Cottage Grove Blackberry Pie Society

Newsletter - January/February 2006

2006-03-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

BLACKBERRY BRAMBLE
Newsletter of the Cottage Grove Blackberry Pie Society

January/February 2006 Issue

Progressive Values Manifesto
Part 2 of 2
by Nancy McCollum

Note - This article is a continuation from the last issue of the BBB in which we covered the first 8 values from a list of 14. Values 1 through 8 were compassion, social awareness and responsibility, fairness and equality, clean air and water, protection for consumers, care for each other and our community, universal health care, and transparency in government. Repeated below is the opening paragraph after which we start with discussion of value number 9.

It has been said by certain right-wingers that progressives have no values. In fact, we are entirely driven by values, and everything we do is based on this. While this list is by no means comprehensive, and while not every progressive embraces every one of these values, in general this reflects what we believe in:

9. Sustainable communities.

10. Group harmony and solidarity.

11. Cooperation between all parts of society—workers, owners, managers, professionals, and government.

12. Character.

13. Protection and support of families and children.

14. Responsible judicial system.

What do these values mean?

• Sustainable communities means we encourage small businesses and producers of goods to be in the community and to bring to us the goods and services we need so that we do not have to travel out of our immediate area to get what we need. It means workers in the community earn a living wage This also means we will work to lessen the power of corporations, who currently hold much of America hostage.

• Group harmony and solidarity means all for one and one for all. Whenever anyone in the group is in need, we try to respond as a community to that need. We also stand together behind group needs for quality environment, health care, good schools and school choice, and other community needs. It means we value peacefulness over conflict. We believe that violence never has to be the solution to a problem. And we recognize that if the intentions of others involve harm to our group we need to defend ourselves nonviolently and protect those in helpless circumstances.

• Cooperation means we choose the tools of negotiation first when trying to work out differences. We do not have the goal of eliminating the person or group in opposition to us. Instead we support creating an environment in which it is possible for everyone to really hear the other and find the solution that results in the best outcome for all.

• Believing in character means we value creativity, kindness, intelligence, individuality and other positive character traits in a person far above the person’s monetary worth.

• Protection and support of families means that we cherish all families, no matter their composition. We see the family as a vehicle for nurturing and educating and enculturing children, and for sustaining adults. We support love between individuals by insisting that marriage be available to any adult, regardless of gender pairing. We believe children are our greatest resource and should be nurtured, guided and protected.

• Believing that the judicial system should be responsive to the needs of the people means that we believe those charged with a crime are innocent until proven guilty, and should be protected by law from being tried out of court by the media or any other agency. We also believe in not taking the chance of executing an innocent person.

We believe that many Americans share these values, whether they call themselves progressives or not.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Floyd Prozanski will hold a Town Hall meeting at City Hall on February 25 from 10am to 12am. Representative Paul Holvey will also be present. Local democrats and progressives will meet at Big Stuff Barbeque in downtown Cottage Grove immediately thereafter to share lunch and discussion. Please join us!

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”

- Franklin D Roosevelt

What’s cookin’ in Oregon?
By Dian Missar

Have you signed the 2006 Oregon Initiative Petitions? Read them carefully. All have costs. For instance, campaign finance petitions # 8 and #37 from Fair Elections Oregon are complex proposals needing costly legal interpretation, with a questionable “super-majority” vote (75% of legislators) to pass.

Congress has until March 6 to put civil liberties checks and balances into the Patriot Act. Call Senators Smith and Wyden to assure judicial review and congressional oversight.

Oregon farmworkers will lobby for legal temporary-worker law, HB3142, the “AgJob Bill”, as the US Senate starts February immigration debate. Workers denounce HB4437, the stringent “Border & Immigration Enforcement Act”, a snarled mix of border, terrorism & farm issues passed in December by the US House. Call Senators Smith and Wyden to support HB3142 and the future of Oregon agriculture.

Other Tidbits: Oregon National Guard announces $20,000 bonus to enlist. Apollo Oregon petitions for biofuel projects start in March. BRING recycling welcomes most hard plastics now at Weyerhaeuser.

Super Heroes Update
by Dian Missar

A Super Hero bus took 13 people with capes and bicycles, including a teacher and 5 teens from Well Springs School, to join Katrina clean up work with Ethan Hughes and Sarah Wilcox in devastated Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi and New Orleans. The bicycles were left with people needing transportation.

