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Coos County Board of Commissioners FINAL VOTE on Extending the URA Debt

10/29/2017

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FINAL VOTE on Coos County Urban Renewal Agency
The Board of Commissioners will vote on an amendment to renew the plan for the North Bay Urban Renewal Area.  
 
 Monday, October 30, at 1:30 PM the Board of Commissioners will hold the Continuation of Hearing on Urban Renewal Plan Amendment in the Owen Building large conference room, 250 Baxter Street, Coquille, Oregon 97423.  

Opposed:
Robert "Bob" Main
(541) 396-7540
Email: bmain@co.coos.or.us
In favor of renewing the URA debt:
Melissa Cribbins
(541) 396-7539
Email: mcribbins@co.coos.or.us
 
John Sweet
(541) 396-7541
Email: jsweet@co.coos.or.us
Related Posts:
Information on the Campaign to Shut Down the Coos County Urban Renewal Agency
Coos County Republican Party Resolution Opposing School Bond Measure #6-166
Coos County Proposed Ordinance Adopting North Bay UR Plan ~ FOREVER
Coos County Commissioners Hearing on Extending the Debt of the North Bay URA
Cribbins & Sweet Utilize Voter Suppression on Urban Renewal Extension

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LTE ~ Try Convincing Seniors to Vote for Public School Failure

10/25/2017

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Sent in by Fred Kirby: 

In an effort to gain support of the proposed "best" bond (tax increase) measure and a positive vote, the Coos Bay school board has spent many thousands of our tax dollars for junk mail, electronic media advertising, etc. (see summary of expenditures at the Oregon Secretary of Sate web site).  In a recent The World article, school board spokesperson Martin finds fault with the outspoken courageous few who openly oppose a tax increase; those voters who already voted no in May; will in all likelihood vote no in November; and would probably vote no a third tine.

Please Mr. Martin, in a very few factual and verifiable sentences in response to this letter, convince those struggling to survive; those eagerly awaiting their $20 cost of living social security benefit increase; the older folks of our community; to accept added tax burden and to vote yes.  What are the direct benefits of the proposed "best" bond measure to senior citizens with no ties to the schools?  What, specifically, has the CB school board done to improve education; to keep children in school; while cutting costs to partially offset claimed needed tens of millions of dollars in structural improvements?  Why is any bond / tax increase required if we believe the supporters of the Jordan Cove LNG factory and the Community Enhancement Plan who tell us of the many millions of dollars that will soon be flowing to Coos Bay schools from Jordan Cove annually?  With so much conflicting information, why should we believe and trust the school board?  Why should we sign up for 25 years of compounded increased tax?  Just one of many added state and local taxes to be experienced in coming years.  What are the alternatives to a tax increase (the "best" bond) that the school board considered, rejected, and why?

Fred Kirby
Coos Bay

Related Posts:
LTE ~ Coos Bay Low Ranking Public Schools Vestiges of a Failed System
LTE ~ School Bond is NOT About Education
LTE ~ Study History, Robert E. Lee One Honorable Man
LTE ~ Not My Governor

LTE ~ Participation Trophies for All the Spoiled Brats
LTE ~ Election Reflections & the Legislative Session
LTE ~ Open Letter to Mayor and Councilors of Coos Bay on Wastewater Treatment
LTE ~ Colombia County Approves Second Amendment Preservation Petition
LTE ~ Occasionally the Righteous can Still Win
LTE ~ Rigging Elections Using Three Proven Mechanisms


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LTE ~ Coos Bay Low Ranking Public Schools Vestiges of a Failed System

10/25/2017

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Sent in by Ingvar Doessing:

Today I received my property tax bill and the ballot for the school bond. Property taxes had increased quite a bit from last year. The ballot only contained one measure, - the same measure we voted on in May. The school board apparently ignored my vote in May and waste taxpayers money once again for me only to repeat my vote which is NO.

I'm all for education, but against mismanagement and waste of taxpayers money. So let me explain why, in a simple way, so even the government bureaucrats may understand: Buildings don't teach children, - teachers do, - but teachers only perform well if they are inspired and guided by good educational management and that apparently is not the case in Coos Bay. However, there are other choices for parents like private schools, home schooling, online schooling, charter schools etc.. It's called “school choice”.

Ten years from now all schooling may be done over the internet and there will be no need for government school buildings as we know them today. Imagine if you at that time have to pay taxes on empty buildings for the next 15 years – what a joke”.

Oregon schools rank in the bottom between 43 to 47 out of 50 States. The Coos Bay high school ranks 199 out of 283 in Oregon. Student enrollment in the district has dropped more than 5% percent over the last 5 years and the trend will continue as Coos Bay has become a retirement town. (North Bend high school ranks 130 out of 283 – guess better choice if you want a government school).

Building new schools in the millions of dollars and burden retirees with the costs make no sense. Like for old grandma in her wheelchair being kicked out of her little house as she won't be able to pay for the school tax increase – forced to be homeless.

Mr. School Board Chairman why do you want to push grandma over the cliff, - where are your compassion.

Most important for the citizens of the School District send a message to the wasteful government bureaucrats: VOTE NO ON THE SCHOOL BOND, it's not needed and it's bad for Coos Bay. Concentrate about improving education.

