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[March 5th, 2008]
What Beef?
Since Speaker Merkley entered the Senate race the Willamette Week has falsely accused Jeff of being a slumlord, a pimp, and a sellout. But not even your sensationalized style of journalism can defame Jeff’s record strengthening our public schools.
The entire premise of Beth Slovic’s story (“Charter Fuel,” WW, Feb. 27, 2008) is false. Jeff and his wife Mary never considered sending their child to a charter school. Like any good parents, they were willing to check out any option available to their child. Public schoolteachers across the state are inspired when parents explore different options and determine that Oregon public schools are the best for their child.
Since the day he ran for office, Jeff’s top priority has been to support public education. His passion for public schools is rooted in his experiences—the son of a millworker, who became the first in his family to go to college and pursued a career in public service.
As speaker of the House of Representatives, he increased funding for our schools by nearly $1 billion, expanded access to Head Start to more than 13,000 children, and doubled financial aid to bring college within reach for more hardworking people just like him. His record earned him a 100-percent rating from our organization.
Every single Oregon teacher gets to play a role in our endorsement process. It is one of the most grassroots organizations in this state. We are confident that Oregon teachers will see Jeff for exactly who he is—a father of two public-school students, a champion for public schools and the best chance to defeat Gordon Smith—and not how the Willamette Week portrays him to be.
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Sena Norton, president of the Metro Southeast Uniserv
Chris Scranton, vice president of Madras Education Association
Cindy Towers, vice president of the Roseburg Education Association
Jan Kailey, member of the Bend Education Association
Dan Jones, president of Cascade Uniserv
Keep California out of Oregon
In regards to the “Illegal Eh-lien” Feb. 20, 2008, article, the real problem with Oregon’s immigration isn’t the Canadians, or the Mexicans, or even the Icelandics. It is much more sinister and homegrown than we believe.
California has been sending professionals, teachers, techies, etc. up into Oregon for more than a decade now. And, it starts with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. (By the way, I think he’s even sent the wine-maker, the baker AND the candle-stick maker.) Those Californians have raised our wages, our home values and our standards of living for way too long now.
Why should the rest of the nation’s home values continue to plummet when Portland’s stay steady, and even increase? This outrage needs to stop immediately. By creating a tax to build a giant wall of timber between California and Oregon, we may stop the madness.
By instituting this action immediately, we could stem this tide of California immigrants and truly be able to keep Portland weird. To all you Canadians, Mexicans and Icelandic peoples, Oregon’s new motto is: “Come Home to Portland. We’ll Leave the Light On.”
Clark Ortiz
North Montana Avenue
Ash,
Sadly, I think you're missing the point of the letter. Ironically, he's saying that sometimes Oregonians tend to be more accepting of illegals than we are to our southern neighbors.
Keep that love growing.
While it is true that the influx of Californians and corporations from out of state have helped keep our economy growing in Oregon. Native Oregonians understand that some things matter more than money. We have lost a valuable heritage of Oregon culture; of highways that aren’t overcrowded populated by polite drivers. Our local businesses have suffered. There are few left. When we lose connection and local identity we lose everything. Large corporations can’t replace the local grocer who knows his clientele.
We once had clean air and water. Civilized behavior, connected neighborhoods and communities, police who didn’t rely on violence to maintain order.
Dear Clark Ortiz,
i'm from california, screwing up your life. sorry 20 somethings trying to make a life for themselves are causing such anger. have fun with that. love
ash