It didn’t get much attention at the time, but the 2013 Oregon legislature took a step toward taxing air — well, not air exactly, just a component of natural air. You guessed it: carbon dioxide and other so-called greenhouse gases. Democrats in the House and Senate, over the fruitless objections of Republicans, passed Senate Bill […]
At a work session on Monday, the city council in Albany talked at length about ways of encouraging greater public engagement in city issues and decisions. (The only agenda item was evaluating the city manager. The council praised Wes Hare for doing a great job and gave him a 3 percent raise, making his base salary […]
What are those “Yes” signs around Albany trying to say? Yes to what? To refresh your memory, if you’re a voter in Albany, no later than Sept. 3 the county clerks in Linn and Benton counties will mail you a ballot for a city election. If you want to vote you have to mail it […]
In Eugene, the police department is making a change in its radio system so that the public can no longer listen to its calls on scanners. Some other departments in Oregon and around the country have done the same, the Register-Guard reports, all in the interest of keeping criminals or suspects from knowing what the cops are […]
The Albany city staff is following through on a pledge made by Wes Hare, the city manager, in connection with the scheduled Nov. 5 bond election for a new police station and main fire hall. Before the city council put that $20.3 million bond on the ballot, Hare said he would recommend that approval of […]
This is kind of indelicate, so be warned. The Albany City Council, as you may have heard, has passed a couple of ordinances to give the police more enforcement tools against vagrants that cause trouble. One new city law outlaws open containers of alcohol in a public place. No problem with that. The other ordinance […]
‘Crossing’: No we can’t
What’s happening with the Columbia River Crossing, the proposed new interstate bridge in Portland, looks like a symptom of what’s wrong with America. We just can’t get things done any more, especially big things. The twin I-5 bridges in Portland have to be replaced or fixed. So for more than 10 years, planning has taken […]
Tags: Columbia River Crossing, Glenn Jackson Bridge, Interstate 5