“Sound of Freedom” I very much enjoy Jared Rasic’s shows and movie reviews. I save his reviews and check out what he writes about in his column. I’ve managed to find some movies/shows that I enjoy because he takes the effort to do the initial screening for me. I do not understand, though, why the […]
Opinion
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Is Tom McCall’s Vision Coming True?
Oregonians have been quoting and re-quoting Tom McCall for decades – some in favor of his sentiment; others wary of the drawbridge mentality that came with it
Ever since Gov. Tom McCall in 1971 encouraged people to come to visit Oregon, “but for heaven’s sake, don’t come here to live,” the state has had a reputation for attempting to control growth and discourage newcomers. The problem with that reputation is that it empowered the anti-development sentiment that left us in the housing […]
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Letters to the Editor 12/28/2023
Guest Opinion: Your Vote, Your Voice By Karen Spears Zacharias Oregon led the nation in voter turnout in 2022, but just barely — Oregon edged out Maine voters by 0.5%. Oregon’s youth voter turnout was fourth in the nation, at 35.5%. The higher-than-normal mid-term election turnout was propelled in part by two issues most concerning […]
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An End-of-Year Opinion Lightning Round
To spare you some precious time, let’s do this in a “good-bad-ugly” lightning round, shall we?
The end of a year is typically a good time to take stock, review what’s working and what still needs to change. In this week’s Opinion, we’re doing just that — taking a look at some of the issues we, and our readers, care about. To spare you some precious time, let’s do this in […]
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Letters to the Editor 12/21/2023
RE: Exploring Climate-Friendly Communities. Feature, 12/14 The article “Exploring Climate Friendly Communities” feels out of touch with the realities of navigating our town by way of alternative transportation (walking, biking, bus, etc.). Car-free zones and walkability sounds like a dream, don’t get me wrong. But this is all aimed at benefiting the rich. It doesn’t […]
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In Josephine County, a Dangerous Precedent is Set in Opting Out of Taxes
Public services may not benefit us directly, but they benefit us all as a whole
Earlier this month, county commissioners in Josephine County in southern Oregon voted to allow a couple to opt out of paying taxes to the Josephine Community Library District, after the couple alleged they do not benefit from library services. Since that decision, four more people in that county have requested to be removed from the […]
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Letters to the Editor 12/14/2023
Chavez-DeRemer’s Reckless Voting Record Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer voted to install Mike Johnson as speaker of the house to replace Kevin McCarthy. So what did her reckless vote give us? Johnson, who is two heartbeats away from the presidency, played a leading role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election. Now he is releasing video […]
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Bend’s Tree Code: Too Much of a Compromise?
When developers raze a large lot to build housing, leaving no vegetation – let alone any trees at all – we lose crucial tools that store carbon, create shade, provide wildlife habitat and so much more
Ask the average person about Bend’s biggest challenges and near the top of the list will almost always be housing. The combo of a sprawl-limiting Urban Growth Boundary, high labor costs and a desirable place to live mean that housing prices are at a premium in Bend. That combo also means that when developers find […]
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The Oregon Legislature, a “Super School Board”
Per state tradition, the Oregon State Legislative Assembly only meets for a “short session” during even-numbered years – giving state legislators just one month for legislative fixes and other stuff that didn’t get done the previous year. But in 2024, that short session is shaping up to be on the long side. Not only do […]
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Letters to the Editor 12/07/2023
RE: The Cycle of Violence in Palestine. Guest Opinion, 11/30 To add to the necessary context — but without endorsing violence directed against anyone — I would mention the September 1982 attacks against the Shatila and Sabra refugee camps in Lebanon. Between 2000 and 3500 Palestinians and Lebanese civilians were killed over the course of […]
