Dear Readers,
Two years ago, Works in Progress almost came to an end after its former volunteer staff, who for years put in long hours and a lot of effort, decided to bow out. Not wanting to lose such a valuable community asset, a small group of us stepped in, led by our now deceased dear friend and ally, Glen Anderson, to take over management and publication. Not having the resources to continue in print, it was decided we would publish online only and, instead of monthly, every 6 weeks. And that’s what we’ve done.
We did it because we value and respect local journalism, especially now when news media is more and more corporatized and there is hardly any independent local coverage left. We did it because we appreciate the depth of local knowledge it brings to our community. We did it because we are grateful to all the community members who have written articles over the years that bring our attention to events and policies that affect us here, now. We did it because we know that an informed community is more likely to take actions that can affect their future.
Now, we need the community to step up and take action to keep WIP going. We need writers, editors, tech savvy social media people, and people willing to take over WIP’s management.
We’re asking you to consider giving some of your time to WIP. Here’s some reasons why.
The Port of Olympia has drawn the ire of many residents with its lack of transparency, poor financial management and environmental greenwashing. WIP has published many articles about the Port’s support of questionable real estate developments, like Westman Mills and West Bay Yards, and about the many possibilities for restoration it does not even consider. The recent election of Krag Unsoeld and Jerry Toompas to the Port Commission was aided by WIP’s coverage of Port deficiencies over the years, and by the attention we brought to their campaigns.
There are many other examples of how WIP has galvanized the community to take actions.
Housing on the Sundberg Gravel Pit site was on the City of Olympia’s drawing board since 2005 when the property was acquired by the current owner and the City annexed it to facilitate its development. This property is an abandoned gravel mine near the headwaters of Green Cove and Butler Creeks, about 51 acres located on the east side of Cooper Point Road between 20th Ave NW and 28th Ave NW. There was always neighborhood opposition to it, but because of articles in WIP, a much wider group of people who were concerned with water quality, fish habitat and toxic waste became involved, writing letters to the City and to the Department of Ecology that after many years of intense pressure, resulted in the site’s inclusion on Ecology’s contaminated site list and forced Ecology to direct its cleanup. We, as a community, put the brakes on this development.
WIP also serves as a platform for social justice and environmental groups to inform the community of their work. It gives voice to poets and graphic artists and to everyone who feels the need to have their opinions heard. It truly is FOR the community and BY the community.
How can WIP best serve the community? How can it best be managed? Perhaps a rotating group of guest editors? Perhaps a local environmental organization wants to highlight local issues in an issue devoted to the environment? Or labor groups want to focus the community’s attention on local labor unions? Or groups working on housing or immigrant rights want to take on one issue? Perhaps students from local colleges and high schools would like to give their perspective on our society and what hopes they have for the future? Maybe you would like to compile the community calendar, write book, theater or art reviews, or contribute graphic art and cartoons.
We invite you to complete this online survey. It will ask you what you like and don’t like about WIP, and it will ask you if you are willing to come to a meeting in the next month or two to discuss how you could help WIP survive. We have already received about 30 responses, with several people stating their willingness to help out. Please join them, and let’s keep this 30 year successful volunteer effort at local journalism alive.
Many thanks for your support.
Esther Kronenberg and Charlotte Persons have been Managing Editors of WIP for the last 2 years
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