the commissioner wrote. Not surprisingly, the two litigants have appealed.

And therein is the cautionary tale that is playing out at the Port of Olympia. The question is this: At what point do residents cross the line from citizen activists holding government officials and agencies accountable into an arena of obstructionists and harassers? ... "

You can read the entire article here.

Jeff Brigham