Ingvar Doessing
Coos Bay

Related Posts:
LTE ~ School Bond is NOT About Education
LTE ~ Study History, Robert E. Lee One Honorable Man
LTE ~ Not My Governor

LTE ~ Participation Trophies for All the Spoiled Brats
LTE ~ Election Reflections & the Legislative Session
LTE ~ Open Letter to Mayor and Councilors of Coos Bay on Wastewater Treatment
LTE ~ Colombia County Approves Second Amendment Preservation Petition
LTE ~ Occasionally the Righteous can Still Win
LTE ~ Rigging Elections Using Three Proven Mechanisms


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LTE ~ School Bond is NOT About Education

10/19/2017

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Sent in by Denny Powell

Ever see a Bond Measure you didn’t love, Coos Bay Public School District, Nov. 7th 2017 ballot. Favorite saying, The Community is responsible for Capital expenditures and maintaining, by ponying up money outside the school budget, which don’t do it.

Wow! Follow the money, Who receives,  contributors to the campaign, recipients of funds.  Who pays. First, Customers, paying to  business owners.  Second, property owners assessed at $1.60 per $1000 property value, for 25 years. The property owners collect from their tenants to pay, if no tenants, you just pay.

If your property tax cost is going up 3 percent each year, more than the prior year, that will tend to compound over 25 years. Your assesst value is going up, so do you pay more or less bond money?

This is not about education, Coos Bay Schools are 61.5 percent of the State’s median performance of 74.8, Common Core Test and high school graduation. Oops, Kate Brown asked for State Deputy Superintendent of schools, to Resign, for releasing that info at this time.

Coos Bay Schools, funny business. Milliner Crest. Student need capacity, remodel. Oops, Student enrollment in district on decline, close and consolidate schools. Move Management into Milliner Crest.

A School has fire, rebuilt, but not good enough in 1993, now needs ??????

Bunker Hill school, the dance with me, on and off again school, now used by charter school.

All of the school closures, and disposal of property, funds were applied to upgrades and maintenance of remaining facilities. YAH.

Cram, as many students into the school most possibly needing replacement, close and depose of the better ones, claim the overenrollment/underenroment dance, BOND.

What Bond monies will go to Pers?

Everyone wants to drive the Lexus, but no one wants to change the oil.

Denny Powell


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Coos County URA Open House Promoting Renewal of UR Plan Wed. Oct. 25, 2017

10/18/2017

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Coos County Urban Renewal Agency

There will be a CCURA Open House on Wednesday, October 25 at 6:30 PM.
The public is encouraged to attend.
The meeting will be held at the Myrtlewood Room at the
Coos Bay Library located at 525 Anderson Ave, Coos Bay 97420. 
http://www.portofcoosbay.com/ccura/
http://www.co.coos.or.us/
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Related Posts:
Tax Protest on the Boardwalk Saturday October 21, 2017 at HIGH NOON
Information on the Campaign to Shut Down the North Bay URA
Coos County Republican Party Resolution Opposing School Bond Measure #6-166
Coos County Proposed Ordinance Adopting North Bay UR Plan ~ FOREVER
Coos County Commissioners Hearing on Extending the Debt of the North Bay URA
Cribbins & Sweet Utilize Voter Suppression on Urban Renewal Extension



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Coos County Sheriff Responds to Assertion of Increase in Crimes Against Minorities

10/17/2017

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The Rural Organizing Project sent out an article claiming that there has been an increase in crimes against minorities in Coos County, especially against transgender persons, without citing any evidence to their claim.  I thought the article was condescending and belittling to our community, so I asked Sheriff Zanni about the issue….Rob T.  

Rural Organizing Project ~ Condescending Article Towards South Coast Oregon

From: Rob Taylor
Hello Craig,
               
I just received the following article from Rural Organizing Project.  The group makes the claim that Coos County is experiencing an uptick in crimes against minorities. 
 
Would you agree with that assessment?  Is Coos County experiencing an increase in these types of crimes?
 
Here is the statement in the article that I refer to:
Through these conversations, two things became clear: 
 First, Kari’s experience was not unique. Like so many communities across Oregon, Coos County has seen a rise in violence and harassment targeting immigrants and people perceived to be immigrants, low-income and unhoused community members, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ people. Some of these incidents have been reported on by the local paper, including the post-election bullying of Latinx youth in the North Bend School District, but there are other stories of harassment, discrimination and bias crimes that have happened with little reporting or community conversation. Those most impacted and their closest friends and allies, including faith leaders, activists, and crisis workers, have been carrying these stories with them, working hard to survive and show up for their neighbors in a time of increasing crises and decreasing resources for rural communities.


Could you please give me a statement I can post publicly? 
Thanks Craig.  
Sheriff Craig Zanni's response:
Rob:   Thanks for reaching out.  I don’ t think I agree with that assessment.  Our stats do not support that.  We may have gotten better at tracking such cases but I have not seen an increase.  With the enhanced ability to track such information, a normal uptake occurs due to the ability to better track the info.    

