Business Owner Questions Enforcement Practices in Ideal Portland

To All Cola LO Members,

Last week a downtown business owner shed some light on enforcement practices in relation to downtown Portland businesses.   Its a unique perspective that provides us with some insight into how ideal the environment is for a Portland business owner trying to increase employment.

The article can be found at:  http://blog.oregonlive.com/myoregon/2011/08/downtown_law_enforcement_mispl.html

It provides for interesting reading and a potential future for LO based businesses in the area.  Especially if LO follows the Portland model like many on the current council prefer.

Local Business Owners are Afraid to Speak Out Against City Plans

To all COLA LO members,

A recent article in the LO Review describes what many residents already know.   Local business owners are deeply concerned about spending in Lake Oswego and the city's growing plans to acquire more property.   In many cases the city plans to acquire the property in which these owners lease and operate their businesses.   

The new article just touches the surface of this deeply rooted concern in the community.     It also describes some of the comments made by council members showing an anti-business bias or preference.    It makes for an interesting read and touched a core concern in the community.  What is perceived to be a latent hostility to those that do not unilaterally support the plans of the city.  

 

The article can be found at:   Business Owners Afraid to Speak Out?

City Of LO commits to 2 Year Lease of former Laceys property at $135,000 per year to investigate North Anchor Project Potential

To All COLA LO Members,

The city announced this week it has entered into a lease/option agreement with the owners of the former Lacey's at 500 First st.   Its cost will be approximately $135K per year to the taxpayers as the City looks at the potential for the North Anchor urban Renewal project in downtown Lake Oswego.

Early comments on the article are strongly negative on the spending level without a specific plan in place to identify what will be redeveloped and how.

 City Spends $135K a year on Vacant Lacey's Property

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.   

Fiscal Responsibility Article Published by Board Member

To all COLA LO members,

This week board member Dave Berg published an article in the LO review on fiscal responsibility and what may be needed in Lake Oswego.     Its a second article in a series of three articles outlining some of the issues in the community in terms of fiscal issues and expenditures given the relative size of the city and its growth over the past ten years.   

the article can be found at:   Fiscal Responsibility

please notify all contacts.  

LOCAL Resident & Neighbor Strongly Criticizes Sally Moncrieff for her Support of TAX Increase

TO All COLA LO Members,

This week a local resident and Neighbor of Councilor Moncrieff strongly criticized her for her vote in supporting the franchise fee (tax) increase.     They also committed to working against her in the upcoming 2012 election after expressing strong discontentment with her positions and support of the tax increase.   The resident claims that Sally no longer represents their neighborhood but other interests and has not voted as expected for their interests.   Its a uniquely strong rebuke and Sally's response is included in the article.    In it she justifies raising fees as LO fees are less than Portland's in her opinion.  

The article can be found at: Citizen against Sally Moncrieff Tax Increases

Is this the beginning of the events in the 2012 city council race?  Only time will tell but it presents an interesting dynamic after the announcement by Sam Adams last week and Councilor Moncrieff's strong support for Adams' policies including the streetcar and others. 

Please notify all members contacts and friends.  

BIG Changes in City Council Assured? (For both Portland and Lake Oswego)

To All Cola LO Members,


A recent article in the Oregonian illustrates the major changes coming in 2012 for both Lake Oswego and Portland.    Portland Mayor Sam Adams a strong supporter and friend of Jack Hoffman has announced he will not run for reelection due to strong opposition and candidates opposing Portland's policies.    This is especially true after recent announcements by auditors on the city's finances.   

Lake Oswego Mayor Jack Hoffman will loose a strong supporter as the 2012 election nears.    Lake Oswego will elect 3 Councilors and a Mayor in 2012 effectively representing the majority on the Council.    Mayor Hoffman has faced similar opposition due to policies over the past two years including fee/tax increases, sensitive lands, conflicts of interest, lack of consideration for dissenting public opinions, and expenditures on major projects. 

In a recent article he comments on the effects of the changes in Portland:   Jack Hoffman comments on how Portland City council will effect his plans

LO Residents Publish Letters in LO Review Supporting New Wal Mart Grocery Store

To All Cola LO Members,

Last week several citizens published letters to the editor expressing their disagreement with a previous letter to the editor articlel in the LO review regarding the potential for a new Wal Mart Grocery store on the old Natures site.   The articles expressed what they believed was an elitist and uninformed bias in the previous article.   Residents also indicated that the community not only needs the jobs but also the opportunity to purchase food at lower prices.  

The Wal Mart decision has been a very hot topic in online blogs over the past two weeks after the decision was announced in the press.   

The letters can be found at:  Letters to editor support Wal Mart
The original article can be found at the bottom of this page:   Wal Mart is not what our community needs
Original announcement can be found at: Its Official