Help support the community-building work of Pastor Bruce Davenport, St. John 5 Faith Church, 3613 Hamburg St., New Orleans 70122, and Common Ground Collective at www.commongroundrelief.org

What’s Cookin’ in Cottage Grove
By Celia Scott

Rain’s been falling in buckets for weeks, and a developer’s gravelled-in roads on Mt. David’s hillside, above Cottage Grove, have become streambeds for a steady torrent of water. On December 30, 2005, the muddy flow found its way into buildings at the head of “M” and Birch streets, and flooded to a depth of five feet a basement containing expensive heating equipment. Plans for an over-55 condo cluster at this site suffered a serious setback, and all the developer (Todd Alberts) could say to the owners was “It’s normal for this time of year.” The City manager backed him up.
And what of the seriously flooded neighborhood streets east of “M”, and the homeowners who even now—weeks later— watch every new rainy day with apprehension, and keep the sandbags and straw bales in place? As the new “river” off Mt. David continues to flow, day and night, wet day or dry, and the soil of Mt. David is washed down sewer grates, we should at least get an apology from Mr. Alberts and the City manager, and some action to permanently correct this situation (other than two new grates)!

What’s Cookin’ in Lane County
By Leslie Rubinstein

The County Commissioners unanimously approved the sale of 80 acres of Dunes property in Florence to the Oregon State Parks Department after a hearing in Florence in which supporters of the Dunes sale packed the room. Commissioners decided not to sell 20 of the 80 acres to a developer. Political pressure does work!

Now that Sid Leiken has decided not to run against Bill Dwyer for the Springfield County Commissioner position, our focus should be on supporting Bill Fleenor in his race against Anna Morrison for the West Lane County Commissioner Position. Bill has an excellent chance to defeat embattled Anna Morrison in the May primaries. Please consider helping with this race by volunteering or donating money. More information is available by visiting www.williamfleenor.com; email info@williamfleenor.com; phone 541-991-0662; mailing address PO Box 216, Mapleton, OR, 97453. If donating, please be sure to include name, address, occupation and employer.

Environmental Watch

A War We Have to Win

By Cheryl Kline

We’re all very much aware of the current war in Iraq, but there is another war being waged in our own country. A war against the environment. It’s grows slowly under the radar, and of course, the news media doesn’t cover it. I mean really, why would they want to focus on the eradication of another animal or plant species when we don’t know if Angelina Jolie is having a baby girl or boy?

Last fall, the Resources Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) successfully passed legislation in the House that will fundamentally alter and weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The controversial Pombo legislation, ironically entitled the “Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005” (HR 3824), eliminates protections across the board for threatened and endangered species while creating several new loopholes and corporate giveaways. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) also introduced legislation last December entitled the “Collaboration for Recovery of Endangered Species Act.” If this misleadingly titled piece of legislation passes, it will significantly alter and weaken the Act. We have to fight this war against the environment by letting our Senators know we are opposed to laws that attack the ESA. For more depressing news about the havoc the Bush Administration has wrought on Mother Earth, visit NRDC.org and click on Bush’s report card.

The Big Bad Interior Department

A howl of thanks to Alaska’s Superior Court Judge Sharon Gleason who ruled to stop the wolf-killing program in that state. Alaska’s Board of Game started the wolf-killing program in 2003, supposedly toartificially increase moose and caribou populations as a food source for local residents. But according to Defenders of Wildlife, “The hunter subsidy programs are clearly for the benefit of rich sportsmen. More than 80% of the moose killed in some areas is done by non-resident and non-rural trophy hunters.” The game board, which is fighting the ruling, failed to provide required justification for the program and did not explain why alternative means for reducing the number of wolves would not work. The board gave no explanation for how it set the wolf reduction levels — ranging from 40 to 90 percent in the different areas. The Alaska Board is fighting the ruling.

And there’s more bad news for wolves. The federal government’s plan to hand wolf management responsibilities over to Idaho would likely lead to a big jump in the number of wolves killed there. In 2002, a moratorium was passed by the state legislature calling for the eradication of wolves in Idaho “by any means necessary.” The bill was signed by the Governor.

Want to help? Go to Defenders.org and adopt a wolf for only $25.