I try to keep a channel open to the local groups and none have approached or even mentioned an increase. Cz
Sent from my iPhone

Related Posts:
Rural Organizing Project ~ Condescending Article Towards South Coast Oregon
Rural Organizing Project Ignorantly Attacks Oath Keepers for Defending Miners
BLM ~ Loses Fight with Miners for the Sugar Pine Mine Victory for Patriots

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Rural Organizing Project ~ Condescending Article Towards South Coast Oregon

10/17/2017

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Friday, October 13th, 2017


Dear ROPnet,
As crisis becomes a daily reality for so many, rural organizers and activists have been reaching out to their neighbors and searching for ways to keep each other safe. As we learn how to have the backs of those who are most impacted in this moment, let us listen to and draw from the stories of resilience in our small towns and rural communities. Below is the story of how one community responded and raised their voices in the face of threats, violence, and discrimination:

In July, ROP received a number of calls and emails about a transgender woman being threatened at knifepoint in rural Coos County. Kari, who lives in Bandon, was threatened by one of her neighbors while trying to use the bathroom at her trailer park late at night. The local police took over 45 minutes to respond to her calls, and when they came they told her that they wouldn’t press charges against her attacker. Fearing for her life, she reached out to friends and strangers through social media and asked for support finding safety and bringing public attention to what had happened to her.

After talking with Kari directly, ROP reached out to local organizers, activists, faith leaders, health and crisis workers, and LGBTQIA+ community members to map out existing resources, services, and organizations that could directly support Kari in Coos County. We collectively came up with an impressive list, but also noted critical gaps. We quickly started brainstorming how Coos County residents could come together to fill those gaps and respond as a larger community when one of our neighbors is threatened or attacked.

Through these conversations, two things became clear:  
First, Kari’s experience was not unique. Like so many communities across Oregon, Coos County has seen a rise in violence and harassment targeting immigrants and people perceived to be immigrants, low-income and unhoused community members, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ people. Some of these incidents have been reported on by the local paper, including the post-election bullying of Latinx youth in the North Bend School District, but there are other stories of harassment, discrimination and bias crimes that have happened with little reporting or community conversation. Those most impacted and their closest friends and allies, including faith leaders, activists, and crisis workers, have been carrying these stories with them, working hard to survive and show up for their neighbors in a time of increasing crises and decreasing resources for rural communities.

The second thing that became clear was that people were hungry to take action! From Reedsport to Bandon, folks got together with Kari to share ideas and make a plan to elevate the conversation. The working group recognized a need to connect with one another and take action, engaging the broader community beyond existing organizations and services. A team formed to plan a forum that would bring Kari’s and others’ stories of hate and harassment out of the shadows and develop of a network of people who can respond when their neighbors are under attack.

The local team of activists, organizers and faith leaders canvassed businesses and called on friends, family, and parishioners to show up for the forum. On September 21st, over 80 community members from the Coos Bay area crowded into the Coos History Museum! The event opened with Liv, President of the North Bend High School Gay Straight Alliance, and Kari sharing personal stories about the ways that homophobia and transphobia had threatened their safety and ability to thrive in Coos County, and offering direction about how the community can show up for those under attack.

Kari shared the story of being threatened at her home, and also about the continued struggles she has faced since coming out as a transgender woman, including repeatedly losing jobs because of workplace harassment from employers and coworkers, most recently from a job at Bandon Pacific Seafood. In conversation about her decision to share her story as a starting point for community action, Kari said, “There was no sense in me not standing up and telling my story, in saying: enough is enough. I want people to know what happened, because I can guarantee that there are a lot of other people out there who have experienced the same thing. I don’t care if people like me, I just want people to realize that they’re not alone. I thought I was alone for so long.”

Liv told the room how, during her sophomore year, another teen shouted homophobic slurs at her and then hit her with a skateboard, breaking her wrist. At the forum she talked about the ways that her school district and campus security had failed to respond to the incident in a just and effective way. When she reported the incident, the school’s assigned police officer minimized her injuries and said that homosexuality violated his religious beliefs. She still goes to school every day with the student who attacked her and the on-campus police officer who failed to respond. In the face of bullying, Liv has persevered and remains an outspoken advocate for her LGBTQIA+ classmates within her school and in the community.

Liv and Kari also talked about their deep love of the land and their towns, and what it would take for them to thrive here. “This is such an incredible, beautiful place,” said Kari. “But people also need to see that there is darkness here. We need to shine a light on that.”

Israel Jurich, Pastor of North Bend’s Faith Lutheran Church, facilitated the panel with Kari and Liv. In hearing their stories, he reflected on the impact that harassment and bias crimes have on the community at large. Violence and discrimination marginalize people who have so much to offer to our small towns, making it difficult for them to stay and thrive. “We risk losing incredible people of great value to our community; people who are amazing community leaders, colleagues, friends, and employees… our best students and our best crab and shrimp pickers!”

