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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Herb Rothschild: The year in review ... Guest Opinion: Gateway art process failed ... International Peace Day: Ashland Culture of Peace event Monday ... Herb Rothschild: The year in review ... Guest Opinion: Gateway art process failed ... International Peace Day: Ashland Culture of Peace event Monday ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, Aug. 27 Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News The deck is stacked On Sept. 1, the Ashland City Council considers the Normal Neighborhood Plan (NNP), allowing construction of 450 residential units. NNP would be the largest development in Ashland’s history. Financial and environment costs to citizens have not been fully presented. Initially, so many citizens objected to the NNP, the mayor appointed a study group to improve the plan. However, this group included no citizen members. Instead, the mayor selected two City Council members, two members of the Planning Commission, a city planner and himself. During 12 meetings, the study group heard recommendations from a Medford developer, and seldom responded to input by residents of the NNP area. The deck seems stacked in favor of the adoption of the NNP. On Sep. 1, the two City Council members on the NNP working group will likely vote for the development. A yes vote from one more council member will create a tie. The mayor, one of the most active supporters of the development, will likely break the tie, giving Ashland a giant development, with little input from its citizens. This is not how democracy works. Before approval, the City Council must provide the costs and environmental impact of the NNP. David Hoffman Ashland Full of hyperbole Maynard Telpner’s letter to the editor about the Iran agreement is full of hyperbole: “Obama’s surrender to Iran,” “atomic bomb dropped on Israel.” Number one, it’s not a surrender. Two, it’s not Obama’s agreement, it’s an agreement between Iran and the international community, concluded after years of negotiation, with very tough requirements for Iran and remedies available to the U.S. and the international community if Iran reneges on its obligations. Finally, he declares that “any Jew with half a brain opposes Obama’s surrender to Iran.” insulting those who don't agree with him. In a way, it's insulting to those who agree with him, too. If you agree, do you have but half a brain? It's more productive to discuss the merits for and against the agreement. And less hostile. Jim Flint Ashland Don't prosecute Samaritans I was happy to see the article in the Tidings and the Mail Tribune, Aug. 21 about Naloxone saving nine people with heroin overdoses. However, at the end of the piece, Medford Police Chief Tim George says it is possible that an overdose victim (and presumably "good Samaritans" that call 911 instead of running away) could face criminal charges. What a sad, and soon to be totally wrong, thing to say. In June our Legislature passed SB 839, a Good Samaritan law, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2016. It will protect from prosecution the overdose victim, anyone calling 911 or others providing aid. Specifically, the law protects against arrest for possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, and anyone on probation or with parole violations. In other words, if you make a call to save a life, you and the victim will not be charged with a crime. Portland police are already following the spirit of the new law. Let’s hope the punitive attitude toward this public health problem will sooner rather than later be adopted by the Medford Police Department. Claudia Little, BSN, MPH Ashland DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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