The Sentinel 04/10/2012
THE TEA PARTYER
April 9, 2012
The Bandon City Council
On Tuesday April 3, the Bandon City Council made it official and passed an ordinance allowing city residents the legal ability to park in their own driveway. Most people assumed they already had that right, but it was only because Bandon City officials chose not to enforce that portion of the city code that gave people the illusion of
having this freedom.
The room chuckled as the Bandon city manager tried to explain the current law and how it came about. The Mayor pointed out the fact it made a laughing stock out of the city. Of course, that is just one of many reasons Humor aside, these laws are making the average law abiding person into a criminal in one form or another,
demonstrating that unnecessary laws have unintended consequences.
Councilor Hundhausen voted against the measure to change the outdated ordinance, because she thought the new one should be even more restrictive. Hundhausen wanted the ordinance changed, so that it forced everyone to park his or her car in the garage. The Councilor claimed there might be someone who would rather have a view of a bush or a shrub instead of a neighbor’s vehicle.
This type of mindset permeates the Bandon city council and is very apparent in the restrictive ordinances they have enacted, or tried to enact, over the years. At a previous meeting, a frustrated Councilor Hundhausen had the audacity to exclaim, “I’m tired of hearing about people’s property rights.”
Maybe the councilor is ignorant of the foundational principles which gave birth to our country. Maybe she does not care. The outburst alone should be setting off alarms in the ears of the constituents. The councilor’s
disregard for private property rights should lead to her being ousted. People need to participate in the
process and the city needs qualified candidates running for that position when the term is up. Otherwise, the
citizens of Bandon will be getting more of the same.
The Krieger & Kruse Town Hall Meeting
When Representative Wayne Krieger and Senator Jeff Kruse pulled into Bandon on Thursday April 5, they were probably not expecting such a lively group of individuals to show up for the discussion. Town Halls can get a little raucous sometimes and we did not disappoint.
It started with the usual somber intro. The congressional representatives went over the legislative session
covering what they were able and unable to accomplish. Both complained about the way the governor claimed to have balanced the budget. They believe his figures are unsubstantiated. Supposedly, the money comes from a reimbursement from the federal government for $500 million dollars. The payment was for a portion of Medicare, but Kruse was not sure of the fund’s existence or of its origins. It is impossible to understand the process when the politicians cannot simply verify the facts.
When the meeting turned to the public comment section, the room came alive with questions and statements. The Bandon Marsh expansion was the most discussed topic. People for and against the expansion were in attendance and at one point the conversation got so heated Krieger had to pound on the table and threaten
to leave before the audience regained their composure.
Both men promised they were going to continue to fight against any federal agency planning to take any more land in the state of Oregon. They were going to continue to apply pressure on the US Fish & Wildlife Service until they were satisfied the agency has abandoned its plans for the Bandon Marsh and the Coquille Valley. It was not what the proponents of this federal land grab wanted to hear, but it pleased the majority of the people.
The conversation turned to the subject of Urban Renewal.
I explained to the Congressman that last year Oregon lost over $200 million from schools, colleges, hospitals, and fire departments to the failed practice of tax increment financing. Kruse was very interested in the urban renewal initiative the commissioners are considering to put on the ballot in the general election here in Coos
County.
The initiative would allow voters to vote on any substantial changes to the county’s urban renewal agency.
The Board of Commissioners has been very cooperative on this issue, because they understand its controversial nature. Senator Kruse thought he could build bipartisan support for a similar measure in the state legislature. He sounded very positive when he said, “If this program takes money from the schools, then the teachers unions should be against it.”
The subject and the energy of the room seemed to ignite a new crusade for the Senator, which reflected well on him. It would be good to see this issue elevated through the government channels to the next level.
Also, it would eliminate the loss of tax dollars and alleviate a small, but noticeable percentage of the fiduciary problems in the state. It is a challenging task that will take a statewide groundswell of public participation to keep the lawmakers intrigued, and that would surely take the rest of the politicians by surprise.
“Rob Taylor was the original organizer of the TEA Parties in Coos County and is currently an
independent activist working to promote the rights of the individual.”
