Christie, Robyn From: Richard Benedetti [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 10:03 AM To: Council Distribution Subject: No on LO to Portland Streetcar Categories: Blue Category We would like to emphatically state that we are against the LO to Portland streetcar project. We have read all the pros and cons and feel that it is a project that will not live up to its expectations. Not many of Tri-Met's projects have. That being said, we simply feel it is too expensive, is not needed and may bring more crime to LO. LO has more on its plate that it can now handle. With the WEB building, Foothills project, water project, sewer project and Lake Grove Village plan, the resources of the city are stretched far enough as it is. The city should concentrate on these projects rather than take on the streetcar project that we feel is not a must have. The police and 911 people need new facilities, the schools are in trouble and the city hall needs remodeling or the city personnel moved to the WEB. There is just too much needed that will have a return and not an ambiguous return like the streetcar. We will watch to see how each of the council votes on this. Again we are against it. We have not talked to any of our neighbors that support the streetcar project. Richard and Annette Benedetti Christie, Robyn From: Richard Benedetti [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 10:02 AM To: [email protected] Cc: Christie, Robyn Subject: No on LO to Portland Streetcar Categories: Blue Category We would like to emphatically state that we are against the LO to Portland streetcar project. We have read all the pros and cons and feel that it is a project that will not live up to its expectations. Not many of Tri-Met's projects have. That being said, we simply feel it is too expensive, is not needed and may bring more crime to LO. LO has more on its plate that it can now handle. With the WEB building, Foothills project, water project, sewer project and Lake Grove Village plan, the resources of the city are stretched far enough as it is. The city should concentrate on these projects rather than take on the streetcar project that we feel is not a must have. The police and 911 people need new facilities, the schools are in trouble and the city hall needs remodeling or the city personnel moved to the WEB. There is just too much needed that will have a return and not an ambiguous return like the streetcar. We will watch to see how each of the council votes on this. Again we are against it. We have not talked to any of our neighbors that support the streetcar project. Richard and Annette Benedetti Christie, Robyn From: Sheri MacDowell [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 9:41 AM To: Council Distribution Subject: Comprehensive Plan-too much control-City too heavy handed -a poor case to completely change LO Categories: Blue Category I am very concerned that this whole process has been done in a very deceitful way. I encourage you all to do your own research on individuals and NGA's that have been the driving force behind this since 2006. http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/plan/Sustainability/City_Sustainability_Plan/L O%2 0Sustainability%20Plan%20Appendix%20Final%2011-21-07.pdf. 1. Non-elected boards and counsels control local development and implement smart growth as far back as 2006 & 2007 2. Public input meetings planted with people that have been specifically trained to create a solution for a problem that does not exist. (at an accelerated rate) using methods like "backcasting" and "storytelling" (found these through research) Ask yourself , "Why is convincing the city to buy or do what it does not need, being pushed so hard? 3. Hoards of outsiders who are dictating policy in our community. 3. Public meetings run by trained and highly paid facilitators whose job is to "CONTROL THE MEETING AND BRING IT TO A PRE-PLANNED CONCLUSION. " E.G., NATURAL STEPS, Kittelson & Associates, Cogan Owens Cogan. , Other influences include:S.C.O.R.E., Zero Waste Alliance, Sustainable Oregon Schools, Global Zen, Tranformagents (a training program offered through THE NATURAL STEPS to select individuals), American Planning Association,Triple Bottom Line, Eartheal, WIlliamette Womens Democrats, to name a few. Why are so many organizations involved? The people that are "positioned" and are "in the know" stand to make serious financial gain if all of this is passed. 4. Entire agencies created for the sole purpose of telling cites (not just LO) what they can and cannot do. 5. Propaganda- We Heart LO, Next Stop Lake Oswego, Railvolution, the constant adds with pictures in the LO Review. Who is the financial backer of all of this? The videos with all the smiley people and happy children. If it's that hard to sell us on it, it's probably not a good thing. Where is the truth? 