Monday, October 17, 2011

CA and NY drop out of bad deal to let banksters off the hook


Is Oregon still participating in the proposed '50-state' settlement regarding abuses of the law by banks in mortgage securitization?  Rolling Stone reports that it's a bad deal for Florida since the Sunshine State is estimated to have lost 62 billion, and since the entire 50-state settlement is now set to 20 billion total, I am very curious as to what Oregon's estimated losses are due to this particular kind of bank fraud.

Especially of interest is the use of the commercial firm MERS instead of properly registering transactions locally. How much did Oregon's counties lose in taxes through bypassing Oregon law regarding transaction reporting?

Now that New York and California have pulled out, I hope the state of Oregon will also consider how paltry our slice of that 20 billion might be.

Sincerely yours,

Clackablog


(Any answer from the Oregon Attorney General's office, to whom this message was sent today, will be posted here).

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Park Ave Forum on Wednesday

Dear Members and Friends of the Oak Lodge Community Council,

A reminder that the Park Ave Forum will meet this coming Wednesday evening, from 6:00 to 6:45 pm at Rose Villa's Fellowship Hall located at 13505 SE River Road.

The purpose of the Forum is to provide those with interests in the area near the intersection of Park Ave and McLoughlin Blvd with current, accurate information on the variety of happenings taking place, as well as providing a place for neighbors to meet with neighbors.  All community members are welcome.

The regular monthly meeting of the Oak Lodge Community Council will take place immediately afterwards, in the same location, from 7 to 9 pm, and again, all are welcome. 

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Saturday, July 09, 2011

Thursday night the 21st, discuss your tax dollars at work

07-07-11


Media and Interested Parties


Open House on projects for regional transportation funding set for July 21

Clackamas County and the cities of Happy Valley, Milwaukie, West Linn and Lake Oswego are proposing six potential transportation improvement projects to be considered for funding with flexible federal funds administered by Metro. 

The limited amount of funds – approximately $3 million for Clackamas County – must be spent on projects that benefit pedestrian, bicycle and freight movement.  The money will be available in 2014-15.  More information about the program is available from Metro and by clicking here.

“This is a wonderful opportunity,” said County Commission Chair Charlotte Lehan, “to improve travel options for our residents that promote sustainable communities and a healthy lifestyle.  I’m also pleased that we are keeping freight movement, which is so important to our business community, at the top of our priority list.”

Proposed projects for Clackamas County and its urban cities will be available for review and comment at a public open house set for 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 21, at the County’s Development Services Building, 150 Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, OR 97045.  

People are also welcome to comment by email or regular mail to Transportation Planning Supervisor Karen Buehrig atkarenb@co.clackamas.or.us or at the Development Services Building in Oregon City.  Comments will be accepted through Thursday, July 21.

The six proposed projects (listed in alphabetical order) are:

·        82nd Avenue Boulevard between Monterey and Sunnyside; sponsored by Oregon Department of Transportation and Clackamas County -- Add median treatments, sidewalks, bike lanes, street lighting and bus shelters.  Request:  $2.969 million of the estimated $6 million of improvements

·        Boones Ferry Road/Lake Grove Town Center Multi-Modal Improvements; sponsored by City of Lake Oswego – Reconstruct cross-section of Boones Ferry Road from Kruse Way to Madrona, adding bike lanes, sidewalks, planting strips, mid-block pedestrian crossings and a greenstreet median to treat stormwater.  Request:  $1.5 million for preliminary engineering.

·        I-205 Multi-Use Trail; sponsored by City of West Linn – Improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility from 10th St/Salamo Rd in West Linn to 11th St/Main St in Oregon City.  Request:  $1.55 million for project development and construction.

·        Mt. Scott Creek Trail Extension; sponsored by City of Happy Valley and North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District – Create a safe, alternate pedestrian route from the trail/footbridge west of 122nd/129th Ave, west to Southern Lites Park, south under Sunnyside Rd to Mt. Talbert Nature Park.  Request:  $180,000 for project development and design.

·        Regional Freight Intelligent Transportation System Project; sponsored by Clackamas County – Improve freight mobility in congested subareas of the Clackamas Industrial Area with improved signal equipment, signal timing and minor roadway improvements.  Request:  $790,000 for development and construction.

·        SE 17th Avenue Multi-Use Regional Trail Connection; sponsored by City of Milwaukie, North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District, Metro – Construct a trail on the west side of SE 17th Ave to connect the Trolley Trail and Springwater Corridor.  Request:  $3 million, to complete the $3.4 million project.

