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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 Our View: All's well that ends well ... Jeffrey Gillespie: A landmark in the history of love ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Duke, Roof and us ... Our View: All's well that ends well ... Jeffrey Gillespie: A landmark in the history of love ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Duke, Roof and us ... LOCAL TAKE What do you think of the state of the city? Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 26, 2015 at 6:24 PM Updated Jan 26, 2015 at 6:25 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 26, 2015 at 6:24 PM Updated Jan 26, 2015 at 6:25 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Should Gov. Kitzhaber resign due to his fiancee's entanglements?... • What do you do with money saved from cheap gas? • What are you doing on Super Bowl Sunday? • Has Dr. King’s dream been realized? • Have we recovered from the Great Recession? • What do you think of the proposed natural gas pipeline? • Are you glad the Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink is here? » Social News The city of Ashland just got its biennial report card, a survey of 400 residents about what they like and don’t like. The survey is a guide to the city council and managers about their future vision and choice of projects and practices. It also informs the mayor, John Stromberg, in his themes for the State of the City address, which is set for today. The first ever State of the City celebration starts with appetizers and a social time at 5:30 p.m. in the Ashland Community Center at 59 Winburn Way. The program, which also includes presentation of this year’s Ragland Award winners, begins at 6 p.m. The Volunteer Spirit Community Service Award was established by the mayor and council in 1994 in honor of James M. Ragland, a former councilor and planning commissioner involved in numerous citizen volunteer efforts. The public is welcome to attend the community event. The survey results were generally glowing, except the chronic problems of parking, affordable housing and lack of job opportunity. The city got a whopping 86 percent approval for its many jobs, but got dinged for snow removal. However, people tend to forgive that, as it only happens every decade or so. We asked Ashlanders: “What do you think of the state of the city? What’s good? What could be improved?” Lexi Delgado — I love this community. It’s a great place to raise children. It’s safe. I do miss the diversity though. The lack of affordable housing ties into that lack of diversity. Not all sorts can afford to be here. It seems more and more families are coming back to Ashland. I’ve lived here 18 years and I remember when all the elementary schools were open. I think building more trails is a waste of money. I don’t have a lot of complaints about Ashland or the parking. I’d like to see all the schools open again. That would be awesome.  Wendy Seldon — I’m happy here with the great community feel and vibrant arts and creativity. I’m happy with lots of food consciousness here and environmental and spiritual also. The parks are great. The trails are good. I’d love to see some color in the Plaza pavers. It looks like asphalt. I’d like to see more art around town, like some statues. Not one big project but four smaller sculptures. Medford has done a good job with bringing more creative flavor. They could tweak the parking here. There are lots of spaces where you can’t park and should be able to. They don’t have to do a huge study about it that costs tens of thousands of dollars, just do it. Maybe another parking garage. Amelia Arapoff — The city’s affordable housing is awesome. My son got in the one on Clay Street, after two years on a waiting list. It’s in good repair. You have to have patience. My only complaint on parking is it’s hard at the Co-op (private property). I like us being a Bee Town. I’m all about supporting bees and bike lanes. The city should be more lenient about medical marijuana dispensaries. They made it hard for Puffs and closed them with unneccessary hassles. (They're open now.) I love that SOU lowered tuition on digital media and wine classes for locals. I could move anywhere in the world but I keep coming back to Ashland.  John Hauschild — Ashland is a relatively easy place to live. But I’d like to see the city do more that’s in line with what people of the town like and want, instead of projects like the Plaza, running stupid, willy-nilly and spending our money. That type of thing is the worst, putting on blinders and doing what they like. That’s my big beef. We have no snow so they ought to sell Mt. Ashland. I don’t think it’s going to come back. The road diet was another misdirected thing, two miles of making it hard to drive, supposedly so bikes could go in there. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 26, 2015 at 6:24 PM Updated Jan 26, 2015 at 6:25 PM » 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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