Will The Oregonian go fully digital, like the Seattle P-I? Will it cease its daily publication soon? I mourn the old Oregonian and have for quite some time.
If it does, will the Columbian become the region's most significant news source? (Hint: this is an opportunity, Scott Campbell).
nailingit: Maybe we'll be next door neighbors, happily trotting off to the Hillsboro Hops games, sipping a cool adult beverage beforehand at McMenamin's Imbrie House. :)
Eeyore is one way to describe it.
We have to invest in our communities or else they become unattractive to new business and residents with fresh ideas and energy.
I was reading the FB comments, never a wise idea on a Sunday morning, and noticed that the ONLY comments so far about our law enforcement ratio here are comments complaining about taxes being raised to support police.
Healthy, safe, thriving communities do not run on hot air.
BTW, Pahlisch Homes are breaking ground on the one-level bungalows. :)
hawk at 7:18 am: Orenco Station is nicknamed "Rack 'em and Stack 'em" for good reason.
I know that many Clark County residents chose to live here because they can own acres of land and breathe fresh air.
I was raised in Chicago and am used to the regular rattle rumble of elevated trains and small urban lot sizes.
Its the air of perfection that rattles me most about Orenco Station. I like a little local color and grit in my neighborhood and enjoy that quality in abundance in downtown Vancouver. :)
There is a clash of cultures going on in Clark County, not unlike the war that was fought when the sourthern California folks discovered the Pacific Northwest in the early '80's.
To clarify: while Vancouver is seeing an infusion of new businesses and youthful energy and creativity, it won't last if we don't get that new bridge and light rail.
I have been spending a lot of time perusing Orenco Station lately, kicking the tires of potential homes, and noticed how close it is to the new Hillsboro Hops stadium, among other things. It is 20 some miles closer to our little beach retreat and hey, light rail is already there. If we want to take in Portland or a Blazer game, we can do so with easy access. And there is no contentious bridge to battle on a daily basis. If I want to head North to the Emerald City, I take the train.
Does it look like Orenco Station is worse-for-the-wear due to the "crime" train? Hardly. If I had one thing to say about it as a first impression, it would be this: it is a little too sanitized, pristine and standardized. It looks like a movie set to me. Pleasantville on steroids.
A Bend developer is breaking ground on 24 single-level homes across from Orenco New Seasons and 20 of them are reserved already. Perfect for couples easing into their golden years.
I worry that Clark County, not Vancouver, is the home of "NO." No tolls. No light rail. No new bridge. No taxes. No growth. No excitement. No fun. Vancouver is seeing some exciting new businesses and a healthy infusion of the youth and creative culture. Like a breath of fresh air.
We spend time in Orenco Station to see if it grows on us. We intend to go to the Hops games with the knowledge that we could have been walking there had Marc Boldt not been trying, in vain, to save his political career.
We still may be able to walk there if we get used to the pristine facades of homes, row houses, condos, shops and apartments that make up this overly-planned Hillsboro community, built around light rail access. And we will take our small business and tax payin' checkbook with us.
Well, the Washington State legislature solved the looming Estate Tax refund debacle at the 11th hour last night. Had they not done this, millions of our tax dollars would have gone out today to a very few wealthy estates in the form of a fat refund check.
They CAN get something done when they put their minds to it.
[link text][1]
Read a quick summary from The Stranger at the link above.
roger @ 6:21 PM: Excellent presentation you posted! Problem is: the Clark County commissioners did not even consider statistical probabilities. None can hold a candle to leaders like Colin Powell. :)
Nate Silver has popularized Bayesian analysis for predicting outcomes. It has been around since the 1700's and has informed government and military decisions, as you point out.
Sorry, I just don't give these goobers at Clark County much credit for knowing what Bayesian analysis is or for using it appropriately, as Colin Powell and his leader colleagues did. If you ever have listened to their Wednesday meetings (audio only for about 2 grueling hours), you will see how much they fly by the seat of their collective britches. No wonder Bronson Potter wants to be rid of the legal risks this behavior creates.
I guess you could argue that the CRC is a big experiment, too. Does it have a 51% chance of success? Many folks don't want to gamble their tax dollars on those odds, either.
I think Madore's "jobs" plan via TIF fee removal has poor odds, too. :)
How would you all feel if your doctor were to make treatment decisions based on a "hunch" or "experiment?"
Good policy decisions and the best laws are passed after an unbiased review of data and research. If you don't have the data yet, then proceed with extreme caution, because you do not have a reliable map from which to navigate. If you are gambling with the public funds, you will likely receive zealous blow-back.
I am all for leaner government. I cringe often when I see some of the ridiculous new laws mucking up our free lives that come out of Olympia and Clark County and Vancouver.
BOCC might as well get a couple of dice and a box of goat guts to inform them.
Open forum, June 17-23
Will The Oregonian go fully digital, like the Seattle P-I? Will it cease its daily publication soon?
I mourn the old Oregonian and have for quite some time.
If it does, will the Columbian become the region's most significant news source? (Hint: this is an opportunity, Scott Campbell).
[link text][1]
[1]: http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-30...
