Albany’s marijuana discussions may now be over for a while. At least that’s my hope after the city council Wednesday voted to allow two existing medical marijuana businesses to stay in existence. Councilors did so on a 3-3 tie, as expected, with Mayor Sharon Konopa casting the deciding vote.
It’s early yet, but Albany has the first announced challenger this year for a seat on the city council, and it looks as though voters can look forward to a spirited campaign of actual substance. Kevin Manske, co-owner with his wife of CNS Firearms and a firearms training business, announced his candidacy this week. He’s […]
For the umpteenth time, the Albany City Council plowed the same ground Monday on the subject of medical marijuana dispensaries, which the legislature has authorized local governments to either ban for a year or control with “reasonable regulations.” The outcome, as far as anybody can be sure of anything in this shifting debate, is that […]
Executives at the Lowe’s company appear to be in no hurry to decide whether to go ahead with, further delay or scrap their plans for an Albany store. A couple of weeks ago City Manager Wes Hare had been told the company’s real estate committee would decide the timing of the project on April 16. […]
I’ve known Mark and Andrea Ylen for years, starting when we all worked for the Albany Democrat-Herald, where Mark today is the photo editor. So I was delighted when Andrea and Mark, with their three children in tow, were called to the front of the council chambers at City Hall Wednesday night to be recognized […]
Albany may get by without a one-year ban on medical marijuana dispensaries, but the city council is dragging out the decision for another couple of weeks. On Wednesday night, Mayor Sharon Konopa broke a 3-3 council deadlock and voted down a one-year city “moratorium” on allowing medical marijuana shops. But she vowed to ask for […]
Hare case: Facts prove state wrong
If you doubt that state authorities were wrong in fining the Albany city manager for a press release about last fall’s city bond election, read the state’s own legal brief and your doubts will vanish. The state’s brief claims that Wes Hare violated the election law by making an impartial statement, but the facts and […]
Tags: Albany City Council, illegal electioneering, Oregon election law, Oregon Elections Division