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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us November 30, 2005 GUEST FORUM Has the planning commission has lost its way? By George Kramer Kramer & Company Ashland A minority of the Ashland Planning Commission has recently “discovered” that infill, Ashland’s decades-old practice of encouraging increased density within developed areas as opposed to low-density sprawl that destroys our surrounding hillsides, is not a formal city “policy.” They suggest that infill be re-evaluated to determine if it remains in the city’s best interest. This is not to say these folks believe we ought expand our Urban Growth Boundary for the first time in Ashland’s history so that we might actually control development of hillsides that is now governed by Jackson County (although that concept that might actually have some merit). Instead, their goal appears to be some sort of misguided gate closing based on the perceived limits of Ashland’s “carrying capacity.” Please. One commissioner would actually encourage the city to challenge Oregon Land Use Law so that prim little Ashland can simply say “thank you, no” to growth. Perhaps we can dedicate the profits from AFN to the ensuing legal challenges. I appreciate the individuals who are willing to devote their time and energy to serve on city commissions and I recognize that it is an often difficult and thankless task. In this case, I commend these commissioners for at least attempting to cleave a policy issue from the day-to-day applications that are legally governed by our existing Land Development Ordinance. Such separation isn’t always the case in recent months. But to even suggest ditching infill is so counter to Ashland’s traditional (and shockingly successful) approach to growth, common sense and everything that communities have learned about what is called Smart Growth in the post-sprawl era, that I am simply stunned anyone who plays a formal role in Ashland’s future would ponder the question in public. I am disappointed that the commission may actually consider the pursuit of this issue. It’s not as if the the Ashland Planning Commission has huge gaps in its schedule and needs something to fill its agenda. I encourage the quiet majority of Ashland’s Planning Commission to quickly and formally reaffirm infill as the city’s policy and move on to any number of the truly serious issues that Ashland’s planning process faces. If the planning commission is unable to act in this manner, the city council should quickly step into the void before any more time is wasted on this issue. Be suspicious, mindful of Teflon dangers By Patti Morey Ashland Many people are unaware of the fact that Teflon and all nonstick cookware, when heated, creates fumes that kill birds. There are tens of thousands of Web sites on-line pertaining to this topic. The fumes do not decay but hang about the dwelling until they are gradually displaced by air. They are attracted to electricity, especially exposed wiring behind wall outlets.. I learned of this inadvertently, back in 1998, after stumbling into China’s military technology Web sites, “CDSTIC” and “CETIN.” (Note the rather insidious acronyms) Those sites have since been secured and access is now forbidden. However, I did print several pages and, should anyone wish to see them, I shall be happy to unearth them. At the time, I was researching “hydrogen plasma lasers,” a term which I’d overheard, and being naturally curious, researched. Only a couple of sites had popped up on Google, and though the second site was obviously in a foreign language, I checked it out. There was a long list in Chinese, with English words in parenthesis. Words such as, “mass destruction weapon,” “handheld laser weapon,” “hydrogen plasma laser,” and “electrobacteria.” I’d never heard of electrobacteria, and intrigued because it was mentioned parenthetically in conjunction with military warfare, I did a Google search. Only one site existed at that time— a gentleman described that Teflon and nonstick coatings are made with electrobacteria (”nanobacteria”), and that he was about to be sued by the DuPont Corporation for saying so. His site has since vanished, and now there are several obviously planted deterrent “wacko” sites. The CDSTIC list had also parenthetically listed agrobacteria radiobacteri, which have rendered the penicillins all but useless. I researched this and wrote a Tidings editorial about it several years ago. People used to take birds with them into the coal mines. If the bird died, they knew it was time to get out. Teflon and other brands of nonstick are today incorporated into just about everything: plastics, clothing, carpeting, bedding, upholstery, drapes, fabrics. I don’t know how we can persist with using nonstick substances, given the knowledge that it kills birds. This knowledge is freely available to all who take the time to look for it. For starters, enter “Teflon” and “birds” into any search engine. Letters to the Editor and Guest Forums 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. Submissions cannot have run in any other publication. Letters are limited to 250 words, Guest Forums are limited to 600 words , and may be edited for length, content and clarity. 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