I was seriously disturbed this week to see that The Source stupped (sic) so low as to let the Stars Caberet advertise such pornographic filth. The last time I checked a "live donkey show" was illegal in the USA.
In the "Best of Central Oregon" issue, I noticed a little blurb in the eponymous section reading, "Best Way to Tell Someone's a Ski Instructor: Because He Keeps Telling You He's a Ski Instructor." The author, (BL), goes on to make comparisons to rafting guides and "those bizarro dudes who smack each other in Drake Park.
On Saturday evening another person was rescued from drowning in the spillway. He was a floater with an air mattress and ended up in the middle of the river fighting to get away from the spillway.
While our fine City continues to paste yellow "smiley faces" over a myriad of problems at Juniper Ridge, The Bulletin provides front page coverage for a miniscule 10 employee (no new job) candidate for property there. Taxpayers should start asking penetrating questions regarding how much this will cost after the shellacking we took from Les Schwab along with the following:
1. State of the Union at JR
Preface: Last December Jim Clinton said, and I quote, that "as time goes on, all of these forces have come to bear which will likely lead to a dumbed-down mediocre project. I keep wondering if the mess we're in now was foreseeable, and I guess for me it wasn't." Moreover, developers across CO are scrambling for sidelines, mothballing projects, reneging on deals, and filing for bankruptcy in this ugly market.
Question: Given the sincerity of Jim's assessment, the myriad of problems that JR has encountered, and a bleak economic outlook, why are we pouring millions into this black hole?
Privatize the profits and socialize the costs - it's The American Way. We saw it in action on a large scale earlier this summer with the federal bailout of Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And last week we saw it on a smaller scale in Bend, when the city council voted to bail out our beleaguered local builders.
The council unanimously okayed a proposal to give anybody who builds in Bend a nine-month deferral on having to pay SDCs - Systems Development Charges, meant to help pay for upgrades to roads, sewer systems and other stuff made necessary by growth. The only security the city will have is a lien on the property.
The bailout was pushed by the Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA), backed by the Central Oregon Realtors Association (CORA). Their reasoning (using the term loosely) is that deferring SDCs will help the local building industry get through a rocky patch caused by the popping of the real estate bubble. SDCs typically run about $14,000 per house. Because builders won't have to pay them up front, the argument goes, they won't need to borrow as much and it will be easier for them to get loans and build. And then - presto! - the good times will roll again.
It's been a rough year locally for non-profits. The Redmond Humane Society is on the verge of financial collapse, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Oregon are closing several locations because of a cash shortage and the Cascade Festival of Music packed it in, owing to a lack of sponsors.
As if the tough economic times, which have sent donors and sponsors heading for the sidelines, weren't enough, the taxman is getting in on the act. Not the IRS mind you. No, it's the county tax collectors who are putting the pinch on one local non-profit, Arts Central, the regional arts council, that provides art opportunities for kids as well as support for public art displays, like Bend's roundabouts.
Executive Director Cate O'Hagan said that Arts Central recently got word from the Deschutes County Assessor's Office that it is revoking the organization's tax-exempt status for the Mirror Pond gallery in downtown. The gallery, which sits adjacent to Drake Park in the historic Rademacher house, is an exhibition outlet for local artists and one of the few sources of non-donor/grant revenue for the local arts group.
I would like to address the dogs in McKay Park.
I am highly allergic to dogs and cats.
I do not know Ben Westlund, nor have I ever met him, but for the past four days The Bulletin has been crying out "Crucify him, Crucify him, Crucify him." These words have a Biblical ring to them and have now taken on a more contemporary rendition.
I am opposed to the Bend Municipal Airport Urban Renewal Plan, especially with the downturn in the economy. Now is not the time to pursue a $10 million plan at the expense of the taxpayers.
Thank you for your editorial about State Senator Ben Westlund, Democratic Candidate for State Treasurer. I want to commend you for providing a balance to The Bulletin's tired and, as usual, biased coverage.
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