Bend City Council
Has the Bend City Council lost its fricken mind? This is my own “Political Analysis,” in effect “the story behind the story” that most readers will not see in the local press.
I believe Sally Russell is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” She ran as a member of the Democratic Party and with their endorsement and full support for a supposedly non-partisan position.
She espoused positions that would make any knowledgeable voter believe that she was a “progressive.” Except when it came time to appoint a citizen to Council, she then voted as a card-carrying member of the Bend Special Interest Group: the Bend Chamber, builders, developers and realtors. She now claims to be a “centrist,” whatever that means in the Deschutes County Democratic Party.
Russell, as a Democrat, would certainly prefer another progressive to complete her term. Moseley, a Republican, would certainly have preferred a conservative and likely a candidate that had the backing of the Bend Special Interest Group.
That would be understandable. Elections have consequences, as we all know.
Surprise, surprise when it came to decision time, Russell shocked the citizens of Bend and progressives and conservatives and voted for a white, male Republican with virtually no previous community involvement and no governmental experience. What the hell!
City-released emails clearly demonstrate that this candidate was heavily promoted and lobbied for by the Bend Special Interest Group. When Russell’s vote was made, Councilor Abernathy, a graduate of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and faced with his personal “Profiles in Courage” moment, caved and also voted for Piper.
Previously there was talk on the Council that an “ideological balance,” which had been four progressives and three conservative councilors, was publicly preferred. Now in a flash, the Council makeup became five conservatives supported by the Bend Special Interest Group and two progressives. No one with common sense can ever again trust that Russell and Abernathy will ever vote with the two real progressives who are on the Council today. What a turnaround, what a betrayal orchestrated by Russell.
Bend voters defeated Bill Moseley for mayor, Andrew Davis and Sarah McCormick for Council, all candidates backed by the Bend Special Interest Group and with $100,000 plus in campaign contributions. Progressive voters (Democrats and Independents) primarily woke up finding the “ideological balance” gone and the Bend Special Interest Group totally in the driver’s seat in our city, with a 5-2 advantage. Russell clearly thwarted the will of the people.
Russell should be censored, sanctioned and or reprimanded by the Deschutes County Democratic Party and possibly subject to recall as mayor, after six months in office.
Bend has been strangled by the Bend Special Interest Group for the past 30 years. Voters who defeated candidates with huge special interest campaign contributions last November are awakening. We need to be vigilant, and take back our city and the future we want for the next generation of Bend residents.
—Brian M. Douglass
County on Hook for trip
After reading the article in the Bend Bulletin on the February 4th front page I was appalled at County Commissioner Phil Henderson’s comments about “the practice of not overseeing each other’s plans” regarding his trip to the ALEC conference. Where is the oversight? As a retired employee of Deschutes County this has not been the policy that I was allowed to follow. In fact, for any conference attendance, you needed permission, it had to be cost effective, and for the most part we were not allowed to attend anything out of state, with very few exceptions. As far as reimbursement—estimates needed to be made and okayed ahead of time, and receipts/ out of pocket costs needed to be turned in immediately upon return—NOT A MONTH LATER. I think it is the responsibility of the County administrator to be giving this more oversight. Attending conferences like the National Association of Counties and Association of Oregon Counties makes total sense, as does meetings with our legislatures in Salem, but to attend any kind of conference that clearly is political in nature is totally unacceptable.
—Mary Fleischmann
Editor’s note: ALEC is an acronym for the American Legislative Exchange Council, whose motto is “limited government, free markets, federalism.”
Cougar killing increases conflict
The Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife killed a 135-pound male cougar in Deschutes River Woods near Bend, once again demonstrating how little they know about cougar ecology or more likely how little they care about science.
What ODFW should know is that male cougar patrol a territory and keep other younger cougars at bay. There is nothing to indicate that this adult male was a threat to any people. Indeed, the fact that it had attained adult size and age is an indication of its ability to “stay out of trouble.”
But with the killing of this large male, ODFW has opened the territory for other younger males—males that may not be as efficient hunters or less shy around humans. In any event, what they have done is INCREASED the likelihood of a conflict between cougars and people.
But then ODFW doesn’t seem to care much about ecology at all. If they did, they would not allow the hunting of predators.
—George Wuerthner, ecologist, former predator biologist and author of 38 books.
George: Thanks for weighing in on what is most certainly an emotional issue for a lot of people. Come on in for your gift card to Palate!
—Nicole Vulcan
This article appears in Feb 13-20, 2019.
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Nichole, George was weighing in on what should be an issue of science and data for our tax funded agencies at all levels.
In Alaska, tiny tourist dogs are snack-sized for local Bald Eagles but law enforcement don’t call in the exterminators.
Emotional law enforcement officers making decisions based on fear and prejudice are not good for anyone, no matter how many legs they have.
Fear and Prejudice? How about human safety? This large cat–double the weight of the cat reportedly that was suffocated/strangled by an adult male in Colorado–was living under decks, hot tubs and frequented the river trail.
It is rare where and when a cat can be tranquilized and moved–typically can be injured or killed in the fall out of large pines, 50′-60′ feet up. And, once moved, become troubled cats again. Where would ODFW take this cat? IF moved, it will confront another cat and possibly displace it, or be injured and killed in the teritorial fight–there just aren’t easy answers when ALL of us are to blame for living where their meals live in the winter.
The Trump Administration’s complete and udder failure to “protect and defend”, as is stated in the oath that every single person who serves us swears too, must leave every Patriot in complete disgust! Why? Our neighbors throughout the world have finally had it! The trust and support we have enjoyed since the end of the last World War have been discarded to the ashcan of history. Ditto Pence stood in front of our European friends and failed significantly to address the continued threat that the Russian government has escalated in recent years. God knows, I’m the last person to ever want a war and that is why I must speak out. Some of my friends think that demanding fiscal responsibility from the members of NATO is reason enough to blindly support Trump in his assault on the Organization. There is no question that they do need to step up to the fiscal plate! But that is only one consideration! The Russians now are using the Internet as a weapon to spread discontent in Europe and at home. Divide and conquer, the oldest trick in the playbook of disaster to humankind. Trump stands next to Putin and sides with him over our own intelligence system. That alone tells me he has broken the solemn oath that Patriots swear to uphold.
Added to all of this is Trump’s declaration of tariff wars with other countries. The “greatest genius” of all things is leading us into economic disruption. History has shown that tariff wars never have succeeded. I served the agriculture community several years. I can tell you from professional experience that if you destroy markets, it cost you years to reestablish them. Food has always served not only as an economic force, but also as a cornerstone of our international relations.
In summation, this Administration is not protecting America! America has been great since its inception because we are a democratic republic; there is no “again”. I am not willing to set on the sidelines for two more years. We simply cant afford it in more ways than I can imagine! I submit that for these issues alone, we need to Take America Back Again! Are you willing to take personal responsibility to do the same?
Dictionary result for udder
noun: udder; plural noun: udders
the mammary gland of female cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and related animals, having two or more teats and hanging between the hind legs of the animal.