The idea of having citizens vote to approve every fee increase is nuts.
City councilors are elected to conduct the business of the city, and this is part of the job. Requiring a public vote on every issue would reduce decision-making to a crawl and create much more conflict with endless debate.
George Kramer is a consistent critic of the city, and his idea would throw a wrench into the works. This is not just a bad idea, it’s a horrible idea.
Karen Smith
Ashland
Councilor Jeff Dahle: While I respect the intent behind that proposal (to require a public vote on new taxes and fees), I do not support the petitioner’s request of the City Council to mandate that it be placed on the ballot without requiring the petitioner to follow the same established process that applies to all initiatives.
Councilor Dylan Bloom: Next November, Ashlanders may decide whether any new or increased utility fees must be approved by voters. I do not support that policy. But I do support the City Council placing the measure on the ballot rather than requiring the petitioner, George Kramer, to gather signatures.
On Oct. 11, the city of Ashland conducted a full-scale Community Wildfire Evacuation Drill, engaging more than 300 residents, local agencies and partner organizations in a coordinated evacuation exercise.
Herbert Rothschild: Vladimir Putin has said he is willing to abide for one more year by the limits on nuclear arms in the New START treaty while another treaty is being negotiated. Our immediate task is to convince Donald Trump to accept that offer. Don’t react to this call to action in a knee-jerk fashion. Trump wants to be seen as an international peacemaker.
Black faith leaders and elected city, state and federal officials joined the Rev. Leroy Haynes Jr., a veteran of the Civil Rights Movement, Saturday in Portland to discuss the impacts of a slate of President Donald Trump’s policies on communities of color, as well as legal attacks on civil rights legislation.
The Ashland Public Library will receive a $10,000 gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York, the foundation established by Andrew Carnegie. The award is part of Carnegie Libraries 250, a special initiative celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Councilor Jeff Dahle: While I respect the intent behind that proposal (to require a public vote on new taxes and fees), I do not support the petitioner’s request of the City Council to mandate that it be placed on the ballot without requiring the petitioner to follow the same established process that applies to all initiatives.
Councilor Dylan Bloom: Next November, Ashlanders may decide whether any new or increased utility fees must be approved by voters. I do not support that policy. But I do support the City Council placing the measure on the ballot rather than requiring the petitioner, George Kramer, to gather signatures.
With the close of this year’s Oregon Shakespeare Festival, organizers will take part in a free public program about this past season and the festival’s future on Monday, Nov. 2, at the Ashland Public Library.
A majority of judges on a federal appeals court want to review for errors a decision made by two of their peers greenlighting National Guard deployment to Portland. This means there will be no troop deployment until their review is complete, and such reviews typically take several weeks or more.
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