The Srfndy Post
Editorial & Opinion
Von Broschler. Publisher
Caroline Duff Office Monoger
Don Dillon, Editor
Scott Newton, News Editor
SANDY, OREGON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1982
City welcome sign should fly now
Welcome signs badly needed at
both ends of Sandy have been
re co m m e n d e d r e c e n tly by
Chamber guest lecturers as first
priority for a town that wants to
stop highway tra ffic for shopping
P o rtla n d , St. Johns and
N e w p o rt e x p e rts on c it y
re v ita liz a tio n to ld C ham ber
gatherings that was the first thing
they saw lacking in assessing San
dy as a marketplace.
They’re right, but can the sorry
lack of welcome mats at Sandy’s
front and back doors be rectified?
Yes, with a little persistence and
gutsy determination needed to
battle government red tape.
Common excuse given for lack
of welcome signs on the highway
at either end of Sandy revolves
around d ifficulty getting earlier
signs past state inspection. Ap
proximately three years ago the
now defunct Jaycees mounted a
big welcome sign at the west end
of town by the industrial park.
Before they could mount its twin
sign west of town by Gios Ford,
how ever, a state in spector
reportedly ordered the first sign
down.
Y o u th fu l vandals a fte r a
ballgame reportedly did the job
for him. Since then, nobody here
has dared buck state officials over
Sandy’s right to promote itself
with signs on the state highway.
City building inspector Tom
Day remembers things a bit d if
ferently, though, and sees op
tim ism in another try. Day should
know something about difficulty
in hanging signs to promote
business hereabouts, since he’s
the man who orders down shop
signs not in compliance with city
sign code.
Day says regional highway
engineer Harry Woodard then ap
proved the welcome signs propos
ed for Sandy. Unfortunately, the
state inspector who ordered the
welcome sign down didn’t know
about Woodard’s official approval
or honor it.
Day thinks the m atter could be
pressed. He foresees little trouble
getting Sandy Design Review
Board approval, and thinks the
state Highway Division could be
wooed.
We think he’s right, and the
signs surely are worth the fight.
Besides, Sandy’s got some state
precedence on its side in the argu
ment. Recently Gov. Vic Atiyeh
threatened to blow up state
welcome signs at state borders
and finally did change the sign to
reflect a more sincere, friendly
attitude toward visitors.
If the state considers it im por
tant that government be allowed
to announce itself favorably to
visitors, the city of Sandy should
be no exception.
Let’s form a sign committee to
begin construction now and mean
while send letters of intent to the
Highway Division. Odds are good
we’ll get their blessing this time.
(VB)
Mayoral candidates should debate
Incumbent Mayor Ruth Loun
dree and challenger Jim Duff, a
ve teran co u n cilm a n , should
publicly debate their views on
how Sandy should address future
needs and goals.
After all, it ’s rare when Sandy
mayors run opposed. Former
longtime city recorder Loundree
ran unopposed for mayor last
election for her second term.
Duff, who also has served the
community on Planning Commis
sion, the local fire board and the
defunct Sandy Jaycees, opposed
Loundree in her first successful
bid for mayor.
T o g e th e r, th e ir ye ars of
knowledge and experience in San
dy government offer voters great
insight into city planning and
background. If anyone knows
where Sandy’s going and how it
got to its present state, i t ’s these
two candidates.
Critical issues that face this
growing community in the near
future dictate public discussion.
Need for leadership to meet
these community issues dictates a
public debate that focuses on
issues and approach more than a
popularity contest.
U n fo rtu n a te ly , c a n d id a te s ’
forums and candididates’ fairs
have proved unpopular here in the
past—if big turnouts are a desired
objective. Perhaps the mayor and
her challenger can stage a bigger
debate with better turnout by
meeting at prearranged gather
ings like social dinners, club
meets or a football game at
halftime.
Invitations from willing groups
might start the ball rolling ( VB)
Letters to the editor:
Industry bid, school snarls draw fire
Settle teachers
sidered over priced by the
Welches School Board
Thus week I come face to
face with my favorite peo
pie, the children of Welches
School They will be eager
and e n e r g e tic , th e ir
creativity and budding in
tellect ready to produce ex
c itin g and so m etim es
amazing results.
