Lane County news--
Lane County Public Health officials have confirmed a second case of measles on Monday, May 28, 2007 after the person infected had direct contact with the first case.
Lane County health officials have identified three places and times of contact for the second case.
" 10 p.m. until the end of the Brother Ali concert on Tuesday, May 29 at the Wow Hall
Midnight to 2 a.m.,
Wednesday, May 30 at Jamison's Bar in downtown Eugene
Between 6-7 p.m.,
Wednesday evening, May 30 at the Sushi Station on Fifth Street. "
Additionally, public health officials have identified the following times and places where members of the public could have been in contact with the first case.
" Flew into Eugene on United flight 6406 from San Francisco on Tuesday, May 22.
Safeway on 18th between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. (in Flowers and Check Out only) on Tuesday, May 22.
Shoji’s Restaurant between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 22.
Went to Sundance Natural Food Store between 6:35 p.m. and 6:50 p.m., Sunday, May 27. "
Lane County Public Health (LCPH) is interviewing anyone who had direct contact or who was in the same area at the time of the infectious persons.
LCPH is asking that if you were at those places and times, to...
#1 check your immunization records for vaccination against measles
#2 determine if you had the measles in the past AND
#3 call Lane County Public Health at 682-4041
Remember, if you have a fever and rash and think that you may have the measles, immediately call your healthcare provider. DO NOT GO TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM, PUBLIC HEALTH OR URGENT CARE in order to limit exposure to other people.
Lane County Public Health holds immunization clinics every Wednesday morning from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Lane County news--
Lane County health officials have received confirmation that a 21 year-old Lane County resident has tested positive for the measles virus.
" “We’ve been working together to identify those who may have had contact with this individual and to determine their immunization status,” said Betsy Meredith, Lane County Public Health."
Early symptoms a cough, red eyes that are sensitive to light, fever, and runny nose for several days before they develop a rash which usually begins 3-4 days after the first symptoms and begins in the face, behind the ears and the neck. You may also have a fever as high as 104°.
If you suspect that you have the measles, call your doctor or health care provider immediately! DO NOT GO TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM, PUBLIC-HEALTH OR URGENT CARE as a person that is infected with the measles is contagious for four days before and four days after the rash appears.
Additionally,If you flew into Eugene on flight 6406 from San Francisco on Tuesday, May 22, please contact Public Health officials at 682-4041.
Register Guard--
The Eugene city Council on Thursday voted to raise the city's gas tax by three cents a gallon by a 6-2 vote to generate more money to repair the city's "bumpiest, potholed filled" streets, bringing the total that motorists would pay for taxes to 50.4 cents per gallon.
" Councilor Chris Pryor said the council will explore three other ways to produce more money for streets, namely a property tax levy that would need to be approved by voters and a parking tax on homes and businesses that wouldn't need voter approval. "
Portland attorney and lobbyist for the Oregon petroleum Association Paul Romain told counselors before the vote that if they passed the tax increase, his group would launch a signature gathering drive to asked residents to vote on the latest increase or possibly on the entire tax.
an extra tax for our driveway? Isn't our driveway part of our property taxes that we pay every year? Isn't that double taxation? Would you be charged differently if you have a single car driveway are a double car driveway?
When is this craziness going to end?
It is definitely past time for recalls.
Lars Larson has presented audio in transcripts of senators Grassley's top 15 reasons the current immigration reform plan is flawed.
(here is a summary of a few of them, the rest are available at{Lars Larson}--
-- Probationary benefits not subject to the trigger (work auth, protection from
removal, ssn, granted to illegal aliens immediately even if background
check is not complete)...
-- Many criminal provisions may be waived for elig purposes. falsely
claiming u.s. citizenship...even tho its a crime...
-- Background checks taken to lightly...
-- The illegals protected from removal...
-- TERRORISTS AND CRIMINALS can apply for probate status... even if there is an order for REMOVAL or in custody. Now 600,000 who have defied orders...
-- Only eligible to illegal aliens only...
-- Indefinite renewal to the Z-nonimmigrant visas...
-- NO English requirement...
-- Principal alien pays, however wife and kids are not required..."
