Health Options Digest
October 10, 2004
Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield (CHOICES)
In This Issue
From the Editor
Arnold Schwarzenegger Is No Joke
We heard that several readers thought that the Arnold Schwarzenegger piece a couple weeks was pretty funny. But the piece wasn't a joke. Health care in America and how we pay for it is a serious issue. As one would expect from a moderate conservative, the Schwarzenegger piece rejected big-ticket supply-side solutions in favor of more sensible demand-side efforts. In plain English, folks in Lane County would do well to get off their butts and exercise more. Doing so benefits both health and the economy. For months, CHOICES has run numerous stories from sources as diverse of Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson to Dear Abbey to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, on the need for Americans to get more physical exercise. Perhaps Lane County can get on the leading edge of what is certain to become an critical change over the coming years and decades.
Speaking of Arnold Schwarzenegger, his bid for president is no joke either. As Dave Barry might say, we're not making this stuff up. Senator Orrin Hatch is pushing a constitutional amendment that would allow Schwarzenegger, who was born in Austria, to run for president. Currently, only a native-born citizen can run for president. But California voters and a recent Register-Guard editorial oppose the effort.
Week In Review
The Thursday before last, Judge Ancer Haggerty denied PeaceHealth's motion for a new trial in McKenzie-Willamette's federal antitrust lawsuit.
We have also heard that PeaceHealth has essentially bought the open-heart practice, which in the past has always been a private practice. As we understand it, the entire open-heart team will now be employees of the Oregon Cardiac and Vascular Institute. Note that the federal antitrust lawsuit centered on practices intended to illegally control the market.
Last week, the Springfield City Council and Planning Commission held their first work sessions on PeaceHealth's revised plans for a new hospital. The weight of law was heavy at both meetings, with all interested parties bracing for more appeals. If only there was a way for people to sit down and agree...
Looking Ahead
On Monday, the Springfield City Council and Planning Commission will hold a join work session to look at everything from how to speed up the review of development applications, to options for Springfield to separate from its metro partners Eugene and Springfield to a discussion about the next 50 years for the greater Eugene-Springfield region.
Also on Monday, the Eugene City Council will hear a presentation from PeaceHealth about their plans for the existing hospital on Hilyard in Eugene.
This week is the Fifth Annual Business Commute Challenge. Walk, bicycle bus or carpool to work this week. If you don't want to do it for the pride of your company, for environment or for your pocketbook, do it for you own health. Remember what Arnold Schwarzenegger said: "I want to... pump you up!" He was referring to your heart rate, of course. So get some exercise this week and pump your heart up a little. You'll feel better for doing so.
CHOICES expects a ruling from the Oregon Court of Appeals in the appeal of the Eugene hospital zoning ordinance soon, maybe even as soon as this Wednesday.
Rob Zako, Editor
343-5201
rzako@efn.org
Calendar
Monday, October 11 -- Springfield City Council & Planning Commission
Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield
Contact: Amy Sowa, City Manager's Office, 726-3700
5:30 pm, Work Session, Library Meeting Room
1. Streamlining Processes for Development Review
2. Glenwood Riverfront Plan and Urban Renewal
3. Metro Plan
4. Region 2050 Study
Monday, October 11 -- Eugene City Council
Eugene City Hall, 777 Pearl St., Eugene
Contact: Lynda Rose, 682-5017, lynda.l.rose@ci.eugene.or.us
5:30 p.m., Work Session, McNutt Room
A. Items from Mayor, City Council, and City Manager
B. PeaceHealth/West University Area Transportation Planning
C. Economic Development Committee Recommendations on an Enterprise Zone
October 11-15 -- Event encourages commuters to use alternate transportation
| The Register-Guard | September 29, 2004 |
Eugene-area businesses and employees, are you ready for a challenge?
During the week of Oct. 11, commuters will be encouraged to give up their cars and instead walk, bike, take the bus or carpool to work.
The Fifth Annual Business Commute Challenge will reward businesses that have large percentages of participating employees.
