Related Posts:
RPCC---Republican Monthly Meeting "Candidate Forum" April 24, 2014
RPCC---Republican Party Monthly Meeting "Candidate Forum" February 27, 2014
RPCC---Republican Party of Coos County Monthly Meeting January 23, 2014
Republican Party of Coos County Monthly Meeting December 19, 2013
RPCC---NO Republican Meeting for November have a Happy Thanksgiving. 
AFP---Patriots Picnic Saturday October 12, 2013
The Republican Party of Coos County Should Take a Stand
Republican Party of Coos County Monthly Meeting Thursday June 27, 2013
Political Leadership School Saturday June 1, 2013
Republican Party of Coos County Monthly Meeting April 25, 2013
Save the Mingus Memorial---Updated 3/31/2013‏
Greg Walden wants Your Opinion
Republican Party of Coos County Monthly Meeting 02/28/2013 At Red Lion  
Republican Party of Coos County Monthly Meeting 01/24/2013 At Red Lion 

Fish as incriminating document?
Source: Christian Science Monitor "The US Supreme Court agreed Monday to take up a case posing a riddle: When is a fish like an incriminating financial report? How the high court answers that question is critical to a case involving Florida commercial fisherman John Yates. In 2007, Mr. Yates and his crew were cited for catching undersized red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico. The undersized catch was discovered after a fisheries enforcement officer boarded Yates’s boat, the Miss Katie, and began measuring the size of the fish in the hold." (04/28/14)

http://tinyurl.com/kgvfmh9

Related Posts:
SCOTUS: Google believes Snagging Data over Unsecured WI-FI Is Not Illegal 
SCOTUS---Oregon Protest Case Heard by the Supreme Court Marsh 26, 2014
SCOTUS---Court Upholds Property Rights in Rails-to-Trails Case
SCOTUS----Amazon workers' suit for paid search waits
SCOTUS---Rejects Appeal of Victim Disarmament Legislation 
SCOTUS---Did EPA Overstep on Global Warming 
SCOTUS---Court grants reprieve to death row inmate over pentobarbital 
SCOTUS---Case on Obama Recess Appointments 
SCOTUS---Interstate Pollution Case
SCOTUS---The Supremes decline illegal NSA phone spying case
SCOTUS---The Supreme Court lets Oklahoma abortion law fail 
SCOTUS---Narrow ruling in Michigan affirmative action case expected 
SCOTUS---Anti-prostitution pledge in AIDS law violates free speech
SCOTUS---U.S. top court bars patents on human genes unless synthetic
SCOTUS---Supreme Court Allows Warrantless Collection of DNA by Police/5-4 Ruling
SCOTUS---The American Police State
SCOTUS showdown over Voting Rights Act
SCOTUS---Farmer vs. Monsanto
SCOTUS---Dog's sniff was up to snuff

CEP will impact all of Oregon
http://mgx.com/blogs/2014/04/28/cep-will-impact-oregon/

One of the reasons given for the proposed sale and privatization of an invaluable public treasure like the Elliott State Rainforest is to raise funds to educate Oregon’s schoolchildren. Therefore, it may be of interest to all of Oregon that four rural taxing districts are on the brink of making a decision that will cost the State School Fund upwards of half a billion dollars over the next 20 years.

Estimated at $7.5 billion the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal is touted to be the largest single development project in Oregon history. Sited on the North Spit of Coos Bay, supporters trumpet that the terminal will more than double the tax base of disadvantaged Coos County. From its inception in 2004, Jordan Cove LNG has been marketed by local proponents as a savior that will provide as much as $52 million in annual tax revenue, funding schools, adding more deputies and paving our roads. These claims are made despite the project’s location within both an urban renewal district as well as an enterprise zone. The latter will provide Jordan Cove Energy Partners, wholly owned by Canadian company, Veresen, Inc., with an automatic five-year property tax exemption.

In January, however, Coos County citizens learned that many of these same proponents have decided the Jordan Cove spoils simply cannot be left to the vagaries of established property tax revenue distribution and management and have devised a scheme they call the Community Enhancement Plan (CEP). The CEP will divert the revenue into two private nonprofit organizations one ostensibly to provide extra funds to local schools and the other for economic development and waterfront revitalization.

Veresen has long maintained that it does not want nor need the enterprise zone abatement and company spokesman Bob Braddock told an audience in July 2012 that it had “made a commitment” to make an estimated $30 million annual payment in lieu of taxes to the county tax collector. In order for the CEP to work, however, the plan architects asked the company to apply for not only the standard exemption but also for the fifteen year Long Term Rural Enterprise Zone Exemption. All four enterprise zone sponsors, the Port of Coos Bay, the cities of North Bend and Coos Bay and the county, must unanimously approve the extended abatement period.

According to the CEP architects, the application will only be approved on the condition Veresen agrees to pay “service fees” equal to the taxes into the two nonprofits. The conditions of approval coupled with the fact the company was asked to apply for the extension has led to a countywide debate as to whether these are private funds or if they should be treated as public funds subject to Oregon’s open meetings and public records law.
Like the sale of the Elliott Forest, one of the main reasons given for using private nonprofits rather than a public trust is to help educate our children. Thanks in no small part to legislative actions in Salem that provide special assessments to large timber owners and incentive programs like enterprise zones, Coos County realizes only 30% of its tax potential. Consequently, the State of Oregon must backfill 74% or $57 million annually to educate the county’s 9,400 students, thereby limiting resources available to each of Oregon’s 561,000+ students by $102 per year.

The Jordan Cove terminal would bring nearly $20 million annually to the Coos Bay School District, reducing the backfill provided to the district while at the same time raising the resources available to students everywhere. CEP promoters refer to this method of equalization as “claw back” and consider it “Draconian” so with a $15,000 contribution from Veresen, they formed the South Coast Community Foundation (SCCF) last summer. The CEP directs 50% of Jordan Cove’s service fees to SCCF.

