The Editor:
Bellingham is updating citywide speed limits, with plans in 2026 to transition to a 20 mph default on most non-arterial, residential and downtown streets, down from 25 mph.
The most effective way to encourage pedestrian traffic in Blaine’s renovated Peace Portal commercial corridor is to follow Bellingham’s lead and reduce the speed limit to 20 mph between Martin Street and the D Street roundabout.
Our lovely new park benches are great, but not with traffic speeding by at 25 mph or more. Casual observation reveals a hefty percentage of drivers seem to be exceeding the speed limit.
There are too many kids, too many families, too many crosswalks and too many pedestrian-oriented businesses along our shiny new seaside promenade to allow 25 mph traffic to spoil “the vibe.”
We spent money to make our downtown core lovely. Let’s make it a lovely experience for pedestrians as well.
Ray Cushing
Blaine
The Editor:
The Blaine Food Bank is a vital source to many in our community. The reality is that 1 in 5 people consider themselves food insecure, many of them seniors or children.
Stamp Out Hunger, a nationwide food drive in partnership with the U.S. Postal Service will return to Blaine on May 9. This is quite possibly the easiest way to support your community. All you have to do is simply leave non-perishable food by your mailbox, and the mail carriers will pick it up and deliver it for you.
So often it is easy to dismiss the needs around us, but we aren’t talking about people far from us; these are our neighbors and friends who need access to this vital resource. I urge you to mark the date on the calendar and pick up extra items on your next trip to the grocery store to prepare.
Faith Whaley
Blaine