On Oct. 13, businesses will count the number of employees who choose an alternative to driving to work that day. Participating employees will be eligible to win prizes, including a Fuji commuter bicycle from Wheelworks and two sets of rain gear from Burley Design.
Businesses with participating employees will compete against similar sized firms. Winners in each size category will get a plaque, with a special award for firms with 100 percent participation.
An awards ceremony will be held at 5:15 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Park Blocks in downtown Eugene. For more information, contact Cindy Clarke, 682-5285, or Diane Bishop, 682-5471.
Wednesday, October 20 -- Joint OTC and LCDC Subcommittee
10:30 a.m., Work Session, Vancouver Room, Portland International Airport
Contact: Bob Cortright, DLCD, (503) 373-0050 x241, bob.cortright@state.or.us
A joint subcommittee of the Oregon Transportation Commission and the Land Conservation and Development Commission will begin reviewing options for improving how transportation and land use planning are coordinated. Their effort is a response to the court decisions in the case of Jaqua v. City of Springfield.
Monday, November 1 -- Springfield City Council & Springfield Planning Commission
Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield
Contact: Amy Sowa, City Manager's Office, 726-3700
Public Hearing
A. PeaceHealth Plan Amendments
Tuesday, November 23 -- Springfield Planning Commission
Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield, 726-3753
Regular Meeting
A. PeaceHealth Plan Amendments
Monday, December 6 -- Springfield City Council
Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield
Contact: Amy Sowa, City Manager's Office, 726-3700
Regular Meeting
A. PeaceHealth Plan Amendments
PeaceHealth
Judge rejects PeaceHealth's appeal: Officials continue to deny allegations of anti-competitive practices
By Amber Fossen
The Springfield News | October 6, 2004 |
PeaceHealth's motion for a new antitrust trial failed to sway federal District Judge Ancer Haggerty.
Haggerty dismissed PeaceHealth's motion for a new trial late Thursday afternoon, upholding a Portland jury's decision reached last October that the hospital engaged in anti-competitive behavior -- including price discrimination -- and trying to monopolize the area's health care market, harming Springfield's McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center.
Last year, the jury awarded $5.4 million in economic damages and $9.2 million in punitive damages to McKenzie-Willamette. In antitrust verdicts, economic damages are tripled, bringing the total PeaceHealth could owe to $25.4 million plus attorneys fees.
PeaceHealth officials argued during the 13-day trial that the jury's decision was not backed with evidence and they continue to deny allegations of anti-competitive behavior. (more...)
PeaceHealth Progress
A Periodic Update on Facilities Development Plans
Prepared by PeaceHealth Public Affairs, 686-6868
PeaceHealth | October 4, 2004 |
What is the status of the RiverBend project?
We're moving full-steam ahead with all planning elements of the new hospital and heart institute. Court challenges on the remaining land use issues have pushed back the opening approximately one year -- to 2008 -- but we are working to address the outstanding issues so that ground breaking can occur next year.
A public hearing to address appeals from prior city land use approvals is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. at Springfield City Hall. This hearing will focus on "fixes" for the remaining three issues raised by the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) and the Oregon Court of Appeals. (Eighteen issues were originally raised by opponents.) Specifically, the Springfield Planning Commission and City Council will consider revised amendments to the Metro Plan and Gateway Refinement Plan diagrams addressing land use designation for the hospital site; additional traffic analysis meeting a new standard imposed by LUBA; and findings showing that the project is consistent with Springfield's adopted plan for commercial lands. Upon approval of the plan amendments, the city will hold another public hearing to consider re-adoption of the master plan and zone changes approved earlier this year.
Why are some people still attempting to halt or substantially change the planned development at RiverBend?
Some nearby landowners would prefer the site be left untouched or if developed, developed in such a way as to not change existing views of the site from across the river (which is outside of the county's urban growth boundary). The land purchased by PeaceHealth for a new hospital and medical campus was designated for development years ago. Given the area's growth, development on that site is inevitable.
Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend will be set back from the river at least 425 feet -- more than the length of a football field and greater than five times the set-back required by the city. Fitness and walking trails will meander by the river and large stands of trees will be conserved. More than 2,000 new trees will be planted. Rarely in Oregon has there been such a robust plan to restore and enhance a riverfront. Just as the natural environment is important to our neighbors, it's important to PeaceHealth, patients and their families, employees and physicians.
