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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 3, 2006 Letter At Length Letter Submissions Letters should be e-mailed in text-only format to [email protected] . Please include your address and a daytime phone number where you can be reached for confirmation. Letters are limited to 250 words. At Length submissions are limited to 400 words. Submissions may be edited for length, content and clarity. The Tidings gives priority to letters on local and regional topics of current interest. It seeks to encourage thoughtful, well-reasoned leters and to discourage personal attacks, repetitive messages and personal disputes. Form letters are not published in the Tidings, nor are letters identified as having been published in other publications. 'Era of Progressive Confusion' A Tidings editorial last week claimed the end of the "DeBoer era." There never was a "DeBoer Era." Alan DeBoer loves Ashland deeply and has done many things intended to improve the lives of our citizens. As mayor of our city he tried hard to treat people fairly and to help facilitate the city's work. But he was never a leader in creating the vision that guided us. From the early 1970's to the early 2000's Ashland was led by ideas and policies that evolved from numerous boards, commissions and individual citizens, that received their final stamp of approval from the city council. The result was a general consensus that gradually increased emphasis on improving the city's aesthetics and environment. Dozens of ordinances and policies were adopted to move our community toward greater livability and sustainability. The consensus included maintaining a compact form intended to minimize negative impacts on the earth around us. To accomplish this goal emphasis was placed on minimizing the need for motor vehicles, filling in empty land rather than sprawling beyond our existing boundaries, regulating the size and general appearance of construction to discourage clashes with existing patterns, and protecting our physical environment. The side effects of these policies were to slow down development and to make our city so attractive that people were willing to pay higher prices to live here. Our first formal plan to encourage "affordable housing" was developed in 1994, but so far the housing market has largely defeated our numerous efforts. The Tidings is right in saying an era has come to an end. The old consensus has gradually been disintegrating because of dissatisfaction about growing housing density, unwelcome changes resulting even from slow growth, and inability to manipulate the housing market to provide more moderate priced housing. Unfortunately, people who want our city government to solve our problems immediately, but have yet to develop a realistic new consensus to accomplish it have replaced our leaders who agreed with the old consensus. The word "progressive" has been used by some of these new leaders; I guess if I had to give the new era a name, it would be "The Era of Progressive Confusion." Don Laws Ashland Current Comments: Bingo Don. You hit the nail on the head. Add to that more confusion caused by certain members of the council trying to micro-manage city departments and you have the whole picture. Linda - Ashland, OR - October 3rd, 1:59 PM With all due respect, "old consensus" sounds a little like "good 'ole boys" decision-making (gender reference not withstanding)- some good decisions were made back then and admittedly some mistakes as well. New blood and new ideas in local government can be labeled "progressive" but in reality is simply moving forward. Good things can come of new involvement and talent, and yes, once in a while a mistake will also be made. That's not necessarily "confusion." It's just change. Clarence - Ashland, OR - October 3rd, 2:15 PM Nicely put, Don, and benefitting from your long history of Ashland watching. We are certainly entering what appears to be a new era of increasingly shrill debate and little to show for it. Don't suppose you would consider a Write-in candidacy, would you :)? George Kramer - Ashland, OR - October 3rd, 2:28 PM Finally! A sensible voice in the wilderness. Thanks for all you did (and do) for our community, Don. David - Ashland, OR - October 3rd, 2:31 PM Finally, some adults. Bill Bartlett ( [email protected] ) - Ashland, OR - October 3rd, 5:29 PM Don, I also admire your service on behalf of the people of Ashland.But it's important that we view our history clearly. Did your loss to Cathy Shaw in the 80's feel like the "old consensus"? Did Alan DeBoer's loss to Cathy in the 90's confirm that consensus as well? Do you remember the hard and bitter battles over the meals tax, open space and the hillside ordinance? Did your unopposed run for council years ago demonstrate consensus? Does Hardesty's unopposed run today reflect consensus now? Bill Street - Ashland - October 4th, 6:53 AM Mr. Street, yes there was contention during Mayors Shaw and DeBoer tenures, as in Medaris' before. But in those days, as Don states, things like hillside and meals tax went through a process and, once a decision was made, the Council and others supported it. There was open discussion, debate when needed, compromise, and finally decision. All may not have agreed with the result, but welcome to democracy. The coffee klatch elite trying to pack Council is hardly about open process. enough - ashland, or - October 4th, 7:15 AM If you are interested, I have posted a lengthy comment on this issue on the Tidings "Forum" under the title of Ashland's Progessive Confusion. enough - ashland, or - October 4th, 8:12 AM Haven't always agreed with you Don, but you are a good man and a very dedicated hard working public servant,thank-you for years of service. And thank you for supporting Alan Deboer.He and his family are fine people and they deserve better treatment the have gotten.Thank you Alan. I'm ashamed of the abuse I've seen you receive.Years ago when Lee Iaccoca was asked to run for President,I remember he told us that he wouldn't do that to his family.I was too young then and didn't understand.I see now. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - October 8th, 11:57 AM Mr Street: You seem to have confused consensus with alliances. We now have alliances created behind closed doors with the objective of leaving citizens out of the process. The open space, hillside ordinance and meals tax were negotiated through public hearings or decided by ballot measure. Now they are decided by you and others behind closed doors and fed directly to those same participants on the council skipping the public input process. If that is consensus, it is of very limited scope. vision - Ashland, Or - October 8th, 10:22 PM Mr.Vision: You appear to have confused me with someone else.I'm the Ashland High librarian. Who are you? What do you and Mr. Enough have to hide? Bill Street - Ashland - October 9th, 9:49 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.