The projects, which are in various stages of planning, were proposed by individual jurisdictions, and reviewed and moved forward by the Clackamas Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC), with input from the Regional Freight Advisory Committee and the Clackamas County Pedestrian/Bicycle Advisory Committee.  Recommendations on which projects to fund will be made by the County and cities. The final decision will be made at the regional level.

More information is available here or by contacting Clackamas County Transportation Planning Supervisor Karen Buehrig atkarenb@co.clackamas.or.us or 503-742-4683.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Free Haircuts in Jennings Lodge, tomorrow and Friday

The Supercuts on SE McLoughlin across from Roake's and Buster's offers free haircuts to men and women. They have 6 stylists that need to be trained.  Thursday 9 to 4. Friday 9 to 3:45. If you have any questions call at 503-654-5534.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Your Lives Were At Risk, He Was Asleep At The Switch

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/05/post_86.html reveals the supervisor at Portland's Bureau of Emergency Communications did not know how to activate a reverse 9-1-1 phone system that could have warned nearby residents last week of chemical fumes escaping from Precision Castparts, according to a city review of what went wrong.

The BOEC supervisor on duty contacted the wrong bureau to activate the system. The supervisor contacted the Portland Police Bureau to put in place its Portland Emergency Notification System, but that system became defunct in July 2009, the city analysis showed.

The BOEC supervisor was not aware that Portland's new FirstCall system was activated in December 2010, under the oversight of Portland's Office of Emergency Management.

The incident started Wednesday with a power outage at Precision Castparts, located where boundaries for Milwaukie, Portland and unincorporated Clackamas County converge on Southeast Johnson Creek Boulevard.

After the electricity went out, the company switched to a backup generator but was unable to power up the pollution-control equipment, resulting in release of a cloud that consisted of hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid fumes and nitrogen dioxide, according to incident reports and DEQ officials.

"During the incident there was a lack of adequate and clear communication between the multiple agencies as it related to the community notification system,'' the city's analysis said. 

Further, BOEC and Portland's Office of Emergency Management lacked clear written protocols for activating the new FirstCall system. The system is managed by POEM and the Portland Water Bureau. When activated, it can notify residents in a geographic area through published land line phone numbers, unpublished numbers, cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses that residents allow into the system.

The emergency management bureau tested the system in the Johnson Creek area of Southeast Portland on April 27. But the final approval of the warning system is not scheduled to be adopted by the City Council until the end of June, city reports show.

The analysis found that additional training is needed on the new system and the steps to activate it. Training will be provided to BOEC and Portland's public safety and emergency response bureaus. 

In the wake of last week's incident, city policy has been updated to clarify procedures for activating the reverse 9-1-1 system. Requests for activation must now be coordinated through POEM, via the POEM duty officer or POEM director. BOEC will also now come up with internal protocols for its use and activation, according to the city analysis.

The city also tonight released a time line of what occurred last Wednesday night, showing that by the time officials figured out who was responsible for activating the system, it was too late.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

It's free haircut time, April 20-22

It's free haircut time in Jennings Lodge again, with two stylists in class this week: 
  • Wed. 2:30 to 4. 
  • Thurs 9 to 4.  
  • Friday 9 to 3:45. 
Please call if you have questions.  503-654-5534

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Pending vacancy, Enhanced Law Enforcement District Advisory Committee

There will be a vacancy soon on the Enhanced Law Enforcement District Citizen Advisory Committee of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

It represents the various geographic and demographic interests of the district and provides the sheriff with advice concerning the operational policies, service priorities and service levels within the district.  Now, it meets on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM on odd months at the Public Safety Training Center, 12700 SE 82nd Avenue in Clackamas.

The District was approved by voters in the November 1994 general election and became effective July 1, 1995. Its purpose is to increase the level of sheriff's patrols in the district to meet the increased demand of urban Clackamas County. It serves approximately 85,000 residents in the unincorporated areas of Clackamas County within the Urban Growth Boundary, and the city of Johnson City.


Taxpayers within the district pay an additional tax assessment, and receive additional patrol services. The amount of the assessment and the number of added patrol cars varies based on Oregon Ballot Measures which reduce assessments based on what other service districts the voters approve; for example, if a new Parks and Recreation assessment is approved, the ELED assessment is reduced.

For more information, here's a presentation at http://bit.ly/eled-ppt.

