Councilor Donna Jordan's Article in Oregonian Draws Substantial Comment

To All COLA LO Members,

Councilor Jordan's recent article in the Oregonian entitled   My Turn: Lake Oswego streetcar proposal has more support than you'd think

has drawn substantial comment from residents online.   The online comments can be found at:

http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2011/06/my_turn_lake_oswego_streetcar_proposal_has_more_support_than_youd_think.html

The article provides a position on the streetcar and Councilor Jordan's views on public input from the community.    It is an important viewpoint on the Council.   It is a direct reaction to an article written by Councilor Olson in the Lake Oswego Review and the Oregonian.  

Please notify all friends, members and contacts.   

Citizen Claims Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Ignoring the Public

To all COLA LO Members,

A local citizen wrote a recent article indicating that the PRAB is practicing Slash 7 Burn tactics at its public hearings while ignoring the comment and desires of citizens. Its an interesting article involving future development at the Luscher Farm complex where there seems to be a battle between planned sports fields and the natural environment of the area.

  

the PRAB acts in ‘slash-and-burn style’ article can be found at:  http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=130878449487047100

Please notify all members, friends, and contacts.

COLA LO Board Member submits article to LO Review

TO All COLA LO Members,

Board Member Dave Luck submitted an opinion article to the LO review last week.  In it he outlines the positions of various council members documenting their decisions and the impact they may have on the future.   It provides interesting commentary for review.

The article can be found at:

http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=130894204743861800

Councilor Jordan Refutes Article By Councilor Olson in LO Review

To All COLA LO Members,

Councilor Donna Jordan has published an article in the LO Review and the Oregonian refuting the positions taken by a previous article written by Councilor Mary Olson.  In the article she supports the streetcar project and the foothills development and states:

"Councilor Olson, the streetcar will not “rob” our city of its beauty or safety. Only the fear-mongering opponents of the streetcar and Foothills redevelopment have peppered the public meetings with flyers showing steel and glass high rise architecture"

The article can be found at: http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=130894188065287600

The original article by Councilor Mary Olson entitled  'Prudent, thoughtful, responsible’ made the following statement:

Somehow, our quiet, safe, beautiful suburban town is not good enough for Mayor Hoffman. He wants to remake it into his own vision of “new urbanism” via streetcar and Foothills, as his “legacy.” Later on the same day as his appearance at Clackamas County, in a meeting of the Foothills Oversight Committee, he was rapturous in describing yet another trip to Vancouver, B.C. Mayor Hoffman, we are not Vancouver B.C. and more importantly, we don’t want to be!

Let’s not allow the streetcar to rob our city of its ability to preserve our unique neighborhoods, build a new library and thoughtfully redevelop Lake Grove as we have done in our beautiful downtown. Together, we can keep Lake Oswego affordable and maintain our wonderful quality of life. Let’s continue to improve and develop our city in a prudent, thoughtful, and responsible manner, for the benefit of all our citizens.

The article can be found at:  http://thevig.portlandtribune.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=130817471951629800

County Commisioner Ann Linninger Comes out in Favor of Streetcar

To All COLA LO Members,


Last week in an opinion article for the LO Review County Commissioner Ann Lininger expressed her support for the streetcar from Portland to Lake Oswego.   The article published in the Review has received strong opposition in online comments but presents a very clear picture of the Commissioner's views.  

It provides for interesting reading and can be found at:

http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=130878101668325400

Oregonian reports "Years for the local economy to recover"

To All COLA LO Members,


Recent reports in both the Oregonian and Business Week cite an IHS Global report indicating that it will be until 2014 before Portland will recover jobs lost in the recession.    Its a difficult picture for many cities including Bend according to the recent study released this week by the conference of mayors. 

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9O0FBE03.htm
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/06/oregon_cities_from_portland_to.html


A video on KOIN TV can be found at this link:

http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Overall-slow-recovery-for-Portland-job-market/dyOTGq7Tsk232Mze6-4S8A.cspx

The Oregonian published these statistics this week:

Councilor Tierney Raises Taxes - Reverses Position Again!

To all Cola LO Members,

The Oregonian reports that once again Councilor Bill Tierney voted to raise the taxes of residents and businesses after electing not to allow a vote to repeal the franchise fee increase on utilities.   The Citizens Budget Committee recommending repealing the fee increase and reducing expenditures to offset the fee increase after six weeks of deliberations.

lake_oswego_forgoes_repeal_of_citywide_fee_increase.html

At that time Councilor Tierney indicated he had heard the wrath of voters against the Franchise tax increase and Councilor Mary Olson proposed a solution to allow for NO TAX INCREASE on Lake Oswego Residents.   Tierney appeared to embrace the alternative and voted for it as a member of the Budget Committee.  

When the council voted on the budget he supported raising Taxes and increasing spending as a result of the increased tax revenue or the Franchise Fee Tax.  

Councilor Olson was livid about Tierney's reversal and the resulting increase in taxes to both citizens and businesses in Lake Oswego.  She stated that he should have provided notice to the other council members for discussion given that the CBC supported the no tax increase and reduced spending proposal.  

Once again though the final vote was 4-3 for the increased tax and increased spending budget versus the proposal from the citizens budget committee.   The vote clearly shows that the "Gang of Four" (Hoffman-Tierney-Moncrief-Jordan)  is voting as a block and ignoring citizen input.   

Councilor Tierney's vote clearly shows his position after solutions were identified to prevent tax increases. 

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends of this important vote.  Your taxes will increase in 2011-2012 if you reside or own a business in Lake Oswego.  

Councilor Tierney is up for re-election in 2012.