THE TEA PARTYER
April 9, 2012
The Bandon City Council
On Tuesday April 3, the Bandon City Council made it official and passed an ordinance allowing city residents the legal ability to park in their own driveway. Most people assumed they already had that right, but it was only because Bandon City officials chose not to enforce that portion of the city code that gave people the illusion of
having this freedom.
The room chuckled as the Bandon city manager tried to explain the current law and how it came about. The Mayor pointed out the fact it made a laughing stock out of the city. Of course, that is just one of many reasons Humor aside, these laws are making the average law abiding person into a criminal in one form or another,
demonstrating that unnecessary laws have unintended consequences.
Councilor Hundhausen voted against the measure to change the outdated ordinance, because she thought the new one should be even more restrictive. Hundhausen wanted the ordinance changed, so that it forced everyone to park his or her car in the garage. The Councilor claimed there might be someone who would rather have a view of a bush or a shrub instead of a neighbor’s vehicle.
This type of mindset permeates the Bandon city council and is very apparent in the restrictive ordinances they have enacted, or tried to enact, over the years. At a previous meeting, a frustrated Councilor Hundhausen had the audacity to exclaim, “I’m tired of hearing about people’s property rights.”
Maybe the councilor is ignorant of the foundational principles which gave birth to our country. Maybe she does not care. The outburst alone should be setting off alarms in the ears of the constituents. The councilor’s
disregard for private property rights should lead to her being ousted. People need to participate in the
process and the city needs qualified candidates running for that position when the term is up. Otherwise, the
citizens of Bandon will be getting more of the same.
The Krieger & Kruse Town Hall Meeting
When Representative Wayne Krieger and Senator Jeff Kruse pulled into Bandon on Thursday April 5, they were probably not expecting such a lively group of individuals to show up for the discussion. Town Halls can get a little raucous sometimes and we did not disappoint.
It started with the usual somber intro. The congressional representatives went over the legislative session
covering what they were able and unable to accomplish. Both complained about the way the governor claimed to have balanced the budget. They believe his figures are unsubstantiated. Supposedly, the money comes from a reimbursement from the federal government for $500 million dollars. The payment was for a portion of Medicare, but Kruse was not sure of the fund’s existence or of its origins. It is impossible to understand the process when the politicians cannot simply verify the facts.
When the meeting turned to the public comment section, the room came alive with questions and statements. The Bandon Marsh expansion was the most discussed topic. People for and against the expansion were in attendance and at one point the conversation got so heated Krieger had to pound on the table and threaten
to leave before the audience regained their composure.
Both men promised they were going to continue to fight against any federal agency planning to take any more land in the state of Oregon. They were going to continue to apply pressure on the US Fish & Wildlife Service until they were satisfied the agency has abandoned its plans for the Bandon Marsh and the Coquille Valley. It was not what the proponents of this federal land grab wanted to hear, but it pleased the majority of the people.
The conversation turned to the subject of Urban Renewal.
I explained to the Congressman that last year Oregon lost over $200 million from schools, colleges, hospitals, and fire departments to the failed practice of tax increment financing. Kruse was very interested in the urban renewal initiative the commissioners are considering to put on the ballot in the general election here in Coos
County.
The initiative would allow voters to vote on any substantial changes to the county’s urban renewal agency.
The Board of Commissioners has been very cooperative on this issue, because they understand its controversial nature. Senator Kruse thought he could build bipartisan support for a similar measure in the state legislature. He sounded very positive when he said, “If this program takes money from the schools, then the teachers unions should be against it.”
The subject and the energy of the room seemed to ignite a new crusade for the Senator, which reflected well on him. It would be good to see this issue elevated through the government channels to the next level.
Also, it would eliminate the loss of tax dollars and alleviate a small, but noticeable percentage of the fiduciary problems in the state. It is a challenging task that will take a statewide groundswell of public participation to keep the lawmakers intrigued, and that would surely take the rest of the politicians by surprise.
“Rob Taylor was the original organizer of the TEA Parties in Coos County and is currently an
independent activist working to promote the rights of the individual.”
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