The second half of the forum focused on a community discussion. The audience broke into small groups to share stories of harassment and discrimination that they had experienced or witnessed, and brainstorm ways that they could intervene as a community. Some of the ideas that the forum generated included:
  • Putting out a community-wide resource guide that would be available online and in binders at public libraries
  • Creating a monthly suggested read & watch list on area social media pages and forming a book club focused on building a more welcoming community
  • Holding trainings on security, deescalation and bystander intervention
  • Forming a rapid response team that could quickly engage and support when people are targeted by hate crimes and discrimination
  • Youth-led demonstrations at local schools to draw attention to the lack of support from law enforcement and school administrators for LGBTQIA+ students and students of color

The forum also engaged people in a local welcoming poster campaign -- “We all belong here” -- which was created to encourage local businesses and organizations to be overt and proactive in building a welcoming community by placing posters in their store windows as ambassadors to this crucial conversation.

The community forum closed with a commitment to continue organizing, because, as attendees stated at the event, who else do we have but each other? When the police don’t respond, or make things less safe for our most impacted neighbors, we have to turn to each other to build the kind of community that we all want to live in; one where everyone can thrive and be who they are without fearing for their lives at work, at school, and in their own homes and neighborhood. One where difference is seen as strength, and people are valued for bringing their whole selves to their work and community.

Since the forum, local organizers have formed the We All Belong Here Coalition, a human dignity group committed to responding when their neighbors are threatened by violence and discrimination.The forum sparked media coverage and pressured local law enforcement to sit down with community leaders and hear the ways that their departments are failing people. As leaders in Coos Bay demonstrate, our safety and resilience lies in our commitment to each other, to bringing these stories out into the open and then, together, building strategies to respond!

The initial lack of response from local law enforcement in Coos Bay brings to light the failure of traditional public safety infrastructure in ensuring that no one in our community slips through the cracks. Just this week we are reminded that rural communities continue to be hit hard by ongoing loss of infrastructure at all levels, like the latest executive order nixing healthcare subsidies that help cover out of pocket costs for low-income people under the Affordable Care Act. In these times, as we see vigilante and state violence increase, our collective organizing for safety and resilience is all the more crucial. Have a story of local organizing to tell? Share it with us by emailing grace@rop.org and we will continue to share out stories of transformative small town organizing for safety and dignity.
Warmly,
Grace, Hannah, Cara, Keyla, Jess and the ROP team

Related Posts:
Rural Organizing Project Ignorantly Attacks Oath Keepers for Defending Miners
BLM ~ Loses Fight with Miners for the Sugar Pine Mine Victory for Patriots


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Tax Protest on the Boardwalk Saturday October 21, 2017 at HIGH NOON

10/15/2017

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Download Flyer
RSVP on Facebook
Related Posts:
Information on the Campaign to Shut Down the North Bay URA
Coos County Republican Party Resolution Opposing School Bond Measure #6-166

Coos County Proposed Ordinance Adopting North Bay UR Plan ~ FOREVER
Coos County Commissioners Hearing on Extending the Debt of the North Bay URA
Cribbins & Sweet Utilize Voter Suppression on Urban Renewal Extension

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Information on the Campaign to Shut Down the Coos County Urban Renewal Agency

10/14/2017

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The following page is here to keep people informed about the campaign to shut down the Coos County Urban Renewal Agency, which manages the North Bay Urban Renewal Area.  The UR area is considered a taxing district.
 
Visit The Facebook page:
 www.facebook.com/ShutDowntheCoosCountyURA
 Shut Down the Coos County URA  
 
Please LIKE, FOLLOW and then SHARE our page to let your friends know about our effort to end a useless tax that everyone in the county contributes too.
 
Please press the Volunteer Button if you would like to volunteer for the campaign
Volunteer
www.cooscountywatchdog.com/shut-down-the-coos-county-urban-renewal-agency.html

History of the North Bay URA

In 1986, some local business owners and community leaders decided to create a county Urban Renewal taxing district to develop the industrial area of the North Spit, so they formalized the Coos County Urban Renewal Agency then established the North Bay Urban Renewal Area. The agency has a plan outlining future development projects, and the county has updated it three times since, once in 1998, then again in 2000, and again in 2006. The most recent plan allows the district to sunset in 2018.   
 
The UR agency may pay the district's debt with federal or state grants.  In this case, the agency pays the debt through a process called Tax Increment Financing. TIF is a taxing scheme designed by the Oregon Legislature to siphon money from other taxing districts that overlap the urban renewal area. The taxing districts that the North Spit URA overlap include The Coos Bay School District, the North Bay Rural Fire District and except for 16.3 acres of NB estuary land and 163.39 acres of CB estuary land most of North Bend and Coos Bay lands are predominantly beneath the water in the Coos Bay channel.  There are several countywide districts including the airport district, the county, the library district, and SWOCC, so every property owner in the county contributes to the North Bay URA. 
 
Coos County-wide, property taxpayers contribute approximately $0.0368 per $1,000 assessed value toward the Coos County Urban Renewal Agency, and $0.0229 toward the CCURA Special Levy, which is six cents per every $1,000 of AV.  A $200,000 home would be charged $12.00 annually.  The median-valued home is about $140,000, which would pay $8.40.  The current debt of the North Bay URA is approximate $50,000. 
 
Unfortunately, that amount can and most likely will change depending on the projects the URA Board decide to undertake.  The new UR plan has $3 to 18-million dollars of expenditures listed as new projects, and it has the capability of going into a maximum indebtedness of 60-million dollars.
 