Bush Administration Definitely Not Dolphin Friendly

Following years of unanswered calls for action, an NRDC-led coalition of groups has filed a lawsuit to compel the U.S. Navy to take commonsense steps to protect whales, dolphins and other marine mammals from the military’s ear-splitting mid-frequency sonar.

Scientists have linked the use of mid-frequency military sonar to hundreds of whale strandings, deaths and disappearances around the world, in areas such as Alaska, the Bahamas, Greece, the Canary Islands and Japan. NRDC filed a separate lawsuit last June against the Bush Administration for withholding thousands of pages of evidence related to numerous mass strandings and deaths of whales and other ocean mammals exposed to military sonar systems.

They said WHAT?!?

“You work three jobs?...Uniquely American, isn’t it? I mean, that is fantastic that you’re doing that.”
George Bush, to a divorced mother of three in Omaha, NE, 2/4/05

“Now tell me the truth boys, is this kind of fun?”
Tom Delay, to three young hurricane evacuees at the Houston Astrodome, 9/9/05

“It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.”
George W. Bush

“I do know that it’s true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.”
Bill Bennett, former Education Secretary, September, 2005

Make Your Voice Heard

FEDERAL:

Senator Gordon Smith
(202) 224-3753
http://gsmith.senate.gov
email from website

Senator Ron Wyden
(202) 224-5244
http://wyden.senate.gov
email from website

Representative Peter Defazio (D-04)
(541) 431-0299
http://www.house.gov/defazio
email from website

STATE:

Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-004)
(503) 986-1704
e-mail: sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us

Representative Bruce Hanna (R-007)
(503) 986-1407
e-mail: rep.brucehanna@state.or.us

Governor Ted Kulongoski
(503) 378-4582
www.governor.state.or.us
email from website

County Commissioner Faye Stewart
(541) 682-4203
email: faye.stewart@co.lane.or.us

Cottage Grove City Manager’s Office
Joan Hoehn
(541) 942-5501
email: cityrecorder@cottagegrove.org

Newsletter-December-page 1

2005-12-01T09:25:00.000-08:00

BLACKBERRY BRAMBLE
Newsletter of the Cottage Grove Blackberry Pie Society
December 2005 Issue, page 1

Progressive Values Manifesto
Part 1 of 2
by Nancy McCollum

It has been said by certain right-wingers that progressives have no values. In fact, we are entirely driven by values, and everything we do is based on this.While this list is by no means comprehensive, and while not every progressive embraces every one of these values, in general this reflects what we believe in:

Compassion.
Social awareness and responsibility.
Fairness and equality, with opportunity for all.
Clean air and clean water and preservation of open space and habitat.
Protection for consumers.
Care for each other and our community.
Universal health care.
Transparency in government.
What do these values mean?

Compassion means that we are able to put the needs of others on a par with our own needs. It means we try to know what it’s like to stand in someone else’s shoes. This often leads to a desire to lend a hand when needed.Social awareness and responsibility means we are willing to give up some of our disposable income to insure that there are no disposable people. We believe unfettered capitalism hurts many people,allowing a few to get rich and the rest to be blamed for their own suffering. We recognize that capitalism, while useful when well-regulated, is not democracy.
To ensure fairness and equality and opportunity, we choose to use government to ensure that everyone has a chance at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We support lawmaking that protects the air and water and preserves open space.
We support laws that curb the power of corporations and big business owners and protect consumers.
Looking out for the community means we stay aware of each other’s needs, we listen to and read about all members of our society, take all concerns seriously and try to respond helpfully.
Universal health care means we know that health care is a right, not a privilege available only to the rich.
Transparency in government means we think that nothing in government should be closed to the public, that any member of the public who wants to participate
respectfully in the workings of government should be allowed into the presence of the law and policy makers and should be seen and heard and answered. Current
government on the national level and in CG is run in secret, with a lack of responsiveness to all but a few citizens.
(More values in next issue!)

Announcement
The Cottage Grove Blackberry Pie Society is happily hosting the Democratic Party of Lane County’s Annual Platform Meeting at the Cottage Grove High School on 12/10/05. Visit www.dplc.org or call 484-5099 to register. Free registration before 12/8. Everyone is welcome.

