Andy McCarthy has it here.

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Sure to incense some south of us, an article from Wednesdays’ Columbian states, “A report released Tuesday suggests that Portland’s economy has not kept pace with comparable cities, and that our neighbor to the south may be dragging Clark County down.”

“Portland’s economic shortcomings have influenced Clark County since the 1980s, and more recently, Portland’s economy has worsened Clark County’s high unemployment rate, said Scott Bailey, regional labor economist for the state Employment Security Department.”

Tim Duy, an economics professor at the University of Oregon said, “My sense is that if you’re going to view Clark County as essentially a bedroom community, they’re going to be very dependent on the job market in Portland. Portland workers who reside in Clark County are more at risk for job cuts.”

Scott Bailey, regional labor economist for the state Employment Security Department adds, “Unemployment claims filed by Clark County residents because they lost a job in another state have grown substantially faster than regular claims since the beginning of the recession.”

Clark County’s unemployment remains at 13%.

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Andy McCarthy has it here.

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by Mr. Why

Clackamas County’s hearing room will be packed with opponents to the Milwaukie extension of light rail both today from 5:30-7pm and tomorrow. But as opposition mounts Tri Met also meets today to connive a way to build a light rail bridge with money they don’t have while cheerleading a new tax for car owners for a Sellwood Bridge fix. The point is: there’s always money “found” for light rail while holding hostage the fixes to the broken down Sellwood Bridge for use by cars. The fix is in and here’s how it’s going down. Buckle up your seat belt.
TriMet will authorize the selling of $722 million in bonds and a NO BID contract for the Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge. It will go down in infamy as the largest single day misappropriation for the most ill conceived project in Oregon history. 

“Note that they’ve super sized the bond debt since last month: $159 million in capital grant receipt bonds (to be paid back through regional flex funds); $63 million (not the previously claimed $40 or even the “amended” $40-60 million) in payroll tax-backed bonds; and $500 million in revenue bonds (hopefully paid back from FTA grants).”

In meantime they’ll stick it to car owners for a $40 car tax to supposedly help with fixes to the Sellwood Bridge. But that’s just what they want you to think. In fact, that money will help free up money for light rail. After the hearing on the issue November 24th, Clackamas County Commissioner Barnard acknowledged the bridge would get built without Clackamas County’s $22 million. A task that would be much easier if Metro’s $178 million in flex funds intended for Milwaukie Light Rail was re-allocated to the bridge. Instead Sam Adams intends on re-allocating $20 million from the Sellwood bridge to Milwaukie Light Rail. No wonder they want Clackamas County’s $22 million for the bridge. It’s a despicable shell game.
Tri Met and the Clackamas County Commission are conspiring to thwart the will of most of Clackamas County and issue a NO BID contract to build a bridge for light rail to a place NOBODY wants and stick the taxpayers with the bill. As the Clackamas County Review observed from the November 24th meeting, 

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November 24, Board Of County Commisoners hearing on the Sellwood bridge 

Revenue from this new, County-only Vehicle Registration Fee (which comes on top of State vehicle registration fees you pay every other year) could be used to pay for the Commissioners’ $22 million donation they have pledged to the Sellwood Bridge project and for other special projects within the county and the cities (a full report can be found in the NW Connection, October 2010 issue.  

—–Original Message—–
From: stevescare@aol.com
Sent: Tue, Nov 30, 2010 6:14 pm
Subject: Ask Jonathan? Should you pay for this bridge?

Should you pay for this bridge?

Residents pack Clackamas County hearing room to protest a new $5 vehicle registration fee increase proposed to fund the 85-year-old Sellwood Bridge

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Sure to incense some south of us, an article from Wednesdays’ Columbian states, “A report released Tuesday suggests that Portland’s economy has not kept pace with comparable cities, and that our neighbor to the south may be dragging Clark County down.”

“Portland’s economic shortcomings have influenced Clark County since the 1980s, and more recently, Portland’s economy has worsened Clark County’s high unemployment rate, said Scott Bailey, regional labor economist for the state Employment Security Department.”

Tim Duy, an economics professor at the University of Oregon said, “My sense is that if you’re going to view Clark County as essentially a bedroom community, they’re going to be very dependent on the job market in Portland. Portland workers who reside in Clark County are more at risk for job cuts.”

Scott Bailey, regional labor economist for the state Employment Security Department adds, “Unemployment claims filed by Clark County residents because they lost a job in another state have grown substantially faster than regular claims since the beginning of the recession.”

Clark County’s unemployment remains at 13%.

Follow

by Mr. Why

Clackamas County’s hearing room will be packed with opponents to the Milwaukie extension of light rail both today from 5:30-7pm and tomorrow. But as opposition mounts Tri Met also meets today to connive a way to build a light rail bridge with money they don’t have while cheerleading a new tax for car owners for a Sellwood Bridge fix. The point is: there’s always money “found” for light rail while holding hostage the fixes to the broken down Sellwood Bridge for use by cars. The fix is in and here’s how it’s going down. Buckle up your seat belt.
TriMet will authorize the selling of $722 million in bonds and a NO BID contract for the Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge. It will go down in infamy as the largest single day misappropriation for the most ill conceived project in Oregon history. 