The founding board members, Senator Joanne Verger, John Whitty and Bill Lansing, freely admit SCCF was formed specifically to circumvent claw back in order to retain the money wholly for local schools while continuing to rely on the State School Fund for three quarters of the county’s education costs. SCCF is so intent upon thwarting equalization it has inserted a “poison pill” into its bylaws where if the State dares to equalize funds distributed by the foundation, the board will simply not spend the money on education at all.
There are several other components to this potentially billion-dollar privatization scheme and it has divided the county. State Senator Arnie Roblan, a retired educator and Representative Caddy McKeown a former school board member have urged local officials to approve this plan. Opponents have labeled it money laundering and consider it a scam to put self-appointed power brokers in control of public money without any accountability. Regardless of which side you are on, the CEP, if enacted, will impact all of Oregon.

To All Supporters, Friends, and Members of Coos AFP:

This Thursday, May 1st at The Red Lion Hotel, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM., in Coos Bay, Steve Jansen and Rob Taylor will be the featured speakers at Americans for Prosperity's (AFP), Coos Chapter meeting.  Order dinner and chat with friends before the meeting gets started.  The food's delicious with plenty of entrees to choose from. 

Steve plans to explain a 25-35 minute PowerPoint presentation (attached) about the Jordan Cove property tax projections and Community Enhancement Plan (CEP). He is the Coos County Assessor.

Although Steve is NOT an official spokesman for the CEP, he has a pretty thorough working knowledge of it.  He will include in his slide show and discussion an explanation of the education and economic development parts of the CEP, plus the currently-existing tax districts located in the North Spit area.
 
To reiterate: He is not acting as an official spokesman for Coos County, nor any of the parties involved, but will explain all the moving parts and relationships within the overall plan.

Jordan Cove will be locating within an Oregon Rural Enterprise Zone, which offers certain property tax benefits.  The North Spit is also located within the North Bay Urban Renewal District.  Those two programs both have financial impacts of who gets the money, when they get it, and how much they get.  He will offer an explanation of how the two programs work and how they work together. 

In developing those financials, he has worked for nearly a year with the Jordan Cove Project owners, the Oregon Department of Revenue, and the four Enterprise Zone sponsors. 

Steve has delivered similar PowerPoint briefings to citizen groups in Lakeside, Coos Bay, Myrtle Point, Coquille, and to the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Wednesday Business Luncheon.  The Property Tax white paper is attached in this email and can be found on the Coos County home page:

http://www.co.coos.or.us/Portals/0/Board%20of%20Commissioners/JCEPwhitepaper3-11-14.pdf

Rob Taylor will give his perspective of the CEP and the South Coast Community Foundation, (SCCF).  He will explain how the CEP will lead to "crony capitalism" and how the SCCF is a payoff to the public school unions.  Will the average taxpayer have to dig into their pockets to pay higher taxes?  Yes, Rob says.  He will explain how the people of Coos County can STOP the CEP and how they can learn about alternatives to the creation of more taxing schemes.

Rob is the owner and webmaster of www.cooscountywatchdog.com  The local citizen activist watchdog site lists three aspects to its mission:

• We are a network of individuals concerned with the growth of local government in Coos County.

• We are taxpayers working for increased transparency to expose and eliminate wasteful spending.

• We are citizens determined to protect our sovereign right to own and control our property.

This won't be one to miss.  See you there.

Regards,
Rick Hoffine
Asst Chapter Leader
Coos AFP

The Vector Assessment & Control Advisory Committee
http://www.co.coos.or.us/Portals/0/revised4-28-14mtgcomm.pdf

The USFWS will be speaking at the meeting, but the Chair of the committee has decided that there will be NO PUBLIC comments or questions for The Service.

Please plan on attending on May 1st, 2014 at 5:30pm in the Bandon Barn/Community Center.  It is important to have a huge presence to demonstrate to the USFWS that we the people of Coos County are not going to take any of their Bulls**t. 

The Vector Assessment & Control Advisory Committee
Speaker from the USFWS
Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 5:30 pm
The Barn in Bandon
http://goo.gl/maps/OwTrD

Related Posts:
Letter to Editor---They're Back, The Mosquitoes are here....
USFWS---Public Comment Integrated Marsh Management in Bandon by April 9, 2014
BOC---Shared State-County Services and Mosquito Abatement
USFWS---Post Card & News Release on Bandon Marsh Mosquito EA March 11, 2014 
USFWS---Public Comment & Meeting for Bandon Mosquito Control March 18, 2014
Mosquito Armageddon:  One Mosquito Bite Can Change a Life Forever
 The Bandon Marsh  Mosquito Farm
CCT---The Mosquito Survey of Impacts and Damages
CCT---Bandon Marsh Mosquito Meeting September 21, 2013
BOC---Town Hall on the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Source Control September 6, 2013
USFWS---Public Responses to the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Invasion
Letter to Mr. Lowe of the USFWS about the Bandon Marsh Mosquitoe  Problem
Department of Interior---Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations AKA The Coquilles
USFWS---Bandon Marsh Expansion Meeting Friday August 30, 2013
The Nature Conservancy---Contact the Oregon Leadership Team 
USDA---National Resources Inventory Summary Report 2010, not good for OR-Farms
Congressman Peter DeFazio Votes in favor of more Land Acquisitions
The Bandon Marsh---Xerces Opposes Bandon Marsh Spraying
Promoting the Bandon Marsh at the Oregon Film Festival
Federal Register taking comments on hunting in The Bandon Marsh
The Nature Conservancy---Oregon Grasslands: Crucial for Wildlife Survival‏
US Department of Interior Propaganda Press Release on Imaginary Economic Engine

Ltr to Editor
Coos County Commissioners, Coos Bay City Councilors think outside the box.  Your actions, voting away citizens rights, to their share of the LNG Community Services Fees, by joining South Coast Community Foundation, (SCCF) will increase their cost of living.

While Coos Bay holds public meeting on Sewer upgrades, other meetings, the Council will be voting to join, or not, (SCCF). Why can’t LNG Community Service Fee be used to upgrade, not only Coos Bay, but other County sewer plants, currently not in the plan.  Fees, 25 million a year,  $500 million dollars in 20 years. Coos bay only needs $81 million for it’s 20 year construction master plan. A drop in the bucket.

If you can’t flush the toilet, you can’t educate the kids, right.

Coos Bay City Officials have raised the flag, blowing the whistle, EMERGENCY, 2 new sewer plant upgrades and street paving, paid for by the citizens in new taxes or sewer fees.