What's Cookin' in Cottage Grove
by David Seidel

The Friends of Mt. David are gearing up to deal with the application for a 200
house Emerald Heights development on Mt. David. It is vital to all all of us
in Cottage Grove that this development benefit the entire community and not
just the money interests. With wise and careful planning we will avoid the
negative effects that this development can have on the quality of life we have
come to enjoy in our town. What we lose will be lost forever.
Helping hands are needed. Spread the word. Contact David Seidel: 942-5422.

TOWN HALL MEETING #2. Sound off! Here is your chance to talk face to
face with City Councilor Todd Winter. Bring your concerns, questions, issues,
suggestions, etc. You will il be heard. 7:00 pm, December 6th, Cottage Grove Community Center.

What's Cookin' in Oregon
by Dian Missar

· Oregon DEQ Public Hearing Wed. Nov.30, at UO Knight Library, Deadline for Comments Dec.7: Oregon DEQ has proposed to significantly weaken turbidity standards, a measure of cloudiness in water that can be caused by soil erosion, waste discharge & run-off. If turbidity levels are weakened, polluters would be allowed to dramatically increase amounts of pollution they can discharge, threatening fish and wildlife. Northwest Pulp & Paper Assoc. paid DEQ $120,000 for staff time to rewrite this standard. (See Oregon League of Conservation Voters, www. actionnet work.org)
· The Democratic Party of Oregon invites you to Portland, Fri. Dec.9, 7-9pm to meet 4-term Dem. Congressman Nick Lampson, Galveston, TX, who could beat Tom Delay in Nov. 2006 with your support. (See www.dpo.org)
· Luckily Rep. Tom Udall(D-NM) is offer-ing HB 3973 "Natural Forests Rehabilitation & Recovery Act" as a choice from Oregon Rep. Greg Walden’s (R-OR) "Walden-Baird Logging Bill." His deceptive "Forest Emergency Act" repeals protections for forest, fish & wildlife to rush through logging of National Forests after fires and transform natural habitat into industrial forests for the logging in-dustry. Ask Rep. DeFazio to support HB3973’s project to scientifically monitor 5 fire recovery plots for best restoration.
(See Oregon Natural Resources Council at www.onrc.org.)
· Will budget cut bill finance tax cuts instead? In Cottage Grove now, cash assistance applicants must wait 45 days and make 35 job contacts/week among few openings, with no child care help. Best choices for Congress budget resolution are the Senate bill’s cuts in overpayments to drug & insurance com-panies, not the House bill’s $700 Million "Food Stamp Massacre," $30 Billion in Medicare cuts, or more child care cuts from working TANF (welfare) families.
· During the interim year, Oregon legislators serve on interim committees & task forces. Track State Committees at www.leg.state.or.us . SB 82 created the "Big Look" 10 member (4 yr. term) task force soon to be appointed by the Gov. to look at effectiveness of current land planning for existing & future needs. 1000 Friends of Oregon calls it the best bill of the Session. (see friends.org) Track Congress at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov .
· The Oregonian (Nov. 6) calls our Sen. Ron Wyden’s "Fair Flat Tax Act" of Oct 27 "constructive thinking." noting neither the Bush or Wyden tax reform bills have a snowballs’ chance but "comparing the two is well worth a taxpayer’s time," and saying Wyden’s challenge to the Republican bill is a "refreshing surprise" for a Dem. considered the least progressive. (See oregonlive.com)

Newsletter-December 2005-page 2

2005-11-30T13:23:00.000-08:00

BLACKBERRY BRAMBLE
Newsletter of the Blackberry Pie Society
December 2005 Issue, page 2

Our Morality has Slipped
by Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald

Well, I guess that settles that.
"We do not torture," President Bush said on Monday.
Never mind all those torture pictures from Abu Graib.
Never mind all those torture stories from Guantanamo Bay.
Never mind the 2002 Justice Department memo that sought to justify torture.
Never mind reports of U.S. officials sending detainees to other countries for torture.
Never mind Dick Cheney lobbying to exempt the CIA from rules prohibiting torture.
"We do not torture," said the president.
And that’s that, right? I mean, if you can’t believe the Bush administration, who can you believe? No torture. Period, end of sentence.
Read the full text of this article online at
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20051112/1041927.asp

