White Elephant
Our County officials have consistently made decisions in direct conflict with the goals and values of Bend, the county’s largest community. The new courthouse expansion is the most visible and offensive example of their distain for our city.
In 2-1 votes, commissioners DeBone and Adair have consistently voted against Bend’s interests. During his 15 years in office, Commissioner DeBone approved development of nearly 4,000 acres [of] farmland and forest into multi-acre lots with luxury single-family homes, sacrificing our precious open lands, one of the most precious assets of our outdoor-oriented community, in favor of the interests of his real estate developer supporters.
Now let’s look at the “White Elephant” the commissioners have approved for one of the most visible and prominent corners of Bend’s downtown. Does it reflect our love of natural materials and rustic design? No, it’s built of black bricks and concrete slabs.
Does it respect our commitment for preservation of the environment? No, instead the concrete slabs on its exterior are a major source of Co2 emissions, accounting for nearly 10% of all carbon emissions.
And it makes no attempt to be consistent with the scale and design of our downtown buildings, and especially the stone-front county annex building they destroyed to clear the site.
No wonder there’s no sensitivity in the design to our values or culture. The Commissioners hired LRS Architects for the job, a Portland-based firm with experience in huge residential complexes and renovation of at least one high-rise tower. It’s certainly no coincidence that the firm acquired a small local firm, GL3, just months before the RFP was issued. But make no mistake, this is not a “local” firm. It’s a firm with Portland experience and Portland values.
Luckily, we don’t have to tolerate this self-serving approach to County government much longer. The recent primary, and November’s general election, will give us a new commission, with both Adair and DeBone leaving office.
County voters are choosing change, and it’s a change that’s way overdue. Let’s look forward to a new era of county government, one that will support, not thwart, our values and goals.
–Louis Capozzi
Wyden “Spitting into the Wind” ?
Not sure what you or the Source was thinking with the Aug. 13 Opinion piece, “Ron Wyden, Spitting into the Wind.” Sen. Ron Wyden has for decades been a highly effective, respected and responsive Senator for our state and the title you chose for the opinion piece was a disservice to him and his accomplishments!
A better title would have been, “Wyden Pushes (or Fights) Back” as he fights against the tRump/Republican stonewalling and open corruption.
Mr. Wyden deserved better than that title, which I understand historically means “futility” or ignorance of your own actions, both of which are in direct contradiction to Mr Wyden’s long and distinguished career.
You could have done much better I think, just my 2 cents….
–Cameron Jett
RE: Bend City Council to Consider Ways to Spur Housing, News, 8/6
Gee, a committee of housing developers, bankers and representatives from the Central Oregon Builders Association and Bend Chamber of Commerce think that they should get a lot of taxpayer money. Check your tax bill and see how many levies and “fees” are stacked up there. It may be that a new housing report will find that nearly all property owners in Bend are “tax-burdened.”
—Geoff Reynolds via bendsource.com
RE: Financial Spelunking, Feature, 8/13
Thank you, Peter, for comparing the core governmental economic facts with succinct objective eloquence, free of political blame and “marketing.”
We all crave more non-partisan objective understanding of our reality.
—Tad Hodgert via bendsource.com
Recovery of Words
At my first Central Oregon Writers Guild meeting, I sat in front, eyes straight ahead, spine stiff. The prompt was nature. Soon I was categorizing trees, indigenous, or not, the insects that sustain them, or don’t. I didn’t share. Walking out, I made a three-pointer into the trash bin. At home, I practiced responding to prompts, wanting to be ready next time.
At the second meeting, the theme was “Metaphors to Enrich Your Writing,” taught by Dani Nichols. We were given a prompt and eight minutes to write. We broke into groups and shared. Then the instructor asked if anyone wanted to read to the room.
“Is this good enough to share?” I whispered to the young woman in my breakout group.
“Yes.”
I raised my hand. She didn’t choose me. She asked again. My hand went up.
This time, she chose me. I chose domino effect. My voice shook as I read:
Rectangles, straight and stiff, lined up ten, twenty, forty, fifty or more, unflinching, waiting — still.
“That was very strong,” she said.
The guild meets downstairs, first floor, at the new Central Library. COWG brings in professional speakers to teach craft across a variety of genres, and provides opportunities to share and listen to each other’s work.
A friend once asked me: Do people listen to you? Do you speak with authority? Does anyone listen to your words?
“Sometimes,” I said. I thought of my dogs.
Here, at the guild, they do.
— Laurie Clark
The Source Shouldn’t Sleep on Prineville!
I’m writing to petition The Source to consider adding a section for Prineville in the 2027 “Best of Central Oregon” publication. Though I imagine The Source isn’t widely circulated in Prineville, relatively speaking, there are numerous spots worth taking into consideration. For example (in my humble opinion):
Best burgers: The Dawg House
Runner up: Dillon’s Grill
Best food truck: Tee’s Thai
Runner up: Wild Catch
Best coffee: Golden Coffee Co.
Runner up: Friend’s Espresso
Best gift store: Headbangers
Runner up: Oliver’s Books
The list goes on! I live in Prineville, but I’m in Redmond and Bend every other day, so I can say with full confidence that I’ve gotten a great deal of variety over the years. However, Prineville shouldn’t be slept on, which is why I’m writing to ask that you consider throwing our hat into the ring for “Best of Central Oregon.” Minor rant over, thanks!
—Dylan S. Levi
Letter of the Week:
Thanks for your suggestions, Dylan! Prineville, we’re coming for ya next year….
Next time you’re in Bend, Dylan, stop in for your Letter of the Week gift card!
—Editor in Chief Nicole V.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