This is only a summary, I definitely recommend checking the full transcript and listen to the audio at the following locations.
{Lars Larson.com: Senator Grassley list flaws in immigration Reform}--
KVAL--
By now, anyone who as driven recently on West 11th traveling west has more than likely experienced a set in headlights coming at them head on. It is a drunk driver? Some crazed maniac going the wrong way? No, it is the EmX bus going east in its special two-way dividerless traffic lane.
Don Herbison of LTD states that this stretch of West 11th from Franklin to Mill is the most dangerous.
" "We're heading the wrong way on a one-way street," Herbison explains as we drive. "All the traffic coming from my right, on Ferry Street, if they don't look -- if you look at this van right here. I made eye contact with him. But we've had a couple of incidents where they pull out in front of me. "
The most recent accident between a vehicle and EmX bus occurred Tuesday after a car ran a red light and clip the front of an EmX bus at 11th and Patterson. This makes the fifth accident in just five months. (or an average of one every month for a small fleet of buses)
" "The more and more we grow, the more and more changes we'll have," says Angie Sifuentez of LTD, "and so people need to just be more aware of what's going on, and continue the defensive driving." "
Herbison says the biggest key for drivers is to read the sign said Mark were you can't turn on red, are were you can't pull U turn to stay safe.
It's not something that drivers would normally expect to see is a bus traveling the WRONG WAY on a one-way street in a UNPROTECTED, and in my opinion and not very well marked bus line. Keep in mind that this is the university area, where drivers attention is also focused on a large number of pedestrians and bicycles that are crossing the street and any given time and place.
More importantly, is let's focus on the average of one accident per month especially on this very small fleet of buses.
As the EmX grows through Eugene Springfield on roads that they will share with the public, should these buses be allowed to travel the wrong way on one-way streets?
Personally, I say no. It's confusing enough as it is having these "special" bus lanes that look like a turn lane much less having headlights coming at you the wrong way on a one-way street.
Register Guard--
The Lane County commissioners who will cut about 250 jobs (mostly with the sheriff's Department) has also approved a pay increase for 180 directors, managers, supervisors and nonunion professionals working for the county that will give them an opportunity to earn over time up to $20,000 more a year in salary beginning July 1, with salaries well above the current limits.
Commissioner Bill Fleenor, who joined the board in July, said that he would have voted against the increases.
" I know how hard these people work - I am amazed at the level of dedication of Lane County employees," Fleenor said. "But you can only pay them what you can afford. And the taxpayers have spoken... we have to live within our means "
County officials claim that they must pay well enough to attract and keep quality workers however, the job cuts could also prompt other departures.
"Union President Cheryl Dyer said that "the majority of the current AFSCME employees are here for the benefit," Dyer said. "We are getting older and using it. (The cost of living) has gone up in the last three years, and we haven't seen the net income to keep up with that - there's a lot of give there.""
None of the commissioners on the board in December when the new pay scale was approved could be reached for comment.
"cost of living increase???" How many people in the private sector you know get those.
When I saw the article about the raises, I will admit that on one hand, I was shocked however, on the other hand, I was not a bit surprised; in fact, it would have shocked me more if they didn't.
Robin's Commentary--
There’s been a lot talk about the new proposed immigration bill on the talk show circuit, and it's been interesting listening to the different opinions from hosts like Lars Larson who is against the bill, to Bill O'Reilly who's in favor of the new bill.
Both sides bring up some good arguments for and against the measure. Therefore, I decided to do little bit of cruising on the White House web site and see what they have to say about it.
" Strengthening The Assimilation Of New Immigrants: The proposal declares that English is the language of the United States and calls on the United States Government to preserve and enhance it, as well as enacting accelerated English requirements for many immigrants. In addition, the DHS Office of Citizenship will be expanded to include coordinating assimilation efforts in its mission, and the Education Secretary will make an English instruction program freely available over the Internet. "(a)
I can almost guarantee you that that one will be challenged especially by the ACLU and other immigrant groups. It would not surprise me one bit to see that one eliminated through negotiation of the bill.
