Letters

Letters to the Editor

, Nov 3, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Bemis is right choice for Gresham

I have lived and worked in Gresham for many years and have actively been involved in our community in a number of ways. Through my involvement, I have had the opportunity to work with both candidates for mayor, Chuck Becker and Shane Bemis. Additionally, I regularly watch the City Council meetings on TV, so I have seen both men at work. I commend both of them for their contributions and dedication to our city and their citizens.

As we look to the future of our community, it is important to consider what is best for a city that is growing faster than any other city in the state. My vote for mayor goes to Shane Bemis. Shane has the skills, ability and knowledge to lead Gresham. He has the respect of leaders throughout East Multnomah County and the region. I urge Gresham to elect Shane Bemis as our next mayor.

Jim Hood

Gresham

Kyle outlines her positions to voters

Recently The Outlook held candidate interviews. I declined in favor of a mini-vacation to attend my class reunion.

Who is Barbara Kyle? Married to Kelly, two children (Jennifer and Mike Tarter), graduated from Reynolds High School, Realtor, property owner and taxpayer. Served on Troutdale Budget Committee, Planning Commission. Elected to Troutdale City Council in 2002. It’s a non-paying position.

Council members may not agree on issues, but seven minds bringing different points of view and opinions to council issues creates good discussion. Of course, majority vote rules. My positions:

Housing Density: Kids need safe yards for play. Lot sizes shrink, crowding creates frustrations, requiring policing. In 1994 Metro established housing unit guidelines for 1994 to 2017. At my request, council reviewed guidelines and home inventories. In June 2006, Troutdale exceeded Metro’s density requirements. My goal: density changes without jeopardizing state and regional regulations. Let’s not turn something over to our grandchildren that’s less than we have today.

Available: To listen and understand resident concerns, help with solutions. I’ve given assistance to a longtime art event, assuring continued use of park property; helped initiate an ordinance to form neighborhood groups; initiated a comment box for the city Web site. I believe our city is better when neighbors can talk to us.

Urban Renewal: The entire council supports redevelopment of the old sewer treatment plant. A landlocked piece of property was created with the Outlet Mall development. Access through the Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets would allow property to develop without taxpayer money. Public riverfront amenities could be established by the city. I did not support Urban Renewal: cost projections were dated (some as old as eight years); proposed amenities are “best effort” (if funds are available); UR was more expensive for taxpayers compared to the other option presented in the measure. A small voter turnout in May passed urban renewal. My UR focus: “promises made are promises kept.”

Personal Property Rights: Proposed property taking from private property owner for green space in a new development? I voted “no” to the taking and “yes” for city purchase.

Truck Parking in Neighborhoods: Trucks required for jobs created neighborhood safety and visibility issues. I supported work trucks/tractors (without trailers) in neighborhoods only where owners had parking space on private property without blocking sidewalks.

Police: Police officers put their lives on the line daily. In 2004, I initiated the annual tradition of a City Council Gift Certificate of Appreciation for the Police Officer of the Year.

Community: 2005 Chairman of SummerFest “Celebrate Community,” an organizer and committee member of the 2006 Troutdale Bite and Bluegrass, Member 3 Cities Fire Committee, Member FOE (Eagles).

NASCAR: I voted not to pursue bringing it to Troutdale until I knew how it proposed to handle noise and traffic, and its financing (knowing the state of Oregon cannot afford to subsidize them – which is a “carrot” NASCAR expects).

MOST IMPORTANT: I want Troutdale voters to know I’m available to help them with solutions to resolve their city issues.

“Troutdale Deserves The Best.” Re-election means I’ll continue working for “the best” Troutdale.

Barbara Kyle

Troutdale City Council, Position 5.

Online at www.troutdale-oregon.com

(Editor’s note: Barbara Kyle declined The Outlook’s early request for an interview.)

Metro bond measure can’t be postponed

Over the last decade, the Metro Greenspaces Program has protected 8,000 acres of ecologically valuable land. Within the same time period, the region has lost more than 16,000 acres of urban natural areas to development. That’s greater than the area of Gresham itself!

Metro’s Bond Measure 26-80 is a unique opportunity to build on the successes of the 1995 Greenspaces Bond Measure by continuing wise investment in forested natural areas.

We can’t afford to wait another decade, as Mike McKeel appears to suggest (Outlook letter Nov. 1). The projected population upsurge in the region is sure to increase both the pressure to develop environmentally sensitive lands and the cost of land acquisition. If Metro doesn’t buy and protect these valuable natural areas from development now, many will be lost forever.

The current Metro Bond Measure 26-80 was authored under the oversight of a blue ribbon committee of citizens, which includes Gresham’s Fred Bruning. It clearly states how the money will be spent, annually audited and reported in the newspaper for public review.

Metro Bond Measure 26-80 is an opportunity that can’t afford to wait.

Ed Labinowicz

Gresham

Board Member of the Gresham Butte Neighborhood Association

Good candidates have been overlooked

The election looms, and each of us twitches with dread or fear or hope and promise, thinking about one aspect of it or another.

I have written before about how proud I am of our City Council, most of it, and our fine mayor. They really went to bat for my neighborhood, Sedona Park, and I am grateful.

But I worry that someone is being overlooked by The Outlook. I am sure any omissions have been accidental, so I am hoping you will include what I am about to send to you, in the spirit of fairness.

I am a hard-working wife and mother of three school-age children. My family and I have worked, in preparation for this election, for the Reynolds School District, and for politicians whom we feel have done the most for us. But when I read what you published about whom our mayor supports, I was left wondering. Actually, I was left thinking that, perhaps, our elected officials shouldn’t, in print anyway, publicly support candidates. And what did bother me a bit was the fact that neither Barbara Kyle nor Pat Smith were mentioned, other than as nice ladies who have served their “time.” That didn’t ring true.

Those two women are plainspoken and have worked diligently for our community, tirelessly really, and they should be heard from, too. I asked Ms. Kyle why nothing from her has been seen in The Outlook. Please see the attached from her. Apparently, her submitted guest piece to you was misplaced.

We need people like Barbara Kyle and Pat Smith on our council. I need them. Our women need gender representation, too. It is important. Our daughters need to know that women have prominent positions, as well.

Kristy Curletto

Troutdale

(Editor’s note: Barbara Kyle declined The Outlook’s repeated requests for an interview. Her guest column appears at left. It was lost in the e-mail system.)

Choose the best leader for Gresham

As a Gresham city councilor, I have worked closely with both Chuck Becker and Shane Bemis over the last two years. Both are dedicated to public service and both are “nice men.”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the term “nice man” when describing Chuck Becker. Indeed, several have told me that they declined to take a public position on the race for mayor because Chuck is so nice and they don’t want to “hurt his feelings.”

When it comes right down to it, only you know how you vote. I urge you to vote based on who you believe is the right person to lead Gresham now and in the future, not on whose feelings might be hurt. I assure you, both will be disappointed if not elected. I’m voting based on who I know will best lead Gresham: my vote is going to Shane Bemis for Gresham mayor.

Karylinn Echols

Gresham City Councilor

Vote with Bemis for

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