Oregon property taxes going to these Urban Renewal Agencies through the TIF process in FY 2009-2010 was $182-million.  According to data collected from the “OR Property Tax Annual Statistics FY 2016-2017” found on the Oregon Department of Revenue’s website, there are 110 Urban Renewal Agencies statewide in FYE 2016-2017.  These UR agencies received $223.3-million from the “Revenue from Excess,” while others received an additional $21.1-million from special levies totaling $244.4-million diverted from other various taxing districts.  “Revenue from Excess,” is the property tax revenue generated by increased property values inside the UR area over the frozen increment when the authorities enacted the plan for the district. 
 
In FY 2017, Public education alone lost $87.2-million in potential revenue because of urban renewal activity. Cities lost $73.3-million in that same fiscal year, and counties lost $41.5-million, which includes the $28.2-million taken by Multnomah County.  Other districts, including Fire Districts, lost $21.3-million.  
 
The idea of redevelopment is to increase the property values of the urban renewal area as a way to bolster the local tax base---all to generate new business that most likely would have taken place with or without these public incentives.

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Time to End the Debt and Shut Down the North Bay URA

Coos County Commissioners Melissa Cribbins & John Sweet along with the current URA Board are going to delete the expiration date from the current plan, allowing the debt to exist in perpetuity.  They are going to enact the extension by just a vote of the Board of Commissioners.  If the commissioners extended the expiration date instead of deleting it, then that would have triggered a county ordinance passed in 2012, which would have forced a public vote for this type of substantial change.  
 
In other words, the lawyers working for the local politicians found a loophole in the state ORS to get out of facing the people in a showdown at the ballot box.  
 
However, “The Committee to Shut-Down the CCURA” has another plan. The group is going to file a referendum to put the amendment on the ballot after the commissioners enact it.
 
The following points are a few reasons to oppose Tax Increment Financing funding and to end all Urban Renewal Agencies.  
 
The criteria for using Urban Renewal money has become so vague that some would consider it a discretionary slush fund for politicians to choose how to spend.
 
Politicians use Urban Renewal to centralize power and money into the hands of the few politically connected.
 
Politicians created Urban Renewal as an artificial construct designed to manipulate and compensate certain segments of the market.
 
Politicians funnel public money through Urban Renewal to corporations for private profit.
 
Politicians use Urban Renewal incentives to develop pristine natural areas that normally would remain as undeveloped wilds.
 
Politicians can use Urban Renewal to make eminent domain claims against private property inside the taxing area, which erodes the right of ownership.
 
Politicians use Urban Renewal funding as seed money to create new taxing districts that maintain unnecessary projects at the expense of necessary services. Those projects include auditoriums, carousels, convention centers, swimming pools, sports stadiums, and theaters, which take money from colleges, hospitals, libraries, schools, police and fire departments.
 
Some independent studies have found little evidence that municipalities with Urban Renewal Agencies developed any faster than ones without it did.  In one thorough study written in September of 1999 by two professors of economics, Richard F. Dye and David F. Merriman, titled "The Effects of Tax Increment Financing on Economic Development" it stated,  “In summary, the empirical evidence suggests that TIF adoption has a real cost for municipal growth rates. Municipalities that elect to adopt TIF stimulate the growth of blighted areas at the expense of the larger town. We doubt that most municipal decision-makers are aware of this tradeoff or that they would willingly sacrifice significant municipal growth to create TIF districts. Our results present an opportunity to ponder the issue of whether, and how much, overall municipal growth should be sacrificed to encourage the development of blighted areas.” 
 
A Senior Fellow at the CATO Institute made the case against Urban Renewal and Tax Increment Finance in a paper titled, “The Case against Tax-Increment Financing” by Randal O’Toole.  In it, he stated, “There are two problems with any attempts to reform TIF. First, no matter how much legislatures may try to focus TIF on genuine examples of blighted neighborhoods, cities will find ways to get around such safeguards. Second, there is little evidence that city gov­ernments are better than private developers at determining the type and location of new development that cities need, and plenty of evidence that they are not as good. Instead of reforming TIF, state legislatures should sim­ply repeal the laws that give cities and coun­ties the authority to use it and similar tools to subsidize economic development.”

Volunteer

Related Posts:

Coos County Proposed Ordinance Adopting North Bay UR Plan ~ FOREVER

Coos County Commissioners Hearing on Extending the Debt of the North Bay URA

Cribbins & Sweet Utilize Voter Suppression on Urban Renewal Extension


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Coos County Republican Party Resolution Opposing School Bond Measure #6-166

10/13/2017

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Coos County Republican Central Committee
 PO BOX 914
COOS BAY, OREGON 97420
 
Resolution Opposing the Passage of the Coos Bay School District #9 Bond Measure 6-166
  
Bond Measure 6-166 is a near duplication of the recently defeated Bond #6-163 in May of 2017. The Coos Bay School District, despite voter rejection is again making a push for the ballot box.
  
They are recklessly using taxpayer money once again, by placing this back on the ballot in the special election scheduled for the 7th of November 2017, just some 5 months removed from its original defeat. Listed below are the facts.
  
