BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The group behind the citizen initiative that would ban coal trains in Bellingham is firing back after a city council member called the measure "flawed."

Councilman Michael Lilliquist said in a recent letter that he supports a lawsuit against the proposed "Bellingham Community Bill of Rights" because the measure is “doomed to being overturned in court.”

Stoney Bird with the group Coal Free Bellingham says it's possible the measure would face legal challenges if passed by voters, but he says the problems caused by coal trains and fossil fuels are too big to leave up to politicians.



Bird says the measure is an attempt to change the political system, and give the people of Bellingham the power to decide what projects are built in the community.

He says the group plans to file a claim against the council today for using a strategic lawsuit against public participation on the measure.