Will the purchase of the vacated Sony plant in the Gateway area of Springfield cause PeaceHealth to alter any plans for facility development?
Sacred Heart's Hilyard campus is full to capacity (and beyond) with patients and clinical support functions. The hospital has experienced a 20 percent increase in the number of inpatients over the last five years, with each year posting significant gains, including a record-high 27,880 inpatients last year. The former Sony plant, now called the RiverBend Annex, will be used for some administrative and support functions now on the main campus so that rooms previously configured for patients can be used again for their original purpose. Opportunities also exist to move some of the support functions planned for the new RiverBend campus to the Annex.
One key function at Hilyard, Oregon Medical Laboratories (OML), has been looking to purchase additional space to meet current needs and anticipated growth. By moving OML -- which now occupies approximately 40,000 square feet but could use double that amount -- to the Annex, additional space can be freed up for needed patient use in the existing hospital and at the new RiverBend facility.
Once RiverBend opens, and with OML in the Annex, what will be left on the Hilyard campus?
The Hilyard campus of Sacred Heart Medical Center will remain an active, vital health care center with an urgent care center open around-the-clock, an inpatient mental health unit, general medical beds, outpatient services such as radiology, physical therapy and same-day surgery, offices for nearly 115 PeaceHealth Medical Group physicians, and more. PeaceHealth plans to spend approximately $60 million on the renovation of the nearly 70-year-old hospital to, among other things, eliminate several older buildings that do not (and cannot) meet current safety codes, and upgrade and modernize others.
According to news reports, our nation's health care costs are growing fast and are expected to keep rising. Won't all of the planned hospital construction in our region help to fuel those increases?
Facilities improvements are a necessary and planned-for expense. In fact, if we did not build the new RiverBend campus, the long-term cost of providing adequate hospital facilities would likely be much higher. PeaceHealth expects to cover at least half of the $350 million construction cost of RiverBend from cash reserves. Private donations and recently approved tax-exempt bonds will finance the remaining costs. In fact, this combination of financing will lower the cost of hospital construction and thus help lower the cost of health care for patients in Lane County. Incidentally, the tax-exempt bonds are rated AAA, signaling PeaceHealth's financial stability. PeaceHealth carries minimal debt -- well within accepted financial guidelines -- even with the construction of RiverBend.
PeaceHealth employees understand and support the need for a new hospital.
In a gratifying show of support, employees and volunteers in the Oregon region of PeaceHealth pledged $1,520,975 to help purchase medical equipment for the new hospital. This total includes a campaign kick-start pledge of $500,000 from Sacred Heart Base Area #2 Hospital Guild, the group of volunteers who operate the gift shop in the main hospital. These gifts are a tremendous display of generosity and commitment.
Health Care
Jimmy Unger -- Let's get children walking or biking to school
By Jimmy Unger
The Register-Guard | October 5, 2004 |
The Register-Guard, like many media outlets, is paying a great deal of well-deserved attention to the childhood obesity epidemic. On Sept. 30, both editorials ("A disturbing grade: Oregon gets a D-plus for children's well-being'' and, "Federal nutrition data is being widely ignored'') and the business page's lead story ("Twinkies manufacturer filing for bankruptcy'') dealt with the issue. Most parents (like most health care providers) are struggling with the question of how to best tackle this problem.
As a pediatrician, I see an ever-increasing incidence of childhood obesity of ever-increasing severity. Along with weight problems, these children face complications: diabetes, low self-esteem, bone and joint problems, to name a few.
As health care providers strive to prevent or treat childhood obesity, we frequently tell our patients (and their parents) that increasing physical activity is key. For a number of reasons, this simple advice frequently doesn't get the intended results. Many parents ask: "How can I get my kid to be physically active?"
Parents asking this question often have severe time constraints on their daily schedule: rushing to get the kids to and from school and after-school activities, then homework, and finally, bed. Oh, yes, don't forget the "quality time."