They see their options only limited to the citizens taking out their wallets. NO, wait they want to hear from us, meetings to be held in May, 2014.

But, really the plan is for us to do it to ourselves by voting for a City Charter change, allowing the officials to borrow the money, raise taxes, because now we have to vote to raise taxes, increasing cost for everyone in the community.

Believe me, if that does not work, fee increases will be used, as they are now.

The City Officials,  and supporters, like the fee increases, they don’t have to ask anyone.

The Mayor estimates, sewer fee options, $55 a month single household 2014 to $85 in 2020, just 6 years going forward, of the 20 years. There are only two options or a combination of the two on the table now.

Carol Taylor
Coos Bay Or,97420

Related Posts:
Letter to Editor---Promises in the Dark with the Jordan Cove Project
BOC---Public Meetings Coos County Planning Changing Land Use Laws
Letter to Editor---County Politicians Keeping Public in the Dark on SCCF
RPCC---Republican Monthly Meeting "Candidate Forum" April 24, 2014
Critique of the BOC Town Hall in Bandon---"PUT IT ON THE BALLOT"
BOC---Public Meetings on South Coast Community Foundation "Put it on the Ballot"
BOC---Public Meeting for Vote on South Coast Community Foundation April 1, 2014
Letter to Editor---South Coast Community Foundation Scam will Top All Past 
MGX---Geddry Slams Koch over Forced Cooperation & Jordon Cove Funding 
League of Oregon Cities Class of Slanted View on History of Urban Renewal in OR 
City of Bandon---Expanding Government Cheese
Urban Renewal---King Hales of Portland Master of Government Development
FBI Press Release on Charges Against Local Bandon Developer Michael Drobot
Urban Renewal---Read How Schools suffer to Support Wealthy Foreign Companies
City of Bandon---Local Developer Michael Drobot Admits to Bribery & Conspiracy 
Preserving the American Dream:  Lessons in Beating Boondoggles
Agenda 21---Sustainable Development & Regionalism
City of Bandon---Votes on the renewal of City Manager's Contract

Dear Editor --
I see in the Saturday, 4-27-14 World, that the cost of the "advance" of our tax dollars by Jordan Cove is going to cost us all 3.65% interest. I had just last week heard that we'd be paying interest at 8% . But how can one know? Nothing is in writing.

I see in the Assessor's pie charts that the distribution, ignoring Urban Renewal, to the county with regular taxation will be 15.82%. However in his pie chart that distributes the proposed Jordan Cove "Community Service Fee", the county only takes 9.25%. That's roughly a 41% reduction to the county, with similar reductions to the other involved taxing districts. And don't forget to subtract the interest payment.

I hear Commissioner John Sweet telling local contractors' workers they'll each be making $80,000 a year when Jordan Cove kicks in. But then why will our local contractors be building that North Bend workers encampment for 2100 out-of-area workers?

And there was the erudite Humanist who was heard to pronounce that if we didn't trust these three peerless, tireless, selfless volunteer leaders, then we needed to look inside ourselves and find out what our trust issues are.

If you want to look inside something to find trust issues, I suggest you look inside Wim DeVriend's book "The Job Messiahs". It is a documented foray into 40 years of public boondoggles, snake oil, and useless wastes of money (yours). This latest scheme may well be the center crown jewel in his opus.

Ronnie Herne
Coquille, Oregon 97423

Letter to Editor:
Letter to Editor---County Politicians Keeping Public in the Dark on SCCF
Letter to Editor---They're Back, The Mosquitoes are here....
Letter to Editor---Curry County Charter does not equal Coos County Charter
Open Letter to the BLM Responding the Public Meeting on December 11, 2013
Letter to Editor---Jordon Cove Expects Tax Relief 
Letter to Editor---Questionable Nonprofits received money for Disaster Preparedness 
Letter to Editor---Oath Keepers seeks support for RCGR from Rep Krieger
Letter to Editor---Should Jordan Cove get permits
Letter to Editor---Publically owned beaches in Oregon 
Letter to Editor---commissioner responsibility‏
Letter to Editor---The Problem with PERS
Letter to Editor---3 Issues 4-5-13‏
Letter to Editor---The Dark-Sky Conspiracy Continues 
Letter to Editor---Relax Bandon and Let there be light...
Letter to Editor---WHY DID THE CHARTER  BALLOT MEASURE 6-143 NOT PASS? 
Letter to Editor------Feckless or Hypocritical
Letter to the editor,---Voting for the Home Rule Charter “Voice of the Voters” measure 6-143
Must Read Letter to the Editor

 Are you a mushroom? Apparently many elected and appointed politicians believe that we are. Mushrooms require being kept in the dark and fed lots of crap.

Several letters supporting the South Coast Community Foundation have been posted here recently. These letters find fault with those who oppose the Community Enhancement Plan that is intended to assure that the monies for our schools that may go to those organizations as taxes, and via Salem, will be retained here.

Recently, the city official tasked with drafting SCCF Bylaws that are acceptable to the community argued that she must hurry to get this job done to meet self - imposed and meaningless deadlines and because the Jordan Cove Energy groundbreaking will happen soon. Huh! Does she know something that we don’t?

Problem - nobody is arguing against the SCCF or the CEP or keeping money local. There are no fools among us. People don’t want to be mushrooms and they are arguing that the SCCF emphasis on keeping you, the citizen, the owners of that money, uninvolved and in the dark, is wrong. They argue against the three self - appointed SCCF officers / directors who you did not and will not elect or appoint and over whom you have no control. They are concerned that the parent of Jordan Cove Energy has not agreed in writing to give the people one cent of the money that proponents say will be coming our way. The cart is before the horse. They argue that the SCCF Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as written, offer no benefit to the average citizen. And they are angry because three people have apparently been working hidden from public view for ten years with Jordan Cove Energy on this SCCF matter.

SCCF proponents set forth a “Trust US” argument. Like Allstate, we are in the capable hands of three pillars of the community - some among us have disagreed. Problem - one of the three pillars intends to resign from SCCF soon; a second has made veiled threats to do the same. Who are the unknown pillars who we will be trusting with our money in the future? Some proponents tie SCCF to jobs. The subjects are unrelated.

