By magix on February 15, 2017
Cliff Bentz, HB 2480, Measure 6-162
Coos County

Oregon State Representative Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) has introduced House Bill 2480 to literally take power away from the people of Oregon. Introduced on behalf of a corporate lobbying firm and despite President Trump’s inaugural promise to give the power back to the people, HB 2480 would use state preemption to strip communities of their […]
By magix on December 19, 2016
Jordan Cove, Jordan Cove LNG, Trade Unions for Energy Democracy
Coos County

President-elect Donald Trump and Secretary Hillary Clinton share some common views, not the least of which is their mutual support for the fossil-fuel industry. Emails obtained from the US State Department by The Intercept revealed how Clinton, who received twice as much in contributions from oil than Trump, during her tenure as Secretary of State […]
By magix on November 13, 2016
Coos Commons Protection Council, Lincoln County, The Intercept
Coos County

There were some victories November 8, 2016. Two communities, Highland Township, PA and Waterville, OH each passed a bill of rights by overwhelming margins banning harmful development in their communities. With a new president threatening to weaken already marginal environmental safeguards, now more than ever we must exercise our fundamental right to say NO to […]
By magix on May 19, 2016
community rights, Frank Adams, Monsanto Protection Act, Nestle, Seneca
Coos County

“We are going to defend our property rights like any other property owner would. That means defending our rights under the state and federal constitutions.” Those following the heroic efforts to stop the proposed Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline might attribute these words to any one of the more than 600 affected landowners along the […]
By magix on April 18, 2016
community rights, Coos County Right to a Sustainable Energy Future, Jordan Cove, Justice William Douglas
Coos County

“Extending standing to the real party at risk of harm — the environment — would preserve “priceless bits of Americana” before they become “forever lost or are so transformed as to be reduced to the eventual rubble of our urban environment.” US Supreme Court Justice William Orville Douglas During an especially heated primary debate […]
By magix on March 22, 2016
Climate, FERC, Jordan Cove, Ken Ward, Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline
Coos County

There is a touching story about a dying astronaut who plans to spend his remaining time on earth fighting global warming for his only grandchild. Piers Sellers visited the International Space Station three times and took twice as many spacewalks. His extraterrestrial perspective coupled with his science background helped him recognize how “climate change is […]
By magix on March 13, 2016
Jordan Cove, oligarchy, Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline, SDAT
Coos County

Friday was a great day. Not only was my daughter accepted into the University of Oregon but FERC denied the certificate of public convenience and necessity to the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. Because I was standing in the middle of McArthur Court on the U of O campus surrounded by anxious parents and giggling young […]
By magix on March 11, 2016
community rights, Coos Commons Protection Council, LNG
Coos County

The more I engage in community rights work the more sense the right of local self-government makes to me. Whether it is banking regulators, energy regulators or environmental regulators the working class communities are getting the short end of the stick because the industry writes the rules. One of the main rules is that communities […]
By magix on March 7, 2016
Heather Fox, Mary Barton, Matt Rowe, Megan Simms
Coos County

The World has a story about the most recent candidate for treasurer, Heather Fox. She sounds like a reasonable candidate and she answers some questions raised previously, such as will she collect two salaries and is she just running as a spoiler to help Megan Simms oust Matt Rowe. The answer would appear to be […]
By magix on March 4, 2016
Bob Main, Coos County Commission
Coos County

Ever a glutton for punishment I have been reading a lot about failed economies and fragile states , (formerly known as failed states). From the mouths of our own commissioners, Coos County is kind of mini-version of a failed local economy and is facing a $2.5 million shortfall. The next couple of years are going […]