Bloglander

The public hearing on the possible increase in coal trains coming through Spokane happens today from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Spokane County Fairgrounds. We wrote in March about concerns over the trains, which are expected to pass through Spokane to as many as half a dozen new shipping facilities on the west coast.

There's an anti-coal rally that begins an hour before, at 3 pm. Among others, it will include Spokane City Council Ben Stuckart, Sandpoint, Idaho, City Councilman Aaron Qualls, Reverend Dr. Todd F. Eklof of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane and a disaffected coal miner from Montana.  

A report by an activist came out a couple days ago that the company proposing the Cherry Point coal terminal is paying people to attend the coal train hearings on its behalf. I don't know how reputable the source is, so take it for what you think it's worth. Pacific Gateway's communications people haven't yet returned calls and emails I put out this morning and last night. 

Chug along to more City Hall Eyeball.