Letters to the Editor
From our weekly issue dated October 31, 2007
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‘Obsolete, bad laws are root of the problem’
From Robert H. Ziller
O’Brien
There comes a time in county government when fundamental changes need to be made.
An example of this need is the current dilemma that we are experiencing with the O&C Act, the Bureau of Land (mis)Management’s ill-conceived Western Oregon Plan Revision (WOPR) and inadequate funding for public safety, libraries and schools. Obsolete laws such as the O&C Act, various Oregon state laws on taxation, and certain Josephine County Charter issues, stand in the way of fair taxation for public safety, schools and libraries.
Home owners are already being taxed to the breaking point. This taxation inequity has caused recent property tax levies to go down in flames at the ballot box. Unless funding for these services is revised so that everyone shares the burden equitably, the problems will continue to worsen.
I applaud Josephine County Commissioner Dave Toler for his recent public forums on funding options to replace the loss of O&C subsidies. Most in attendance agreed that the solution is for everyone to contribute fairly and equitably to fund these services.
To accomplish this, my recommendations to address these problems are to restructure taxation for public safety services, schools and libraries, as follows:
Restructure all property taxes (including the various forest land assessments) so that, in total, property taxes pay for a third of the funding needed for these services. This would reduce the disproportionate burden on home owner property taxes and impose a fair and just levy on forest land and business holdings.
Amend Oregon law to allow a modest increase in state income tax to pay for a third of the funding needed for these services.
Allow a small (1/4 percent, or so) business tax on gross sales of all business operating in Josephine County. I prefer this rather than a sales tax for several reasons: It can be a much lower rate because it also requires companies to pay a fair share, even if all their sales are outside the county.
It also avoids the point-of-sale stigma of a retail sales tax, and would be easier for businesses to calculate and pay. The rate for this small transparent tax should be set so that it pays for a third of the funding needed for these services.
Scrap the O & C Act as it is no longer relevant. BLM’s WOPR is a shortsighted last-ditch Bush administration effort to decimate our few remaining legacy forests. It is an unconscionable “snow job” that would cause devastating economic and permanent environmental damage to Southern Oregon.
Measure 49 first step to strip property rights
From Ken Stepp
O’Brien
When I look at this measure I am amazed at the dedication it takes to put it together and to be able to present it as something to help property owners.
It was crafted by the Democratic majority in our state Legislature without a single Republican vote. Special care was taken to eliminate any outside influence and to be sure that the ballot title and description was not subjected to any review, such as everyone else has to go through to put anything on the ballot.
The measure took a lot of time, energy, and legal counsel to craft in the pitfalls and loopholes that will allow it to have the opposite effect to what is promised. Why did they go to such lengths?
In my opinion the primary reason is that Measure 37 made a move toward something that they do not want to gain legitimate recognition. It is the first positive step for property ownership rights that I can remember. The government has worked hard to, one bit at a time, strip away all control of the land from the “owners” and shift it to government control for the betterment of mankind.
This leads us toward the “United Socialist States of America.” Socialism may have failed miserably in the rest of the world, but some are sure that they can make it work here.
To make it work they must gain total control of the land in ways that do not lead to an armed rebellion. Measure 49 removes our first glimpse of property rights returning. It comes at the same time that there is another step toward socialization with Measure 50.
This mandates a socialized medical program guaranteed by a constitutional amendment to fund it. No matter how poorly it performs. Oops. Sorry about that. I have several soap boxes and sometimes, when they both lean the same direction, I have to put one foot on the next box to keep my balance.
The one beyond that is gun ownership rights, and it tilts in the same direction, but that is for another day.
Man with a van claims gas pain
From Bob McCarver
O’Brien
I bought $32.50 worth of petrol from in Cave Junction on Saturday, Oct. 20, much as I have done for the 10 years I have lived in my home.
At a restaurant a friend gave me another $10 so I went to another station and put the $10 in my tank. That was a total of $42 in gas. Then I saw my gauge said less than a quarter tank. That did not make sense. I have owned this van for five years, and I have always been able to rely on it to be correct.
