Hasso Hering

We elected this government

Written October 6th, 2013 by

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The shutdown of parts of the federal government reminds us of an essential truth too often forgotten or ignored: Our government may seem like the most solid institution in the world, but it’s not. It is fragile and depends on not just the cooperation but the good sense of the people we put in office. Like […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Congress, Federal government, goverment shutdown, President Obama

Cyclists’ lament: Queen and Geary

Written October 5th, 2013 by

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The “Oregon Drive Less Challenge” is coming up Oct. 21-Nov. 1, which brings me – again –to Albany’s Periwinkle Bike Path and a problem that keeps it from being as useful as it could be. Built nearly 40 years ago, the path extends from Oak Street in central Albany to Grand Prairie Park in the southeast. […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Albany intersection, Oregon Drive Less Challenge, Perwinkle Bike Path, Queen and Geary

Green light? Maybe the guy was right

Written October 4th, 2013 by

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It’s been a few years now since a driver from out of town swore he got a raw deal when he got a ticket for going through a red light at the Albany underpass, at Ninth and Lyon. Now, based on observations such as the one above, I’m wondering if he was right. If memory serves, […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Albany traffic, Ninth and Lyon, traffic citation, traffic signals

Eugene Airport — glad it’s there

Written October 4th, 2013 by

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When it comes to air travel from and to the mid-valley, we are lucky to have the Eugene Airport less than an hour away. Its drawback is that it’s small, but that is also its great attraction. Getting there from Linn and Benton counties is a breeze. Parking could not be more convenient. A short […]

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Oregon: Money and smoking

Written October 3rd, 2013 by

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With one part of the tax bill passed by the special session of the legislature Wednesday (10/2/2013), Oregon continues its two-faced approach to cigarette smokers. On the one hand the state has worked hard to discourage smoking. On the other, it relies on smokers to pay for essential services. On the one hand it treats […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: cigarettes, Frankfurt Airport smoking zones, Oregon taxation

Special session: Not that grand

Written October 2nd, 2013 by

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It’s hard to see why some called what the legislature did during the special session a “grand bargain.” When you look at the result of the tax and spending bills it passed on Wednesday, it’s not all that grand. As a label, “minuscule” would be more apt. Lawmakers increased some taxes, lowered others, reduced future […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: cigarette tax, income tax, Oregon legislature, PERS, public pensions, special session

Albany email dispute: Story continues

Written October 2nd, 2013 by

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Tom Cordier, the citizen activist in Albany, has scored a partial victory for the public’s right to get public records, in this case email addresses. The case also raises a question about the city’s own use of those addresses. Cordier had sought to use a list of 33,800 addresses to which the city government emails its […]

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany city, Doug Marteeny, email addresses, Tom Cordier