It’s the halfway mark in the Columbia River Crossing’s draft
environmental impact study public comment period (better get
cracking—you’ve only got until July 1
to finishing reading
all 5,000 pages!), and sparks are flying over the controversial
project. Three Metro councilors are approaching the high stakes
more-freeway-lanes-in-exchange-for-light-rail political “trade off”
with a novel solution—a resolution calling for light rail and
bridge tolls now, and a reevaluation of the need for more bridge
lanes later—so you can expect fireworks at the June 5 Metro
meeting. There, at 2 pm, that resolution (backed by Councilor Robert
Liberty) goes head to head with resolutions from Columbia River
Crossing proponent Councilor Rex Burkholder, and an attempt at a
compromise from Metro President David Bragdon. AJR
***
Admitted pedophile blogger Jack McClellan says two
cops at Powell Butte Nature Park harassed him last Thursday, May
29.
McClellan says he was eating a sandwich in the park when a park
ranger came up and started talking to him. Then, a patrol car rolled up
with two cops inside.
“They told me, ‘We just don’t feel this is a good place for
you,'” he says. “And I asked them why, and they said, ‘We’re afraid
you might grab a kid off the trail and run off with them.’ I
told them I didn’t know where else to go, and one of them said, ‘How
about Thailand?'” he continues. “The feel was, ‘You’re on our turf, get
out of here.’ I had no choice but to sit there and talk with them, but
I didn’t know what they were going to do.” MD