The Daily "A": Hazen, Samuelson Recalls A "Go"

9/18/2009 12:32:00 PM

Signatures verified -recall will go ahead; Hazen and Samuelson will stay and fight

By JOE GAMM - The Daily Astorian

Clatsop County will have its second and third recall elections of county commissioners in a little over a year Oct. 27.

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The Old Astor Column Steps Stolen From Public Works Premises?

Police Department City of Astoria
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Theft of old Astoria Column steps
DATE/TIME: 09/16/2009
RELEASED BY: Eric Halverson, Sergeant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On 09/16/2009 The Astoria Police Department began an investigation into the theft of cast iron steps that were removed from the Astoria Column recently for replacement.
The steps were being stored at the Astoria Public Works yard.(Directly across the street from Astoria Police Department?) Several stairs were cut off a section of the staircase. The steps have an estimated weight of 130 pounds and required the use of a torch to cut them loose. The estimated scrap value of the stairs is approximately $70.00, however the historic and sentimental value of the stairs is quite high.
The Astoria Police Department is seeking information leading to the recovery of the steps and prosecution of the suspects. “This was a calculated move on the part of the suspect (s) requiring time, knowledge and specialized equipment to accomplish” said Sgt. Halverson. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Astoria Police Department at (503) 325-4411.

Could This Be Warrenton?

Well, it's actually Mystic Seaport Village in Connecticutt but Warrenton?

Why not?

My view is Warrenton is still at a stage where it's not too far gone to insensitve development and planning and can be whatever it wants to be if its citizens, by consensus, deem it to be so.

Why, in the remake of its downtown core, could it not be a Coastal Village in apperance and atmosphere with all current amenities and longterm planning to focus on a vision to take it into its own future?

Columbia River Business Alliance Hosts:The Effects Of Very Large Retail Stores On Small Community Businesses

Columbia River Business Alliance is hosting a discussion about the effects of very large retail stores on small businesses in nearby communities. Specifically the discussion will focus on ways to hold the mega-stores accountable for calculating their economic impacts.

Elaine Blatt, from Onward Oregon, will talk about the proposed Oregon Informed Growth Act. The Informed Growth Act would give Oregonians more information about the potential impact of big box development on on their local communities -- including impacts on local businesses, jobs, land ocal government services -- and provide means for local communities to prevent development determined to have a significant negative impact.

This event will be held this Thursday, September 17th at the Blue Scorcher, 15th & Duane, in Astoria.

Peter Huhtala, Executive Director
Columbia River Business Alliance
PO Box 682
Astoria, Oregon 97103
peter@columbiariverbusinessalliance.org
www.ColumbiaRiverBusinessAlliance.org
503 468-8038


"The future of the Columbia River estuary is our business."

Who's In The Gates For The 2010 Gubernatorial Run?

Democratic Party

Announced
Former Governor of Oregon John Kitzhaber[2] (Campaign website)

Potential
Former Secretary of State of Oregon Bill Bradbury[3]
U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio[4]
Attorney and 2008 Senate candidate Steve Novick[5]
Former Hewlett-Packard executive Steve Shields[6]
Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard[7]
Oregon House of Representatives Speaker Dave Hunt[citation needed]
Washington County Commissioner Desari Strader[8]
Clackamas County Chairwoman Lynn Peterson[9]

Not running
U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer[4]
State Senate President Peter Courtney[10]
State Representative Brian Clem[11]

Republican Party

Announced
Businessman Allen Alley[12] (Campaign website)
State Senator Jason Atkinson[13](Gubernatorial Exploratory Committee website)
Former Oregon State Senator John Lim[14]

Potential
Former United States Senator Gordon Smith[4]
U.S. Representative Greg Walden[4]
State Representative Scott Bruun[citation needed]

Not running
Former Oregon Labor Commissioner and Lane County Commissioner Jack Roberts

Schockelt Pleads No Contest!

The Daily Astorian - Seaside Sun

Former Jewell School Board member Ulrich "Oly" Schockelt and prosecution reached a plea agreement on one charge against him Friday, when Schockelt pleaded "no contest" to recklessly endangering another person in Clatsop County Courtroom 100.

"The victims are satisfied with the results," Ladd said. "They just wanted the courts to advise (Schockelt) they felt threatened.

Read Full release

Spirit Of The River Coming October 3, 2009

Visit The Site

Bradwood Landing: 36-38 Miles Of Pipeline Right Of Way - Add 224.24 Acres To The Project Would You?

From John L. Kennedy, "Oil and Gas Pipeline Fundametals"

The average Natural Gas High Pressure Pipeline Right of Way is 50' wide with 35' maintained clear.

So, using this average and an average 37 Mile long NSNG controlled pipeline right of way x 5280 feet = 195, 360' x 50 = 9,768,000 square feet divided by 43560 square feet(acre) = 224.24 acres owned/controlled by who?

Where does the end of that pipeline originate?

From the Bradwood Landing LNG/Storage Terminal facility of course.

