JPOC debates data dashboard, messaging to explain progress on Whatcom justice projects

Whatcom County’s Justice Project Oversight and Planning Committee met May 15 and spent much of the session discussing how to present progress on the county’s 15 implementation-plan projects to the public, including a proposed data dashboard and boosted social-media outreach.

Committee co-chair Tasha Thompson opened the meeting and framed the discussion as a push for transparency and regular updates as the county moves forward on the new jail and a colocated behavioral care center. “We’re gonna look at prioritizing measures for the data dashboard,” she told members as the meeting began.

Why it matters: Voters approved a sales-and-use tax in November 2023 that funds elements of the implementation plan; residents and local businesses are seeking regular, concrete updates about where money and staffing are going and what results the projects are producing. Several committee members said an accessible dashboard and short social posts would reduce confusion about who is driving which decisions and highlight near-term wins such as hires or fundraising milestones.

Key points and next steps

- Who is responsible and why the county needs clearer messaging. Sheriff Tank told the committee that many residents assume the Sheriff’s Office is “the…