It’s your money! Ask the politicians who have a fiduciary responsibility to you why they don’t want you involved in the SCCF matter. Don’t they trust us?

Fred Kirby
Coos Bay

Letter to Editor:
Letter to Editor---They're Back, The Mosquitoes are here....
Letter to Editor---Curry County Charter does not equal Coos County Charter
Open Letter to the BLM Responding the Public Meeting on December 11, 2013
Letter to Editor---Jordon Cove Expects Tax Relief 
Letter to Editor---Questionable Nonprofits received money for Disaster Preparedness 
Letter to Editor---Oath Keepers seeks support for RCGR from Rep Krieger
Letter to Editor---Should Jordan Cove get permits
Letter to Editor---Publically owned beaches in Oregon 
Letter to Editor---commissioner responsibility‏
Letter to Editor---The Problem with PERS
Letter to Editor---3 Issues 4-5-13‏
Letter to Editor---The Dark-Sky Conspiracy Continues 
Letter to Editor---Relax Bandon and Let there be light...
Letter to Editor---WHY DID THE CHARTER  BALLOT MEASURE 6-143 NOT PASS? 
Letter to Editor------Feckless or Hypocritical
Letter to the editor,---Voting for the Home Rule Charter “Voice of the Voters” measure 6-143
Must Read Letter to the Editor

Related Posts:
AFP---Monthly Meeting at ESD Thursday April 10, 2014  POTLUCK
AFP---Holding our Elected Officials Accountable just got a lot easier  
Rachel Maddow Vs. The Koch Brothers  
AFP---Things to do while stuck inside
AFP---Monthly Meeting on November 21, 2013
AFP Update---Video Clips of the Patriots Picnic  
AFP---Patriots Picnic Saturday October 12, 2013
AFP---Monthly Meeting Thrusday September 19, 2013
AFP & Oregon Capitol Watch Rally Wednesday, September 18, 2013
AFP Monthly Meeting Thursday June 20, 2013
AFP Monthly Meeting 5/09/2013
Public Meetings on Agenda 21
AFP---Facing Reality 2013
AFP---Monthly Meeting April  11, 2013

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
April 28, 29 and 30 2014

Monday, April 28, 2014
Owen Building
201 N. Adams Street
Coquille, OR 97423
Directions:
201 N. Adams Street, Coquille, OR


Pre-Meeting Town Hall Discussion
Following a tour of local projects, a subset of OWEB Board members will hold a “town hall” meeting
from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., to discuss cooperative conservation and restoration in the South Coast
area with interested community members.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014
“The Barn” Bandon Community Center
1200 W. 11th Street SW
Bandon, OR 97411
Directions: http://www.bandonbarn.com/contactus.html

Business Meeting – 8:00 a.m.
During the public comment periods (Agenda Items E and F) anyone wishing to speak to the
Board on specific agenda items is asked to fill out a comment request sheet (available at the
information table). This helps the Board know how many individuals would like to speak, and
to schedule accordingly. At the discretion of the Board co-chairs, public comment for agenda
items on which the Board is taking action may be invited during that agenda item. The Board
encourages persons to limit comments to three to five minutes.

A. Board Member Comments
Board representatives from state and federal agencies will provide an update on issues
related to the natural resource agency they represent. This is also an opportunity for
public and tribal Board members to report on their recent activities and share
Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Agenda
April 28-30, 2014
information and comments on a variety of watershed enhancement and community
conservation-related topics. Information item.

B. Board Co-Chair Election
The current term of Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Co-Chair Dan Thorndike
ended in January 2014. Co-Chair Eric Quaempts will lead a discussion and vote by
Board members to elect one Board Co-Chair position for a new two-year term. Action
item.

C. Review and Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the January 28-29, 2014, Board meeting in Portland will be presented for
Board approval. Action item.

D. Executive Director Update
Tom Byler, Executive Director, will update the Board on agency business and late-
breaking issues. Information item.

E. Pending Regular Grant Applications
Introduction
Prior to hearing public comment, Lauri Aunan, Grant Program Manager, will provide
background information on the October 21, 2013, grant cycle.
Public Comment [approximately 10:10 a.m.]
This time is reserved for public comment on pending restoration, technical assistance,
monitoring and outreach grant applications to be considered for funding by the Board.
Only comments pertaining to these specific grant applications will be accepted during
the meeting. The Board will not accept any written materials at this time. Any written
comments pertaining to pending grant proposals must be received by agency staff by
the April 11, 2014, deadline. The Board encourages persons to limit comments to three
to five minutes.
Board Consideration of Pending Regular Grant Applications
The Board will consider grant applications submitted by the October 21, 2013,
application deadline for restoration, technical assistance, monitoring and outreach
grants. Proposals, supporting materials, and funding recommendations will be
discussed and acted on by the Board. Action item.

F. Public Comment [approximately 1:40 p.m.]
This time is reserved for public comment on Agenda Items G, H, I and J, as well as other
matters before the Board.

G. OWEB Effectiveness Monitoring Program
Greg Sieglitz, Monitoring and Reporting Program Manager, will update the Board on
the accomplishments and priorities of OWEB’s Effectiveness Monitoring Program. Staff
also will request the Board award funding for effectiveness monitoring of the Oregon
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and other priority initiatives. Action item.
2
Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Agenda
April 28-30, 2014

H. Land Acquisition Grant Awards
Meta Loftsgaarden, Deputy Director, and Miriam Hulst, Acquisitions Specialist, will
request Board action on land acquisition grant applications that were received during
the October 2013 grant cycle. Action item.

I. Water Acquisition Grant Awards and Program Update
Renee Davis-Born, Senior Policy Coordinator, will request Board action on water
acquisition grant applications received and reviewed under the newly approved Board
guidance for water acquisition grants. Staff also will provide an update about the status
of the pilot coordinated funder framework approach and the Upper Klamath Basin
Water Lease Funding program. Action item.

J. Oregon Coastal Coho Business Plan
Meta Loftsgaarden, Deputy Director, will be joined by Krystyna Wolniakowski, Director
of the Western Partnership Office of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF),
and will brief the Board on a proposal for a joint grant-making partnership for coastal
salmon strongholds and request funding for the development of local plans. Action item.

