A Couple Raves, While They're On My Mind

Rave: to Senator Rivers, for proposing regulations to the state medical pot market (and getting ahead of a Federal shutdown on it). Keep it up - fold medical pot into regular pot sales regulations - after all, its an "over the counter" drug now. 

Rave: to planners at the City for the new and bedazzling Esther Street underpass at train tracks, part of Vancouver's "New Pearl" waterfront re-do. LOVING the cool-assed Art Deco looking streetlights. Albeit its a little bizarre realizing said underpass currently leads nowhere. 

Rave: to Blue Donkey Dem leaders for a relatively smooth nominating session to fill Commissioner Stuart's seat. Lets hope this augurs well for primary election. 

Rave: to whoever planted variegated Japanese irises at W 4th Plain Blvd & Harney Street. 

Rave: to the young homeless punk ladies in leather & leopard print drying their clothes in the patio area behind the Elections Office last Sunday (the 21st). A good use of public space. 

--

Shea Michael Anderson

1923 Harney St, Vancouver WA 98660

360 991 5206, 360 852 7414 (msgs)

sheaside@gmail.com
sites.google.com/site/yoursacredgarden
facebook.com/yoursacredgarden

Our New $900M Bridge in East County

I was just reading the 2014 State of the County address, and noticed a little item in Commissioner Madore's section of the speech (strangely enough, said County address was at the "Square Dance Center", rather than, say, 13th & Franklin). 

Said item addressed ongoing developments towards a new East County bridge, to cross the Columbia River at SE 192nd Avenue, connecting with Airport Way and the NE 181st Avenue I-84 interchange - eastcountybridge.com. 

I see nothing necessarily wrong with having a third bridge. In fact, I think there should be a third bridge on the west side of town, to take all the truck traffic off I-5, and complete the circle freeway loop around Portland/Vancouver that OR-217 is a part of. 

Having said that, a couple items on the East County Bridge site give me pause: 

-the cost of the bridge will be $900M. Nowhere on the site does it indicate where said monies will come from. Are we to assume the County plans on issuing bonds for $900M to build it? I'm guessing, given Madore is proposing said bridge upon the "will of the voters" (who had a smorgasbord of bridge choices to vote on last fall), it won't be paid for with taxes, fees, or tolls. Does Madore know something about State funding that we don't (does "our man in Olympia", Senator/Director Benton, have something up his sleeve)? Is Madore going to personally donate said $900M out of his own fortune? Have Metro, Portland City Council, or Multnomah County Council (not to mention Salem) offered funds? Hard and transparent numbers would be a GOOD THING here, and soon. 

-said bridge will only relieve "one-half lane of traffic" at rush hour from I-5 - not a whole heck of alot. Madore and backers of this new bridge claim two lanes of traffic will be gone from I-205 at rush hour - nice, but doesn't exactly solve a pressing problem (given the backup on 205 at rush hour is not all that bad compared with Interstate bridge). Truck traffic (a HUGE I-5 bridge woe) is mostly NOT going to East County, or Troutdale/Gresham. Rather, said traffic is either going to the Ports of Portland/Vancouver or the industrial areas on the west and south sides (not to mention straight through on south). 

-have both Olympia and Salem, and our state transportation, environmental, and other relevant departments signed off on this East County bridge? Wouldn't both states want to do studies first to see for themselves? What about the feds, including the US Dept of Interior, the DEA, Transportation Dept, etc (keeping in mind that ANY Columbia River bridge, because it crosses state lines, involves Federal approval - that darned ol' 10th Amendment of the Constitution again)? I would think a giant new bridge being built on Government Island, a wildlife refuge, would give pause. 

-does this mean the County isn't gonna cooperate with new state efforts, like this "Bistate" business (see above re: difficulties). What do state reps in the East End think about this new 192nd Ave bridge? 

I realize that we're not going forward with the Columbia River Crossing - and I'm grateful we're not. I do think we need to re-think the whole Interstate Bridge thing with everyone getting their voices heard. However, a $900M bridge just plopped down at SE 192nd Ave is sort of like using a sledgehammer where a light "tap" would do - I don't get why throwing a giant new expensive, politically "hot", difficult to build bridge is the answer - particularly when it doesn't relieve I-5 traffic hardly at all. 

I'd prefer Madore and his hired help NOT spend their money dreaming of said new bridge in East County and instead hit the drawing board on SMART moves to relieve I-5 traffic (you know, get Oregon to remove the Jantzen Beach interchange, for instance; get the State trans dept to prohibit truck traffic in all 3 lanes; put in a carpool lane; take out the Washington St/C St on/off ramps; add commuter rail on existing train tracks; get behind the WILL of voters and commit help to bus rapid transit; prod Oregon to do something about a bottlenecked N Portland I-5 - things like that). However, I realize Madore just bulls ahead with whatever he thinks we all want - so...unless "our man in Olympia" is gonna just bulldoze opposition to said new bridge and sprinkle dollars down for it like the good fairy of freeways...it'd be smarter to get all ducks in a row now rather than run into roadblock after roadblock down the line. 

