Letters to the Editor for May 11, 2009

Please slow down around the park

I live across the street from the playground at the city park. Time and again I see people drive down Madison way over the speed limit. Madison does not mean “mad dash.”

It’s not just teenagers that are tearing up the road — it is adults too. It is my understanding that the speed limit on residential streets is 25 mph. What is it going to take before you people slow down? A senior citizen, or worse, a small child getting hit and killed out here would be horrible, a horror that I don’t want to be a witness to. Can you live with that for the rest of your life? Do you care enough to slow down?

The city is getting ready to expand the Leo Adler Memorial Path through my home — the crossing is going to be from my property to the wide sidewalk going through our beautiful city park. SLOW DOWN — don’t mar the path with the blood of an innocent person.          

Lorelei Nalley

Baker City

Ferrioli stood up for elected officials

On behalf of Oregon’s 242 cities, the League of Oregon Cities would like to thank Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli for his leadership in responding to unintended consequences of the 2007 ethics reform bill that resulted in the resignation of more than 200 volunteer city councilors and planning commissioners.

Sen. Ferrioli carried Senate Bill 30 on the Senate floor and was instrumental in its drafting as a member of the Senate Rules Committee. SB 30 removed the 2007 ethics bill provisions requiring disclosure of information on relatives and persons without decision making authority. His efforts have eliminated unneeded intrusions on the private lives of both public officials and their relatives. This has removed a serious impediment to the continued public service of many current city elected and appointed officials and the decision of new persons to enter into public service.

Sen. Ferrioli heard the concerns of city officials from across Oregon and made it a priority to develop a workable solution. The League appreciates Sen. Ferrioli’s leadership in developing a workable and enforceable ethics law that does not impinge on the lives of private citizens simply because of their relationship to an elected official or require officials to make repeated and unnecessary reports.         

Mike McCauley

Executive director,

League of Oregon Cities

Salem

Rural counties should unite

To the editor:

Always ignored by the I-5 corridor is that it’s only an eyeblink in time since cougar, wolf, bear and other wildlife roamed the corner of Broadway and Washington in downtown Portland. 

And rural legislators across the nation should unite to revisit the USSCOA ruling that stripped state legislatures of the same construction the constitution provided for Congress — one house based on numbers and the other on political subdivision. For Congress the latter was states. For legislatures it was counties. A movement or lawsuit designed to return that issue to the Supreme Court could be beneficial to restoring fair rural representation in state legislatures.

Absent that solution of fairness for the smaller states there would likely be no USA as we know it.          

Dan Thompson

Union

Chamber put on a great event

To the editor:

This is a huge thank you to all the lodging owners of our city. On a quick decision I decided to join the four-hour FAM tour of all the places Baker City has to offer our out-of-town guests to stay. The Chamber organized the event and the owners were very gracious! As a wedding and party planner I have a lot of out-of-town people to suggest lodging to and this field trip gave me a great heads up of what I was referring.

It’s crazy but you never really see the motel rooms in your own town and this was a fun way to do just that. It was all topped off with a fantastic dinner at Karen Brock’s vacation rental home and great conversation.

Thanks again to the Chamber and I will never forget the spunk of Tony at the Bridge Street Inn. Baker is better because of her work.          

Stephanie Tweit

Baker City

Hoping birds will munch on hoppers

To the editor:

Is anyone else noticing the increase in the birds on their property? I have a sudden influx of meat-eating birds, those that come to suet cakes and sunflower seeds. I am hoping they know about the probable grasshopper infestation and are here to get their fill and therefore help me out.

I have a great organic grasshopper bait which I used with success last year. I have more to use this year and I will appreciate the birds’ help in ridding our property of those pesky beasts.          

Iva Mace

Baker City

Opposed to new club at high school

To the editor:

Hello, Baker City, we need to wake up. Our high school now has a club for gay and lesbians. Am I against these people? No. But I’m totally against what this club promotes.

My Bible tells me this is wrong. The adversary has now been given a voice at our high school. This is not acceptable. How many of you will make a stand for truth and righteousness. Will you let your voices be heard? Will you petition the heavens for those who have swallowed the lies of the adversary?

Ephesians 6:12 says: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”          

Linda Opperman

Baker City