" There is a cutoff date for Z visas for people who are undocumented… you're going to have to prove that you're in the country prior to January 1, 2007... try to pretend that I was here prior to January 1, 2007... would be the absolute dumbest thing to do if you ever want to have a prayer of getting any type of benefit under the temporary work program." Said Secretary Chertoff , "we catch a very significant number of people who crossed the border illegally. We now fingerprint them. If you cross the border, we catch you, we fingerprint you, you will never get into this program, because that fingerprint, dated tomorrow or dated a week from now or dated a month from now is going to be conclusive proof that you were not in this country as of the cutoff date; that you broke the law after the cutoff date. And that will take you out of the program for life."(b)
I am glad to see that they address the argument learning from Ronald Reagan's amnesty bill that in theory should prevent a huge influx of people rushing over here to apply for the Z visa. However, I can see a black market developing for the documentation required to show proof that you were here before January 1, 2007.
" If you don't do that, (referring to illegal aliens refusing to participate in the program) you have the same person doing the work, not paying the taxes, maybe stealing someone's identity, and you are perpetuating a system where that person can be victimized," Said Secretary Chertoff , " and we're going to have more raids and more of what we have now. So is it harshly punitive? No. We're not treating this as a capital offense. "(b)
"We're not treating this as a capital offense." Then what would it be treated as? It is already simply a MISDEMEANOR to cross the borders anyways. It is also a FELONY to be deported and reenter the country. The problem is that the law is not taken seriously as proven by how many illegal aliens repeatedly returned to the US after being deported.
" First and foremost, it means that my agents who go out and enforce the law can spend their time looking for drug dealers and gang bangers, instead of maids who are working in hotels. I only have so many agents. I suggest you ask the American people, would you rather have the agent track down a gang banger and a drug dealer, or a maid? I think pretty much all of them will say, let's go get the gang banger and the drug dealer. Said Secretary Chertoff "(b)
Sure, I would like law-enforcement to go after the drug dealers’ whether they're illegal are not illegal or not. However, isn't this still selective enforcement?
· " 3. MYTH: The government will not and cannot meet its promise to crack down on the hiring of illegal workers.
· FACT: Before the Z visa and temporary worker programs go into effect, an Employment Eligibility Verification System (EEVS) must be in place and ready to prevent unauthorized workers from obtaining jobs in the United States.
· FACT: Employers will be required to verify the work eligibility of all employees using the EEVS, and all workers will be required to present stronger and more readily verifiable identification documents. Tough new anti-fraud measures will be implemented to restrict fraud and identity theft.
· FACT: Employers who hire illegal workers will face stiff new criminal and civil penalties. For example, the maximum criminal penalty for a pattern or practice of hiring illegals will increase 25-fold, from $3,000 per alien to $75,000 per alien."(c)
That’s all good and well in theory. We already have a law on the books regarding employers, it's called the INS I-9, and you're already supposed to provide proof that you are "legally" eligible to work in the United States.
The problem is that it is not enforced because we do not have the resources and money for enforcement, and that cities and states (at least Oregon) restrict the police from being allowed to query somebody about their immigration status which I can easily see both sides of the argument.
One side being that we do not want to have a society where the police randomly stop someone on the street and ask to see your papers. However, that would be a legitimate question if you have already been charged with an offense.
So, what happens if illegal aliens and employers refused to cooperate? In addition, there is already a large number of both, so why should they?
This proposal in my opinion will only work if the illegal aliens come forward and register to be in the system and if the government can actually develop the resources and the cooperation of local and state governments to follow through.
Sources cited =
{(a) Fact Sheet: Border Security and Immigration Reform -- Administration And Bipartisan Group Of Senators Reach Bipartisan Agreement On Comprehensive Immigration Reform}--
{(b) Press Briefing on Immigration Reform }--
{(c) Fact Sheet: Border Security and Immigration Reform (Myth/Facts)}--
New York Times--
Senate negotiators announced Thursday that they've reached an agreement on a comprehensive immigration bill that would offer legal status to MOST of the nation's estimated 12,000,000-20,000,000 illegal aliens.
The heart of the immigration legalization program is a new "merit-based system of immigration" intended to make the United States more competitive in a global economy. [i.e. slave labor]
Under the merit-based system, the government would adapt a point system to a value weight the qualifications of people seeking "permission" points to be awarded for job skills, education and English language proficiency.