What’s cookin’ in Lane County?
By Alice Doyle

• The County’s main focus has been whether or not to ask voters to pay thru new taxing for a Public Safety District. The process largely has been driven by Faye Stewart, the leading proponent of a county sales tax, who even encouraged the Board of Commissioners to enact the tax without a vote of the people.
Other options included a gross receipts tax above 250,000 business income and a county income tax of approximately .60%. None of these formula appear to have a good prospect at the polls.
The Cottage Grove City Council was so sure that Stewart’s funding ideas would pass that not only did they increase all taxes in Cottage Grove in reactionary preface in September, but passed an resolution on October 10 stating that they unanimously agreed to an enactment of sales tax by the Board of Commissioners without a vote of the citizens or opportunities for discussion. Members of the Council said "We got Stewart elected, now we need to support him".
Public official support for the sales tax is waning, as numerous letters to the editor and other public reaction has been negative.
• Congressman Jim Weaver announced at a Board of Commissioners meeting that if Stewart continued to push enacting a sales tax, he would run against Stewart in the upcoming election. Other citizens also are considering challenges to Stewart.
• The county is confronting a high fiscal uncertainty with a potential lost of 20 million dollars of federal revenue thru the termination of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act (in lieu of timber harvest revenue sharing).
• The County also is interested in the relocation of McKenzie Willamette hospital and in the continuing controversy surrounding the West Eugene parkway, fairgrounds and dunes.

They Said WHAT?!?
"The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."
Pat Robertson, August, 1993
I would warn Orlando that you’re right in the way of some serious hurricanes, and I don’t think I’d be waving those flags in God’s face if I were you, This is not a message of hate — this is a message of redemption. But a condition like this will bring about the destruction of your nation. It’ll bring about terrorist bombs; it’ll bring earthquakes, tornadoes, and possibly a meteor."
Pat Robertson, on "gay days" at Disney World, June, 1998
I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don’t turn to God. You just rejected him from your city,"
Pat Robertson, on the defeat of 8 school board members in Dover, PA, who were advocates of teaching intelligent design, November, 2005

Environmental Watch
by Cheryl Kline

Could it be that Congress was visited by the ghost of Christmas future? In a surprising turn of events, the Republican leadership of the House dropped language from the bill that would have authorized drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and language that would have lifted the 24 year Congressional moratorium on outer continental shelf oil and gas drilling. Whatever the reason, this comes as welcome news. But don’t break out the champagne yet. The refuge still remains in jeopardy because conference committee members must now gather to reconcile the House version of the bill with the Senate version, which does contain Arctic drilling language. Please contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to keep the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling language out of the final bill.
The Endangered Species Act, one of the most important pieces of legislation ever passed, is in danger of being gutted. Representative Richard Pombo (R-California) introduced a bill, which has been dubbed "Pombo’s Wildlife Extinction Bill", by fishermen, religious leaders and conservationists. The legislation would reduce protection of endangered species from deadly pesticides like the ones that nearly drove the bald eagle to extinction. It would also diminish habitat protections, cut wildlife experts out of the loop on key scientific decisions, weaken the role of science in decision-making about endangered wildlife and require taxpayers to pay irresponsible developers to not kill endangered plants and animals. Please write to Senator Wyden and Senator Smith and tell them to vote against this hideous bill. Visit www.saveesa.org for more information. The animals will thank you.

Alternative News Sources
Websites:
www.commondreams.org
www.truthout.org
www.buzzflash.com
www.dailykos.com
www.buyblue.org
Send us your favorites!
Radio Stations:
KSOW - Community Radio Cottage Grove 106.7FM
KOPT - Air America Eugene 1600AM
KPOJ - Air America Portland 620 AM

CANDIDATES NEEDED!
DO YOU want to run for public office or know someone who does?
Filing deadlines for City, County and State elections:
Cottage Grove city council and mayor:
August, 2006
(No primary vote for city offices)
Lane County commissioner: March 7, 2006
Oregon state offices: March 7, 2006

Make Your Voice Heard
FEDERAL:
Senator Gordon Smith
(202) 224-3753
http://gsmith.senate.gov
email from website

Senator Ron Wyden
(202) 224-5244
http://wyden.senate.gov
email from website

Representative Peter Defazio (D-04)
(541) 431-0299
http://www.house.gov/defazio
email from website

STATE:
Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-004)
(503) 986-1704
e-mail: sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us

Representative Bruce Hanna (R-007)
(503) 986-1407
e-mail: rep.brucehanna@state.or.us

Governor Ted Kulongoski
(503) 378-4582
www.governor.state.or.us
email from website

