Citizen Review November 10, 2019
By Lois Krafsky-Perry News Editor
Sequim, WA – An announcement was made to the Save Our Sequim (SOS) members to gather at the Elks Restaurant, from 3-8 pm, November 8th, for an open house meeting with representatives from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
The topic of interest was opioids and also the Medically-Assisted Treatment (MAT) facility, projected by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, at North 9th Avenue, next door to Costco and other businesses in Sequim.
Although the meeting commenced at 3 PM, an entourage of approximately 8 people arrived around 4 PM. One young man was their photographer/video operator. As they assembled, Jodi Wilke, representing SOS, welcomed the group, who shared only their first names.
They supplied no literature and the facilitators supplied no business cards, as requested by this reporter.
While I later researched the group, I found the facilitators were: Debbie Cenziper, head facilitator and Journalism department of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She questioned five of the members. After later questioning, she shared that she was also a Washington Post editorial contributor.
The other lead facilitator was Desiree Hanford. She questioned two of the SOS members.
Sydney Stone, age 20, was apparently an assistant to Cenziper, as she made phone calls to some citizens the same day, and also sent emails.
Cenziper asked leading questions of people she interviewed. It was assumed by some members of SOS that since they/she had spent a long time with an opposing group that day, as they divulged, the questions were apparently designed by their other interviews.
Wilke was the first to speak. When she began to explain the project by the “developers” of MAT, she was interrupted by Cenziper with the question, “the Tribe?” She referred to local news stories and asked when SOS began. Cenziper then said they wanted, “both sides of the story.”
Wilke answered directed questioning about drug statistics, crime, homelessness, and location of the projected facility. Cenziper taunted, “Where would they go”, making homelessness a focus.
She asked those testifying where they lived and they said, “Sequim Valley.”
She also asked for the background of each one who testified. Interesting question was noted, in that she was apparently not wanting to share her background. [emphasis added].
Members who were interviewed were: George Noa, Jodi Wilke, Bob Fowle, Chuck Marunde, Robin Pangborn, Henry Howe, and John Mackay.
I remained observing the process, at Cenziper’s table, and when she questioned who I was, I gave her my business card and asked for hers also. I asked her name and she said, “Debbie.” I then asked her last name and she quickly spelled Cenziper, which I later found, when searching her background.
George Noa testified before Hanford, at another table, so there is not a record of his testimony here.
John Makay shared his many concerns with Cenziper and is concerned about the, “trashing of our town.”
Chuck Marunde, a local real estate broker and also a former real estate attorney, shared information about the Medical Clinic survey he had conducted.
“I want to hear more about the clinic,”insisted Cenziper. Marunde said, “92 percent of those on the survey do not want the clinic,” he affirmed.
“What do you actually have to do in December?” she asked and then apparently bit her tongue, as she quickly changed the subject, from the December comment, which did not fit the subject matter, at that time.
Robin Pangborn, who recently moved here from Atlanta, Georgia, shared that she worked at a medical center in her previous town. She shared her medical experience, as well as her observations by working with many people with drug problems. She also mentioned her concerns about the future problems of Sequim.
Henry Howe shared an overview of his background and his concerns about the planned MAT facility.
Wilke offered, “It [MAT] is like a downhill slope of a rolling ball,” when she pondered the testimonies.
When Sydney Stone was prodded about her job, she stated, it was email.
After about an hour, as the 8th person was being seated, Cenziper announced they were almost out of time and needed to catch a ferry. She asked a lady, who was seated if she could phone her, and she agreed.
The group then quickly gathered their notes and departed.
Many questions were later mentioned, by members, who had gathered to listen and to testify.
Who sent them and paid for the trip, for the entourage?
How long did they spend with the opposing group or groups?
Who devised the leading questions?
What is their reasons for selecting Sequim?
Why did they not want to share who they are and who they are representing, although the Northwestern University was mentioned, but not the name or names of those who sent them.
Most importantly, what do they plan to do with the information they have gathered?
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