I . their teacher, will be
forced to choose between
my interests and theirs
Why*’ Bargain basement
salary costs for quality
w orkm anship a re con
The board insists on settl
ing prior to resolving the
clear and critical issues
that must be dealt with
now, before continued pro
crastin atio n compounds
th em
O penin g
new
negotiations in a month or
two most certainly will re
quire still more advisory
consehng and fact-finding,
both paid by our tax
dollars
F u rtherm o re, wearing
teachers thin in this man
ner
is
a
d ir e c tly
measurable degradation of
the quality of education in
our school
Those in favor of the ex-
tention or reiteration of this
nine-m onth negotiation
farce are neglecting the
vital interests of our now
million-dollar educational
business
The taxpayers of this
district need to examine
this process and insist on
an honest, open settlement
of the dispute. How much
longer will the children be
Salem scene:
Few rejoice record session
by JA(*k ZIM M E R M A N
Associated Oregon Industries
Oregon has finally established a new
record for frequency of legislative special
sessions
It took s cool half century to break the
old record of two set in 1933 As of last F r i
day, however, the new mark is three!
Hardly anyone is rejoicing, and for a more than two and a-half million
number of reasons The biggest reason is
But the problems of state government t a
lousy economic times that have forced day reflect government much more com
lawmakers back to Salem repeatedly to plicated, expanded st a rate far exceeding
pare spending and increase revenue to the growth in population That growth is
make up for budget deficits.
apparent at both state and national levels
Conditions were sim ilar during that
For instance. Gov Meier didn't have a
depression biennium five decades ago In SAIF surplus lo tax
fact, It la generally conceded that the
Relief from property taxes waa an issue
economy duing the early Thirties was con because It constituted the biggest »ingle
sideraMy worse than today Consequently source of state revenue The state income
Gov Julius Meier then convened the tax only became a reality in 1990
legislature in special sessions twice the
Welfare at that time constated mainly of
same year, mainly to deal with budget pro protecting working rights of women and
blems
minors Of greater concern was pro
While these are apparent similarities, hibiting the sale of oleomargarine and im
th e re
are
som e
d is p a ra g in g itation cheese,
disaimlllaritieo, as well
There wasn't even a state revenue
For instance, Oregon started ita current source from alcoholic beverages to supple
stale government biennium with an 111 ment general fund spending requirements,
billion total budget The comparable Nationwide prohibition had not been
figure in I M l 12 was a paltry 9100 million repealed
The general fund budget for the present
Instead of LCDC and D Etf Oregonians
two year parted wee I I I billion It waa on barely were becoming aware of Franklin
ly H4 million during that first biennium of Rooeevelt a NRA
The Greet D epressten
We had gasoline taxes and vehicle
It's interesting te note the first spertai registration fees well in place during the
bi January this year waa called te Thirties. plus inheritance taxes and leviee
1 a budget shortfall three times the an p e rs o n a l p ro p e rty
L if e was
atse af the total budget M years age The simpler -even rougher, perhaps Govern
and third special sessions wrestled mem Jnat waaat ttm factor it is today
deficits shout equal te the total (E D IT NOTE Jack Zimmerman write» a
budget way Lark then
regular column for Associated Oregon In
« course, other changes have tahen dustries. a state lobbying group H u com
i*s pspuhtlsn H years age ments do not necessarily reflect opinions of
a milllan, wMto is
The Post. >
caught in the middle? We
should not watch and
tolerate the continuance of
this abuse » will not.
Jeanine C. Boldt
Welches
Entice industry
We all are aware of the
conditions of Oregon con
cerning unem ploym ent,
high property taxes, etc.
We have been told that we
are losing industries who
employ people to other
states and in some cases to
other countries.
Perhaps we should find
out the cause of our prib
blem Our governor is try
ing to attret new industry
to Oregon, but when in
dustry is confronted by
regulations we have here in
Oregon, it simply turns
away and goes elsewhere
Now, we are not the only
state with regulations pro
blems We just happen to
be the pilot state in an ex
periment. Now this idea is
being pushed in other
states One state I ’m aware
of is Wisconsin
We in Oregon have the
1,000 Friends of Oregon
Many people refer to them
as the 1,000 enemies of
Oregon I recently heard
they receive fin a n c ia l
backing from the Ford
Foundation This puzzled
me. until I g .I out my book
by Archibald E. Roberts,
Lt. Col., Ret This book is
“Emerging Struggle for
State Sovereignty” (15 95,
Betsy Ross Press, 480 Sav
ings Building, Fort Collins,
Colo. 80521).