Informal Reception – 5:00-6:15 p.m.
The public is invited to join the OWEB Board and staff at a reception
sponsored by the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance.
“The Barn” Bandon Community Center
1200 W. 11th Street SW
Bandon, OR 97411

Related Posts:
OWEB---Public Comment on Rules for Watershed Council Grants by March 31, 2014
OWEB---Updating the Watershed Council Map
OWEB---Streamlined Budget Categories for Grant Applications 
OWEB---Whole Watershed Restoration Initiative RFP Released & Scheduling‏
OWEB Grant Request by The Nature Conservancy 2013
OWEB---Public Meeting Focused on Winter Lake Restoration  August 29, 2013
OWEB---Seeking public comment on now expired Salmon Season State of Emergency
OWEB---Long-Term Investment Strategy for Conservation‏
OWEB---Watershed Council Support Update‏
OWEB---Restoration, Water Acquisition and Technical Assistance applications
OWEB---Proposed Direction for OWEB's Long-Term Investment Strategy for Conservation‏
OWEB---Post Listening-Session Survey Available‏
Subject: CWA meeting recap and information
Oregon Water Resource Commission approved the Integrated Water Resource Strategy
2010 Coastal Wetlands Grants
OWEB Listening Session Information & Agenda

04.23.14

The 2014 primary elections are coming up and OFF has just posted its candidate ratings for Oregon House, Senate and Governor.

You can view our ratings here. 

If you know something about a candidate that you think should be taken into account in these ratings, please let us know.
http://www.oregonfirearms.org/2014-candidate-ratings

Related Posts:
OFF---Two Gun Bills Back in the OR House  
Ashland, OR debates the Right to Bear Arms,  Two must see videos on the subject
OFF---Public Comment needed for Gun Registration Bill SB1551 
OFF---Public Comment needed on the First Gun Bills Scheduled for 2014 Legislature
OFF---Obey The Law, Go To Jail
OFF---Gun Bills Officially Posted‏
OFF---Five Years In Prison For Giving a Gun to Your Best Friend‏
OFF---More on Portland Slime Moving South‏
OFF---Update on anti-gun bill introduction, suggested message, troubling video.
OFF---IS PORTLAND EXTENDING ITS TENTACLES?
OFF---Santa Claus is Coming To Town.  So Is Michael Bloomberg.
OFF---ACTION ALERT:  Comment On Obama's Anti-gun Rule Proposal‏
OFF---Supreme Court to Hear "Straw Purchase" Case

Roy Lowe: Rob Taylor:  
Dear Sirs:  
The "Salt Water" mosquito is back.  Last year I made myself a promise that at the first sign of the mosquito in the year of 2014, I would start yelling.  Well, I killed one Friday night (4-18-2014).  

I don't think I need to go into detail about how the mosquitos destroyed my Grand Kids vacation last year, or any of that stuff because I'm sure you have already heard about it.  

I don't care how the USFWS gets rid of the mosquito, the mosquito must be stopped.  If that means spraying with a very dangerous spray, then do it.  If it kills everything in its path, it's the mosquitos fault.  Sounds crazy, maybe. What the hell, in a couple of years, what ever was killed will be re-stocked by USFWS anyway.  If that thought it too radical, then find another option.  Stop the mosquitos, then repair the damage.   Thank you for your effort in returning Bandon to a pleasant place to live.  After all, it is or used to be, a destination resort town.   
Sincerely Yours,  
Wayne H, Miller

Letter to Editor:
Letter to Editor---Curry County Charter does not equal Coos County Charter
Open Letter to the BLM Responding the Public Meeting on December 11, 2013
Letter to Editor---Jordon Cove Expects Tax Relief 
Letter to Editor---Questionable Nonprofits received money for Disaster Preparedness 
Letter to Editor---Oath Keepers seeks support for RCGR from Rep Krieger
Letter to Editor---Should Jordan Cove get permits
Letter to Editor---Publically owned beaches in Oregon 
Letter to Editor---commissioner responsibility‏
Letter to Editor---The Problem with PERS
Letter to Editor---3 Issues 4-5-13‏
Letter to Editor---The Dark-Sky Conspiracy Continues 
Letter to Editor---Relax Bandon and Let there be light...
Letter to Editor---WHY DID THE CHARTER  BALLOT MEASURE 6-143 NOT PASS? 
Letter to Editor------Feckless or Hypocritical
Letter to the editor,---Voting for the Home Rule Charter “Voice of the Voters” measure 6-143
Must Read Letter to the Editor

April 18, 2014
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider the 2014 sport and commercial halibut seasons when it meets at 8 a.m. on Friday, April 25 in North Bend at the Mill Casino and RV Park, 3201 Tremont Ave.

The Commission will be asked to adopt 2014 sport and commercial Pacific halibut regulations that are concurrent or more conservative with those recently adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. In addition, the Commission will finalize the season dates for the spring all-depth fishery of the Central Coast subarea.

Also on the agenda, ODFW staff will brief the Commission on the draft Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan, which describes the conservation status and management actions for the majority of trout, salmon and steelhead populations on the Oregon Coast. The Commission is scheduled to consider adoption of a final plan at the June 2014 meeting.

Other agenda items to be considered by the Commission include:

• A briefing on the 2014 ocean salmon seasons recently adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Several fisheries are currently open under an extension of 2013 rules, and the Commission will be asked to adopt rules for the remainder of the 2014 season at its June meeting.
• Approving $549,930.50 for three restoration and nine enhancement projects recommended by the Restoration and Enhancement Board.
• Hearing a citizen petition to add barramundi as a controlled fish species.

The Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. Public testimony before the Commission is held Friday morning immediately following the expenditure report. Persons seeking to testify on issues not on the formal agenda may do so by making arrangements with the ODFW Director’s Office, at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, by calling 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044.
###
    Contact:
Richard Hargrave, (503) 947-6020, Richard.J.Hargrave@state.or.us
Jessica Sall, (503) 947-6023, Jessica.Sall@state.or.us

Hey Folks,

I just attended the first Town Hall that was scheduled by the Coos County Board of Commissioner to discuss The Community Enhancement Plan and Commissioners Cribbon's and Sweet's desire for the county becoming the fourth member of the South Coast Community Foundation.  The SCCF is a taxing scheme developed to continue to siphon money from the state's State School Sharing Fund or the equalization program and funnel that money to huge private and public development projects. 

