LO Review & Portland Tribune Acknowledge the spread of the "Clackastani Rebellion"

To All COLA LO Members,

This week the Review acknowledged the Clackastani Rebellion and its growing impact on both regional and local government.   The article Light Rail Rebellion places the justification on rail projects and their impacts exclusively.  This is far from an accurate description of what has been going on in Clackamas County and Lake Oswego for the past three years!

The Clackastani Rebellion is driven not by light rail and mass transit but by the performace of local and regional government.   Its driven by spending, taxation, and the frustration of citizens regarding their representatives lack of consideration in the public process.

Its important to note that the first initiative to pass was a "backdoor tax"  on county residents through a fee.  When a vote of residents was requested our county representatives ignored the request, passed the tax, and drew the ire of the people.   After a citizen driven ballot inittiaitve was approved overwhelmingly,  another issue arose.    When citizens wanted voter approval of Urban Renewal our county commision decided no and another citizen driven ballot measure was passed overwhelmingly.  

So the "light rail only" label given by the Review is absolutely incorreect.   The light rail measure is only the most recent example of citizen frustration with the "lack of representation" at the local and regional level.

Citizens are absolutely livid at their elected officials ignoring their concerns and not recognizing that they are elected to represent the public through a transparent process.  

It will be interesting to see how the media attemtps to "spin"  the ground swell of public involvement in the elections process.    Its no secret that Lake Oswego began the revolt regarding issues like sensitive lands, streetcar, etc.   However it will be interesting to see how that hisory impacts the fall elections at boith the local and county level.

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends....