When Knute Buehler campaigned last autumn for a seat in the Oregon House, he proudly stated his afflation with the Republican Party, but he also went out of his way to identify his political positions that differ from the political party’s traditional platform. Moreover, he promised to think and vote independently from his party and […]
Editorial
Posted inOpinion
Creating Affordable
During last year’s campaign season, nearly every candidate we interviewed for local offices declared that “affordable housing” is the most pressing issue for Bend, and for the region. With the population in Central Oregon surging, housing prices have been steadily climbing and pricing out more and more levels of income from purchasing homes here. The […]
Posted inOpinion
More Than A Minimum Debate Needed
Over the past year, Wal-Mart has been a microcosm of the debate about minimum wage. Well, as the country’s largest private employer with some 1.2 million workers, not so much a microcosm, but a massive case-study. A year ago, the retail giant was busted for sending its managers talking points to refute the benefits of […]
Posted inOpinion
Open Your Ears
Last Thursday, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission hosted the first official “listening session” on Measure 91 in Central Oregon. The ballot measure legalizing the recreational use of marijuana was passed by statewide voters in November (and passed in Deschutes County 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent), and will take effect on July 1. As evidenced by […]
Posted inOpinion
Meet the New Boss
With some pitiful irony, the full deterioration of John Kitzhaber’s brief fourth term arrived on Friday the 13. But more painful, it was the day before Oregon’s birthday. (Nope, no one in Salem was asking the governor to blow out the candles this year.) But what is particularly odd about the rapid demise and departure […]
Posted inOpinion
Strange Bedfellows
A week ago, the Oregonian made a rash declaration: A month into his new term, Governor John Kitzhaber should resign. The editorial threw fuel on a smoldering fire. For the past four months, the governor has been dogged by questions about his ethics and responsibilities for some questionable, if not outright illegal, decisions made by […]
Posted inOpinion
We Do Need an Education
The high school class of 2013 in Oregon had the worst on-time graduation rate in the country. The rates for the class of 2014 climbed slightly higher, to a “historic high” of 72 percent, as reported in the Oregonian. But still, it’s a dismal rate and has Oregon public schools scraping at the bottom of […]
Posted inOpinion
Trouble in Paradise
On the whole, Bend residents are happy with their quality of life, according to a 2015 survey conducted by DHM Research and presented during a work session at last week’s City Council meeting. The survey polled 400 Bendites by cell phone and landline, and revealed a general upward trend in many major indicators (livability, economic […]
Posted inOpinion
Bigger Than Troy Field
At first glance, Troy Field is not terribly impressive—a flat field surrounded by chain link fence. But it is an invaluable space for many residents. On most days, there is at least some activity there: someone tossing a tennis ball to a golden retriever, or a soccer team practicing. Largely informal, but occasionally the space […]
Posted inOpinion
Standing Up For Free Speech
Last Wednesday, armed gunmen killed 12 people at a French satirical weekly publication Charlie Hebdo. The publication was specifically targeted after it ran cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammad. This following week, Charlie Hebdo has responded bravely and admirably—and in the only way to deal with bullies, not by cowering but by redoubling its publication and […]