Letters to the Editor 02/04/2015

To the Editor:

You would think with the school district being handed its head in the recent bond vote, the school board would be looking to make some changes going forward. Not so, with the appointment of recycled Jeff Smith to a board vacancy.

Director Stephen King advocated for able candidate Karan Swaner for the position. The fix was in though, as has become fashionable in Sisters these days, with vice-chair Andrew Gorayeb and director Melvin Herburger going along with chair Don Hedrick's choice for the job.

Something to keep in mind when school board elections come around this spring.

Roger Detweiler

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To the Editor:

As a resident living near Clemens Park for the past five years, I have watched it grow from a dog park to a family park with the addition of a nice playground area now surrounded by benches and beautiful tress.

For a long time it was under-used, but now I see groups of children and their parents all through the day at the playground, playing ball, having picnics and birthday parties. A group from the airport has a weekly early morning (ultimate) Frisbee game. Many dads bring their kids to fly kites. I've heard other things being considered like more picnic benches and a volleyball court. How great that we have nice family parks on both sides of town.

The one thing Clemens Park lacks is restrooms, sorely needed if one spends any amount of time there, especially with children. Now I understand there is a grant the City could apply for that would allow restroom facilities to be built at the park and I encourage people to write to the Parks Advisory Board or speak up at the next meeting (February 4 at 4 p.m.) and let them know you support this project. There's not much time left before the grant expires, so please don't put it off.

Diane Goble

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To the Editor:

Mayor Gorayeb's laments in a January 28 Nugget article describing recent planning department "defections/dismissals" almost brought me to tears. ("Major shakeup in City planning," The Nugget, page 1.)

What really prompted "a gusher" was his comment that the reversal of the misguided back-in parking mess was on the "back-burner" and would "need another two to three months to be resolved."

Perhaps he can enlighten my stupefied brain on why it would be that complicated a decision. Perhaps it is not a matter of hiring a painting crew to eliminate the existing lines and paint new ones? Does it require an environmental study; a special committee; or State approval? To earn trust Mr. Mayor, some semblance of rational judgment must be exhibited.

Del Heller

Editor's note: Andrew Gorayeb is city manager of Sisters, not mayor.

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To the Editor:

At Senator Ron Wyden's Town Hall Friday, January 2, he made the statement; "There is no Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)," meaning, I suppose, that it has not been finalized yet.

He also stated that he was for transparency of this secret agreement, yet his statement flies in the face of transparency. He made it clear that the congress must bring this to a vote and indicated that this would be a "Fast Track" vote, which effectively bars public input and debate. This is not what I call transparency. We need to know that our Congressional delegates oppose bringing the Trans-Pacific Partnership to a "Fast Track" vote.

This is the first trade agreement negotiated in complete secrecy. As many as 600 corporate representatives from Wall Street, big pharma, dirty energy, the military, the chemical industry, etc. have been at the table, leaving the rest of us out. The only thing we know about the TPP is from documents leaked from Wikileaks.

Only recently, after demanding access, has Congress been allowed to read texts in a "secure" room. They are not allowed to take notes or discuss content publicly. Congress only has 90 days under Fast Track to read an immensely complex and several-thousand-page text, and it stipulates only a yes or no vote. There are no committee hearings and no amendments.

We must demand a 21st Century-style trade policy that puts people and planet first before Corporate Profits. Senators, preserve democracy - oppose Fast Track Authority.

Thiel Larson

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To the Editor:

Our new Mayor Chris Frye's words "The concentrated effort of a few to cast aspersion, attack character, and question integrity on a personal level is what is causing these individuals to leave or think about leaving" was a new low point in the politics of Sisters.

Perhaps Mayor Frye should have first reviewed the body of evidence in the Wild Mountain discrimination lawsuit, and in particular, listen to the public-record recordings of several Planning Commission meetings where members of both the Planning Commission and Planning Department attacked my character and personally vilified me in a manner reminiscent of children in a school yard, rather than conducting themselves with the expected character of professional adults and officials representing the City of Sisters. Had he done so he might have found reason to reflect before making the statements defending the people he did in the January 28 Nugget article, "Major Shakeup in City Planning."

In my opinion Mr. Holzeman (sic), Mr. Porter, Ms. Hardie, Mr. Bryant and others have earned the mistrust and animosity being directed at them by their own word and deed. I have experienced first-hand the repercussions of their actions. Mayor Frye's deriding of critics demonstrates his lack of ability to effectively lead through the mess he both inherited, and contributed to when he finalized the issue by declaring the food cart decision will stand without review.

Mayor Frye, at the start of each Council meeting you lead the pledge of allegiance to our country's flag, we live in a democracy that was founded on the principle of free speech and a citizen's right to criticize our government. The expectation of criticism you so despise comes with the job. If you don't like the heat, either rise to the challenge and lead the community out of this mess, or get out of the kitchen. But don't you cast aspersion towards those citizens of our community bravely exercising their rights guaranteed under the constitution of this country!

Ky Karnecki