Measure 37 is back…
February 21st, 2006
Background: Measure 37, an extremist property “rights” initiative, was approved by Oregon voters in 2004 after a propagandistic campaign. This Measure can roll back any and all land-use regulations, allowing for subdivision of farmland, fragmentation of wildlife habitat, clearcutting, and increased externalities on neighbors. To help limit Measure 37’s impact, please join 1000 Friends of Oregon.
Devastating…
Supreme Court says yes to Measure 37
Oregon’s Supreme Court has resuscitated the controversial property rights law that could redefine rural Oregon.
Measure 37 did not violate state and federal constitutions as a lower court thought, justices said Tuesday in a sweeping, unanimous opinion.
Their decision - which will be dissected across the nation - jump starts more than 2,500 applications to develop land controlled by government regulations.
Even greedy former conservationists can now move ahead with their mega-projects:
Ted Gahr’s farm has long been held as one of the area’s crown jewels of conservation work - a pastoral 350-acre nature preserve about four miles west of McMinnville, where elk roam within view of visitors relaxing at a rural bed and breakfast inn.
The property, in fact, is among a dozen environmental success stories featured in a glossy book published in 2002 by the Oregon-based Wetlands Conservancy titled, “Heroic Tales of Wetland Conservation.”
But not for long…
Ted and Harriet Gahr have owned the land since 1966, moving north from California in search of greater solitude. Now they’ve filed a claim to subdivide the property into various-sized lots for development of housing tracts, camping and RV sites, a restaurant and some sort of retail sales enterprise.
I have blogged more extensively about this on DailyKos (partly because I must provide a bit of history about what M37 is for a national audience).
Action Alert: Please consider joining 1000 Friends of Oregon to help limit Measure 37’s damage! Even $1 can help!
Related posts: The curious case of the Clackamas claimant, Measure 37 reform on the 2008 ballot, Hood River walloped by Measure 37 claims
4 Comments Add your own
1. Breter Pay | February 21st, 2006 at 5:54 pm
Dude, this sucks! I can’t believe the Court ruled with those whackjobs. I thought we had the Court in our pocket, isn’t that what Bob Stacey at that bus project meeting last fall? They were supposed to kill Measure 37, what the hell happened!
I think we should just get rid of private property altogether. I mean, c’mon, it’s our land not theirs. I want to tell people how to use their land. They need to let me smoke my pot on it, and skateboard, and hug a tree or two. Who do they think they are?
I mean, I know the fifth amendment protects private property rights, but we don’t care about all civil rights, do we? Only those that serve our purpose, right man? I mean, c’mon, I know that I have never had to work for anything before in my life, that I grew up in lake oswego and my parents gave me everything I have, isn’t that how everyone gets their property?
Dude, where’s my bong.
2. womer Hilliams | February 21st, 2006 at 6:03 pm
Dude,
Remember when Peter put those hilarious voter pamphlet statements in the voters pamphlet? That was so totally awesome!!!!
The funny thing about Peter is that he has never had to work for anything in his life, and his parents gave him everything, dude. He thinks that is how everyone gets their property, so are they really losing anything? No way man….
Dude, Peter, keep up the good work. When you “argue”, you are really helping the cause. I mean, slackers like us need to stick together
3. Peter Bray | February 21st, 2006 at 10:56 pm
Pretty funny comments… but looks as though you may need to revise your stereotypes about do-gooder environmentalists: not only have I only visited Lake Oswego maybe once or twice maximum, but I also work 8-14 hours daily! (Oh, but I am of course a rich land speculator from California.)
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