I would like to respond to the Name Withheld letter titled "Turn in Your Badge." While I have never been a police officer, I have compassion for anyone who wants to be, or who may have chosen that profession.
Respect the Badge
Posted inOpinion
Don’t Sell Short Sales Short
I would like to comment on your article entitled "Selling the Market Short" in which the writer attempted to warn the public of the result of selling their home via the Short Sale option. While I appreciate the media attempting to keep the public well informed, in this case it was your article that fell "short."
While your article is correct in stating that home owners can be, and most times are, sent a 1099 form in the amount of the "forgiven amount", it is also important to provide information about the Foreclosure Tax Relief Act of 2007 (H.R., 3507) that was passed in December, 2007, and was designed to allow forgiveness of the Federal income taxes that are due as a result of selling your house "short."
While I am in no way offering legal advice, and recommend that anyone who is considering a short sale consult with an attorney and tax accountant, I can say that the Act provides Federal tax relief for those who, during tax years 2007, 2008 and 2009, choose to short sale their primary residence and who receive a 1099 form for the difference in what they owe and what the bank accepted as payment. As of this date, there is no similar relief for investment properties or second homes, and is not applicable on a State tax level.
Posted inNews
As Others See Us
It's always fun to see how people from The Great Outside perceive little old Bend, Ory-gun, so The Eye decided to pass on some observations made by blogger Jim Tankersley of the Baltimore Sun, who was here to cover Barack Obama's appearance on May 10:
Posted inNews
A Pat on the Back for Anti-Resort Vote
The Oregonian’s editorial board handed some praise to Crook County citizens this morning for voting to put the brakes on more destination resorts.
Posted inNews
So Now We’re “The New Boulder”
There they go again: USA Today has published another Chamber-of-Commerce-style puff piece on Bend, touting it as "the new Boulder."
Posted inNews
Westlund Ups the Debate Ante
On Wednesday morning, Republican state treasurer candidate Allen Alley challenged Democratic nominee Ben Westlund to a series of five debates. On Wednesday afternoon, Westlund called Alley's bet and raised him by five.
Posted inNews
A Political Smackdown for Destination Resorts
It's not clear what the legal effect of Crook County's overwhelming vote against destination resorts will be, but it might make public officials all over Central Oregon want to hesitate before throwing open the gates for more of them.
Posted inOpinion
Cat Scratch Fever
Letter of the Week
Jim Anderson (tSW 5/22) has a long list of reasons to be alarmed about the killing of indigenous animals by non-indigenous cats, but he ignores one very critical fact. Countless indigenous populations have been decimated not by cats, but by non-indigenous humans who have irreparably altered or destroyed their natural habitats, or just plain killed them off.
Posted inNews
Westlund’s Opponent Issues Debate Challenge
Republican business executive Allen Alley threw down the gauntlet to Ben Westlund today, challenging his rival for the state treasurer's job to a series of debates.
Posted inMusic
Liner Notes: Don’t Skip the Openers
Did someone say old timey? the decembErists join death cab on Saturday’s lsa bill. This weekend is one of the biggest ever for the Les Schwab Amphitheater, which is hosting what we could fairly call Sasquatch Jr. or perhaps Baby Sasquatch, or maybe Oregon-quatch - take your pick. Any way you split it, we're basically just cashing in on the overflow from the Central Washington mega festival and bringing those acts down our way. This siphoning of Sasquatch Festival acts results in an added bonus - super sweet openers to already super sweet headliners.
The names on your ticket stubs will read Michael Franti & Spearhead, Death Cab For Cutie and Modest Mouse, but the bands warming the stage for those acts could each hold their own as headliners under different circumstances.
Friday night, it's Built to Spill, long time residents in the upper echelon of indie rock, taking the stage with their sometimes poppy, sometimes jammy and always tight brand of rock and roll. We've been looking for BTS to come by for a while now - their hometown of Boise isn't that far away is it? - and now we finally get a stop off.