Port of Seattle Social Program

By Karen Robes Meeks

Tenants at the Port of Seattle are going strawless this month.

More than 100 Seattle eateries, including those at seaport locations, are taking part in Strawless in Seattle, a month-long effort to support the Lonely Whale Foundation’s Strawless Ocean endeavor to eliminate 500 million plastic straws from the waste stream this year.

Those who want a straw will be given a paper one that can decompose in 45 to 90 days.

“As a marine life researcher, I know firsthand that efforts like Strawless in Seattle help improve the health of oceans,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman. “The Port of Seattle’s Fishermen’s Terminal is the home of the North Pacific fishing fleet, and through Sea-Tac Airport, our cruise and maritime facilities we host millions of travelers who come here to experience our natural environment. Port industries and their employees depend upon healthy oceans and supporting this effort fits our mission to improve the health of our environment and community.”

Participants on the waterfront include:
• Fisherman’s Terminal: Chinook’s Restaurant, Highliner Pub
• Anthony’s Pier 66
• Shilshole Marina Jibe Espresso
• World Trade Center (Alaskan Way), Bell Harbor Conference Center (Pier 66), Clipper Café (Pier 69)

Visit http://www.strawlessocean.org/seattle for more details.

2016 Seattle Port Commissioner Officers Named

By Mark Edward Nero

The Port of Seattle welcomed its newest commissioner, Fred Felleman on Jan. 12 as he took the oath of office along with reelected Commissioner Courtney Gregoire at the latest port commission meeting. The commission officers for 2016 were also announced during the same meeting.

Commissioner John Creighton will serve as Commission President in 2016, while Commissioner Tom Albro will serve as Commission Vice President, Commissioner Stephanie Bowman will serve as Commission Secretary, and Commissioner Courtney Gregoire will serve as Assistant Secretary. Commissioner Felleman will be Commissioner-at-Large.

“It is truly an honor to be entrusted by the citizens of King County to represent them on the Seattle Port Commission,” Felleman said. “Having been part of the Seattle maritime community for two-and-a-half decades, I’m excited to bring my experience, knowledge, and deep love of Puget Sound to this organization.”

The Port of Seattle Commission has said that in 2016 it will remain focused on several issues, including: attracting opportunities for its cruise business, recapitalizing the North Pacific fishing fleet, making Terminal 5 ‘big ship ready,’ continuing environmental efforts port-wide, and pursuing further job growth through the port’s new Economic Development Department.

“We look forward to working with communities throughout King County and the state to attract more opportunities for economic development,” Commission President John Creighton said.

Felleman, Gregoire Win Seattle Commission Seats

By Mark Edward Nero

Environmental consultant and marine biologist Fred Felleman has won the race to replace Bill Bryant on the Port of Seattle Commission, while incumbent Courtney Gregoire also was victorious in the battle for her seat.

Four people were vying for two seats in the Nov. 3 election. Results show Felleman with 56 percent of the vote in the election for the District 2 seat, while his opponent, Marion Yoshino, a former Normandy Park City Council member, received 43 percent.

In the race for the District 2 seat, Gregoire received 85 percent of the vote, compared to her opponent, a perennial candidate who goes by the name Goodspaceguy, who received 15 percent.

This was Gregoire’s second election: she was appointed to the commission in March 2013 and won in the general election that same year.

Felleman, however, has not held public office before. He holds a Masters of Science in Fisheries from the University of Washington and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Michigan.

He campaigned on a platform of creation of well-paying jobs while protecting the working waterfront and the environment, plus spoke in favor of more transparency in the port’s operations.

“Thank you, King County voters, for putting your faith in me to increase the Port’s transparency and ecological integrity,” Felleman said in a message posted on his campaign website after his victory. “I look forward to working with the other Commissioners to that end, while creating good paying jobs in the face of global competition and climate change.”