So add that 224 acres to that magic, "Bovine Scat", 40 acres NSNG says they are only using and you have 264 acres of physical property under the control/ownership of Bradwood Landing/NSNG.

Small Project?

No way in hell!!!

Oregon Sierra Club - Columbia Riverkeepers Organize Demonstration For Democracy September 23rd, 4:40 PM - 6:00PM In Astoria

Rally against LNG -- Demonstration for Democracy!
Wednesday, Sept. 23rd, 4:30pm in Astoria
Rally from 4:30pm-6:00pm Corner of 9th St. and Commercial in Downtown Astoria

Clatsop County Commissioners are at it again!

Last year Clatsop County Citizens for Common Sense ran a successful referendum campaign that resulted in an overwhelming 2/1 victory for the anti-LNG coalition.

Voters were asked if LNG related pipelines should be allowed in areas zoned for Open space Parks and Recreation (OPR) and the citizens of Clatsop County voted overwhelmingly against allowing LNG pipelines on such lands.

Now the Clatsop County Commission is trying to undermine the vote of the people by re-zoning the OPR zoned land along the pipeline route, reversing the effect of the popular vote.

They are once again doing the bidding of NorthernStar/Bradwood Landing by attempting to wriggle out from under a 67% vote of the people to not allow pipelines on these lands.


We need to gather our troops and show Clatsop County that the people of Oregon demand rightful representation in our government! Please join me and the citizens of Clatsop County for a demonstration for democracy at the next Clastop County Hearing where four of the commissioners will undoubtedly approve the dismissal of a popular vote in an effort to do the bidding of Northernstar Natural Gas and Bradwood Landing.

Folks are welcome to stay and participate in the public hearing that will take place at 6pm. Keep an eye out for more information and reminders as Sept. 23rd approaches!

Please join us to protect the vote of Clatsop County citizens and to protect the Columbia River from devastating LNG developments!

If you are interested in having an informational event held in your town, contact Olivia to plan a forum or presentation!

Thanks to you all for your interest and participation in the fight against LNG and related pipelines. With continued effort and support we will win this fight! If you can't participate in organizational meetings and would like to help the movement to stop these destructive projects please visit oregon.sierraclub.org or nolng.net where you can find links to other sites related to LNG and/or make a financial contribution to Columbia Riverkeeper's LNG fund that finances much of our anti-LNG work at www.columbiariverkeeper.org-Olivia SchmidtColumbia Riverkeeper, Oregon Sierra Club & Oregon Citizens Against the Pipelines

oliviariver@gmail.com
(971)533-2390

An Open Letter To Clatsop County Commissioner Patricia Roberts

GRP:We would like to extend the same invitation to Commissioner Roberts that we have extended to Commissioners Samuelson and Hazen and that is to use this venue to their best advantage to inform the citizens of this community in their defense against the proposed Recall Petitioning. We would certainly like to see a response from Commissioner Roberts on the Open Letter below.

Commissioner Roberts;

On Friday, August 28th, 2009, outside the Gearhart Post Office between the hours of 10:00 and 1:00, you
made the following public remarks in defending yourself against recall. I hope you will take some time to
clarify what you meant by the following statements:

“I don’t have any control over the size of the project.”
What do you mean? That the Bradwood Landing project, as proposed, was the minimum size it could be?
Your responsibility as a County Commissioner was not to decide if it was as compact as possible, but
rather to decide if the project met the “small to medium scale development activity” test necessary to
build anything on the site at Bradwood. You voted “yes” twice.

“We just voted to give them a chance, and I think they will fail.”
At no time that I‘m aware of, acting in your role as a quasi-judicial body hearing the case, were you asked
to vote on whether the Bradwood Landing proposal deserved a chance or not. Instead, your responsibility
was to rule on whether the proposal fit numerous aspects of county and state law and zoning rules. In
what way, precisely, do you think they will fail?

“We had no choice, this is the process.”
Do you mean that the process predetermined the outcome? You clearly could have chosen to vote no. A
no vote would have been more consistent with testimony and the county consultant’s opinion. Why do
you say you had no choice? Did anyone advise you that you had no choice?

“We would be sued if we had not voted this way.”
How did you come to the conclusion that the county would be sued if you voted no? Did someone tell
you that you would be sued? If so, who and when? Would you have voted differently without the threat
of being sued?
Unsaid
On two points that were brought up however, you were strangely silent. When it was mentioned that the
river closures resulting from the mandatory exclusion zone around the tankers would prohibit cruise ships
from considering Astoria as a port-of-call, you had no response. And more importantly, when the
discussion turned to the fishing industry along the Columbia River, and how it would be severely impacted
by the closures, your only response was, “I hadn’t heard they [the LNG super tankers] would be in port
that long.”

“You just don’t understand.”
You are correct on this one, I truly don‘t understand. But I believe it is your obligation to help me and
the people of Clatsop County understand why you keep voting for LNG and the Bradwood Landing
application. The concerned citizens of Clatsop County would appreciate an explanation of your
comments.

Sincerely.

Deborah McEuen
Lewis and Clark