THRILLED that so many in the Clark County conservative blogosphere are so darned UNHAPPY about goings on in the County - things like Oregon's insistence on light rail, Maria Cantwell visiting The Columbian, The Columbian in general - basically, why things AREN'T going their way.

I'm pleased about this mainly because Clark County doings, and the doings of government at large in our state and nation, are bringing a smile to my face. I'm happy to get OFF my computer, go out and TALK to real people (rather than bitch and gripe at them online), and I see folks are NOT simply angry for the sake of being mad (as our conservative blogger folks are). Rather, folks are energized to change things - and content that our efforts thus far have stymied our continuing County banana republic, have likely brought a halt to Tesoro's oil terminal efforts, and (oh yes) gotten us here in Vancouvria what we voted FOR: bus rapid transit, and NO NEW BRIDGE WITHOUT LIGHT RAIL.

I'm thankful I do get out and chitchat - if I stayed behind my computer all day I'd be buzzing around like a hornet too. We here in real-time Vantucky are fully aware change does not happen overnight, and change takes CONSENSUS - something the conservative County pundits forget, given their over-reliance on M&M efforts to give them goodies by fiat.

My advice to Lew Waters and others? GO TAKE A WALK. Burnt Bridge Creek ain't too far from Hazel Dell, right? Go smell a flower. Breathe fresh air. Talk to folks.

Pot Vending Machines?

Good mornin' o Wet n Wild City! Back from my refreshing coastal landscaping trip (my day "job") and two Columbian headline items attracted my eye (Im cc'ing Sen. Ann Rivers for the first item especially):

A) vending machines that sell pot are a BAD idea. The state liquor board shouldnt even consider it. Do I need to go into why vending machines that sell "sinful" things are bad?

B) whered the $17M in cost overruns by the CRC bridge planners go? Snazzy Jantzen Beach "meet the neighbors" get togethers?

Portland's Ongoing Freeway Issues

I say tell Salem lawmakers and Portland powers that be NO new Interstate Bridge until they fix their North + NE PDX freeway issues, including:

-removing Jantzen Beach exit + replacing with new access @ Marine Dr.

-adding Marine Dr only off ramps from I5, + redoing all ramps to get rid of stoplights.

-preferably separating  MLK exit from Marine Dr exit.

-adding truck-only lanes from bridge to Columbia Blvd.

-redoing Airport exit to get rid of lights there.
-separating Sandy + Killingsworth exits.

A small list, but they need to clean their own house before moaning at us about light rail. In exchange, we need to allow light rail-the bridge wont happen w/o it.

Thank You Eric!

Wanna take a hot wet Couver minute while at Winco and thank City Mgr Holmes for finally resurfacing lower Andresen Rd. Its like a friggin autobahn.

See? Im not all gloomy rants.

Sweet Time

Hello fellow Vantuckians! Ive been amiss in my politically charged enthusiasms due to constructing a door fence here at my Hough lair.

However, I did manage to catch a few Sunday headlines. In particular, the article telling us M+M will be laying out a "timetable" for appointing a new Dem commish to replace Stuart. A few KEY points:

-M+M are under NO obligation to appoint a new Commish in a hurry. It seems clear, unless the Blue Donkeys, Ed Barnes, or whoever takes them to court, that the two can hold off making an appointment til at least June 14-60 days from Stuarts last day. Mark my words, theyll do it at the last possible minute, avoiding Inslee's Oly intervention.

-M+M will appoint the WEAKEST of the 3 candidates. However, this doesnt necessarily mean Ed Barnes will get the nod. Its my sense Kelly Love Parker will-given her pro-biz stance appeals to M+M's stance. In fact, its likely whichever person gets their nod will ALSO be encouraged by them to run independent in November-thus splitting Dem ticket. Keep in mind Madore has the $ to do this-he donated, thru his PAC, $325k to Benton in 2012. Plus it appeals to Madore given his own squeak into office (when Dems didnt fully back Boldt).

-Its still not clear vis a vis state constitution whether M+M have to appoint one of the 3 Blue Donkey nominees. Yes, its usual. Yes, theres certain election statutes around it. But mark my words, theyll ask for legal opinions and rulings, as well as vet nominees before a "public" crafted in their own making during Commish hearings. They'll also do whatever they damn well please on the appt process-as they stated.

-M+M are holding off 60 days in order to confuse Dems-remember primary deadline is May 12. And its working-Ed and Pridemore are both announced. A bruising primary fight only works in M+M's favor, esp with them backing an indie candidate for November to SPLIT mostly left-leaning District 3-and remember NO GOP folks have announced. I doubt they will, or have full backing of our savvy Commishes when they do.

-Finally...the scariest part: M+M are free to do anything they like during this interregnum, w/o even a whimper of dissent on Council. No checks, no balances, folks. I shudder to think as to what crap will emerge from 13th + Franklin over this spring. And keep in mind that Freeholder charter intervention is FAR from a done deal: we dont even know what the new charter looks like, and we wont vote on an expanded Council where M+M power can be diluted til Nov 2015 at least.

In the meantime, Im ignoring Council and their ongoing Iran-Contra like hoo-ha. I got a fence to build.

Why the Jantzen exit needs to GO

RE: Clean Water Act Fees

Where you been Shea?  By the actions of the previous Board and bad choices of the past sheriff, we are caught paying the bills.  As for Mr. Benton, he just inherited the mess from the last Director.  Are you really that blind or just trying to dog pile on with the nay sayers.  Where do you suggest we get the money?

 

tom

 

From: Shea Michael Anderson [mailto:sheaside@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2014 8:48 AM
To: sheaside.imonik@blogger.com; Benton, Don; Madore, David; Mielke, Tom
Subject: Clean Water Act Fees

 

HOW DARE YOU ALL even consider assessing taxpayers in our County to pay bills for legal issues you folks in County govt created by not obeying the law of the Clean Water Act???

Where do the 3 of you get off? Anywhere? For shame. Not only are Director/Senator Bentons proposals to offload your mess onto citizens heads completely out of line, theyre utterly fiscally irresponsible and punitive to boot. Why not put zoning fees back in and FIRE Benton, for a start, to recoup some of the money?

Yall are leading Clark County to ruin in so many ways, and this is just the latest icing on the cake. Im praying the new Charter flips all 3 of you out on your ears.

PS: Oh, Senator Benton? Im NOT going to remove you from being cc'ed on my blog posts (which this email is). Your corruption needs to see the light of day for what it is.