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The Mid-county MEMO is your newspaper. We want to hear from you. Discuss an important issue or address a concern you want to call to the community’s attention. We prefer e-mailed letters to the editor sent to Darlene Vinson, at editor@midcountymemo.com. Please put “letter to the editor” in the subject line. You may also mail your letter to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR 97230 or fax it to 503-249-7672. Our deadline for the February issue is Friday, Jan. 14.
To the Editor:
Your November issue had several interesting articles by Lee Perlman regarding various mass-transit-oriented projects.
Each one omitted some interesting points that should have been made.
The CascadeStation piece mentioned that the projected TriMet MAX ridership into and through that area once it’s developed is admittedly low percentage-wise. Thousands of employees and patrons (up to 95 percent) will use autos instead. This means one thing only: that congestion on I-205, Airport Way, and Northeast Sandy Boulevard will be far, far worse than it is now.
So much for the claim that Airport MAX or any other MAX project is needed to reduce congestion.
That piece also referred to a “public open house” that drew only 15 people not associated with the project, only one of whom submitted a written comment. This is the level of public input that we get when MAX projects are not put to a vote, and this is the trend now with two completed lines already built without a vote. The so-called public hearing method involves an incredibly low number of people, and the establishment has and will always claim that not enough people oppose a given project to merit stopping it.
And then there’s that wonderful benefit MAX can bring to Parkrose, as pointed out by a businessman a few years ago:
“People from Hillsboro might ride out to Parkrose to see what it’s like”. And I suppose things will even out as Parkrose residents take the MAX out to Hillsboro to buy a cup of coffee, soup and sandwich, and maybe a screwdriver at a hardware store. Is that really a benefit that justifies the cost of Airport MAX?
The article on the Gateway Transit Center mentions that current parking capacity will be reduced by the construction of an office building, and that funding for a parking garage will be needed to make up for the loss of spaces. That funding may come from urban renewal funds, meaning property tax money normally spent on schools.
All of this is about money, money, money, and not at all about sensible transportation policies.
Bob Tiernan
Northeast Portland
zulu@pacifier.com
Perlman’s reply:
The article on CascadeStation critiqued this particular development. To say that it debunks light rail in general, or the Red Line airport train, would strike most people as a stretch.
As to the Gateway Transit Center project, the Opportunity Gateway Program Advisory Committee found it would do the following: bring a new enterprise with high-paying jobs to the area; put Transit Center parking in a more land-efficient garage; and, in the long run, add considerably to Gateway and the city’s tax base. The committee’s only concern was whether the Oregon Clinic’s proposal was big enough to warrant giving them such a key development site.
I find Mr. Tiernan’s criticisms puzzling, since his letter relied entirely on information I supplied, while contributing nothing but ideology and wind on his side. Is this supposed to be a partnership? By the way, aren’t you a little far from home, Bob?
_________
To the Editor:
On Nov. 2, you reelected me to continue serving as your state representative. The 73rd Legislature will convene on Jan. 10, and I will soon move my office to Salem for our biennial session.
As you are probably aware, this will be another challenging session because Oregon is once again facing budget shortfalls. It will be important for me to hear from you during the session so that I can best judge how to address this challenge. I cannot do my job effectively without regular input from you. Beginning this month, please use my Capitol office contact information to reach me in Salem.
Thank you for the honor of representing you in the Oregon House of Representatives.
State Rep. Jackie Dingfelder
900 Court Streets, NE, H-383, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1445
Fax: 503-986-1901
E-mail: rep.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us
Website: www.leg.state.or.us/dingfelder/home.htm
_________
To the Editor:
Thank you to all my constituents in far East Portland for re-electing me to a fourth term in the Oregon House of Representatives.
Although I was able to accomplish several objectives during my service, we still have much to do to ensure living-wage jobs, economic development, excellent schools with full school years, affordable health care, transportation infrastructure and accountable government. As House Democratic leader I promise to focus on these issues during my next term and welcome your guidance.
If you don’t already receive my Legislative updates, please send an e-mail to rep.jeffmerkley@state.or.us and we’ll add you to the list. It’s a great way to stay informed.
It has been an honor to serve you in Salem.
State Rep. Jeff Merkley,
House District 47
House Democratic leader
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