The formal notice of vacancy will be posted at http://www.clackamas.us/citizenin/app.jsp

Consolidate 'club cards' into one master card

Just One Club Card makes a card, double-sided, with barcodes for up to eight different stores.
Type in the barcode number for each of the cards you now have, then choose its store. If it's for a store not listed (they have 200-plus), e-mail the site owner to get it added, but don't ask about Blockbuster since their barcode is also your account number. As the developer notes, "best not to be shooting those around the Internet." In other words, he takes security seriously.
Click Create your card to see, review, print, cut, fold, and stick in your wallet. Less wallet clutter is good.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Free Haircut Time in Jennings Lodge

UPDATE: It ended. 
Stay tuned to this blog for the next time, typically in two weeks.

It's haircut time, with 2 stylists that need haircut models, in Jennings Lodge
  • Wed 4-13:  2 to 4.  
  • Thu 4-14: 9 to 4. 
  • Fri 4-15: 9 to 3:45.  
This does NOT happen every week, only on specified days.

If you have questions call 503-xxx-xxxx

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Huge Identity Theft and You

So, this careless outfit, Epsilon, let a huge amount of identity data get stolen.  It ignored warnings months ago. It's already appearing in identity theft, says the Better Business Bureau. Here's a partial list of corporations who gave your data to such a careless outfit, instead of protecting it by doing the job themselves:


1800-Flowers
Abe Books, Air Miles CA, Ameriprise Financial
Barclays Bank of Delaware, Beachbody, Bebe Stores Inc., Benefit Cosmetics, BestBuy, Brookstone
Capital One, Charter Communications, Chase, Citibank, City Market, The College Board, Crucial.com
Dell Australia, Dillons, Disney Vacations
Eurosport/Soccer.com, Eddie Bauer
Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s
Hilton Honors, The Home Shopping Network
Jay C, JP Morgan Chase
King Soopers, Kroger
LL Bean
Marks & Spencer (UK), Marriott Rewards, McKinsey Quarterly, Moneygram
New York & Co.
QFC
Ralphs, Red Roof Inns Inc., Ritz Carlton, Robert Half
Smith Brands
Target, TD Ameritrade, TIAA-CREF, TiVO
US Bank
Verizon, Viking River Cruises
Walgreens, World Financial Network National Bank


So, have you ever given your data to any of those outfits? You might want to consider sending an e-mail, something like this:
1. I understand you gave my personal information to Epsilon, who lost it.
2. The Federal Trade Commission says: “The law makes clear that even if you hire another company to handle your email marketing, you can’t contract away your legal responsibility to comply with the law. Both the company whose product is promoted in the message and the company that actually sends the message may be held legally responsible.”
3. The CAN-Spam Act of 2003 says such transgressions can cost $16,000 per violation.
4. Therefore, I want to know what privacy protection [INSERT NAME OF COMPANY HERE] will offer to alleviate the risk you exposed me to.
Who knows, might help you get in on the inevitable class action lawsuit, or at least get you identity theft monitoring.


Might also be time to change your e-mail address, which you can get free from mail.google.com (they will provide you free forwarding ((POP and IMAP both)) to your real e-mail address with your ISP, so you can keep your real e-mail address private while providing a consistent e-mail address for everyone else to use).


And, take the advice of State Attorney General John Kroger (no relation) do NOT answer ANY e-mail from any outfit asking for more info which they ought to already have.

Can a refrigerator be like a subprime mortgage home?

Robert X. Cringely explains how Home Depot and GE have bundled one poor sucker's refrigerator warranty, just like subprime mortgages were bundled, and now the warranty holder is denying service.  Sound familiar?

Looks like a reason to avoid LG, GE, and Home Depot, all in one.

And, if you are wondering which stranger just called your home, enter their Caller ID data at http://whocalled.us and look them up. Isn't perfect, as the same scallawags who ignore the FTC Do Not Call listings can 'spoof' their Caller ID to masquerade as someone other than a phone spammmer, but somethin's better than nuthin'.

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

We Should Get a Vote on Urban Renewal - Petition Signature Gathering Process

More people are needed to help gather signatures in the  Vote on Urban Renewal - Petition Signature Gathering Process.