I had to hurry home for a interview so I called the first station and told the manager of my concerns. He said to come down, and when I did, he said the owner wouldn’t give me more than $10 in gas, unless I got my car guy to provide a receipt stating that my gauge is OK.
I did that, and brought it to the owner, who said that he was not going to do anything to correct the matter and that I was to (expletive) leave and never come back. I was dumbfounded.
So I told him I would ask him once more nice to give my money or gas. He became rude and walked toward me as if to attack me. I said, “Don’t hit me or it won’t be good. I then got a sign, and legally picketed the business.
In search of the truth regarding Measure 49
From Tim Norman
Cave Junction
Can anyone explain what Measure 49 is really about? The media tell us it is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” but fail to explain why.
This is a multimillion dollar ad campaign, by the way. Spending so much money on an ad campaign that doesn’t tell us anything seems pretty stupid, doesn’t it? Not to big land developers. Where else do you suppose the millions of dollars for the “No on 49” campaign came from?
It is to their benefit that you don’t know what Measure 49 is really all about. I got really tired of the constant barrage of misinformation on the networks, so I looked it up for myself. What I found was that M49 repeals Measure 37, which was, in my opinion, the real “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” It was made to look like a private land owner could build multiple structures on their own property without government intervention. I thought we could do this anyway.
It was possible (highly likely) that I didn’t know all there was to know about this regulation. I voted for M37 as the majority of us did. What wasn’t understood is that M37 opened the door for subdivisions and strip malls.
At this point I need to explain that the reason I moved to this valley 20 years ago was I wanted to live in a little town among the trees. Where life was simple and the priorities were different than that of the outside world. Money wasn’t the sole purpose in life because nobody had any. We were OK with that.
As I said before, priorities were different. There are those who look to buy up property in huge chunks, which was easy here because things were cheap, just to subdivide it all up and make a fortune; then move to Florida. These are the only people who stand to lose money if M49 passes.
This letter isn’t intended to sway opinion. Its intent is to suggest that everyone do their own critical thinking. The TV ads are just the result of the highest bidder for that spot. It is not gospel. It is the opinion of the people who have that kind of money, which I’m sorry to say isn’t for the best interests of everyone. Read the Voters Pamphlet yourself. The information is all there. Make your own opinion.
And those who want to see Cave Junction turn into another Los Gatos, Calif. should vote “No” on M49.
Domestic violence link to work place noted
From Commissioner Dan Gardner, Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI), Portland
We in Oregon recently have been riveted by a story about a teacher in Medford carrying a concealed weapon in her classroom.
To date the debate has raged on about the rights of gun owners to carry a licensed and permitted weapon on school grounds. I would like us to refocus the question.
This teacher has begun carrying a concealed weapon because, as a victim of domestic violence, she fears for her life. We know that domestic violence does not stay home when a victim goes to work.
Why is that? For starters, the workplace is likely to be the one place a batterer knows to find the victim.
Beyond that, victims report an inability to concentrate on their work;
they report being preoccupied with the abuse. They report that many times
the place they are most likely to disclose their abuse is at work.
Seventy percent of victims of domestic violence in Oregon are employed at the time of the abuse. And 89 percent of batterers are employed at the time they perpetrate their crime.
So if you think domestic violence is not an issue for the state’s labor commissioner, think again.
I am launching a program here at BOLI that addresses the rights and responsibilities of employers. My goal is to train employers to recognize the signs of abuse, to know who to contact in a crisis, and to understand what their responsibilities are under the law.
Workplace safety should be a high priority for all employers -- and we at BOLI will do everything we can to bring the needed information to employers about this important topic.
When we have victims of violence and sexual assault right here in Oregon who are afraid to go to work, who resort to carrying a concealed weapon, then we need to stop and take a serious look at what we doing for those victims.
Do employers have a policy on domestic violence in the workplace? Do they have a safety mitigation plan? Have they reached out and gotten training for them and their employees?
Training and materials are available by phoning (971) 673-0782 for the BOLI Technical Assistance for Employers hotline or get online at www.oregon.gov/boli to find out more about what employers can do to help victims of domestic violence in their workplaces.
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