Comments on: Without Just Compensation

By: hill

hill — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 08:25:58 +0000

The problem in Oregon is that these Marxists are so entrenched that even good people we elect, are stonewalled, marginalized, converted or driven out of Salem. I know of a well organized but very small grass roots group of constitutionally adept folks on a mission to educate the citizenry, and challenge corrupt law. It, and like organizations could be very effective over the long haul. How much time do we have?
I personally feel the state’s private property tax is wrong.

By: Max

Max — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:37:45 +0000

In large part, this is why I sold my last place. One of the things that attracted me to my former property was the large lot with a hillside back yard that ended with Vermont Creek (a tributary of Fanno Creek) flowing across the very bottom of the property. For a number of years, I managed the area for wildlife; permitting a small forest to grow back there and allowing snags to stand as wildlife habitat. Over 120 species of birds alone used the area, and even beaver moved in (requiring me to take steps to protect certain of the trees from their attentions).

Then one fine day, Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services sent me about five pounds of dead tree material, informing me that they had placed an “environmental overlay” on my “sensitive” property. They went on to note that as a result of the overlay, I was prohibited from planting any non-native species within fifty feet of the creek.

Vegetable gardens, of course, are composed entirely of non-native species – as was my lawn, which extended in some places to within fifteen feet of the banks of the creek. These were now illegal, as evidently they knew better how to manage my own land than did I.

Over the next few years, they extended the overlay to such an extent that when the elevated deck on the back of the house needed replacement, I was told to submit renderings and $1200 to BES, who would then decide whether or not I could replace the deck. That was rather the final straw for me; I submitted no drawings and no money – I just went ahead and replaced the deck.

Immediately thereafter, I put the place up for sale, selected a new site that I was fairly sure would not be subject to BES overlayment, and moved.

By: Patrick Joubert Conlon

Patrick Joubert Conlon — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:29:20 +0000

This is a tricky subject. Obviously some real estate is “common” but the problem is that Marxists take advantage of the compromise between “privatum” and “publicum.” I thought California was bad but, after 5 years here, I’m beginning to think we’re worse. The Marxists are pretty upfront (and obnoxious) in Cali but they’re well disguised as ordinary human beings in Oregon and damn sneaky.