Jason G. Damron

LOCAL MEASURES

MEASURE 26-11 and MEASURE 26-29

PROHIBITS, REPEALS METRO HOUSING DENSITY REQUIREMENTS; REQUIRES NOTICE; AMENDS CHARTER.

AMENDS CHARTER: PROHIBITS INCREASED DENSITY IN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS; REQUIRES REPORTS

NO-NO
Property rights groups are obsessed with eventually undoing the Urban Growth Boundary. If any voter has the privilege of driving anywhere in America (think: Phoenix, any freeway corridor, any strip of strip malls) they will realize that Americans spread as far from each other as possible. In Portland we are less afraid of each other and, therefore, do not need 20 miles of formerly undeveloped land surrounding our estate (or trailer).

MEASURE 26-28

FIVE-YEAR LEVY TO RESTORE PARK SERVICES, REPAIRS, RECREATION PROGRAMS – (can only be passed with a 50 percent voter turnout at election)

YES
Jobs, sparkling parks, smiling kids, no more crack needles. Need we say more? Honestly, the chance of 50 percent voter turnout is slim, making your vote critical (yet, again). The cost of the levy for students is mostly nil. The levy only affects property owners.

MEASURE 26-30

AMENDS CHARTER: CHANGES FORM OF CITY GOVERNMENT – (changes city government to traditional mayor/city council form)

NO

Although it is tempting to have district-by-district representation, this measure concentrates way too much power in the hands of the mayor. For example, the mayor would ostensibly direct all city bureaus, expand veto powers and limit diverse community member involvement by allowing the mayor to hire and fire commission members without explanation. Sound like a City of Roses dictator? You’re right.

MEASURE 26-31

MOUNT HOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS UPGRADE BUILDINGS, ADD CLASSROOMS, IMPROVE TECHNOLOGY

YES
Seismic upgrades, remove asbestos, expand library, co-operative study with PSU. These things seem obviously necessary (imagine students running from their inadequate library during an earthquake with asbestos falling all around them), but someone has to pay. Twenty-one year bonds (68,400,000) for an average $44 per year for the owner of a $150,000 home is not a lot of money for a lot of benefits – sorry homeowners. (This measure can only pass with 50 percent voter turnout. VOTE!)

MEASURE 26-32
COUNTY FIVE-YEAR LOCAL OPTION LEVY TO CONTINUE LIBRARY SERVICES

YES
This could be re-titled “Mondays at Multnomah County Library!” It is critical to students to have full access and expanded hours and services at the county library, as well as the PSU library. Yes, it is true that Multnomah County Library’s remodel years back was a little more glamorous than necessary, but its technology and service live up to its image. If the levy is not renewed, it is possible that a local library near you will no longer be a library, at all. There is nothing more sad that a library full of knowledge with no one to partake. Sorry homeowners (makes you reconsider buying a house doesn’t it), this measure will be paid for by you – about seven dollars per month for those who own homes valued at more than $120,000. Obvious benefits for students make this a necessity (and shame on Willamette Week for recommending a “no” vote for their good neighbor).

STATE MEASURES

MEASURE 10
AMENDS CONSTITUTION: ALLOWS PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES TO RECEIVE EQUITY IN PRIVATE COMPANIES AS COMPENSATION FOR PUBLICLY CREATED TECHNOLOGY

YES!
As it is, inventions and technology created by public money in the public school system cannot be compensated with equity (stock) in the company that uses the invention or new technology. This creates a situation where a students’ or professors’ brilliant invention is bought outright and the company who purchases it is catapulted to fame and fortune while the lowly inventor remains in the basement of Cramer Hall. This measure does not invest public money directly in the stock market. So dust off your chemistry kits, kids, and get to it, our public universities need your hydro-oxygenating elliptical desensitizer lipid reduction invention – we need the money!

MEASURE 13

AMENDS CONSTITUTION: AUTHORIZES USING EDUCATION FUND PRINCIPAL IN SPECIFIED CIRCUMSTANCES; TRANSFERS $220 MILLION TO SCHOOL FUND

NO
It sounds really nice to transfer lottery money to an account benefiting public schools, which face an unprecedented funding crisis. This, however, demands little of our legislators and public officials. It, in essence, relieves them of their duty to fund public schools, outright. It reminds me of my first credit card fiasco, where I borrowed from one to pay the other, but like my mother always said, “When you borrow from Peter to pay Paul, you still owe.” Playing shell games with accounts does NOT solve anything. It is painfully poetic that this measure’s sponsors are using lottery money to perform this type of constitutional game.

VOTE

Where: You must mail your ballot tomorrow, Friday May 17 at any post office or mail drop location. This ensures that your ballot reaches the County Election Office by Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 8 p.m. Postmarks do not count! You can also drop your ballot off at:

Multnomah County Library (if they’re open, see Measure 26-32): until Monday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Voter Express Box at Pioneer Courthouse Square: Friday-Tuesday

Multnomah County Elections (1040 S.E. Morrison): Friday through Tuesday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Drop Sites with Voting Booths: Portland State University, Smith Memorial Center (inside front doors), Friday through Tuesday.

When: Your ballot must reach election headquarters or appropriate drop boxes/voting booths by Monday, May 21 to be counted. Postmarks do not count.

Question? Concerns? Didn’t receive your ballot? Call Multnomah County Elections at 503-988-3719.