News – Page 353 – Hasso Hering

Look at two bills that sound good

Written March 5th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 4 responses.

The Oregon legislature does some stupid stuff, so it would be nice if once in a while, just for balance, it also did something sensible, especially something that reasonable voters request. You want a couple of examples? Read on.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Floyd Prozanski, Freeway speed, license photos, SB 459, SB 461

Ballot hearing raises charter question

Written March 5th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 5 responses.

Why is it necessary to amend the Albany city charter in order for voters to approve the proposed bond issue to build a new police headquarters and main fire station? Could they not authorize the bond without amending the charter? That question was left unanswered during this morning’s hearing in Linn County Circuit Court.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany City Council, Albany police and fire buildings, Gordon Shadle, Jim Delapoer, Judge Daniel Murphy, Tom Cordier

Keep passenger trains rolling

Written March 4th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 4 responses.

Amtrak may not make sense in dollars and cents, but I’d hate to see Albany and much of the country lose passenger train service. So I’m glad the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed HR 749, the Amtrak funding bill. As Oregon’s Congressman Peter DeFazio said on the floor of the House, without passenger trains we’d […]

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Amtrak, Amtrak funding, C-Span, HR 749, Peter DeFazio

Those street costs would bite

Written March 3rd, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: one response.

How’d you like to stretch your finances and buy a new house only to learn some time later that oh, by the way, you’re on the hook for a few thousand bucks in extra street assessments? You might understand the need if the street work did you some good. But not if you already have sidewalks […]

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany City Council, Crocker Lane, street assessments, Valley View Drive

On fuel, pushing ahead blindly

Written March 2nd, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

Democrats in the Oregon legisature are showing a reckless disregard for the consequences as they extend the so-called “clean-fuels” program, which they’re about to do. Their own revenue office told them that while the effect on state revenue cannot be determined, it could be bad, but the supporters of SB 324 don’t care.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: clean fuels program, legislative revenue office, Oregon legisature, SB 324

Bike route options: How about these?

Written February 27th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 6 responses.

Now that the latest plan for an Albany-Corvallis Bike Trail — or “multi-use path” — has been shot down, Benton County says it will try to find another route. A long look at the map suggests at least two alternatives that would be almost as good.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany-Corvallis Bike Trail, Benton County, Riverside Drive option

N. Albany Road: This is the year

Written February 26th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: one response.

If your daily commute takes you along North Albany Road, enjoy the drive while you can. Starting this spring and continuing through most of the summer, the route will be restricted and eventually blocked entirely so it can be rebuilt and widened.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany, K&E Excavating, North Albany Road, Quarry Road