Where's the time for physical activity? "No time" is the all-too-common answer.
There's no question that modern-day hustle and bustle has led to lifestyle changes that have contributed to this epidemic: Fast food replaces healthier family meals; TV and video games replace neighborhood sports and outdoor play; car trips replace walks and bike rides.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, in the past 30 years, while the incidence of obesity has increased by two to three times, the percentage of children walking or biking to school has fallen nearly sevenfold -- from 66 percent to 10 percent.
Walking and biking to school is an easy way to increase physical activity. For this reason, the Oregon Medical Association has teamed up with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition, Oregon Safe Kids, and others to promote International Walk and Bike to School Day on Wednesday. (more...)
Students Walk For Health
EUGENE -- It has been said that walking is man's best medicine. If that is true then about 20 kids got a good dose of it Wednesday morning. They were part of an attempt to get youngsters up and active before school even starts every day.
"Walking's cool! Everyone should do it," chanted the kids from Monroe Middle School in Eugene. They gave up their rides and introduced themselves to the sidewalk as part of the annual Walk and Bike To School Day.
Monroe P.E. teacher Shirley Betournay organized the event in Eugene. She is concerned we are raising a generation that will turn out to be obese and unhealthy. "I'm seeing more kids, less exercise, more health problems at an earlier age," she says.
The children walked about a mile to school. "You can just be able to have a good time with your friends and just be able to not worry about not getting enough exercise," explained Annalyce Miller. "It's just fun walking, because I walk everyday to school and I just thought it would be fun to come out here and walk," said student Hanna Brown.
The kids agreed to post fliers and attempt to get more students walking to school, because there is safety in numbers and, they say, more walkers just makes it more fun.
(oregon walk and bike to school...)
Oregon Walk and Bike To School Day
EUGENE -- Schoolkids all over Oregon will be walking or biking to school Wednesday. The US Surgeon General, in conjuction with state agencies, has declared Wednesday "Oregon Walk + Bike To School Day." It's an attempt to bring attention to the problem of childhood obesity, and to encourage kids to get in the regular habit of exercising.
For more information on this event, or how to get your kids off the couch and outdoors, click on the link below.
(oregon walk and bike to school...)
Nearby Developments
Work session to review Metro Plan
By Bob Keefer
The Register-Guard | October 9, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- Streamlining the planning process will be the main topic of conversation when the City Council holds it annual joint work session with the Planning Commission on Monday.
The 90-minute session begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room at City Hall, 225 Fifth St.
Among the topics to be discussed will be what to do about the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan -- or Metro Plan for short -- the state-mandated planning document created jointly by Springfield, Eugene and Lane County.
One discussion item on the agenda is the idea that the city might pull out of the Metro Plan and instead create its own Springfield Comprehensive Plan.
"There will be an interesting all-around discussion of the Metro Plan," says Mayor Sid Leiken, who has expressed his frustrations with the Metro Plan repeatedly this year. "And I am pleased to say the Planning Commission has some thoughts along the same lines as the council."
Economic development agency revived for urban renewal district
By Amber Fossen
The Springfield News | |
After lying dormant for nearly 20 years, the Springfield Economic Development Agency has been resurrected.
Switching from council to board, the familiar five faces that serve as the city's ward representatives will now also serve as members of SEDA to consider the draft Glenwood Urban Renewal Plan and to oversee business regarding urban renewal plans, public involvement, policies, projects and activities.
If voters approve the Glenwood Urban Renewal District on Nov. 2, SEDA would conduct the agency's business with regular meetings.
After appointing Council President Tammy Fitch to serve as SEDA's chair, the newly formed board heard from concerned Glenwood resident Dave Carvo. (more...)
Slant -- Sustainability Conference
| Eugene Weekly | October 7, 2004 |
Mayors of innovative communities from all over the country came together at the Eugene/UO conference Sept. 23 on "Making Sustainable Development Work." What were the mayors and planners talking about? Municipal level sustainable development programs; local sustainable business retention and expansion programs; and local climate change programs linked with business development. Kitty Piercy was there, but only a handful of local business leaders and local government officials bothered to attend, and the R-G apparently didn't send anyone to cover it. Eugene has great potential to become a model for livability, innovation and economic prosperity, but our progress is stifled by complacency with outdated ideas.