I had high praise for the way Commissioner Mellissa Cribbons conducted the county meeting on April 1, 2014, but the town hall in Bandon on the 9th was a sham.

The commissioners had everyone break up into five different groups to answer five questions that were designed to return a predetermined answer that would always favor the project.

There was over a dozen employees from Knife River Construction in attendance, if one was to go by the count of company vehicles that were in the parking lot.  They have every right to attend, but their numbers makes the appearance dubious and casts a cloud of suspicion on the entire project.    I think most of the rank and file employees are damn decent people who have the best of intentions.  Lets hope the company is not using them in the same fashion that Oregon Resource Co. used their employees to manipulate the commissioners vote on the ORC contract.  These people are the salt of the earth and do not deserve deception.  

In contrast, there was less than 10 people from the city of Bandon in attendance, and that was due to such a very short notification period for the meeting.  It is evident that the tactic was intentional, so Sweet and Cribbons could say they had input from the people, when most of the people in Bandon had not a clue that this meeting was occurring. 

Nobody from the Bandon City Council was in attendance, which was a huge disappointment.

Then, to the insult  of eveiry taxpayer in the county, nobody from the Bandon School Board attended the meeting, which was all about getting more money to the county's dilapidated school districts.  And they want our support, what a joke.  It also demonstrates how the school board is going to treat the staff and teachers of their district, if the schools were to get this money under the SCCF plan.  No Respect, to teachers, school staff, and most of all, us the taxpayers......The BOC has to Vote NO to the CEP and the SCCF or they better "Put it on the Ballot."  

Commissioner Sweet and Cribbons are going to push the CEP and the SCCF and the voters better be prepared to stop the creation of another political slush fund.  It is the definition of crony capitalism, or more aptly put, economic fascism.....Rob T.

 PRESS RELEASE
April 8, 2014

Coquille Watershed Association
223 N Alder, Suite D
Coquille, OR 97423

Phone: (541) 396-2541
Contact: Kelly Miles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *PRIORITY MEETING*

Public Event – The Coquille Watershed Association will host a public meeting with Coos County Watermaster, Mitch Lewis, to discuss the Significant Diversion Water Meter Program and to provide information for all landowners regarding the Department’s adjudication process. There will be an opportunity for the community to ask questions and discuss the process with Mr. Lewis and a short break before the CWA resumes regular business.

The meeting is free and the public is encouraged to attend and participate in this important process. Please call CWA Director Kelly Miles at (541) 396-2541 if you have any questions.

Location: Coos County Annex (Owen building), large conference room, 201 N Adams, Coquille

Date: Monday, April 28, 2014

Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
-END-

Braddock: JC has made commitment to pay $30M annual taxes despite EZ

Since this January when the architects of the CEP (community enhancement plan) finally made public their intention to privatize taxpayer dollars we have been told the plan it is necessary because of the Bay Area Enterprise Zone exemption. Jordan Cove will take advantage of a two year CIP (construction in progress) and a three year EZ exemption so the taxing districts will not see any revenue from the $7 billion project for at least five years we are told. The CEP, by giving Jordan Cove an additional fifteen year conditional abatement, would amortize the taxes normally paid during the fifteen years over twenty years in order to start payments when the project breaks ground. We are told Jordan Cove will pay the same amount in taxes but with smaller annual payments spread over a longer period of time. We are also told that instead of paying taxes, Jordan Cove will pay service fees into two private non-profit organizations.

John Sweet during a radio interview with Mark McKelvey yesterday indicated much the same. The CEP will bring more immediate cash whereas we would otherwise have to wait. Sweet also indicated that it wouldn’t be proper to just terminate the EZ because Jordan Cove was too far along in its development so the public should honor its commitment to extend the tax incentive. David Koch, CEO of the Int’l Port of Coos Bay told the port commission just last month that Jordan Cove has been applying for the standard EZ exemption from the inception and the CEP will bring cash sooner.

June 26, 2012 Bob Braddock of Jordan Cove told the audience at a Pacific Connector Open House filmed by Ricky Maranon of KCBY that the company would pay taxes during construction despite the EZ.

The terminal is actually built in an area that is part of an enterprise zone…in the hope of the scale of the project that amounts to an interim $30 million dollars a year, ah, but under state law we are exempt from it for a number of years and during the years that we’re exempt, we will be paying those taxes…How that money will be spent we don’t know but we have made that commitment to do that…

Jody McCaffree documented the meeting a few days later on the Citizens Against LNG website and noted “Braddock said they would be paying the money to the tax assessor and had no control with what actually happened to funds after that.”

Just recently Michael Hinrichs, also of Jordan Cove, told The World Newspaper the EZ tax incentive was insignificant in a project of this size. Multiple resolutions in support of the project can be found at the BS Oregon website attesting to the company’s willingness to make payments-in-lieu-of-taxes upon final approval from FERC and breaking ground.

WHEREAS, the Jordan Cove terminal and the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline will generate much needed tax revenue to Coos, Douglas, Jackson and Klamath counties – $32 million a year in ad valorem taxes or payments in lieu of taxes for the first three years, and $42 million to $52 million a year thereafter;

So in 2012 Braddock publicly claims Jordan Cove has made a “commitment”, (to whom is unknown), to make payments equivalent to what the taxes would be as if the EZ didn’t exist direct to the county tax collector. Yet today John Sweet and David Koch are saying Jordan Cove wants the early exemption and during his interview Sweet implied the company may even expect interest on the money it advances in the form of payment reductions.

Certainly, if the company is sincere about making payments during the construction phase the opportunities for a substantive countywide enhancement plan are no longer hampered by the constraints claimed by Sweet, et al as the justification for the CEP. Assuming Braddock is honest there is clearly no rush to ratify this plan. So who is telling the truth? Was Braddock just blowing hot air in 2012, (actually long before then), or have some local leaders discouraged the company from making payments to the people’s tax collector in order to privatize the money? Or are Sweet and Koch, et al, just confused? If they’re confused how is the public supposed to absorb this scheme?

Whatever the truth is, the public needs to know before any major decisions are made regarding this ill thought CEP.

