Letters To The Editor
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 12:05 PM PDT
More political arrogance in Salem sends the wrong message
Editor,
The arrogance and political pandering of the last legislative session continues to go on and on. The governor, the far left legislative leaders and willing judges have circumvented built-in safeguards to again reward cronies, and tax and spend at unsustainable levels.
Three issues, two of which we will have to vote on referendums, come immediately to mind.
Measure 50, which in my mind violates the Oregon Constitution, is an 84.5 cent cigarette tax. It will not raise the $153 million, and once enacted will have to be rescued by major new taxes. Judge Paul Lipscomb said the measure is constitutional. I think Oregon has more liberal judges than almost any state with a generation of one party domination.
The next, Measure 49, the liberal, partisan, dishonest attempt of in-your- face politics for the environmental crowd to replace Measure 37. Measure 37 was a responsible land use measure passed by 60 percent of Oregon voters. The language on the referendum is so dishonest that many decent people have challenged its wording only to be strong-armed by willing judicial partisans who believe they know better than the “stupid voters” who supported Measure 37.
The next is the chicanery of the governor and his staff to raise the pay of 60 department heads by 21 to 24 percent, and the 4,800 managers will get between 11 to 16 percent increases. When have you, the average citizen, got such lavish raises? The public relations machine has been ramped up to justify these raises. These poor managers are paid less than market rate! Where is the proof that we have lost good managers?
Lewis Groberg
Ontario
Voters should be careful not to vote away rights
Editor,
Measure 37 was approved by voters, in 35 of 36 Oregon counties in 2004, who considered the state of affairs in Oregon’s land use laws, and collectively made a rational decision that private property rights had to be preserved in the state. Then we voted again to assure the government we really did support Measure 37. Some legislators decided in 2007 that voters are not able to understand private property rights so to save us from ourselves, they fiddled with words and created Measure 49. Taking property without compensation is unjust and each person must stand firm against what the legislators have word-smithed as a ruse. Measure 49 is 24 pages of fundamentally-flawed regulations that offer no more than the same draconian land use abuse we had before our votes in 2004. Property owners with Measure 37 claims are likely to find themselves taking on new burdens as they attempt to get through the paperwork maze, hire appraisers, attorneys, attend public hearings, and also pay government planners and lawyers to review their work to prove a claim and use their private property. Measure 49 takes us back to the days of government interference with our land use laws. There is no compromise in the expensive, complex and ambiguous measure that places many claims in the out-of-luck column and challenges the wallet of all others. The proponents of Measure 49 are saying it protects farm and forest land and property rights. We fail to understand how a vote allowing government to dictate the use of one’s property without compensation can be called protection of private property. If the electorate can vote away basic rights with the likes of Measure 49, that being the rights inherent in the ownership of land, what in our constitution can be sacred enough not to take? Vote no on Measure 49 … again!
Pat Larson, Secretary, Union County Cattlemen
La Grande
A ‘thank you’ to the Argus Observer for story
Editor,
We were very pleased that you did an article on Danny Moore, “A Second Chance,’ Aug. 24. However, we are more pleased that you told the people of Ontario, about the “Back to School Neighborhood Party” held in Eastside Park on Aug. 25.
We would like to thank you, Argus Observer, and the following patrons and supporters for your donations, time, aid, assistance and volunteer efforts to make the Aug. 25 event a very special day for the wonderful children and their families!
Thank you to the Argus Observer, the Chamber of Commerce, Malheur County Community Corrections, Holiday Inn, Kinney & Keele (True Value), The Co-op, Wal-Mart, Bi-mart, ABC-Absolutely Better Hearing Center, D & B Supply, Red Apple Marketplace, McDonald’s (East Idaho location), Ontario Middle School, The First Assembly of God Church (Pastor A. Moore), Idaho Youth Ranch (Ontario location), Malheur County Commission on Children & Families, LOVE, Inc., Coronas Bakery, Benson Glass and Paint (Jim), Payless Shoe Source (Jill), Cindy and Jerry, Captain Alexander of the Ontario Police Department, Scott Trainor and all our volunteers: Jackie Jones, Mike Henry, Jonah and Mina, Romero and Maria, Cindy, Chryle, Elaine, Ray and Renee, just to name a few.
My wife and I give God the honor, glory and praise for this newspaper and all of those who helped bring delight to the Eastside children. Be blessed in my higher power, Jesus!
Danny Moore
Ontario
Argus showed poor taste with article on alleged abuse
Editor,
Our family recently participated in your pet photo contest to help raise money for the newspaper in school’s program. After reading your article on a Fruitland woman, we were appalled at the lack of editing and responsible journalism. This story reeks of tabloid sensationalism, and needed a parental discretion advisory above it. Is this really what we want distributed into our public schools? You chose to print details that the television and radio used discreetly and omitted. These details were far too graphic for the general public, and of such a sensitive nature that you have further victimized innocent children in this case. Was it really necessary to print their address? We have heard from young and old, male and female alike, that this story was far too graphic. We think the local school districts should think twice before allowing this kind of journalism into our schools. Students are not allowed to access books or Internet pages that are as explicit as your article. This is not a movie, it is real life, and should be articulated as so. Keep in mind that sensationalism and sex may be what sells movies, but is not what this community wants in a local newspaper.
Mark and Shawna Saito
Ontario
Seeking some rental housing answers
Editor,
My subject is housing rentals. I am in view of a duplex rental where the new owner has removed excess shrubbery, added a new roof, new paint, new windows and doors, a new sidewalk and porch pad, and purchased a new riding mower to help control some of the weeds. While he still has a ways to go with the backyard trash and the second growth trees in the back yard, I certainly commend this person for trying to improve the looks and value of this rental and to make his tenants more comfortable. He deserves to be called a landlord.
In contrast, adjacent to my home is a disintegrating shanty on the rental market that has plagued me with dogs, weeds, 30- foot-long tree root sprouts, a falling dead tree, ant and earwig infestations, and a massive leaning block chimney 2 feet from the property line.
A number of years back the government had a free attic insulation program, and a few cans of cheap paint to cover the crud and mold, this is all the owner maintenance this shanty has had in the past 40 some years.
Yes, I said business. You contact any public official, insurance company or utility person and they will either cut you off short or tip-toe around the dump rental issue, saying it pertains to private property or that it has been lived in recently. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is an error here.
That rental is there to create an income. It is a business, just as rental storage units, an overnight motel or a hotel room. It provides lodging of some sort for a month, for a monthly fee.
Yes, there are two kinds of landlords but one is and one isn’t, and the “isn’t’s” need some mandatory guidelines.
Harold Smith
Payette
Payette’s River of Life sends out a thank you
Editor,
The River of Life Christian Center would like to thank the following contractors for making the new “Life Center” building a possibility and a huge success: Mussell Construction, Nampa, Holladay Engineering, Payette, Hell’s Canyon Electric, Weiser, Bainbridge Appraisal, Ontario, Western Fire & Security, Fruitland, NW Specialty Paint, Nyssa, Jerry and Steve Allen, Nyssa, Tracie Helgert, Emmett, John Dyer and Eldon Issac, Payette, Performance Mechanical, Emmett, Comfort Solutions, Boise, Spiers Construction, Caldwell, and Stucco Works, Meridian. Because of your talents and expertise, generations of people will be blessed with a place of worship and community!
What Tha wrote on Oct 22, 2009 8:20 PM:
Idaho Public Utilities Commission, in opposition to the proposed rate increase of 44% to farmers and
businesses
Idaho PUC? "