--

Shea Michael Anderson

1923 Harney St, Vancouver WA 98660

360 991 5206, 360 852 7414 (msgs)

sheaside@gmail.com
sites.google.com/site/yoursacredgarden
facebook.com/yoursacredgarden

Who Knew? Crude Is ALREADY Being Shipped By Rail Through Our Neighbors Across the River

From today's Columbian: 

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/mar/28/117000-fine-proposed-clatskanie-ore-oil-terminal

Apparently said crude-oil-by-rail shippers were just fined $170K by Oregon's Dept of Environmental Quality for shipping SIX TIMES their legally allowed amount. 

Shipping of crude oil by rail through St Johns, up past Scappoose & St Helens, through Rainier, and onto tankers at Clatskanie continues, however, while the shipper appeals the fine. 

While Oregon (and Columbia County) can do whatever it pleases regarding allowing crude oil to be shipped by rail (past a nuclear power plant, through relatively large semi-urban populations, and next to sensitive wildlife areas), I find it toothless that Oregon's DEQ is continuing to allow said folks to continue shipping their crude in this manner - given they can't seem to respect their limits in the first place. 

I also find it strange (but all too usual) that Salem completely IGNORED concerns not only of folks here (who are fairly vociferous about crude oil by rail) but also swept any mention of said shipments under the Rose City's rug. I can't imagine North Portland residents being all happy-go-lucky knowing highly flammable crude oil, at six times the legally allowed amount, is being shipped by rail underneath their homes (through the St Johns rail tunnel) and across the Willamette. However, given most Portlanders aren't even aware that our Port is planning a giant oil by rail terminal here (just two miles away from them), it does make sense that they're also in the dark about what their own state government is doing. 

I do hope that interested Rose City folks stand up and be counted on this one. I also hope that we here in the Couv voice our opposition (such as it is) to crude oil being shipped by rail directly across the river from our homes. 

I pray (but don't hold my breath) that Port of Vancouver commissioners realize that once they open the door to Tesoro/Savage's bid, there's no telling what sorts of tricks might waltz on through. Money is to be made here, folks - its a powerful incentive to ignore pretty much everything else, including public safety. I fervently hope City Council holds the line. 

Just because Oregonians are foolish enough to allow this sort of nonsense doesn't mean we need to join them in doing so. 

--

Shea Michael Anderson

1923 Harney St, Vancouver WA 98660

360 991 5206, 360 852 7414 (msgs)

sheaside@gmail.com
sites.google.com/site/yoursacredgarden
facebook.com/yoursacredgarden

Fair Funding for SW Washington in Olympia

Along completely different notes, I want to urge our folks in Olympia to NOT ACCEPT any funding bills that dont give SW Wash its proper share, per % of state population, of at least 5%. Roads, education, whatever-give us our due. Or no voting YES. Dems, GOP - I DONT care. Voting in support of those you represent goes across party lines.

Cc'ing my state rep on this one.

Ed Barnes for District 3 Seat

Im all for Ed Barnes as the Dem nominee for the fall election in our Commish district-hes got the drive, the principles, and the $. Most important, Dems need to run a candidate adamantly opposed to M&M's shady dealings, who already has support of voters in District 3, and who can hold their own against whatever stalking horse Madore's $ will flow to (I smell Chamber of Commerce candidates here).

We do NOT need to moderate with folks at 13th and Franklin who refuse to reason. We CANNOT give any more ground to corruption in the 98666. We MUST elect a candidate who meets our values in West Vancouver, who can get the job done. That guy is Ed Barnes.

I doubt the Commishes will appoint Ed to the vacancy-in fact, wiser heads than I (who shall remain nameless) think the Commishes will appoint Temple to the seat in the hopes she'll be a shrill pushover. I think that too, and I think Temple will make a GREAT placeholder-holding their feet to the fire while allowing Ed to run a smooth campaign.

Lets all get behind common sense for Dist 3, folks. Urge the Blue Donkeys to GET BEHIND Ed for Commish.

Cc'ing Ed and the County Dems on this post.

Re: Reopen Hough Pool & Return Marshall to 5 Days a Week

Thanks for your thoughts - I will forward this on to Julie Hannon, Parks and Recreation Director for consideration.

Just to be clear, though, I did not indicate that we had more funding as a result of the recent independence from the County, but rather had a new found ability to focus exclusively on City of Vancouver parks.  As with all of our core service areas, we will do the absolute best with what resources we have, but cannot at this stage promise new and additional assets  and programs.