Slant -- Eugene Enterprise-Zone Tax Breaks
| Eugene Weekly | October 7, 2004 |
Speaking of sustainability issues, the City Council is talking about reviving state/local enterprise-zone tax breaks to encourage new manufacturing companies to locate in Eugene. The debate continues at the Monday, Oct. 11 council meeting. Conservatives on the council, along with a biased city staff, are pushing for unrestricted tax breaks and a geographically expanded enterprise zone. If we must offer tax breaks, let's use them to encourage infill and redevelopment of existing sites and brownfields (old industrial sites that may be contaminated). And let's require businesses that get tax breaks to provide living wage jobs, create the kinds of jobs that have a future in Oregon (manufacturing is rapidly moving overseas), set a cap on the dollar value of tax breaks per job created (Hynix got about $50,000 per job), and require pay-backs if businesses default on their agreements. Better yet, let's hold off on this long-term commitment until the new council is seated in January.
Residents aim to petition city plans
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | October 10, 2004 |
A revolt is brewing over the city's plans for a park and housing development in the Santa Clara area of north Eugene.
A group of residents will meet Tuesday to organize a petition drive against the proposed 77-acre park and 120-acre housing development near Irvington Drive and Northwest Expressway.
The plans comes from a tentative deal struck between the city and developers Melvin and Norman McDougal. In return for being allowed to put houses, apartments and businesses on 120 acres of what is now farmland outside Santa Clara, the McDougal brothers would give the city 77 farmland acres, large enough for a recreation-filled community park.
The pact, initiated by the city, would also affect southeast Eugene, where the city would gain control of 130 acres of McDougal-owned forested land in Laurel Hill Valley, near East 30th Avenue.
But some Santa Clara residents worry the park and housing development will ruin the tranquility of their neighborhood, which abuts farm fields on the northern edge of the city limits. (more...)
Elections
Baker, Pishioneri vie for Ward 6 seat
By Amber Fossen
The Springfield News | October 8, 2004 |
They successfully ousted two opponents in the May primary; now the remaining pair of candidates for the Springfield City Council Ward 6 seat are heading to the political arena for round two, each hoping for a victory.
The Ward 6 seat has remained vacant since former council member Tim Malloy announced in February his plans to take a job offer with PeaceHealth's corporate office in Bellevue, Wash. Malloy's service on council was short, he having taken over the seat when Lyle Hatfield died of cancer in early 2003.
The five-member council is looking to add its sixth councilor this election. (more...)
Two political newcomers vie for Springfield council seat
| The Register-Guard | October 9, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- Two political newcomers, a Lane County sheriff's deputy and a nonprofit organization's projects manager are seeking to represent the Thurston area on the City Council in the November election.
Deputy Joe Pishioneri and Debi Baker, projects manager at a library consortium, were the top vote getters in the May primary out of a field of four for the Ward 6 council seat vacated when Tim Malloy resigned last winter to move to Washington.
Neither Pishioneri nor Baker has ever run for office before. Pishioneri substantially outdrew Baker in the May primary, receiving 1,828 votes, or 31 percent of the total, while she received 1,377 votes, or 23 percent. (more...)
Commissioner hopefuls vying for spoiler's votes
By Randi Bjornstad
The Register-Guard | October 8, 2004 |
The big question on the minds of both candidates for East Lane County commissioner in the final weeks before the Nov. 2 general election has got to be this: How will they split the votes cast in the primary for retired dentist Cedric Hayden?
The spoiler in May's six-way race, Hayden pulled in 4,600 votes, 600 behind incumbent Don Hampton and just 200 fewer than second-place finisher Faye Stewart, setting up next month's runoff.
The three other candidates in the primary shared just less than 1,250 votes. (more...)
Editorial -- East Lane: Hampton -- Incumbent's experience is the crucial difference
| The Register-Guard | October 10, 2004 |
Voters have two good but very different candidates in the East Lane County commissioner race: incumbent Don Hampton and challenger Faye Stewart.