  1. This tax will force hardship on our seniors. If property taxes rise on a fixed income resident, it will create a financial hardship that will undoubtedly put an economic strain on our valued seniors.
  2. This tax will affect all renters as well, as these costs will be passed on via increased rent.
  3. A huge tax like this affects the price of all goods and services sold in the community. Businesses will likely pass on the increased cost of those products to the customers.
  4. The most harmful part of this tax burden is that it puts the most vulnerable people in our community at severe risk of financial instability.
  5. All the residents of the District are required by circumstance to live with their means, and the Coos Bay School District needs to do the same.
  6. Bond Measure #6-166 represents a scenario as some have painted where grandma is pushed over a cliff in her wheelchair, by uncaring parties, and it is a shameful disgrace.
 
A Resolution was passed unanimously at the regular Central Committee meeting on May 27th of 2017 opposing the previous school bond measure #6-163. It was a noble and successful effort to protect the most vulnerable members of our community and the hard-working people who live within the district.
 
Now for the second time, the Executive Board of the Coos County Republican Party has reaffirmed this same Resolution for the same reasons opposing School District Bond Measure #6-166.
 
Executive Board of the Coos County Republican Party
Chairman Rod Schilling
Vice Chair Ron Wiggins
Secretary Teresa Avery
Treasurer Jacki Haga
 
Any questions may be directed to Ron Wiggins@ (541)-756-7435
Ronw8@frontier.com

Information on the Coos Bay School Bond Measure #6-166 Special Election Nov. 7th


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OFF ~ NRA CAVES AGAIN ~ 719 REPEAL EFFORT FALLS SHORT

10/11/2017

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Remember that the NRA endorsed State Representative Caddy Mckeown and she voted for the Gun Confiscation Bill, SB719, while her opponent, Teri Grier was one of the Chief Petitioners for the referendum of the new law. 
 
Please consider giving a donation to the Oregon Firearms Association.  The founder, Kevin Starret is an unwavering champion of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  In addition, please give a huge THANK YOU to Mike Nearman and Bill Post for their effort to destroy a very bad piece of legislation…..Rob T.   
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10.05.17
In a move that will surprise no one who has been paying attention for the last 30 years, the National Rifle Association has joined left wing legislators and establishment Republicans and called for still more restrictions on your gun rights.
 
Following the disclosure that "bump fire" stocks may have been used by the killer in the Las Vegas massacre, the NRA said :
 
 "Despite the fact that the Obama administration approved the sale of bump fire stocks on at least two occasions, the National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law."
 
Of course they comply with Federal law but the NRA lost no time jumping on board the gun control band wagon to demand that your rights be further eroded.
 
It would be easy to say that these stocks are not very useful, that it is very difficult to use them with any accuracy and they largely turn money into noise. But that's not the point. Rest assured, the demands by the gun banners will not stop there, and now, once again, the NRA is giving comfort to the enemy in a display of ignorance and cowardice.
 
The fact is that banning these devices will have zero effect on anyone's safety. For one thing, almost the same amount of carnage could have been created without them. Furthermore, with a bit of practice, a shooter can "bump fire" a rifle with NO modifications. 
 
In fact, in a 2004 letter from Sterling Nixon, chief of BATF's Firearms Technology Branch, Nixon determined that a shoelace was a machine gun. Yes a shoelace.
 
The letter said:
 
 " In 1996, FTB examined and classified a 14 inch long shoestring with a loop at each end. The string was attached to the cocking handle of a semi-automatic rifle and was looped around the trigger and attached to the shooter's finger. The device caused the weapon  to fire repeatedly until finger pressure was released from the string. Because this item was designed and intended to convert a semi-automatic rifle into a machine gun, FTB determined that is was a machinegun as defined in 26 U.S.C. 5845 (b)"
 
They won't stop at stocks.
 
The killer could not have used bump fire stocks if he did not use rifles. Why not ban them?
 
 Rest assured it's not just novelty accessories the gun grabbers, with the help of the NRA, are after.
 
Now is not the time to start caving.  The NRA's almost immediate capitulation was to be expected. In the coming days and months, there will be no end to  efforts to ban modern firearms and standard magazines and we don't expect to have much help from the people who declared that no one should have the ability to protect themselves in places that serve alcohol... after the bloody "Pulse" massacre. The same people who declared that nobody, no teacher, no school staff, no parent should be allowed to be armed in a school except uniformed police.
 
The endless and predictable comments about nobody "needing" this firearm or that accessory must not blind us to the fact that our rights are our rights and need no explanation or justification.
 
If you are an NRA member, now would be a good time to tell them plainly that you are not going to accept them crawling into bed with the gun grabbers.
 
On another note, today was the deadline to turn in signatures to refer SB 719, the Brian Boquist gun confiscation bill, to the ballot. Unfortunately the effort fell short.
 
In a press release, the committee to repeal SB 719 stated :
 
"It wasn't for lack of support.  We just simply did not have enough time.  I blame Governor Kate Brown for that," said Chief Petitioner Mike Nearman, who is also a State Representative from House District 23.
 
According to Article IV of the Oregon Constitution, petitioners have 90 days from the end of the Legislative Session in which the bill was passed, which was July 7, 2017.  However, they cannot begin to gather signatures until the Governor signs the bill, which was not until August 15, 2017.
 