John Williams Jr., one of the chief petitioners, will be happy to answer any of your questions along this line.  You can contact John via email at  john.williams38@comcast.net or by phone at: (503) 657-2868

If you aren’t necessarily interested in gathering signatures but just want to sign the petition, stop by the entrance to the Gladstone DMV building at 10 82nd Avenue.  Laurie Grooman is there with petitions most weekdays from about 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

To be successful, a campaign like this also requires monetary donations for signs, literature, etc. Donation details can be found on the website:


Once enough valid signatures are turned in to the County Elections office a measure will be placed on a future ballot that, if passed, would require a vote of the people in Clackamas County on the creation of future County Urban Renewal Districts and their related Tax Increment Financing schemes (URD/TIF).  Currently the County Commissioners have the authority to create a Clackamas County Urban Renewal District and to issue bonds to fund their pet projects without a vote of the people.  That includes the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail project!  

Requiring a vote on money issues seems to be the only recourse we, the Public, have to voice our opinion now days.  Step up to the plate, people, and assist with the signature gathering process, give a donation and also thank those who have had enough courage to take a stand directly in front of the TRAIN.

Feel free to forward this email to other interested people. 

Here are the Technical Ballot Title Details of the Petition:

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 Reply
 Forward
 Invite Thelma Haggenmiller to chat

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Calendar of Public Meetings: April 2011

Calendar of Public Meetings: April 2011

Monday the 4th, 6:30 PM Light Rail design update and discussion at Rose Villa Fellowship Hall.

Tuesday the 5th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.

Wednesday the 6th, 10:00 AM OLCC Board Work Session at the Oak Grove Fire Station
                                     6:00 PM OLSD Preliminary Budget Committee meeting at Board offices.
                                     7:00 PM Traffic Safety Commission meets at DSB on Beavercreek Rd.

Thursday the 7th, 10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB on Kaen Rd.
                                  5:30 PM North Clackamas Parks and Rec District Advisory Board
                                     Budget Committee meets at DSB.
                                  6:45 PM C-4 meets at DSB.
                                  7:00 PM NC12 Board meets at District offices.

Saturday the 9th, 3-6 PM State Redistricting meeting at Clackamas Community College.

Tuesday the 12th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.
                                6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Board monthly meeting at Board offices.
                                7:00 PM North Clackamas Planning Assoc. meets at Bilquist School.
                                7:00 PM NC12 Budget Committee Work Session at District offices.

Wednesday the 13th, 9:30 AM Board of Commissioners Land Use Hearing at PSB.
                                     7-9 PM CIA (Citizens Informed and Aware) meets in
                                     Rose Villa Fellowship Hall 13505 River Rd. Candidates Forum.

Thursday the 14th, 10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.
                                    7:00 PM Historic Review Board meets at the DSB.
                                    7:00 PM NC12 Board meets at District offices.
                                    7:00 PM Oak Lodge History Detectives meet at Oak Grove Fire Station.

Saturday the 16th, 9 AM to 1 PM First Annual Green Day Community Cleanup Core
                                                  Activities at G.I. Joe’s more information call 503.650.4892

Monday the 18th, 7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.

Tuesday the 19th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.
                                5:30 PM Oak Lodge Water District Budget Committee meets at 
                                               District offices with Board meeting to follow.
                                7:00 PM County Committee for Citizen Involvement meets at DSB.

Thursday the 21st, 10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.

Monday the 25th, 6:30 PM County Planning Commission meets at DSB on Beavercreek Rd.

Tuesday the 26th, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners study session at Board offices.
                              5:30 PM NCCWC Budget Committee meets at the plant with Board meeting to follow.
                              7:00 PM Jennings Lodge CPO meets at Homewoods Heights.
                              7:00 PM NC12 Budget Committee Work Session at District offices.

Wednesday the 27th, 4:00 PM N. Clackamas Park Stewardship Committee at the Milwaukie Center.
                                   7:00 PM Oak Lodge Community Council meets at Rose Villa.

Thursday the 28th, 10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.


Note meeting times and places may change so data should be confirmed in advance.

Darker Side of Groupon

Take a look at http://posiescafe.com/wp/?p=316 for an explanation of the pitfalls of businesses and Groupon.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

See who you vote for next month

CITIZENS INFORMED and AWARE (CIA)
CANDIDATES FORUM
SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT POSITIONS
in the UPCOMING MAY ELECTION

The CIA Forum Starts at 7:00 pm         Wednesday, April 13, 2011

In the Fellowship Hall at Rose Villa Senior Living Community
13505 SE River Road              in   Oak Grove, OR
It is OK to park on either side of River Road or in the corner lot at River Rd. and Torbank Av.
(Please do not park on Rose Villa’s property West of River Road.)

