“I know you are, but what am I?” That refrain has been used to great effect by countless first-graders and adopted as a tagline by Pee Wee Herman, a mocking, juvenile response to an accusation meant to deflect and frustrate the accuser. It is also the unfortunate tone taken last week in response to accusations […]
Editorial
Posted inOpinion
The 12 Percent!
Four years ago, in the 2010 general elections, Scott Ramsay was running for office for the first time. He was facing Chuck Arnold, a popular member of the Downtown community, for Position 7 on Bend City Council. The philosophical differences between the two men were pretty clear. It was at a time when Bend was […]
Posted inOpinion
Hats Off!
In the three races for City Council positions, our editorial team had an incredibly difficult time choosing which candidates to endorse, and for the best reason—we were impressed by all of the candidates. Over the past few months, we have had the opportunity to profile each of the candidates, and additionally hosted them for endorsement […]
Posted inOpinion
Fools Rush In
Probably the most heated debate in Bend right now is how to manage short-term vacation rentals, like Airbnb. Should the city do more than rubberstamp permits to rent out homes? Should the city reign in the number allowed? Should there be increased fees and oversight? And, more broadly, what does all this mean about the […]
Posted inOpinion
Asked and Answered
“Asked and answered” is a simple, but effective and necessary tenet of the legal system that allows a conversation to move forward, even if both sides don’t fully agree. It is an objection. One attorney may object that the opposing attorney continues to ask the same question, even though an answer has been given. And, […]
Posted inOpinion
Get Spinning!
In a recent letter to the editor, one of our readers pointed out that it isn’t the lack of bike racks downtown that limits bike commuting, but the lack of good, safe pathways for cyclists. Yes, we agree. And, in a final report released by the Growth Management Department released this month, it seems as […]
Posted inOpinion
More Than a TV Ad
Leading up to our Endorsement Issue in mid-October, the Source has been conducting interviews with candidates for various offices, from city council to U.S. senate. In the lead-up to that issue, we have been making a concerted effort to provide the most comprehensive election coverage in Central Oregon—and strongly believe we have done so. For […]
Posted inOpinion
Bye Bye Dam, Hello Fish
Next Monday, Sept. 8, the process begins to remove the final remaining concrete dam on Whychus Creek, a narrow waterway that traces north past Sisters and pours into the upper Deschutes River. The project has been spearheaded by the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and, explains Mathias Perle, Project Manager for the organization, will re-open 13 miles […]
Posted inOpinion
What Would Andy Griffith Do?
For the past year, under a lease with the city, Crow’s Feet Commons has managed Mirror Pond Plaza. But last Wednesday, the City of Bend unexpectedly declined to renew that lease. (See “Clipping the Crow’s Wings“) Were there specific complaints that Crow’s Feet Commons was poorly managing the space? Not really. Yes, a few grumblings, […]
Posted inOpinion
The Wheel Thing
September is the Bicycle Transportation Alliance statewide Bicycle Commute Challenge, in which Oregon work places compete to see which can bike more during the month, locally, in October, Commute Options host a similar event, the Drive Less Connect—all of which, to us, seems to like a perfect opportunity for the mayor and city council to […]