"The foot-dragging by Governor Brown cost us 39 of our 90 days.  To make matters worse, she signed the bill on the Friday before the eclipse, so that cost us an extra three days.  There was no reason to do this other than to keep us from gathering signatures and keep this issue from a vote of the people," said State Representative Bill Post of House District 25, also a Chief Petitioner."
 
 
Once again, the committee got no help from the NRA who refused to even acknowledge the effort. 
 
 
It would have cost the NRA nothing to alert their members about this effort and direct them to the committee's website, as Gun Owners of America did. But, as always, the NRA would rather "work with" gun grabbers than confront them. Thanks to everyone who signed a petition and rest assured that battle is not over.
 
We are in for a long, tough fight. We have seen how little we can expect from NRA. If you want to help us stand up to the coming attacks, please consider supporting our efforts. You can contribute here. Thank you.


Related Posts:
Information on Several Petitions Currently in Circulation in the State of Oregon
OFF ~ The Gun Confiscation Battle Begins
Teri Grier ~ Bill Post ~ Mike Nearman ~ File Referendum on SB719 Gun Confiscation
The Differences Between SB719A & Connecticut's Gun Confiscation Law
LTE ~ SB719 Into the Oven, Out of the Stack
Oregon Firearms Federation Responds to Senator Brian Boquist on SB 719
OFF Late Session Omnibus Anti-Gun Bill Introduced
Senator Arnie Roblan Votes for SB917A The Gun Confiscation Bill ~ Now in House
OFF ~ CALL TO ACTION ~ Contact Senator Prozanski ~ Time to Fix SB941 
OFF ~ Bad Idea Becomes Bad Bill SB 868
Second Amendment Legislation Repeals Parts of Background Checks HB 2973
OFF ~ Legislative Update
Lake County BOC  Public Meeting for Legal Update on SAPO February 15, 2017 10am
OFF ~ Multnomah Declares War On Gun Owners
Columbia County Voters ~ Download & Sign Second Amendment Petition
Action Alert:  County Commissioners Need to Hear Second Amendment Supporters
Coos County Watchdog Public Meeting on New Initiatives March 3, 2017 @ 6:00 pm
Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance “SAPO” Update: January 26, 2017
Coos County Sheriff Office Fingerprinting Machine Down NO CHL Until Feb 17, 2017
US Department of Justice ~ ATF ~ Firearms Transaction Record
SB548~ Relating to Residency Requirements for Concealed Handgun Licenses
Sheriff Office Fingerprinting Machine Down NO CHL Until January 25, 2017
OFF ~ The Gun Bills Are Coming, and Some Are Just Weird
OFF ~ First Anti-Gun Bill Proposed

Comments

PLF ~ A Case of Property Rights:  Coos Bay, OR v. National Marine Fisheries Service

10/10/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Property Rights
Town of Coos Bay, Oregon v. National Marine Fisheries Service
Challenging rampant abuse of the ESA to impose federal zoning


Federal bureaucrats are twisting environmental and emergency management law to impose federal zoning control over Oregon’s coastal regions and much of the rest of the state. In order to be eligible for federal flood insurance, local communities are being told to abstain from economic development.


What’s at stake?
  • The federal government is twisting environmental and emergency management law to impose federal zoning control over Oregon’s coastal regions and much of the rest of the state.
  • The issue is a bureaucratic power play: In order to be eligible for federal flood insurance, local communities would have to abstain from economic development—purportedly to protect certain endangered species, even though, as a matter of law, FEMA and its flood insurance program have no impact on species whatsoever.

Case Overview

Town of Coos Bay, Oregon v. National Marine Fisheries Service
In 2016, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a biological opinion for the Oregon flood insurance program established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The opinion imposes significant land-use restrictions on floodplain development. We argue that the opinion is contrary to law because FEMA’s insurance program is not legally responsible for any harm to species that floodplain development may cause.

The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 authorizes FEMA to issue flood insurance to local communities.  The agency provides such insurance once a community has adopted “comprehensive criteria for land management and use,” as well as “adequate land use and control measures (with effective provisions)”.  These criteria and measures must take into account environmental concerns.

An agency must consult under the Endangered Species Act whenever its discretionary action “may affect” listed species or their critical habitat. When the affected species are within the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service, that agency issues a “biological opinion,” which details the effects of the proposed action and suggests a reasonable and prudent alternative to the original action, if the Service determines that the action as proposed would jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or destroy or adversely modify its critical habitat.

In 2009, a coalition of environmental groups sued FEMA for its failure to consult over the Oregon flood insurance program. The agency quickly settled, agreeing to request consultation from the Service on the program. In 2016, the Service obliged.  The agency’s biological opinion determines that the program—which as of 2015 included over 32,000 insurance policies—would jeopardize a number of aquatic species. The biological opinion’s rationale depends entirely on attributing the effects of floodplain development to the program. The document contains a reasonable and prudent alternative requiring draconian land-use restrictions. Consequently, Oregon local governments must dramatically restrict development in or near floodplains in order to obtain FEMA flood insurance.