6. LO Community Vision for 2035. This vision frightening because it implies that every aspect of our lives will be planned, controlled and regulated. With words and phrases like: social fabric, cultural identity, cultural assets, intellectual capital (see below) I don't even understand what these things mean? Once this is passed it will be the blueprint for our beautiful little city. Thats why it is being pushed for so hard. It's the master key that opens all doors. It will become the basis for EVERYTHING. Just like the Sustainability Plan completed in 2006-2007. Lake Oswego Community Vision for 2035 AKA Conversion to Soft Socialism through the Sustainability Justification 12/20/10 Vision Validation Draft partial statements below: employment districts, and diverse services and activities are accessible to all. ( I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT A DIVERSE SERVICE OR A DIVERSE ACTIVITY IS? COULD BE ANYTHING) The built environment is designed to protect, enhance and be integrated with natural systems. What does this mean? Tree houses? Too subjective. promote the health and social interaction of our residents. (IT IS NOT THE CITIES JOB TO PROMOTE MY HEALTH OR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS!) Our educational, cultural and recreational opportunities strengthen the social fabric of the community. (AGAIN, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?) A CONNECTED COMMUNITY ( CONNECTED TO WHAT?) We have safe, efficient and convenient transportation choices. (except cars) There are frequent and reliable public transportation options that make it easy to move around our city and the region. (unless if you are in a car )( I think it's pretty easy already to move around our city) Pathways, sidewalks, roadways and bike routes encourage residents of all neighborhoods to walk and bike safely. ( JUST HOW WILL THE CITY ENCOURAGE US TO WALK AND BIKE? FINES? GPA'S ON ALL CARS? OPPS, ACCORDING TO THIS THERE IS NO PLAN FOR CARS) THIS WHOLE STATEMENTS SOUNDS LIKE ITS TALKING ABOUT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CITY THAN LO. I guess thats why the word CULTURE is used over and over in this Vision. By sharing the example of our successes and our active engagement with other metropolitan area governments, we help preserve the region’s quality of life and Lake Oswego’s unique place in it. (AND LAKE OSWEGO'S PLACE IN IT??) Will we be controlled by Portland and METRO?? Sounds like we will have no independence from surrounding cities? public safety response systems that work together with an involved community to ensure peace and safety. (How ABOUT THE CITY TAKES CHARGE OF SAFETY AND THEN I CAN HAVE PEACE ALL ON MY OWN?) or will we follow Portland's example and call our Police Officers "Peace Keepers"??? PUBLIC SAFETY Easily‐available foods from local community gardens and farmers’ markets support healthy nutrition. Will community gardens be mandated and food controlled? (will chocolate be allowed? ) (A CITY NEEDS TO HAVE THIS IN A PUBLIC SAFETY STATEMENT?) How about letting the free market take care of that one? So let me get this straight. The city of LO will be in charge of what type and where we get our food,maybe how and where we grow it?, healthy nutrition, our transportation, our social interactions, our cultural identity, our intellectual capital, our water, our land use, the size of homes, cultural assets, diverse services,diverse activities, the kind of trees and plants we and are allowed to plant and how much of our own land we can use and what we are allowed to use it for. It sounds like heaven. It's so exciting to be on the cutting edge of socialism. Isn't it? And all in the name of sustainable, sustainability that will be sustained. I feel so warm and righteous. I just know our population numbers and going to increase. The plan states it, so it must be true. I have one question? Will the streetcar provide transportation to and from the Re-Eduction facility? That ,of course is a joke. But if this is allowed to turn into more of a snowball than it already is, there will be no stopping it and Lake Oswego will be at the point of no return. What we do as a city will be dictated by outsiders. And we will foot the bill. I'm all for recycle, re-use and taking care of our land. I am not for making the environment the center of public life. If a regular pea brain person like myself can't read something like this draft and have a basic understanding of what this means, then it is poorly written.