The two differ on approaches to the county's budget problems, economic development, the future of the fairgrounds and expansion of the urban growth boundary.
They come from different parts of the district -- Hampton hails from Oakridge, Stewart's home and family business are in Cottage Grove. They differ in age -- Hampton is 60, Stewart 37.
But their most significant difference is in local government experience, and it is here that Hampton's 16 years as an Oakridge city councilor, as mayor of Oakridge and as a Lane County commissioner tip the balance in his favor. East Lane County voters should elect Hampton on Nov. 2. (more...)
Measures look ahead to community's future
By Bob Keefer
The Register-Guard | October 9, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- Three ballot measures that would give a face-lift to Springfield and Glenwood for the next generation are on the November ballot for city voters to decide.
Measures 20-91, 20-92 and 20-100 would, respectively, finance a new public safety facility and jail downtown, create an urban renewal district in unincorporated county territory just outside the city in Glenwood, and raise funds to build a new community center for the park and recreation district.
All three are backed by community leaders, from the Springfield Chamber of Commerce to the mayor, and face no organized opposition. (more...)
Editorial -- Measure 20-91: Yes -- Springfield needs new public safety facility
| The Register-Guard | October 9, 2004 |
Springfield officials are fed up with the revolving door at the Lane County Jail -- so fed up they're asking city residents to pay $28.7 million to build a new downtown public safety center that would include a 100-bed jail.
City officials' willingness to add $14.5 million jail to their their long-planned proposal to replace the city's police station and municipal court -- an addition that doubles the project's cost -- amply illustrates the depth of their frustration with the county's dysfunctional corrections system.
The steady deterioration of that system -- the county jail has closed 119 jail beds in recent years and has reduced capacity at its rural work camp -- has undermined the city's efforts to confront property crime. (more...)
Editorial -- Measure 20-92 -- Yes: Kick-start development in Glenwood
| The Register-Guard | October 8, 2004 |
If ever there were an ideal candidate for urban renewal, it's Glenwood.
After decades of planning neglect, the largely unincorporated area between Eugene and Springfield remains a hodgepodge of industrial, retail and residential areas. Standard urban amenities such as streetlights, sidewalks, bicycle paths, recreational and community sites -- even sensible street grids -- are absent or in short supply.
To help bring order to this jumble, the city of Springfield proposes creating an urban renewal district in Glenwood, which lies within the city's urban growth boundary. Measure 20-92 on the Nov. 2 general election ballot would over time provide millions of public dollars help pay for such projects as new sewer lines, parks, affordable housing and possibly even a new civic center or sports complex. (more...)
Editorial -- Measure 20-88 -- Yes: Eugene bond would fund civic improvements
| The Register-Guard | October 4, 2004 |
Eugene voters have a challenging choice in considering Measure 20-88's seemingly modest $6.8 million bond levy to partially fund a Civic Center Vision Project and add a Crime Victim's Resource Center to a new police station.
The city is really asking voters for the green light to spend all of the $29 million it has scraped together for building projects on one project: a new police station. That's an appropriate way to spend the money, but it's not the only way.
Opponents of Measure 20-88 correctly point out that the city's facilities problem goes beyond just the need for a police station. The outdated and deteriorating City Hall also needs replacement in the not too distant future, and that's going to be expensive. If the police station eats up every cent of the city's available funds, taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the entire City Hall project.
Why not use that $29 million as a down payment on a thoughtfully planned project that not only accomplishes the goals sought in Measure 20-88 but also provides a new Civic Center complex that consolidates services currently scattered throughout the city in rented space?
The best answer to that question has two parts. (more...)
Police station planned even without bond
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | October 10, 2004 |
Eugene residents take note: No matter if you vote for or against the police station-related bond measure that's on the Nov. 2 ballot, the city intends to build the new station anyway.
City officials have socked away $29 million for a 67,000-square-foot structure to be built on a parking lot across East Eighth Avenue from City Hall, where the police department now is located.