PLF argues that the biological opinion is contrary to law because FEMA’s flood insurance program is not the legal cause of any impact to protected species or their habitat. Rather, it is the legal cause only of the flood insurance program and its attendant policies. Put another way, the development that may be incentivized by the program’s flood insurance is not caused by FEMA but rather by the various land-use agencies that have authority to control such development.

Case Attorney
Damien M. Schiff
Senior Attorney
http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/habitat/2016_04-14_fema_nfip_nwr-2011-3197reducedsize.pdf
Related Posts:
FEMA ~ Public Meeting on Proposed Changes to Flood Maps Thursday Feb 9, 2017
FEMA---Flood Map Update
The Bandon City Council---Agencies struggle after FEMA cuts funds‏
AFP---Monthly Meeting w/Tom McKirgan at the ESD Building 12/13/2012 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Civilian Security Force‏
Oregon Sheriff Stand Against Feds‏
AmeriCorp, here in Bandon???...
The Dept of Homeland Security has just graduated its first class of 231  Homeland Youth
THE U.N. & LOCAL AGENDA 21
THE U.N. & AGENDA 21:

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ODFW ~ "Pounder" trout stocked in Coos Bay area Lakes

10/10/2017

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“Pounder” trout stocked in Coos Bay area lakes

Picture
Tuesday, October 10, 2017

ROSEBURG, Ore – This week, ODFW is stocking “pounders,” rainbow trout averaging just over a pound each, into Coos Bay area lakes for a great fall trout fishing opportunity. The weather is cooling, but the trout are still biting.

Within the city limits of Coos Bay, Upper Empire Lake is getting 3,500 trout. Lower Empire is choked with weeds and has a low water level with water temperatures too high to safely stock rainbows. Those fish instead will be split between Saunders and Butterfield lakes which will each receive 1,200 trout.

Saunders Lake is about five miles north of North Bend and is an easily accessed, pleasant place to take the family fishing. Next to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Butterfield Lake is accessed through Riley Ranch County Park. Anglers at Butterfield Lake might also hook into a warmouth, an unusual fish that looks like a crappie with a bass head

Bradley Lake, just three miles south of Bandon and Powers Pond are also being stocked this week with these pounders.

The rainbow trout harvest limit in most lakes is five fish per day, two daily limits in possession.
Check myodfw.com for fishing tips and the latest Recreation Report.
###
Contact:
Mike Gray, 541-888-5515
Meghan Dugan, 541-464-2179


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Information on the Coos Bay School Bond Measure #6-166 Special Election Nov. 7th

10/9/2017

Comments

 

The following Propaganda is from the Coos Bay School District

Picture
1255 Hemlock
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone: (541) 267-3104
Fax:      (541) 269-5366
Office Hours:  8:00am – 4:30pm
Superintendent
Bryan Trendell
541-267-1309
bryant@coos-bay.k12.or.us

Contact info for the School Board

http://cbd9.net/schoolboard/bios
Coos Bay School District Bond Measure #6-166
Coos Bay School District has prepared factual information regarding the bond measure.  
Click here for more information. Be sure to Vote by November 7th.

More from the Coos Bay School District:

Thank you for visiting our website. This information is being posted to answer questions and help you make an informed decision on Measure 6-166.
We are all responsible for our school buildings. Anywhere you see new or renovated schools in Oregon, it is because local citizens have voted to support their schools. State funding pays only for day-to-day operation like salaries, supplies, utilities, maintenance and transportation. Local communities own and build their school building through facility bonds. 
HOW THIS PLAN WAS DEVELOPED: Click here
HOW MUCH IT WILL COST:  Click here
MATCHING GRANT: There is a guaranteed $4 million matching grant from the state if this bond passes. If it doesn’t pass, those monies will be distributed to other districts. 
HOW THE COST ESTIMATES WERE CREATED: Click here
WHAT THE BOND WILL DO FOR EACH SCHOOL
Madison     Sunset     Millicoma    New Eastside    Harding Building    Marshfield    
CIVICS LESSONS
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by November 1st. 
The deadline is to have ballots returned to the County Clerks office or at official drop sites is November 7 at 8:00 PM
  • How Property Taxes and School Funding Work in Oregon: Click here

  • How to read your property tax statement: Click here

  • How to register: October 17th is the last day to register to vote. 
    You can register online at http://www.co.coos.or.us/Departments/CountyClerk/Elections.aspx or pick up a voter registration card at your local DMV and return it to the County Elections Office. Registration cards postmarked by October 17 or submitted online no later that 11:59 PM that evening are valid. 

    To check and see if you are already registered and verify your address, go to https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/showVoterSearch.do


  • How to request an Absentee Ballot: If you are going to be away from the area during the election, you can fill out the Absentee Ballot Request Form at this link. Mail, fax or drop off the form at your County Elections Office. If you are serving in the Armed Forces, the Merchant Marine or are temporarily living outside the territorial limits of the United States, you must fill out a Federal Absentee Ballot Request Form at www.fvap.gov 
  • How to check your ballot before mailing it in or dropping it off: Click here
NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT: Click here
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – Click here

Related Posts:
Video of Coos Bay Superintendent of Schools Discussing a SECOND Bond Measure
Sustainable Energy Measure 6-162 is Defeated & No New Coos Bay School Tax

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