County Commissioner Faye Stewart
(541) 682-4203
email: faye.stewart@co.lane.or.us

Cottage Grove City Manager’s Office
Joan Hoehn
(541) 942-5501

Blackberry Bramble Newsletter-October page 2

2005-11-30T09:42:00.000-08:00

BLACKBERRY BRAMBLE
October 2005, page 2

DeFazio Town Hall
by Nancy McCollum

Congressman Peter DeFazio spoke to more than 50 local citizens in a Town Hall meeting on August 17. He believes that our huge and unprecedented national debt is a serious problem for future generations. China, for example, could destroy the dollar due to the large note they hold against us. DeFazio also mentioned nationalized health care. He is concerned that Medicaid is more expensive than Medicare, which itself is headed for a cliff and will be bankrupt in 10 years.In reference to the energy bill, DeFazio said it’s bad policy for the 21st century because it increases our dependence on foreign oil. He also stated that he is against the war in Iraq and supports a bill to have American troops leave Iraq within one year.
DeFazio supported the transportation bill and worked for sub-divided funding so that small Oregon firms could bid on parts of large jobs. He mentioned that WTO rules allow foreign countries to come in and bid for our highway work.In answer to several questions from the audience, DeFazio said congressmen donot retire on full salary (only federal judges do); veterans benefits should be mandatorylike Social Security; No Child Left Behind has put states in a bind because it is not federally funded; and nuclear power development will put the burden of nuclear waste disposal on the taxpayers’ shoulders.

New Orleans: It’s about usIraq war didn’t cause the hurricane, just drained resources from flooded city
By Molly Ivins
This is a column for everyone in the path of Hurricane Katrina who ever said, "I’m sorry, I’m just not interested in politics," or, "There’s nothing I can do about it," or, "Eh, they’re all crooks anyway."
Nothing to do with me, nothing to do with my life, nothing I can do about any of it. Look around you this morning. I suppose the NRA would argue, "Government policies don’t kill people, hurricanes kill people." Actually, hurricanes plus government policies kill people.
Note - This is an excerpt from Molly Ivins’ powerful article focusing on the real consequences of govermnent....or lack thereof. Please see commondreams.org/views05/0901-26.htm

What’s cookin’ in Lane County?
By Alice Doyle
There are many important issues simmering in Lane County government.
1) There is a probability of a special interest sponsored attempt to seize Bill Dwyer’s Board of Commissioner seat by running the Springfield mayor, the chosen candidate of notorious Eugene land speculator, John Musemeci. Though Sid Leiken signed a pledge of public endorsement of Dwyer’s upcoming 2006 re-election, Leiken has now filed to run against Dwyer, thereby betraying his pledge both to Dwyer and to Springfield voters who recently in November 2004, re-elected Leiken to a second four year term. With a Dwyer loss, development interests would be able to run totally roughshod over land-use protections.
2) There is increasingly realistic prospect that extreme hard-right ideologue West Lane County commissioner Anna Morrison may be defeated by the serious and highly credible campaign challenger, Bill Fleenor of Mapleton, who is already mounting an energetic grassroots effort.
3) There is the need to permanently protect the spectacular eighty acre Glenada/Florence dunes parcel and ensure that the Oregon State Parks department with its Measure 66 Open Space acquisition funds secures this property rather than a suspect proposal coming from notorious Eugene land speculator and Leiken promoter, John Musemeci. This parcel which fronts on the Siuslaw River across from old town Florence features majestic dunes, lakes, a waterfall, an old growth wooded glen and a native American artifact site. Its 360 degree vistas and breathtaking features comprise one of Lane County’s priceless gems, which must be preserved forever as open space.
4) The Board of Commissioners need to be encouraged to nip in the bud the disturbing rumblings of potential development of land bordering the north face of Mt Pisgah along the Willamette River, a property owned by the Wildish family that would best be protected via a potential land swap with Lane County rather than developed into the rumored and shocking deluxe RV park.