Regards -

Eric J. Holmes

City Manager

360.487.8640

www.cityofvancouver.us

On Mar 23, 2014, at 4:39 PM, "Shea Michael Anderson" <sheaside@gmail.com> wrote:

Mr. Holmes,

Now that the City has some new parks funding from breaking free of metropolitan district (as you indicated to me regarding park toilets), can we pretty please:

-return Marshall comm ctr to 5 day/wk schedule? (Now 2 day)

-take over/fund Hough Pool to reopen as it was?

-refurbish Esther Short lawns?

-Plant trees along new Jefferson st ext?

-pave walk from City Hall to Phil Arnold Wy?

-finish park off on 9th/Columbia block?

-reopen Marshall community garden and/or work with nonprofits n churches to open their gardens to all or put some in?

-buy out 20 acre midcentury modern estate botanical garden out Old Evergreen Hwy at 120th SE block (forget name, its on garden tour, private old money estate right on river, they wanted to sell when I toured it 2 yrs ago)? Vancouver has no arboretum/botanical/public garden to speak of, save greenways, Esther Short rose gdn, and Fort. Tacoma and Spokane each have botanical gardens and zoos. Yes, we're same size as them. Bellevue, 2/3 our size, has great botanic gdn and a petting zoo. Crikey, SeaTac, pop 50K, has a great botanical garden. Idk, maybe offer to annex Heritage Farm from County lol. They need the $.

-and possibly (altho this last one is faint hope): get together a public art gallery space, say in our fancy dance City Hall, by putting together city, peacehealth, college, pvt n corp collections in city? Tacoma, same size, has 3 great art museums. We have a Carnegie Library. And Portland.

And yes, Im addressing you directly. Youre the man Council trusts to hold the powers of getting things done here. Forward to Council if you like-Im not going to. (-:

No, I dont expect it all done at once. But these little things a livable working city doth make. And we arent working on all gears yet.

Thanks for listening.

Add Some Spice to the Stewpot, Couvers!

I realize we're all real new here to urban living, only having 13 years of it under our belt (since the Great Leap East of 2001), but now that we've left our tweens, and their twerker crushes behind, its time we accept some responsibilities along with the privileges of being a teenager city of 165K+.

Im not asking us to spice up the bland bedroom community gruel too much-dont want us to have collective urban heartburn, but our suburbanite starches could stand a little pepper at the very least (try a bit of garlic-I promise its not hot).

This means things like building up parks, rec, and culture; finishing up downtown by getting rid of the bits that dont work; NOT using our lovely mall as a town center; not quibbling over whose lawn isnt mowed/whos violating homeowner codes (yes East Vancs, talking to yall out 164th way); not putting up with half-done subdivisions of ticky tack; sidewalks and good lighting; connecting parts of city to others-like our isolated train station; not relying on white elephant saviors-like oil terminals and semiconductor plants, let alone Gummi vitamins; NOT relying on disinterested admins and underpaid/unempowered City Councilors; no more passing buck to County; much less teat sucking at Portlands saggy hooters and much more insisting our full say to work together; and NO MORE halfassed sideways campaigns for things like: 5K rubber sidewalks; wishes for happy fairy dust from venal County council; 20 mph speed zones on arterials; protests and civic actions that CONTINUE, not sputter out once we hear soothing words; and an INSISTENCE that City leaders and workers work to hear out what we want-instead of tootling around with arcane bureaucratic processes, like volunteer boards that dont have any powers.

Time to sell off underused parking garages (14!), insist business folks step up game, folding up overpolicing of street unsightlies and instead do actual beat policing-yes, officers, this does mean WALKING along 4th Plain from Ft Vanc Wy to Andresen, Mill Plain in Heights and 112th to 136th, and around downtown, insist developers actually build things that attract tenants (and make em get ones to boot), and LASTLY, quit relying on and blaming everyone but our own City folks in positions of power when things arent there/dont work (and quit being apathetic).

Im not saying "bedroom community" doesnt taste good. But Bellevue, 2/3 our size, tried that one for years and it didnt work there either-their downtown is MUCH more imposing, busy, and bigger by far-and theyre getting light rail. Tacoma and Spokane each far outdo us (and yes, we're same size), Bellingham blows us out of the water when it comes to charming (and historic preserving), even little Camas and down at heels Longview have more cohesive and charming, and walkable, downtowns and city center adjacent 'hoods (and yes, I live in Hough-and it, Arnada, Shumway, and Carter Park lovely and swell-Fruit Valley, Rose Village, and what is NOW the warehouse wasteland of the 98666 ZIP code, w of Courthouse, are not so nice).

It wont bite, you'll love it. Just try a little bite. We're not getting up from dinner til you do.