LETTER: Ludlow protests could hurt community

Posted

As a new resident to Port Ludlow, I am surprised by the intensity of the protests aimed at Port Ludlow Associates over the harvesting of their timber. It is unclear what these poorly focused events are designed to accomplish. No chanting of slogans or waving of placards will return those trees.

Though new to Port Ludlow, I have read the master plan. I am not an attorney, but have spent a number of years in law firms and find that the document has a number of sufficiently gray areas as to encourage multiple interpretations.

Our country has a history of protecting the rights of landowners in pursuit of the highest and best use of their property. That said, PLA did a poor job of communicating and managing the expectations and outcomes of the harvest and I suspect they have learned from the resultant firestorm. We are a nation rooted in the rule of law and the arbitration that PLA is engaged in with Jefferson County will likely result in some compromise that displeases both sides.

What is most disturbing is the assumption that protestors speak for all residents. PLA has made promises regarding future development and has not always delivered. The harvests and Ludlow Cove development help PLA move forward with improvement plans.

Of greater concern is the downstream impact from these protests. Jefferson County in general and Port Ludlow/Port Hadlock specifically have a distressingly low number of jobs and even fewer jobs offering a living wage. The people I have spoken with who work for PLA consider themselves fortunate and any economic damage done by these protests could result in job loss. Should the goals of this minority of residents to “hit PLA financially” be achieved, the cascading effect of fewer services and amenities will impact all of us.

CHARLES HUGGINS

Port Ludlow