I periodically pay our water bill in person at City Hall. The staff is always efficient and very…read morefriendly.

Absolutely go here to get your vehicle registered vs. the other registration place. No lines for…read morethe most part, the people are friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient, and supposedly it is slightly cheaper here. Plus easier parking! Just keep in mind that you need to bring cash or check, not even debit, to avoid an additional fee.

Heartless, biased and if you make one mistake you can become homeless almost immediately and…read moreprevented from having the opportunity to obtain affordable housing for the rest of your life

The Bellingham and Whatcom Housing Authority has an on-going problem with bedbug infestation with…read morewhich they refuse to deal properly. I live in Lincoln Square on York Street in downtown Bellingham. I have lived in this building quietly for 12 years. Some years ago the building became infested with bedbugs. It took several years for the infestation to reach my apartment. My apartment has been infested for 20 months as of this writing since February, 2017. For the first 4 months of the infestation they sent in an "inspector" twice who did a cursory inspection and proclaimed that there were no bedbugs in my apartment. When I trapped 3 bedbugs in an empty pill bottle in late May, 2017 their "inspector" acknowledged the infestation but refused to spray or take any other action for 3 full months. Only when I threatened to sue the Housing Authority in September, 2017 did they begin periodic spraying which, because they had allowed the infestation to explode for 7 months, was ineffective. I have developed new health problems and had old ones made more serious because of the bedbug bites. Because I have demanded effective measures to exterminate these pests the Housing Authority has resorted to lies, distortions, bullying, malicious withholding of needed repairs and blaming me, the victim, for the infestation. They have plainly decided that it is cheaper to evict me on trumped up grounds than to take responsibility for the infestation and eliminate it. All tenants have a legal right to appeal adverse actions by the Housing Authority but they have denied me that right repeatedly and then denied that they did so. At this point they refuse to spray at all or at very long intervals of 4 to 7 weeks, a period that allows the bedbugs to breed new generations, and refuse to make repairs for dangerous mold and a broken ceiling in my bathroom. I now find anywhere from 1 to 3 or more bedbugs crawling on my body during the day because the Housing Authority has allows the infestation to explode out of control. I find multiple bites on my body each morning when I wake. Public Housing is a boon and a necessity for those if us who are poor, elderly and/or disabled. The Housing Authority has an obligation under law to maintain a safe and healthful environment in its buildings. You could not prove that they are serious about that obligation from the treatment that I have received at their hands. I strongly suggest that if you or a loved one needs public housing you tread warily before you subject yourself or anyone about whom you sincerely care to the vagaries of the staff of the Bellingham and Whatcom Housing Authority. You will be at grave risk if you are not careful in dealing with this agency.

This library doesn't seem to have changed since I was a wee one looking through children's books, a…read moreteenager coming to take a look at free magazines available, and even as an adult doing research for a class. The daily story times are engaging and fun, consistently packed and with staff that are full of energy, smiles and at the ready to clap and cheer for everyone! A great selection of books, especially for children and youth, taking up two floors!

I was amazed how easy it wad to use the Bellingham public library! It's easy to search books online…read moreand put hold on books if needed. Their self-checkout system is very simple to use. While the building (the downtown location) is old, the books are very well organized and kept clean. My only "complaint" is their hours on the weekend. They are only open from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday. Otherwise, "I Love My Library"!

Found the court house to be generally clean with only a couple exceptions. Like most court houses…read moreit was subdivided into "court rooms", each having a few bench seats and a judge. The restrooms were average, but there wasn't a line, so that was a plus. There wasn't any food or beverages available, so keep in mind to bring your own.

Great judge. So nice. Was a little worried at first as it was open seating, but my name was…read moreeventually called and my case was heard. I'm unsure if I would want to return, but if I ever do have a noise complaint again this is my top choice.

Lovely walk on a warm summer day. Tons of cute dogs to watch as they enjoy a walk with their…read morehumans. Nice to walk out and back from Fairhaven area while sipping a latte.

Great boardwalk for a walk. We walked it today, staying at the Chrysalis Hotel. The boardwalk was…read moredefinitely bust today but a great walk we had after being in the car most of the day.