The $6.79 million bond issue on the ballot simply asks voters to pay for extra features in and around the proposed police building. Most of the bond money would be spent on adding 25,000 square feet of extra space in the building to house victim service agencies and to accommodate the police department's future growth. Victim service agencies would get 15,000 square feet of the space, while 10,000 square feet would be set aside for the future needs of the police.
Even if the bond issue fails and eliminates the extras, City Manager Dennis Taylor plans to seek City Council approval to build the 67,000-square-foot police station. (more...)
City saved up much of police station's cost
| The Register-Guard | October 10, 2004 |
How does a supposedly cash-strapped city accumulate $29 million to build a new police station? (more...)
Measure 37 arguments center on cost of land-use initiative
By Joe Harwood
The Register-Guard | October 6, 2004 |
Pleasant Hill resident Martha Moulton could be the poster girl for Measure 37, the Nov. 2 initiative that would force government to pay property owners when zoning or other regulations restrict the use -- and reduce the value -- of private property.
Moulton in 1979 bought a 14-acre parcel east of town near the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. Her plan was to put a mobile home on the land, which already had approval for a septic tank, and live there when she retired.
In 1987, she inquired about putting the home on the land, but was told she could not because it had been rezoned to exclusive farm use three years earlier. That was when Lane County adopted its comprehensive land-use plan in response to the state mandate that created Oregon's vaunted land-use planning system. The rules were intended to limit urban sprawl, protect farm and forest land and concentrate growth in cities.
October 6, 2004
Randy Henderson -- Measure 37: Do owners deserve compensation for land-use laws? -- No: It's costly attempt to upend system
By Randy Henderson
What do you call a proposed statute that turns Oregon's land-use laws upside down, will force farmers out of business and make state and local governments waste hundreds of millions of taxpayers' dollars?
You call it Measure 37.
While the ballot title implies that this initiative is all about saying that "Government must pay owners ...,'' on closer examination, it is clear that this is really just another attempt to trash our land-use laws. It accomplishes this because it requires local governments to pay landowners for decreases in value due to government regulations -- or to waive the requirements.
The measure fails to identify where the money would come from. While our communities struggle to provide basic services and to educate our children, guess what would happen? We would all pay. (more...)
Bob Smith -- Measure 37: Do owners deserve compensation for land-use laws? -- Yes: Compensation is long-lost piece of plan
By Bob Smith
The Register-Guard | October 6, 2004 |
Opponents of Measure 37, the property owner compensation measure, ignore the history of Oregon's unique planning system when they describe Measure 37 as an attack on land-use planning. Considering the intent of Gov. Tom McCall and the Legislature in passing Senate Bill 100 in 1973, nothing could be further from the truth. I should know, I was there.
The passage of Measure 37 would complete the land-use package that the Oregon Legislature adopted but only partially implemented in 1973. (more...)
Opinion -- Measure 37 is fruit of Legislature not listening to voters
| The Springfield News | October 6, 2004 |
It would serve the state Legislature right if Measure 37 passed. Of course, that would be the classic case of cutting off the nose to spite the face. Measure 37, if implemented in full, would ruin the state -- in more than just a financial sense.
But this is the sort of thing that happens when legislators don't listen to voters. Measure 37 shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
The initiative would require governments either to not enforce any land-use laws passed after a landowner or his/her family acquired a property, or pay the landowner for the loss of use resulting from those laws. (more...)
There Goes the Neighborhood
Measure 37 forces taxpayers to pay developers or throw out the rules.
By Alan Pittman
Eugene Weekly | October 7, 2004 |
Imagine you have a lovely house on a quiet tree-lined street. You've spent thousands of dollars and countless weekends improving your home, the biggest investment your family owns. A nice grandmother lives next door who likes to bake your children cookies. Sadly, she dies and a greedy nephew inherits her historic house. To cash in, he quickly tears it down and builds a McDonald's. The drive through is right next to your bedroom window.
Ridiculous, you say, Oregon's zoning and land use laws would never allow that to happen. Not if Measure 37 passes. In the name of property rights, the measure could throw out much of the regulations governing how property is developed in this state. (more...)
Dan Isaacson -- The question has become: Where have all the real Republicans gone?