=======================================
We have extended an invitation to the Candidates who have filed for available elected positions on the Board of Directors of the Special Service Districts that serve the Oak Grove, Jennings Lodge, Oatfield Ridge and North Clackamas areas of Unincorporated North Clackamas County.

Those Districts are the Oak Lodge Sanitary District (OLSD), the Oak Lodge Water District (OLWD), the Clackamas County Fire District #1 (CCFD), the North Clackamas School District #12 (NCSD) and the Clackamas River Water District (CRW).

This Public Forum provides an opportunity for you to meet these people and to hear their views on the issues they will face in their respective positions, if elected.

Rose Villa, being a not-for-profit facility/organization, does not permit political campaign literature or signs to be brought onto their property.  The candidates have been asked to honor this policy.  They may distribute those things off site from their vehicle before and after the Forum.

If there are Land Use Issues to be discussed by the OLCC (Oak Lodge Community Council), a Special Land Use Meeting will be held at Rose Villa after the close of the CIA meeting.  The Special Land Use Meeting will not start before 8:30 PM.

==========================================

Please feel free to pass this Email along to your neighbors, friends and relatives and to share this information with other Citizens who might be interested in, not only the CIA Programs, but other events / activities and issues that affect the Greater Oak Lodge Community.

Questions may be directed to CIA Program and Logistics Coordinator - Thelma Haggenmiller at       thelma.haggenmiller@msn.com      or     503/659-5590.
If you have a Specific Topic you would either like to hear a report on or give a report on please contact Thelma.

We want to be sure this email is being delivered only to Interested Citizens.  If, at any time, you need to change your email address or want to be removed from this email distribution list please send such a reply to Thelma. 
============================================

 There are many other UPCOMING Activities / Events / Meetings
and Projects of Interest to the Greater Oak Lodge Community


  • Monday, April 4, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Public meeting regarding the Ongoing Design of the Tacoma, downtown Milwaukie and Park Avenue stations, the Kellog Creek Light Rail Bridge and project connections to the Trolley Trail.
Location – The Fellowship Hall at Rose Villa Senior Living Community
13505 SE River Road in Oak Grove, OR
Following a brief update on design progress since March, staff will take questions and comments.

  • Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 7:00 pm
The Oak Lodge History Detectives (OLHD) presents “Tracking Local History Through Architecture”
Location – The Oak Grove Fire Station   2930 SE Oak Grove Blvd.
The presenter will be Jane Morrison, a Jennings Lodge neighbor and founding member of Portland's Architectural Heritage Center speaking on how the houses in our neighborhoods tell stories about the area's past.  Bring photos of the architectural details of your own older or historic home for her comments.  See, and learn how to date them by types and period.
Need More information?
Contact Pat Kennedy at 503-653-6553 or at kennedy503@q.com

  • BE INVOLVED - Saturday, April 16, 2011 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
First Annual Green Day Community Cleanup and Related Activities
Core activities are centered at the former (GI) Joe’s site on McLoughlin Blvd. at Concord Road.
There are lots of different ways to participate and lots of things going on.  The Green Day Activities will be followed by volunteer care and feeding.  For details and involvement in this great, new Community project please contact Leah Robbins by Email at leahnjimmy@comcast.net or Home – 503/650-4892 or Cell – 503/957-9030

  • Monday, April 25, 2011 at 7:00 pm
MAP (McLoughlin Area Plan) committee meeting
For location / details – contact Dave Queener – Clackamas County Project Staff

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Regular Meeting of the Jennings Lodge CPO (Community Planning Organization)
Location – Homewood Heights Assisted Living Center
17999 SE River Rd. in Jennings Lodge OR.      All are welcome.
The Regular JLCPO meetings are scheduled for the fourth Tuesday of each month except the Nov/Dec meetings are combined.

  • Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 6:00 to 6:45 pm
Park Avenue Neighbors and Community Forum
A monthly series to provide community members with a consistent forum where we can more fully understand and participate in the variety of activities that are converging on Park Ave - Tri-Met's Light Rail station, the MAP Committee, the TGM grant, the Trolley Trail, and the Nature in Neighborhoods grant.
  • Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Regular Meeting of the OLCC (Oak Lodge Community Council)
Location – The Fellowship Hall at Rose Villa Senior Living Community
13505 SE River Road in Oak Grove, OR                    All are welcome.
You can follow the OLCC via their website – www.oaklodgecpo.org
The Regular OLCC meetings are scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of each month except Nov/Dec meetings are combined.
Special OLCC meetings may be scheduled at other times/locations.

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