I spent years living and working in Bellingham, Washington, and despite all the praise the city…read morereceives, I am leaving with one overwhelming feeling: relief. I arrived expecting the welcoming, community oriented city that people constantly talk about. Instead, I found a place that often felt closed off, performative, and surprisingly difficult to connect with. As someone whose job required me to spend years interacting with thousands of local residents, schools, parents, businesses, community organizations, and young adults throughout Whatcom County, I had a front-row seat to the culture. The longer I stayed, the more disappointed I became. Bellingham has built an identity around being inclusive, progressive, and compassionate. Those words are repeated constantly. Unfortunately, I found that many people were far more interested in being perceived that way than actually living those values. There was often a noticeable gap between what people said and how they treated others who were outside their social circles or who held different views. One of the most frustrating aspects of living here was how difficult it was to build genuine relationships. People were usually polite enough on the surface, but many interactions felt transactional or guarded. Established social groups seemed uninterested in welcoming newcomers, and years of living in the community often felt no different than the day I arrived. For a city that talks endlessly about community, I found remarkably little of it. The culture also felt deeply judgmental. There was a strong sense that certain opinions, lifestyles, careers, and backgrounds were considered acceptable while others were quietly looked down upon. The judgment was rarely direct. Instead, it came through passive aggression, social exclusion, and subtle condescension. Disagreement was often treated as a moral failing rather than a normal part of living in a diverse society. What made this especially disappointing was the contrast between the people and the place itself. The scenery is incredible. The mountains are breathtaking. The waterfront is beautiful. The trails, forests, and islands are some of the best I have ever experienced. Nearly every visitor who came to see us understood immediately why people fall in love with the area. The problem was that the beauty of the landscape could only compensate so much for the culture surrounding it. Bellingham often struck me as a city completely convinced of its own virtue. Criticism was not welcomed. Self-reflection seemed rare. Many residents appeared convinced they lived in a uniquely enlightened community while displaying the same flaws found everywhere else. The difference was that those flaws were frequently hidden behind carefully crafted appearances. After years of investing my time in the community, volunteering at local events, working with schools, participating in public activities, and trying to build meaningful connections, my lasting impression is not one of warmth or belonging. It is a feeling that Bellingham cares far more about maintaining its reputation than examining whether that reputation is deserved. As my family prepares to leave, I find myself surprisingly emotional. Not because I am sad to be leaving the city itself, but because I wanted so badly to love it. The Pacific Northwest landscape delivered everything I hoped for. The community did not. I will miss the mountains. I will miss the water. I will miss the forests. I will miss the sunsets over the bay. What I will not miss is the culture that turned one of the most beautiful places in America into one of the easiest places I have ever left behind.

Here we are, at the 1,000th review…read more What better way to ring it in is to review my hometown, Bellingham, Washington, where I was born, raised, and spent a majority of my life? It's known as the "City of Subdued Enthusiasm," but my enthusiasm can't be subdued. It's really the perfect location -- 45 miles south of Vancouver, B.C. and 90 miles north of Seattle ... not to small, not too big. I grew up overlooking Bellingham Bay, and seeing it up close and personal at Boulevard Park. It's a great mix of people. About 20 of the 80k in the town come from Western Washington University. That means a big chunk of the town is gone in the summer, when the rain disappears and it's 70 degrees and sunny for about 90 days. The Fairhaven District -- although not as hippy as it once was -- is still a great area, with famed Village Books that intermingles with the Colophon Cafe (and their great sandwiches and soups). It's also got amazing parks and trails for walking and biking. Even in the dead of winter, the mild high thirties make almost any day great for a walk. So, if you're thinking of moving to Bellingham, I highly recommend it. I love going back and can't wait to move back (someday, hopefully soon)! Still, after all these years, it's a great place!

USPS clerks here friendly and helpful. Usually no wait, much easier and quicker than other area POs.read more

This is a small post office counter in a gas station, so don't expect much, but service was…read morefriendly and they're open on Saturdays! Due to its size there is only one employee working at a time, so the line can get quite long, but that seems to be true at almost every post office these days. Letter sent from here on a Saturday and arrived across the country the next Tuesday... not bad for 55¢!