Be Sociable, Share!
http://mgx.com/blogs/2014/04/09/braddock-jc-made-commitment-pay-30m-annual-taxes-despite-ez/

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Support  SB478
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The Federalization of Local Urban Renewal Agencies
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Hey Everyone,

The Board of Commissioners will be having several Town Halls to discuss the creation of the South Coast Community Foundation.  It appears that Commissioners Cribbons and Sweet are going to try to enact this new quasi private/public bureaucracy and we have to be prepared.  Please attend the meetings and ask the commissioners to Vote No to joining the foundation.  Tell them Vote NO or "PUT IT ON THE BALLOT,'....Rob T.

IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON:
It is very important to contact the commissioners and ask them to Vote NO on the SCCF or "PUT IT ON THE BALLOT."

Call & Email Commissioners                                                                                                                                                  

 John Sweet
(541) 396-7541
Email: jsweet@co.coos.or.us

Melissa Cribbins
(541) 396-7539
Email: mcribbins@co.coos.or.us

Robert "Bob" Main
(541) 396-7540
Email: bmain@co.coos.or.us

Coos County CommissionRegular bi-monthly meeting held April 1, 2014http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=f8545fd21b105763d330aacc217e162c
Coos Bay City CouncilRegular scheduled meeting held April 1, 2014http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=2d800837398eba76cde16e6ded9a261f
North Bend City CouncilRegular meeting of the North Bend City Council held March 25 ,2014,http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=c877950ea68e34cb35f2a6fc7dcbfc45
Coos County CommissionRegular meeting held March 25, 2014http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=db52e1a6c614c24c6da0b94db015224a

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is asking the public to review and comment on its proposed Integrated Marsh Management approach to control mosquitoes on the Ni-les’tun Unit of Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.  The public review and comment period will begin on March 11, 2014 and end on April 9, 2014.

Specifically, we are asking for your review and comments on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment for Tidal Marsh Restoration and the Draft Environmental Assessment for Mosquito Control at Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, which together constitute our Integrated Marsh Management approach to mosquito control.  Both Draft Environmental Assessments are attached to this email as PDF files. 

The draft Environmental Assessments are also available for download at http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/index.htm.  Hard copies are available in the reference section of the public libraries in Bandon, Coquille, Coos Bay and North Bend. Printed copies can be obtained by sending an email request to oregoncoast@fws.gov or calling (541) 867-4550. 

Your comments on the plans can be mailed, faxed or emailed by April 9, 2014 to:


Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex
2127 S.E. Marine Science Drive
Newport, OR 97365-5258
Fax number (541) 867-4551
E-mail oregoncoast@fws.gov

The Service will evaluate and respond to the comments received and inform the public of our decision. 

RE:  Public Comment on the release of the USFWS Environmental Assessment of the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Problem:

The US Fish & Wildlife Service must “Cease and Desist” all projects in Coos County.  The Service must “DIKE THE MARSH & DRAIN THE SWAMP” then the entire agency must evacuate the county.  The people of Coos County do not need the services of The Service, so consider this is a “Notice of Termination.”  Thank you for your time. 

Dear Editor --

On Saturday, April 5th, 2014 The World ran a front page article titled "Important election coming in Curry Co."  The article stated that a Curry County Home Rule Charter and one commissioner position will be on their May ballot.

Understand that this Curry County Charter in no way resembles the freedom-loving Coos County Home Rule Charter coming on the ballot this November.

Home Rule Charters are county constitutions.  They can be amended.  Each is individual.  Let me compare some points between theirs and ours.

Our Charter clearly forbids the hiring of a County Manager. (Coos County voted down a County Manager in 2012.) 

On the other hand, Curry County's Charter mandates the hiring of an appointed, not elected, County Manager.  These managers come with no accountability, big paychecks, golden parachutes, and, on average, three year terms before they move on.

This unelected, can't be-fired-by-the-people administrator is then directed by their Charter to appoint Curry County's Treasurer, Assessor, Surveyor, and Clerk.  Yes, I said "appoint".  Curry County voters are being asked to surrender their voting rights to the whims and dictates of an unelected person.  True, it says the commissioners must approve these choices.  However, if you don't vote them in, you can't vote them out.  And if you don't have your vote, what do you have?

Coos County's Charter says all of the county officers will be elected, at large, as it should be.  It makes them accountable to you.

And their County Commissioners will then number five, with no pay or benefits, a $10,000 stipend per year and these happy folks are supposed to review and approve the full time, full paid Administrator's unelected personnel choices.

On our side of the county line Our Charter will also have five commissioners, full paid, full time, and responsible for the full management and administration of the county, under clearly defined guidelines.  Ours is called "Voice of the Voters". 

The good news is that the Curry County voters have wisely voted down notoriously bad propositions before.  Clearly they should read the Charter and it might be interesting for them to discover who actually drafted it for them.  My bet is it wasn't their Home Rule Charter Committee.

Ronnie Herne
ARRRG Secretary
Home Rule Charter
arrrg@agitatus.com

62650 Fairview Road
Coquille, Oregon 97423
541-396-4200

Letter to Editor:
Open Letter to the BLM Responding the Public Meeting on December 11, 2013
Letter to Editor---Jordon Cove Expects Tax Relief 
Letter to Editor---Questionable Nonprofits received money for Disaster Preparedness 
Letter to Editor---Oath Keepers seeks support for RCGR from Rep Krieger
Letter to Editor---Should Jordan Cove get permits
Letter to Editor---Publically owned beaches in Oregon 
Letter to Editor---commissioner responsibility‏
Letter to Editor---The Problem with PERS
Letter to Editor---3 Issues 4-5-13‏
Letter to Editor---The Dark-Sky Conspiracy Continues 
Letter to Editor---Relax Bandon and Let there be light...
Letter to Editor---WHY DID THE CHARTER  BALLOT MEASURE 6-143 NOT PASS? 
Letter to Editor------Feckless or Hypocritical
Letter to the editor,---Voting for the Home Rule Charter “Voice of the Voters” measure 6-143
Must Read Letter to the Editor

