Labor groups oppose Tigard ballot
measure targeting high-capacity transit
Two large labor organizations are
opposing a ballot measure in Tigard
that they say is designed to cripple the
Southwest Corridor Plan — a high-ca-
pacity transit connection between Port-
land, Tigard and Tualatin.
Delegates to the Columbia Pacific
Building and Construction Trades
Council (CPBCTC) and the Northwest
Oregon Labor Council voted last
month to oppose Measure 34-210. Bal-
lots in the vote-by-mail special election
will be counted the evening of March
11. It is the only item on the ballot.
Union officials believe backers of
PERC gathering March 20
The 28th annual Public Employ-
ment Relations Conference (PERC)
will be held Thursday, March 20, at the
Salem Conference Center. PERC is a
gathering of public sector labor rela-
tions professionals from across Ore-
gon, including attorneys, neutrals, and
representatives from both unions and
management.
For more details and registration in-
formation visit lerc.uoregon.edu or
contact Helen Moss at hmoss@ uore-
gon.edu.
On March 11:
Say ‘NO’ to Tigard
Measure 34-210
the measure arranged for a special elec-
tion (rather than wait until the May pri-
mary) in hopes that fewer residents will
turn out to vote, thus giving it a better
chance of passing.
If passed, the measure will make it
the official policy of the City of Tigard
to oppose the Southwest Corridor Plan
unless it is specifically approved by
voters. It will also require the City to
send annual letters to every state and
federal elected official from Oregon re-
minding them of their opposition to
high-capacity transit. Unless there is a
specific measure passed by the voters
first, the City couldn’t amend its com-
prehensive plan or land-use regulations
to prepare for any transit project, bus or
rail.
Metro, TriMet, Portland, Tigard, Tu-
alatin and other area cities have been
working on the Southwest Corridor
Plan for years. The idea is to bring a
high-capacity transit line from Portland
to Tualatin, either by MAX light rail or
bus rapid transit.
Willy Myers, executive secretary-
treasurer of CPBCTC, said backers of
the measure are anti-light-rail conser-
vatives, libertarians and Tea Partiers
who are trying to gain a foothold in
Washington County. One of the back-
ers is the Oregon Transformation Proj-
ect, an organization that helped elect
conservatives John Ludlow and Tootie
Smith to the Clackamas County Board
of Commissioners.
“Their stated strategy is to make an
anchor city oppose light rail to stop the
funding and thus kill a $2 billion union
construction project,” Myers told dele-
gates to the NOLC meeting Feb. 24.
“It’s time for labor to hold the line and
defeat this poorly written and commu-
nity-damaging ballot measure.”
The Tigard City Council, Tigard
Chamber of Commerce, the Westside
Economic Alliance, the Oregon Envi-
ronmental Council and dozens of other
groups also oppose Measure 34-210.
The Tigard City Council, which was
unanimous in its opposition, pointed
out that Tigard’s current city charter al-
ready gives residents a transit vote. The
charter states that voters must approve
any new city fees or revenues for light
rail construction in Tigard.
Union members pass the hat,
collect $450 for slain worker
has been a county
Delegates to the
weighmaster since
Northwest Oregon La-
2005.
bor Council “passed
Under Oregon law,
the hat” at the Feb. 24
weighmasters have the
monthly meeting and
same authority as police
collected $450 for the
officers to issue citations
memorial fund of AF-
and even make arrests.
SCME member Grady
The
Clackamas
Waxenfelter.
G RADY W AXENFELTER
County Sheriff's Office
Waxenfelter, a
has announced a $7,500
Clackamas County
weighmaster and a member of AF- reward for information leading to an ar-
SCME Local 350, which represents rest, with $5,000 coming from the
Clackamas County workers, was shot county and an additional $2,500 do-
and killed Feb. 6 after pulling over a nated by O’Malley Brothers Trucking,
commercial logging truck with no li- where the suspect was employed.
Local 350 has established a memo-
cense plate.
As of press time, the alleged killer rial fund to benefit Waxenfelter’s fam-
was still at large. Police have identified ily. He has a wife and three grown chil-
the suspect as Dirck Morgan White, 41, dren.
Donations to the fund can be made
of Washington state. White has a long
to: AFSCME Waxenfelter Memorial
criminal record in Washington.
Waxenfelter, 47, a resident of Esta- Fund, c/o Sterling Bank, 25529 SW
cada, had been a Local 350 member Glen Dr., Wilsonville, OR 97070. You
since 1987, when he started with the can also make a donation at any Ster-
county as a mechanic. He was pro- ling Bank branch; the account number
moted to senior mechanic in 1999, and is 9944634964.
Free tax preparation available
Labor’s Community Service Agency
is spreading the word that low- to mod-
erate-income Oregonians can have their
income tax returns prepared free by
trained volunteers statewide. CASH
(Creating Assets, Savings and Hope)
Oregon, a non-profit group in partner-
ship with AARP Tax-Aide, supports
free tax preparation in 32 counties in
Oregon at more than 140 tax sites.
Many people who earn very little
may be eligible for a refund. Tax credits
MARCH 7, 2014
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
that many could qualify for are the Fed-
eral and Oregon Earned Income Tax
Credit, the Federal Child Tax Credit,
and the Oregon Working Family Child
Care Credit.
Trained volunteers will help taxpay-
ers sort through their questions and pro-
vide assistance.
Free tax preparation sites are avail-
able statewide. For more information or
to find a location nearest you, call 2-1-1,
or visit www.cashoregon.org.
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