Environmental Watch
by Cheryl Kline
In addition to the millions of people affected by Huricane Katrina, the storm also caused devastating environmental damage. Crucial habitat for sea turtles, manatees, and countless other species was destroyed. Wetlands that once supported birds and other animals are now gone. Many of the National wildlife refuges were hit hard, greatly impacting a number of endangered species that count on the refuges for survival.
Beyond the storm’s immediate devastation, the area’s people and wildlife must now deal with severe environmental problems—including toxic waste from oil spills, sewage, household paints, solvents, fertilizers and pesticides, and industrial compounds from the area nicknamed "Chemical Alley."
Even before the storm hit, Louisiana ranked fourth in the nation for releases of toxic chemicals into rivers and streams, and led the country in releases of chemicals that build up in the human body. Flooding has now dispersed a toxic soup that could pose long-term health risks for the people of New Orleans and is an immediate threat to the 20-30 endangered manatees in Lake Ponchartrain near New Orleans and other area wildlife.
If any good can come out of such a tragedy, perhaps Hurricane Katrina’s devastation will underscore the importance of conservation. And in this case, the conservation of wetlands. The creation of levees and canals on the Mississippi River, along with oil and gas drilling near the coast have contributed to the disappearance of more than one million acres of wetlands and coastal barrier islands in the river’s delta since 1930. That’s nearly one-third! If the developers had done their homework they would have discovered that not only do wetlands and barrier islands provide important habitat for animals, they also buffer coastal areas from severe storms. In fact, research indicates that storm surge is reduced by as much as one foot per square mile of coastal lands. Had this natural buffer been in place when Katrina hit, the damage to coastal areas likely would have been less severe.
This is old news to many conservationists and government scientists. For years they had been promoting an ambitious wetlands restoration plan, called Coast 2050 which had never been fully implemented. This was partly due to resources being diverted elsewhere. A new $14 billion proposal called The Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration Plan is intended to begin to move Coast 2050 forward. If Congress wants to help minimize damage from future storms, it should include full funding for the Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration Plan in any bill that moves forward to rebuild southeast Louisiana. After all there’s an old saying in Louisiana — I know it’s in Texas, probably in Louisiana too. It says, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice - you can’t get fooled again. Or something like that.

Make Your Voice Heard
FEDERAL:
Senator Gordon Smith
(202) 224-3753
http://gsmith.senate.gov
email from website

Senator Ron Wyden
(202) 224-5244
http://wyden.senate.gov
email from website

Representative Peter Defazio (D-04)
(541) 431-0299
http://www.house.gov/defazio
email from website

STATE:
Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-004)
(503) 986-1704
e-mail: sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us

Representative Bruce Hanna (R-007)
(503) 986-1407
e-mail: rep.brucehanna@state.or.us
Governor Ted Kulongoski
(503) 378-4582
www.governor.state.or.us
email from website

County Commissioner Faye Stewart
(541) 682-4203
email: faye.stewart@co.lane.or.us

Cottage Grove City Manager’s Office
Joan Hoehn
(541) 942-5501 email: cityrecorder@cottagegrove.org

Alternative News Sources
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They Said WHAT?!?
"Frankly, I’m also fed up - not fed up. I retract that. I’m weary, ladies and gentlemen, of even having to express sympathy. ‘Oh, she lost her son!’ Yes, yes, yes, but (sigh) we all lose things."
Rush Limbaugh 8/18/05 speaking on the subject of Cindy Sheehan

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this—this (she chuckles slightly) is working very well for them."
Barbara Bush 9/5/05 touring the houston hurricane relief centers

"Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott’s house — he’s lost his entire house — there’s going to be a fantastic house. And I’m looking forward to sitting on the porch."
George W. Bush, 9/2/05 in Mobile, Alabama

Blackberry Bramble Newsletter-October-page 1

2005-11-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

BLACKBERRY BRAMBLE
Volume 1, Issue 7, October 2005

Where Are We Growing
By David Seidel
Within 5 years the population of Cottage Grove will exceed 10,000 if 2 planned housing developments in the Mt. David area are approved by the City Council.
Will this growth be beneficial for our community or will it create some serious problems? Many people, as well as City officials, tend to regard growth as a good thing; good for business, for increased tax revenues, etc. But is growth always good for our community; or can there be consequences that will permanently and seriously compromise the character of our community and the quality of life we enjoy as residents of Cottage Grove? What we must require is smart growth; developments that are compatible with well thought out long range plans.
Many of us believe that the 2 developments currently being considered for approval do not qualify as smart growth. The developers of these projects have demonstrated that they do not have the welfare of our community in mind. Their plans do not take into account the detrimental impact they will have on our community. They don’t look beyond the boundaries of their property.
Consider the Sunrise Ridge development,(250 homes, about 750 people).This
development could have been approved several months ago with construction well
under way by now. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your point of view, a contingent of citizens chose to fight City Hall in this matter. They testified before the Planning Commission an City Council arguing that the development would be extremely disruptive to the neighboring communities as well as to the City. The outcome of this process is yet to be determined. Stay tuned.
Considerable work, time and money has been spent in this effort to get a better-planned development. The "system" is not user-friendly. It is well designed to discourage citizen participation. If you wish to be more informed or involved check out the Planning Commission and Council meetings, or call 942-8014.

