Bikes, Cars, and Neighbors: Two Good Projects, One Crowded Corridor
As a homeowner in Luderman Crossing, I am writing to share concerns about the Reed Market and 15th Improvements and Bend Bikeway Project and its impact on residents most directly affected.
The proposed design on SE 15th Street places an 8-foot shared use path and a 6-foot dedicated bike lane immediately against the residential fence line of 10 private homes – 14 feet of active public use space with no meaningful buffer. Light poles currently screened by mature vegetation would relocate directly against that fence line, introducing significant light pollution into homes where none currently exists. Thirteen established trees and all existing vegetation would be removed and replaced with asphalt.
There is simply not enough room in this corridor for everything being proposed. Traffic studies justify an enlarged roundabout based on projected growth and the Bend Bikeway Project is a valued community asset. But both projects are competing for the same constrained right-of-way. Either the proposed 12-foot second traffic lane warrants reconsideration, or the 14 feet of combined recreational space needs to be consolidated into something more proportionate to its residential context.
Safety questions at Iron Horse Lane also remain unresolved. The Reed Market Bridge Project may permanently close Quill Place, forcing 500 daily vehicle movements from 118 homeowners through one intersection navigating three vehicle lanes, a bike lane, and a shared use path.
Compromise is necessary and possible. I hope the community will join this conversation.
—Kirsten Siewert, M.A., LMFT
Why Make Bend a National Park City?
Bend is already living the ideals of a National Park City, where nature isn’t separate from urban life, it defines it. With the Deschutes River running through downtown, an extensive network of trails and parks, and easy access to surrounding wilderness. Bend has embedded outdoor access into everyday living. Residents don’t have to plan time in nature, it’s part of how they move, gather, and experience the city.
What makes Bend stand out is not just proximity to nature, but participation in it. Public lands function as essential infrastructure, supporting walking, biking, recreation and community life. This is reinforced by a culture rooted in stewardship, where growth is balanced with preservation and businesses increasingly align with health, environment, and recreation.
Bend is not perfect, but its strength lies in its mindset: a small city thinking big, continually improving access to nature while protecting the very assets that make it special. At a time when many cities are trying to rebuild their connection to the natural world, Bend offers a proven, scalable model, especially for mid-sized communities.
Official recognition as a National Park City wouldn’t change Bend; it would validate what already exists and elevate it as a national example. And that example matters. If more cities followed Bend’s lead, prioritizing accessible green space, integrated trail systems, and a culture of stewardship, we could share more standout destinations.
That would mean more places to explore, more communities to enjoy, and less pressure on Bend itself, spreading opportunity while preserving what makes it unique.
—Mike Zapp
Deschutes County Commissioner Seat 3
I am writing in support of Amy Sabaddini for Deschutes County Commissioner, Seat 3. I worked alongside Amy for over 15 years in Bend-La Pine Schools and can say without hesitation that she brings integrity, thoughtfulness, and deep commitment to her work.
As Amy transitioned into new roles in education, she continued to collaborate, problem-solve, and work toward a stronger, more responsive system for students and our community. Amy consistently stood out for her ability to turn ideas into meaningful action.
She has designed impactful learning experiences, led professional development, and brought diverse voices together to foster thoughtful dialogue. Her work in civics education reflects respect for multiple perspectives and a commitment to engaging constructively across differences—work that requires balance and trust, both of which she demonstrates consistently.
Amy is widely respected as reliable, hardworking, and deeply invested in others. She leads with both inspiration and realism, focusing on the work rather than personal recognition.
Attacks on Amy misrepresent who she is. She is principled, honest and respectful, leading with humility and a genuine desire to serve.
Deschutes County would benefit from her experience and collaborative spirit. I strongly support her candidacy.
—Monica Freeman
Against a Climate Impact Fee
You say you are all so very invested in creating affordable housing. Then you decide to charge undue fees for gas appliances. As a landlord let me tell you the truth — you require me to pay a fee that I will pass on to my renter and let them know you are at fault. While I am fine with upgrading my appliances to electric as they need replacing, I will not do so before the end of their life. That is wasteful as heck. Seems to me you all are real confused and super short sighted if you think for a second you are reaching any goals for this community by placing this undue burden on those of us who own older homes in the area. In fact you just prove you want to make it more difficult to be a person of modest income in Bend.
Your culture at the City is one of virtue signaling while screwing the middle class here. You just want wealthy constituents in Bend and it shows. Your obscene hypocrisy and inability to move Bend in a fair direction for all citizens is negligent. Just know that we see these efforts to green things up as the prop you put up to feed your own egos, not to help actual citizens. You are unfairly penalizing all of us in Midtown. You just want us to sell to developers so they can feed your SDC fee coffers and build overpriced crap housing on our nice signal family lots, many of which have primarily gas utilities as was once encouraged by the city.
If you actually gave a poop about any citizens you would waive or decrease SDC fees to the same degree you do major developers in the area so we could build AUDs to help affordable housing and give us grants to upgrade to electric. Thing is, the grid can’t handle that only electric lifestyle you are pimping and you don’t care about the citizens of Bend in any tangible way and haven’t for around 16 years now.
The current city government is broken and bought. I hope you pull your heads out and do something decent for once and make an actual plan of action that doesn’t hurt the little guy for once, but as beholden as you are to your grandiose notion of power and enjoyment of glad handing corporate development, I am sure not holding my breath. You will make yet another decision to hurt affordable housing options in Bend. I had planned to never increase rent on my midtown home that a single mom rents and not charge an amount that exceeds my mortgage on the property, with the exception of yard maintenance and a small stipend for home repair and property management. You approve this and the rent will go up exactly the extra amount you are charging. How do you like them apples? Get a clue. Do your job better.
Good citizen with bad governance,
—Christy Nickey
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
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