June 18, 2013 at 7:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, June 10-16
roger: I appreciate your thoughts on Hillsboro. You sound a lot like my husband, which is a compliment, by the way. :)
June 16, 2013 at 8:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, June 10-16
nailingit: Maybe we'll be next door neighbors, happily trotting off to the Hillsboro Hops games, sipping a cool adult beverage beforehand at McMenamin's Imbrie House. :)
Eeyore is one way to describe it.
We have to invest in our communities or else they become unattractive to new business and residents with fresh ideas and energy.
I was reading the FB comments, never a wise idea on a Sunday morning, and noticed that the ONLY comments so far about our law enforcement ratio here are comments complaining about taxes being raised to support police.
Healthy, safe, thriving communities do not run on hot air.
BTW, Pahlisch Homes are breaking ground on the one-level bungalows. :)
June 16, 2013 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, June 10-16
hawk at 7:18 am: Orenco Station is nicknamed "Rack 'em and Stack 'em" for good reason.
I know that many Clark County residents chose to live here because they can own acres of land and breathe fresh air.
I was raised in Chicago and am used to the regular rattle rumble of elevated trains and small urban lot sizes.
Its the air of perfection that rattles me most about Orenco Station. I like a little local color and grit in my neighborhood and enjoy that quality in abundance in downtown Vancouver. :)
There is a clash of cultures going on in Clark County, not unlike the war that was fought when the sourthern California folks discovered the Pacific Northwest in the early '80's.
June 15, 2013 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, June 10-16
To clarify: while Vancouver is seeing an infusion of new businesses and youthful energy and creativity, it won't last if we don't get that new bridge and light rail.
June 15, 2013 at 6:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, June 10-16
Press Talk: It could have been us.
I have been spending a lot of time perusing Orenco Station lately, kicking the tires of potential homes, and noticed how close it is to the new Hillsboro Hops stadium, among other things. It is 20 some miles closer to our little beach retreat and hey, light rail is already there. If we want to take in Portland or a Blazer game, we can do so with easy access. And there is no contentious bridge to battle on a daily basis. If I want to head North to the Emerald City, I take the train.
Does it look like Orenco Station is worse-for-the-wear due to the "crime" train? Hardly. If I had one thing to say about it as a first impression, it would be this: it is a little too sanitized, pristine and standardized. It looks like a movie set to me. Pleasantville on steroids.
A Bend developer is breaking ground on 24 single-level homes across from Orenco New Seasons and 20 of them are reserved already. Perfect for couples easing into their golden years.
I worry that Clark County, not Vancouver, is the home of "NO." No tolls. No light rail. No new bridge. No taxes. No growth. No excitement. No fun. Vancouver is seeing some exciting new businesses and a healthy infusion of the youth and creative culture. Like a breath of fresh air.
We spend time in Orenco Station to see if it grows on us. We intend to go to the Hops games with the knowledge that we could have been walking there had Marc Boldt not been trying, in vain, to save his political career.
We still may be able to walk there if we get used to the pristine facades of homes, row houses, condos, shops and apartments that make up this overly-planned Hillsboro community, built around light rail access. And we will take our small business and tax payin' checkbook with us.
Not that I expect we will be missed, mind you. :)
June 15, 2013 at 6:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, June 10-16
nailingit: You are my information on national news. Who needs to peruse the headlines when we have our own headline feed right here? :)
Glad to see someone like Jan Brewer working collaboratively. Maybe she will inspire a trend?
June 14, 2013 at 8:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, June 10-16
Well, the Washington State legislature solved the looming Estate Tax refund debacle at the 11th hour last night. Had they not done this, millions of our tax dollars would have gone out today to a very few wealthy estates in the form of a fat refund check.
They CAN get something done when they put their minds to it.
[link text][1]
Read a quick summary from The Stranger at the link above.
[1]: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/arch...
June 14, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, June 10-16
roger @ 6:21 PM: Excellent presentation you posted! Problem is: the Clark County commissioners did not even consider statistical probabilities. None can hold a candle to leaders like Colin Powell. :)
Nate Silver has popularized Bayesian analysis for predicting outcomes. It has been around since the 1700's and has informed government and military decisions, as you point out.
Sorry, I just don't give these goobers at Clark County much credit for knowing what Bayesian analysis is or for using it appropriately, as Colin Powell and his leader colleagues did. If you ever have listened to their Wednesday meetings (audio only for about 2 grueling hours), you will see how much they fly by the seat of their collective britches. No wonder Bronson Potter wants to be rid of the legal risks this behavior creates.
I guess you could argue that the CRC is a big experiment, too. Does it have a 51% chance of success? Many folks don't want to gamble their tax dollars on those odds, either.
I think Madore's "jobs" plan via TIF fee removal has poor odds, too. :)
June 14, 2013 at 7:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, June 10-16
How would you all feel if your doctor were to make treatment decisions based on a "hunch" or "experiment?"
Good policy decisions and the best laws are passed after an unbiased review of data and research. If you don't have the data yet, then proceed with extreme caution, because you do not have a reliable map from which to navigate. If you are gambling with the public funds, you will likely receive zealous blow-back.
I am all for leaner government. I cringe often when I see some of the ridiculous new laws mucking up our free lives that come out of Olympia and Clark County and Vancouver.
BOCC might as well get a couple of dice and a box of goat guts to inform them.
June 13, 2013 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )