Do Not Become Complacent or Complicit
Until recently, some actions by the current administration may have seemed defensible, but three recent measures clearly indicate a concerning authoritarian leaning. One, firing the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Dr. Erika McEntarfer after a disappointing jobs report. The nomination of E. J. Antoni from the Heritage Foundation, a critic of the BLS with little expertise in this area, insures administration favorable data (alternative facts) with dire national and global economic consequences. Two, taking over the D.C. police force and calling in the National Guard to quell the “crimewave” in the nation’s capital. This, in spite of a 30-year low crime rate! And three, issuing an unconstitutional executive order to stop mail voting and prohibit voting machines.
These maneuvers should alert all to the true intent of this administration. Control the data, control the police, control the vote.
What happened to the campaign promises to lower food prices, halt inflation, return manufacturing jobs to the U.S., and bring back the American dream of home ownership? Do not become complacent or complicit – show your disapproval. Call/email your federal and state members of congress to register your concerns, peacefully demonstrate, patronize supportive businesses and vote. Your future economic well-being and freedom are at stake.
Ronald Patterson
Sympathy for Civics Teachers
I want to extend my deepest sympathies to civics teachers. The checks and balances unit as well as the unit comparing democracy to authoritarianism will be particularly challenging this year.
Mary Krakow
Supporting the Tower Theatre
The Tower’s decision makers have no idea what a great addition Stacy Koff will be to The Tower. As a 70-something music lover my family has been attending her 4 Peaks Music Festival for many years. Her lineups have been amazing: Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Hot Buttered Rum, Greensky Bluegrass, Mississippi Allstars, Mevin Seals and JGB, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, ALO , and Billy Strings to name a few. Thank you Stacy and Bend’s beloved Tower.
Linda Brant
Can We Save the Boss?
Bend is about to lose a beloved community gathering place. The Boss Rambler, set back from Galveston Avenue with its Adirondack chairs and welcoming patio, makes the most of its frontage in a way few other spots on the street do. It has become an institution that captures something essential about our city’s character: a laid-back, open spirit that brings people together.
Boss Rambler offers a vibe reminiscent of San Diego’s famous Lahaina beach bar — a rare blend of funky atmosphere, excellent food (thanks to Blue Eye Burgers), and genuine community connection. For many, it’s the perfect post-river stop after floating the Deschutes, just steps from Drake Park’s tubing exit. But the Boss Rambler is more than a convenient location—it’s the only spot I know of where locals and visitors alike can experience a beach bar feel right here in Bend.
In just two weeks, it will be gone. The historic building housing the Boss Rambler has been sold to a developer who plans to demolish it and replace it with a generic two-story commercial structure. Growth is inevitable in a thriving city, but we must ask: what are we losing in the process?
A longtime neighbor says the building is about 100 years old — potentially qualifying it for historic protection. Have we fully explored options for preserving this piece of Bend’s architectural heritage?
Beyond preservation, could there be creative solutions? Other cities have saved beloved establishments through cooperative ownership or preservation trusts. Could Bend residents, businesses, or organizations rally to do the same here?
The Boss Rambler represents something increasingly rare in our rapidly changing city: an authentic, unpretentious space where community naturally forms. As Bend continues to grow, we need gathering places that reflect our distinctive character and bring people together.
I urge city leaders, preservationists, and fellow community members to explore every possible avenue to save the Boss Rambler. Whether through historic designation, community ownership, or a developer partnership that preserves the building’s character, we owe it to ourselves to try.
Some places can be replaced. Others, once lost, are gone forever. The Boss Rambler is worth fighting for — not just as a business, but as a vital piece of what makes Bend special.
Steve Jeanson
Letter of the Week: Thank you Steve! As letter of the week, you can stop by our office on NW Georgia and Bond for a gift card to Palate coffee. Managing Editor Nic Moye
This article appears in the Source September 11, 2025.
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Re: the letter about Boss Rambler. First of all, growth is not inevitable; there is no imperative driving growth. It can be stopped at any time. Second, the Boss Rambler “is a vibe reminiscent of San Diego’s Lahaina beach bar”? Not even close. They both had patios and sell beer. Otherwise, no.