“Note that they’ve super sized the bond debt since last month: $159 million in capital grant receipt bonds (to be paid back through regional flex funds); $63 million (not the previously claimed $40 or even the “amended” $40-60 million) in payroll tax-backed bonds; and $500 million in revenue bonds (hopefully paid back from FTA grants).”

In meantime they’ll stick it to car owners for a $40 car tax to supposedly help with fixes to the Sellwood Bridge. But that’s just what they want you to think. In fact, that money will help free up money for light rail. After the hearing on the issue November 24th, Clackamas County Commissioner Barnard acknowledged the bridge would get built without Clackamas County’s $22 million. A task that would be much easier if Metro’s $178 million in flex funds intended for Milwaukie Light Rail was re-allocated to the bridge. Instead Sam Adams intends on re-allocating $20 million from the Sellwood bridge to Milwaukie Light Rail. No wonder they want Clackamas County’s $22 million for the bridge. It’s a despicable shell game.
Tri Met and the Clackamas County Commission are conspiring to thwart the will of most of Clackamas County and issue a NO BID contract to build a bridge for light rail to a place NOBODY wants and stick the taxpayers with the bill. As the Clackamas County Review observed from the November 24th meeting, 

Follow

November 24, Board Of County Commisoners hearing on the Sellwood bridge 

Revenue from this new, County-only Vehicle Registration Fee (which comes on top of State vehicle registration fees you pay every other year) could be used to pay for the Commissioners’ $22 million donation they have pledged to the Sellwood Bridge project and for other special projects within the county and the cities (a full report can be found in the NW Connection, October 2010 issue.  

—–Original Message—–
From: stevescare@aol.com
Sent: Tue, Nov 30, 2010 6:14 pm
Subject: Ask Jonathan? Should you pay for this bridge?

Should you pay for this bridge?

Residents pack Clackamas County hearing room to protest a new $5 vehicle registration fee increase proposed to fund the 85-year-old Sellwood Bridge

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It was 69 years ago today, December 7, 1941, young sailors and soldiers waking to another Sunday morning in Pearl Harbor Hawaii were suddenly and brutally thrust into the war that would become the bloodiest conflict the world has ever seen, World War Two.

For nearly two hours, waves of Japanese aircraft flew in, dropping bombs, torpedoes and strafing airfields and ships moored in the harbor in an effort to cripple the American Naval Pacific Fleet and prevent our Navy from influencing the war that the Japanese was planning to wage in Southeast Asia against Britain, the Netherlands and the U.S. in the Philippines.

“Four U.S. Navy battleships were sunk (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and all of the four other battleships present were damaged. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed, 2,402 personnel were killed and 1,282 were wounded. The power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light, with 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.”

While the surprise attack was an initial success, it ultimately proved to be a deadly miscalculation for the Japanese that was reportedly noted immediately after the sneak attack by Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”

While the quote itself is called into question, the ultimate outcome and somberness of the words are now a historical fact.

69 years later, the city of Vancouver once again gathered on this day to pay homage to those who are still entombed in the rusting hulks of ships still sitting beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor and give respects to the handful of men still living who endured the attack that day and who fought back against the tyranny of the then Japanese government and after defeating them, guide them back to being viable and welcome allies.

Even as a Veteran myself, I can only imagine the untold horror those men experienced that day. They were the same age I was when I served in the Viet Nam War, but I knew I was being sent into a War. They woke up to a massive wave of enemy aircraft attacking instead of the expected peaceful Sunday.

From the tearful admonition of Vancouver’s Pearl Harbor Survivors Association Vice-President Hal Lacey hoping such an attack never happens again to the emotional rendition of God Bless America, sang by Vancouver Police Officer Ray Reynolds, the hour and a half of ceremonies was in appreciation for what these aging men endured.

Retired Navy Commander Larry Commander served as Master of Ceremonies, introducing those survivors who were attendance and guest speakers who included Vancouver Mayor, Tim Leavitt, who although never served in the Military paid deep respects to those who died and those who survived to fight back.

Gene Cole, from Portland’s Chapter #1 of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association gave a short speech, recalling his own actions that fateful morning and the actions of those he saw fall around him.

A young sailor currently serving as the U.S. Navy Recruiter in the Vancouver area, whose name escapes me, paid his respects and recited the sailor’s creed,

“I am a United States Sailor. I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me. I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and all who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world. I proudly serve my country’s Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment. I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.”

Who better in our history has shown that than those men who endured that fateful day?

Earlier years saw a placing of a wreath into the Columbia River, but as this year’s ceremony was held indoors at E.B. Hamilton Hall, in the Historic Fort Vancouver, aging survivors dressed in uniforms and association colors stood and hung it from the front of the speakers’ lectern.

Aging men who will be lucky to see another commemoration, assisted by walkers and canes, some struggling even to stand, proudly walked up to pay their own homage to fellow shipmates who never returned.

Speaking with these men prior to the opening ceremony filled me with awe of what they endured, what they accomplished and the deep memories each has of that day and the rest of the war.

Older and bent over today, some with graying or balding hair, long widowers, once they were the young warriors and sailors who paid the price that my generation and successive generations remained a free people.

We owe these men a debt of gratitude impossible to repay. We can never give back what they lost that day and I imagine none would accept it if we could, knowing the price had to be paid to remain free.

To a man they are true patriots and Americans, proud of their country, shipmates and fellow Veterans.

As Vancouver Police Officer Ray Reynolds so eloquently sang, “God Bless America.”

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