Here we get the connec
tion concerning the Ford
Foundation They wrote
the constitution for the new
states of America
Want your eyes opened
Send for this book, and you
will see the connection bet
ween land-use planning,
regional governance and
why we have a sick state.
Let's get rid of LCDC in
November, then let's get
rid of Senate Bill 100 in
1984 We then can start get
ting Oregon well again.
See you at the polls
Ann Lucas
Estacada
LETTERS POLICY
The Post asks that
all letters to the
e d ito r he ty p e d ,
double-spaced and
signed. Deadline is
noon, Tuesday Let
ters should be ac
c u ra te .
fre e
of
libelous remarks and
in good taste. This
newspaper attempts
to publish all letters
it receives and may
edit material lightly
to
c o n fo rm
to
g u id e lin e s .
Personally speaking:
Labor Day should last whole week
Instead of Labor Day, it should
1* U bor Week
During the summer even the
mast dedicated seem to find time
to play ball, go to the beach or
work in the yard
But after Labor Day there are no
excuses, ' Fall fever” is not a part
of our lexicon
So instead of one last weekend, it
seems that one last week would be
more appropriate
But the need for an extra week's
vacation, as nice as that would be.
u not the reason I'd like to see
Labor Day expanded
It's the traffic
Thu weekend 1 wanted to get
away and do something, but I also
wsnted to avoid the crowds I con
vinced a friend to go with me to
Eugene to vuit my sunt and uncle
The traffic. 1 was sure, would be
at its most obnoxious on Friday
and Monday So, we beaded for
Eugene late Saturday morning,
with a return trip planned for Sun
day evening
I have cruise control m my car,
and it u wonderful. I set the
speedometer at 80 and one-half
miles per hour, and headed out.
Once on the three lane interstate
( I S), cars zoomed around me on
the left and right Though 1 was in
no hurry, the drive was a battle
hour and the person ahead of us on
the three-lane interstate is going
almost exactly the same speed
The far left lane is congested In
the far right lane is a guy driving
about 64 miles per hour He is
gradually passing us slowpokes in
the .ruddle lane
A truck and trailer, a nice
looking rig, pulls up on the right
He's not going to wait for the
driver going 64 miles per hour to go
around the car in front of me In
stead. he wants in front of me
The cab is a little in front of me
as he turns on his signal light. I
think he's rude, but I drop back a
little It wasn’t enough.
by SCOTT NEWTON
About 1:30 p m Sunday we head
ed back, and again it was hectic
As I drove 60 and one half miles
per hour c a n zoomed by
The next time his signal light
comes on a bright, white light, set
up right under his regular turn
signal high on the cab, comes on
the last
To save gas and to enjoy the nice
weather, I ride my bicycle home
for lunch
Most people let me in the flow of
traffic, and I really don’t think I
slow traffic down that much I
make an effort not to.
But twice as I ’ve been coming
back, waiting to go north at the
stoplight at Highway 211 and
Pioneer Boulevard, thia guy has
been behind me who yells, "Get out
of the way .”
For some reason I do it, though it
would be all his fault if he ran me
over and paralyzed me for life
The old guy's car really needs to
be tuned, and I'm sure part of the
problem is that ha’s inhaled too
much blue smoke.
Mass transit is the answer I
think we should give Detroit the
kiss of death and replace all
highways with tracks for electric
It flashes directly in my eyes
I let him in my lane, though it he
had forced it, causing us to crash
trains.
and die. it would have been his
As I neared Portland I was sur fault.
In the meantime I've read that
prised by a trucker Call me naive,
For some reason that didn’t com the famed Orient Express has bean
but this driver s stunt was a new fort me
revitalized (for 930 million). It
one on me
runs from London to Venice now,
Unfortunately, it wasn’t my first instead of to the edge of Asia It
Picture thia My fnend and I are experience with intimidation on
sounds like an excellent
going 80 and one-half miles per the road, and l*m sure it won't be
Week excursion to me.