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Letter to Editor---Jordon Cove Expects Tax Relief 
Letter to Editor---Home Rule Charter Meetings January 2-14, 2014
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Community Vs. Collectivism
Regionalism - The Blueprint for Your Serfdom
Letter to Editor---WHY DID THE CHARTER BALLOT MEASURE 6-143 NOT PASS?
BOC---Regulatory Streamlining and why they want an Administrator
MGX---a few links to some very informative articles from Mary Geddry
City of Bandon---Votes on the renewal of City Manager's Contract
MGX---"Change the title of the administrator to 'director' and the problem is solved."
BOC---Regulatory Streamlining and why they want an Administrator
Letter to Editor------Feckless or Hypocritical
MGX---Spinmeisters at The World newspaper.....
Audit report 2012-17‏
MGX---plans underway to dismantle county government‏
Jackson County regional planning gets green light---Regionalization coming to Coos

Hey Folks,

The mosquito infestation caused by the USFWS's marsh restoration will have to be paid for by someone, and that someone is us taxpayers.  Look at the chart below and you will see that Vector Abatement is the duty of the county.  Look at the last item on the list In the middle column titled, Natural Resources and Recreation and you will see that it is the county, which will have to take care of the mosquito problem....Rob T.

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Expanded by Proposal Release
Date: 03/25/2014
Contact Information: Julia Q. Ortiz, ortiz.julia@epa.gov, 202-564-1931; En español: Lina Younes; younes.lina@epa.gov , 202-564-9924, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) today jointly released a proposed rule to clarify protection under the Clean Water Act for streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation’s water resources. The proposed rule will benefit businesses by increasing efficiency in determining coverage of the Clean Water Act. The agencies are launching a robust outreach effort over the next 90 days, holding discussions around the country and gathering input needed to shape a final rule.

Determining Clean Water Act protection for streams and wetlands became confusing and complex following Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006. For nearly a decade, members of Congress, state and local officials, industry, agriculture, environmental groups, and the public asked for a rulemaking to provide clarity.

The proposed rule clarifies protection for streams and wetlands. The proposed definitions of waters will apply to all Clean Water Act programs. It does not protect any new types of waters that have not historically been covered under the Clean Water Act and is consistent with the Supreme Court’s more narrow reading of Clean Water Act jurisdiction.

“We are clarifying protection for the upstream waters that are absolutely vital to downstream communities,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “Clean water is essential to every single American, from families who rely on safe places to swim and healthy fish to eat, to farmers who need abundant and reliable sources of water to grow their crops, to hunters and fishermen who depend on healthy waters for recreation and their work, and to businesses that need a steady supply of water for operations.”

"America's waters and wetlands are valuable resources that must be protected today and for future generations,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy. “Today's rulemaking will better protect our aquatic resources, by strengthening the consistency, predictability, and transparency of our jurisdictional determinations. The rule's clarifications will result in a better public service nationwide."

The health of rivers, lakes, bays, and coastal waters depend on the streams and wetlands where they begin. Streams and wetlands provide many benefits to communities – they trap floodwaters, recharge groundwater supplies, remove pollution, and provide habitat for fish and wildlife. They are also economic drivers because of their role in fishing, hunting, agriculture, recreation, energy, and manufacturing.

About 60 percent of stream miles in the U.S. only flow seasonally or after rain, but have a considerable impact on the downstream waters. And approximately 117 million people – one in three Americans – get drinking water from public systems that rely in part on these streams. These are important waterways for which EPA and the Army Corps is clarifying protection.

Specifically, the proposed rule clarifies that under the Clean Water Act and based on the science:

· Most seasonal and rain-dependent streams are protected.
· Wetlands near rivers and streams are protected.
· Other types of waters may have more uncertain connections with downstream water and protection will be evaluated through a case specific analysis of whether the connection is or is not significant. However, to provide more certainty, the proposal requests comment on options protecting similarly situated waters in certain geographic areas or adding to the categories of waters protected without case specific analysis.

The proposed rule preserves the Clean Water Act exemptions and exclusions for agriculture. Additionally, EPA and the Army Corps have coordinated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop an interpretive rule to ensure that 56 specific conservation practices that protect or improve water quality will not be subject to Section 404 dredged or fill permitting requirements. The agencies will work together to implement these new exemptions and periodically review, and update USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation practice standards and activities that would qualify under the exemption. Any agriculture activity that does not result in the discharge of a pollutant to waters of the U.S. still does not require a permit.

The proposed rule also helps states and tribes – according to a study by the Environmental Law Institute, 36 states have legal limitations on their ability to fully protect waters that aren’t covered by the Clean Water Act.

The proposed rule is supported by the latest peer-reviewed science, including a draft scientific assessment by EPA, which presents a review and synthesis of more than 1,000 pieces of scientific literature. The rule will not be finalized until the final version of this scientific assessment is complete.

Forty years ago, two-thirds of America’s lakes, rivers and coastal waters were unsafe for fishing and swimming. Because of the Clean Water Act, that number has been cut in half. However, one-third of the nation’s waters still do not meet standards.

The proposed rule will be open for public comment for 90 days from publication in the Federal Register. The interpretive rule for agricultural activities is effective immediately.

More information: www.epa.gov/uswaters

Watch Administrator McCarthy’s overview: http://youtu.be/ow-n8zZuDYc

Watch Deputy Chief of Staff Arvin Ganesan’s explanation: http://youtu.be/fOUESH_JmA0

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The Nature Conservancy---Contact the Oregon Leadership Team 
The Nature Conservancy---Oregon Grasslands: Crucial for Wildlife Survival‏
The Bandon Marsh  Mosquito Farm
USFWS---Public Responses to the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Invasion
Letter to Mr. Lowe of the USFWS about the Bandon Marsh Mosquitoe  Problem
Department of Interior---Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations AKA The Coquilles

Google to SCOTUS: Snagging data over unsecured Wi-Fi isn’t illegal
Source: PC World "Google has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision by an appeals court that its collection of data from unencrypted Wi-Fi networks is not exempt under federal wiretap laws. The company argues that its data collection does not violate the Wiretap Act as it fell under an exemption that makes it lawful to intercept electronic communications that are readily accessible to the general public. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled in September that Wi-Fi network data collected by Google was not radio communications that is readily accessible to the public." (04/02/14)

http://tinyurl.com/mupj8b9