HASSO HERING

A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley

What’s liberty when safety tops all?

Written May 12th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Gov. Kate Brown has signed SB 941, which infringes on a part of the Bill of Rights in the name of public safety. It doesn’t infringe much more than existing law on criminal background checks for firearms transfers already does. But still, how long before we cut back on rights that are much more dangerous […]


Pot issue still occupies mayor, council

Written May 11th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Albany Mayor Sharon Konopa is determined to keep marijuana shops — medical and otherwise — at least 300 feet from residential zones, and she seems to be counting on three council members to help her do that. What’s hard to see is how this matters much when starting July 1, all adults in Oregon will be entitled to […]


Station-Swanson link: the last piece

Written May 11th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

For a few weeks now, a contractor for ODOT has been building a new walking or “multi-use” link between Albany Station and Swanson Park underneath the Pacific Boulevard overpass. As the last piece of the depot renovation it’s a welcome development, even though it also makes you wonder about transportation priorities.


On Railroad Day, service in doubt

Written May 9th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Saturday was Amtrak Railroad Day in Albany, as the video shows, and at Albany Station people could look at a few displays and pick up some swag. But the future of expanded passenger rail in the Willamette Valley is anything but a sure thing.


Measure numbers: Puzzle no more

Written May 8th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Why are our local ballot measures so mysteriously and awkwardly named? The answer is embarrassingly simple, but I didn’t know it until my curiosity finally got the better of me and I looked it up.


Can our political unions last?

Written May 8th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Normally we in Oregon could not care less about voting results a continent and an ocean away, but today I’m wondering that the outcome of the British election in Scotland says about the future of Britain or any country — like ours, for example — trying to accommodate starkly opposite politics.


Albany code stalls downtown project

Written May 7th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Back on March 19, Albany’s downtown urban renewal board voted to support a project to renovate a tired old building on Third Avenue and build four townhouses next door. Since then the project has stalled because even though Albany wants more people to live and work downtown, city zoning and development codes say these townhouses-cum-offices can’t […]


 
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