" Mr. Bush praised the Senate measure, which incorporates many of his ideas, saying, “I really am anxious to sign a comprehensive immigration bill as soon as I possibly can.” "
The bill also includes a temporary worker program, under which 400,000-600,000 foreign workers to be admitted into the country each year.
" The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, offered cautionary words as well, saying: “I have serious concerns about some aspects of this proposal, including the structure of its temporary-worker program and undue limitations on family immigration. We need to improve the bill as it moves through the legislative process.” "
" All workers will suffer because employers will have available a ready pool of labor they can exploit to drive down wages, benefits, health and safety protections and other workplace standards, said John J. Sweeney, president of the A.F.L.-C.I.O.,"
Former Massachusetts Governor and Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, denounced the proposal saying that it was "unfair to the millions of people who applied to legally immigrate to the US"
" "This rewards people who broke the law with permanent legal status, and puts them ahead of millions of law-abiding immigrants waiting to come to America," said Sen. Jim DeMint, South Carolina Republican. "I don't care how you try to spin it, this is amnesty."{Washington Times}-- "
first off, no matter how you label it, we are rewarding 12 million criminals who broke one of our most precious laws, the sanctity of our borders.
Secondly, the argument about separating families, these people knew the risks when they made the CONSCIOUS decision to bypass the current process of immigration to cross the border illegally.
While the immigration process may be "broken", it is the currently enacted law on the books. We do have a system in our "representative" style of governing to change our laws and breaking the law to do it is not one of the options.
One of the arguments in the past has been that there's too many illegal aliens to enforce immigration laws, would we feel the same way about personal crime such as burglaries, car theft, etc. which continue to increase yearly? Would we offer amnesty to the millions of people who committed these crimes based simply on the sheer numbers of people and the possibility of being separated from their families?
Most likely not.
It looks like illegal aliens has managed to accomplish something that other countries have tried to do in the past such as Japan, to invade the United States, and they did it without firing a shot.
The voters in Lane County regarding “public safety tax” sent a very clear message, that we do not want an extra income tax. However, just like the sales tax issue, I don't think that they get it.
Not surprisingly, the Lane County Sheriff's Department once again appears to get the brunt of the 250 proposed job cuts, with 100 deputies from the jail, 20 patrol deputies from police services (does that include the traffic team?) and 50 support staff positions including everything from managers to janitors.(250-170=80)
" Captain Thomas Turner with Lane County Sheriff's Office says, "it will only have to be the major calls the most violent the most aggressive that's about the best we can respond to and in a extremely limited capacity."
At any given time there would only be two deputies and one supervisor covering all of Lane County and the cuts would mean the jail will go from about 75 down to just 25 beds available for local offenders. "{KVAL}--
The Lane County Sheriff's office says that they may later consider going without patrols during certain hours of the day.
remember that next time you see a sheriff's deputy sitting on a side road running radar and remind yourself that several years ago they have decided not to respond to burglar alarms.
Other cuts include about 25% of the jobs that are funded by the county's general fund, 25% of the county's road fund and almost half of the jobs funded by the parks fund.
" Without the federal money or an alternative, Burger said, "Lane County becomes a lot less livable and a lot less safe, said Sheriff Russell Burger" "
(a great message to send out to the Olympics committee for the Summer Olympics trials soon to be held in Eugene)
Voters did pass a by 56% of the vote a 2% cap on future income taxes.
" Our direction is clear," said Commissioner Faye Stewart, board chairman. "Work with the federal government to get funds, and if that doesn't work, we make the cuts and focus on trying to provide the best services we can for the citizens.
…Voter approval of the tax cap means that the board faces a limit of 2 percent on any future county income tax and the money can only go to public safety, said Stewart. That could hinder the county's ability to use any future income taxes to pay for other services. The board had placed this provision in the ballot language to try to assure residents that income taxes would go only to public safety "{Register Guard}-- (which it should have been in the first place)
in other news...
Oregon Legislature's jump on the predicted $152 million surplus.{Register Guard}--
Sources cited...
{Kezi}--
{KVAL}--
{Register Guard}--
{Register Guard}--