By Dan Isaacson
The Register-Guard | October 8, 2004 |
I feel sorry for many in the Republican Party who favor responsible government that spends within its means, controls inflation and protects civil liberties.
Where is that Republican Party?
After reading Jay Bozievich's Oct. 3 guest viewpoint, it appears the Republican Party has lost its roots. We have created the largest deficit in U.S. history, passed an education bill that says we will leave no child behind (yet three years later, many or most children are still being left behind), and given $87 billion to a foreign country for reconstruction.
It's not that I disagree with the need to send the money, but if President Clinton asked for $87 billion for Kosovo or Haiti or Somalia, would Newt Gingrich's Congress and right-wing pundits have approved? Why aren't the true Republicans asking why only 6 percent of the $87 billion has been spent? What seems to be the problem? Are there not enough check-signers to get our troops body armor?
The same is true with our ballot measures in Oregon. Measure 37 proponents want the best of both worlds. They want to benefit from increases in land values when land-use policies positively affect their property, yet they also want the government to pay for any negative effects.
This argument comes from the same people who argue that government spends too much on needless things. They tell us that if schools just counted their loose change, they could reduce class sizes to 30, and that law enforcement agencies should actually prosecute criminals instead of asking the community which crimes should not be prosecuted for lack of funds. Where is the old Republican Party, which would have said that creating another $80 million bureaucratic agency to compensate landowners is a waste? (more...)
Other
Coburg administrator quits post, but keeps police job
By Karen McCowan
The Register-Guard | October 6, 2004 |
COBURG -- The City Council accepted Mike Hudson's resignation as city administrator Tuesday night, but kept him on as police chief after adopting an amended employment contract with him for that post following consultation with legal counsel in a closed session.
Hudson divided his time between city administrator and police chief for nearly three years, but announced his intention last week to step down as the city's top paid official. (more...)
Immigration amendment wins support
By Matthew Kelly
Hearst Newspapers | October 6, 2004 |
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and other lawmakers on Tuesday endorsed a constitutional amendment that would allow foreign-born citizens such as Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif., and Jennifer Granholm, D-Mich., to become president.
The Constitution now limits the posts of president and vice president to native-born citizens.
This limitation is "decidedly un-American,'' Hatch declared at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. "It is time for us -- the elected representatives of this nation of immigrants -- to begin the process that can result in removing this artificial, outdated, unnecessary and unfair barrier.''
The senior senator from Schwarzenegger's state, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., strongly indicated she would oppose any change, saying she was "reluctant" to let immigrants become president because the natural-born citizen clause in the Constitution has a "strengthening" effect on the country. She cited comments she attributed to Alexander Hamilton that the natural birth clause ensures a common "love of country,'' which can only be found with native birth and education. (more...)
Arnold has voter support, but not to be president
| The Register-Guard | October 9, 2004 |
SACRAMENTO -- California voters love their governor but do not want to see Arnold Schwarzenegger as president and do not like the idea of amending the U.S. Constitution to let him run.
The nonpartisan Field Poll released Friday found 65 percent of voters approve of Schwarzenegger's job performance, a level unchanged since May.
But by a 2-to-1 margin, voters said they do not support Austrian-born Schwarzenegger for president. Fifty percent said they were not inclined to vote for him, while 26 percent said they were.
Further, 58 percent of California voters did not support changing the U.S. Constitution to allow foreign-born Americans to run for president.
The poll of 600 registered voters was taken during the six-day period ending Sept. 29. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
Editorial -- No one-man amendment
| The Register-Guard | October 9, 2004 |
A Register-Guard
Republicans love nothing more than to accuse Sen. John Kerry of flip-flop- ping. So it's amusing to see the same GOP lawmakers who have fiercely fought immigration reform rushing to embrace a proposal to give legal immigrants the right to run for president.
The explanation has a name: Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-born former bodybuilder and movie star who is a hot item these days in the GOP.
While not mentioning The Terminator by name, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow immigrants who have been U.S. citizens for at least two decades to run for president. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., has proposed a similar bill in the House of Representatives. (more...)