ODOT’s Got a Lot of ‘Splainin’ to Do

Posted inOpinion

ODOT’s Got a Lot of ‘Splainin’ to Do

Eric Flowers

Way to go Source! You really scooped the "other Bend publication" with your story about Ray Perry, the ODOT employee who was fired for coming forward with the misdeeds of ODOT.
I'd like to let Sen. Ben Westlund know he earned my vote for his bid as state treasurer. I am so happy to see that there is an elected official out there who will stand up for the little guy.
And what is up with ODOT's spokesman, Peter Murphy? He referred to Sen. Westlund as "just another person"! I don't ever recall Sen. Westlund implying that he is any better than the rest of us, but I do believe he was elected by a majority of us taxpayers - twice - to represent and look out for our best interest. I think his testifying at Mr. Perry's hearing is proof he is living up the taxpayers' expectations.

Posted inOpinion

The Epitome of Hypocrisy

Eric Flowers

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" – except homosexuals! Hypocrisy epit-omized.
Article I, Section 1, Oregon Constitution: "Natural rights inherent in people. We declare that all men, when they form a social compact are equal in right" – except homosexuals! Hypocrisy and prejudice epitomized.

Posted inNews

Rockin’ Out for Novick

H. Bruce Miller

Jeff Merkley has racked up some impressive endorsements in his race for the Oregon Democratic Senate nomination - a governor and a former governor, a passel of mayors, state senators and state representatives, and a slew of labor organizations. But when it comes to the music scene, his rival Steve Novick leaves him in the dust.

Posted inNews

KTVZ’s idle gaffe

Eric Flowers

One of our staffers was watching American Idol (for research purposes) last night on the local Fox affiliate when the screen went blank on his set as the show ran over into the time slot designated for the nightly news cast, which is beamed over from sister station KTVZ (both stations are owned by the News Press and Gazette Co out of St. Joseph Missouri.

Posted inOpinion

ODOT’s Astounding Arrogance

Eric Flowers

It's hard to believe that an agency as "upstanding" as ODOT would hire a spokesman who is more arrogant than Peter Murphy. But then again, the person who is your spokesman is your mouthpiece, so it stands to reason that Mr. Murphy's comment that Sen. Ben Westlund is "just another person" is also how ODOT feels.
The arrogance of these people is astounding! The fact that Sen. Westlund was the head of the Senate Ways and Means Committee that ODOT has to go to for money makes him NOT "just another person." Mr. Murphy should be referring to an elected official with much more respect. The implication here is that Sen. Westlund has no more credit than Joe Blow down the block, and he's "just another person."

Posted inNews

Road to Nowhere: Former ODOT employee says failing roads got a free pass

Eric Flowers

You don't have to be an engineer to see that many of Central Oregon's highways are falling apart. The roads are scarred with wheel ruts and littered with potholes and haphazard patch jobs. Exhibit number one being the Bend Parkway.
Conventional wisdom tells us that Oregon's practice of allowing studded tires on its roadways is the reason that our streets are in such sorry shape. And there's a good amount of scientific evidence that says that particular piece of conventional wisdom is right on. One estimate put the annual bill for studded tire damage on Oregon roads at $11 million.
There is another theory that has circulated among certain circles, one that I came across early on in my reporting career here in Central Oregon that has never been substantiated - at least to my knowledge. This theory, really more a rumor, held that some of the damage to our roads could be chalked up to lousy materials.
But even those who never heard whisper of an "asphalt conspiracy" would have been interested to hear what a former Oregon Department of Transportation employee had to say during a sparsely attended hearing in Bend last week. Michael Ray Perry told an administrative law judge that he personally tested hundreds of road projects that failed to meet state standards, some of which have already started to fall apart. Moreover, Perry said supervisors routinely dismissed his findings in an effort to keep projects steaming along.

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