The NYTs does Measure 37…
July 28th, 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.
Did Oregonians realize that national monuments would give way to mines and power plants? One seriously doubts it.
With 50,000 acres of lakes, lava flows and otherworldly rock features that offer a peek into central Oregon’s geologic tumult, the Newberry National Volcanic Monument is one of the more theatrical of the nation’s protected natural wonders.
In the eyes of James R. Miller, who owns a doughnut hole of private land inside the monument, all that volcanic energy just below the surface makes the big caldera a perfect place for a pumice mine and power plant. [link]
And will Washington voters realize what will happen to their state when they vote on an M37 clone this year?
Sadly, the anti-933 crowd are trotting out the same failed messages as the anti-M37 campaign in Oregon: “Too many questions. Too many loopholes. Too costly for taxpayers.” Come on… when will anti-sprawl campaigners realize that the messaging needs to be about exactly that: sprawl and rash development, rather than “costly” and “taxpayers” and all that. Don’t they realize we tried that “arbitrary”, “costly” and “unfair” nonsense in Oregon and it failed?!
In Oregon, of course, we’re seeing crazy waivers for all sorts of development. That’s why, as a modest antidote, Portland-area voters choose to protect natural areas this November!
Related posts: Hey, Lefty Lane, green consumerism is still consumerism!, Mineral rights and fossils, A little good news (parks) with the bad (the gorge)
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