Happy Birthday Blackberrians
by Tony Corcoran
Happy first birthday, Blackberrians! I hope you spend it banefully bashing Bush’s bad behavior. However, as a former nattering nabob of negativism myself, let me propose to you that there is a tiny silver lining around Katrina’s penumbra.
Yeah, yeah, I know many of you cynics out there are pointing out the obvious:
· We were no more ready for disaster after 9/11 than before.
· You better not be black and poor in a flood plain.
· You probably shouldn’t appoint political cronies to FEMA: The Washington Post reported that "[f]ive of eight top Federal Emergency Management Agency officials came to their posts with virtually no experience in handling disasters." The top three officials — Brown, Chief of Staff Patrick J. Rhode and Deputy Chief of Staff Brooks D. Altshuler — "arrived with ties to President Bush’s 2000 campaign or to the White House advance operation."
· You should’ve bought stock in Halliburton: more than $500 million a day is being spent already, much of it on Iraq-style no-bid contracts, since normal federal contracting rules were "largely suspended" in the days following Katrina’s landfall. "This is very painful," says Danielle Brian, director of the Project on Government Oversight, a nonprofit government spending watchdog group. "You are likely to see the equivalent of war profiteering — disaster profiteering."
· Joe Allbaugh made it to Louisiana before most FEMA officials. By August 31, Allbaugh — the manager of the 2000 Bush-Cheney campaign and the Bush administration’s first FEMA director — was on the ground "helping coordinate the private-sector response to the storm."
· It only took Bush 11 days after Katrina to dump the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires federal contractors to pay workers the prevailing wages in their communities requires. So the contractors that do come in can pay minimum wage.
· Even President Bush’s cultural conservative base was rewarded. FEMA designated Pat Robertson’s group Operation Blessing "as the No. 2 charity for donations in the wake of Hurricane Katrina," despite the fact that the group "gave more than half of its yearly allocation of cash donations — $885,000 — to the Christian Broadcasting Network," according to its most recent tax filings.
Other than that, how did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
But I think that one lesson, which writers from Molly Ivins to Paul Krugman have pointed out, is the most important one: Americans are slowly becoming aware that there’s a reason for "government", there is a reason for the "commons", and it took a crisis to make that fact apparent. Remember the Great Depression? Our nation healed through the formation of large government projects like the WPA and the CCC, through Social Security, and ultimately Medicare and Medicaid. Big government wasn’t all that bad then. It only became bad as a target of political and financial benefit to the wealthy. So, as we watch Bush’s botched response, and Halliburton’s sleazy opportunism, think back to why you Blackberrians formed a year ago. Think about the Bushes, and the Sizemores, and their anti-government rants. Any jackass can kick down a barn, it takes a carpenter to build one.
Blackberrians understood that when they formed to support good government. At its most basic, good government means adequate public services. Whether it’s public education, human services, public health, mental health, senior services, disability services ,public roads, or, in this case, emergency management.So thank you, Blackberrians, for forming to protect the "commons". Keep an eye on the bad guys, but never forget it’s the good guys like you who keep them from getting away with murder. Literally. Non illigitimati carborundum!
Note - Tony Corcoran, a former state senator, was instrumental in the creation of the first BPS recipes and bylaws and currently serves as chief taster.

Grassroots Alternatives in
Disaster Relief

Louisiana Environmental Action Network
www.leanweb.org
162 Craydon Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70806

ASPCA
www.aspca.org
424 E 92nd St, New York, NY 10128

Habitat for Humanity
www.habitat.org
121 Habitat Street, Americus, GA 31709-3498

"Evil flourishes when good people do nothing."

-Thomas Jefferson

Newsletter coming soon

2005-11-29T15:19:00.000-08:00

The Blackberry Bramble will be published here soon.