Citizen Harry

Citizen Harry: Is change in City of Edmonds accounting found money? Shell game? Clarity?

By Harry Gatjens Much has been bandied about during the last few months regarding the City’s accounting and reporting systems. Statements are now coming out about how the City’s financial reporting practices led to an inability to produce understandable and or accurate pictures of the City’s financial state. It has been suggested that the City…

Citizen Harry analyzes candidates for Edmonds City Attorney

By Harry Gatjens The Edmonds City Council decided last week to reduce the number of candidates applying to be Edmonds’ City Attorney from four finalists to two. There was extended discussion and the Council even had to take a break to hash out some of the issues. Finally they came back and advanced the city’s…

Citizen Harry: Report on Edmonds Mayor’s brown bag lunch

By Harry Gatjens Mayor Mike Cooper had a brown bag lunch Tuesday with 20 or so concerned citizens who wanted to get an update on the budget and Edmonds in general. The Mayor started out with some comments about what his “charge” was when compiling the budget. With no new immediate way to increase revenue,  the…

Citizen Harry: Edmonds Levy Committee reviews its work so far

By Harry Gatjens The Edmonds Citizens Levy Committee held its second October meeting last Thursday.  The guest speaker from the City of Shoreline was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict, so this allowed committee members extra time to evaluate where we had gone and where we go next. Due to work and time…

Latest ‘Coffee with Harry’ focuses on Proposition 1

By Harry Gatjens Edmonds Public Works Director Phil Williams stopped by the latest “Coffee with Harry” meeting Wednesday to discuss Proposition 1. This was neither a pro nor a con meeting, but rather an opportunity for people to sit and openly discuss the issue. I was pleased that while there were firm opinions, everyone had a…

Second ‘Coffee with Harry’ meeting today at Chanterelle

Join “Citizen Harry” Gatjens for his second “Coffee with Harry” meeting, this Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 3:30 p.m. at Chanterelle Restaurant. The guest is City of Edmonds Public Works Director Phil Williams. Chanterelle, located at 316 Main St, is providing free coffee for those attending.

Citizen Harry: Levy committee can learn from Lake Forest Park failure

This is the latest in a continuing series of reports by “Citizen Harry” Gatjens on the 2010 Edmonds Citizens Levy Committee. The Edmonds Citizens Levy Committee met again this past Monday at City Hall. One of the first things we were given was a copy of Mayor Mike Cooper’s new proposed budget. This is an…

‘Public Exposure’ show on Citizen Harry airs again Wednesday, Thursday

If you missed the original airing of the “Public Exposure” show on  public access television about  “Citizen Harry” Gatjens and his efforts to inform citizens through My Edmonds News, the program will be aired again today, Wednesday, at 3 p.m. and again Thursday evening at 7 p.m. The program can be accessed on Comcast Channel 77…

Today’s ‘Coffee with Citizen Harry’

By Harry Gatjens The first “Coffee with Harry” was held this morning  at Chanterelle Restaurant in downtown Edmonds. First things first: Thanks to proprietor Brooke Baker and her staff for hosting the meeting. The coffee and service were outstanding.  A small group of people showed up to talk and most stayed for at least an…

My Edmonds News and Citizen Harry on ‘Public Exposure’ show tonight

The SCAN public access television network show “Public Exposure” is interviewing My Edmonds News publisher Teresa Wippel and columnist “Citizen Harry” Gatjens at 8 p.m. tonight (Thursday). Comcast Cable customers can watch the show live on Channel 77/23. Non-Comcast customers can stream it live over the Web by going to www.scantv.org and clicking on “Watch the Online…

Coffee with Harry tomorrow morning – 9:30 a.m. at Chanterelle

Here’s your chance to exchange opinions, share information and ask questions of Edmonds’ own Citizen Harry — that’s Harry Gatjens, former Edmonds City Council candidate and a current member of b0th the 2010 Citizens Levy Committee and the Citizens Technology Advisory Committee. It’s tomorrow, Thursday, at Chanterelle restaurant, 316 Main St., which has graciously offered…

Citizen Harry: Edmonds’ rainy day fund

By Harry Gatjens Did you know the City of Edmonds has a $2 million rainy-day fund? It’s prudent for cities to put a little money aside in the event of an emergency, but in the case of our city, almost no one seems to know about our fund. As you know if you’ve been following…

This Thursday morning: Here’s your chance to have coffee with Harry

It’s coming this Thursday morning from 9:30-11 a.m. — your chance exchange opinions, share information and ask questions of Edmonds’ own Citizen Harry — that’s Harry Gatjens, former Edmonds City Council candidate and a current member of b0th the 2010 Citizens Levy Committee and the Citizens Technology Advisory Committee. The place is Chanterelle restaurant at…

Edmonds 2010 Citizens Levy Committee to meet Monday

The Edmonds 2010 Citizens Levy Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the Brackett Room, third floor of City Hall, 121 5th Ave. N. The agenda includes staff presentations on public works, reports from subcommittees, and discussion on the mid-year budget adjustment and its impact on the general fund. Public comment will also be…

Citizen Harry: Questions and answers regarding Edmonds’ fiber optic system

The Citizens’ Technology Advisory Committee (CTAC) met again on Tuesday, Aug. 10, to review questions and refine the presentation that the committee will make to the City Council on Aug. 24. This was my second CTAC meeting, and it drew a smaller crowd than the previous one, with a few committee members absent and not…