Something unscrupulous media has been known to do is try to slip something past readers, citizens of their communities, in an effort to push forward an agenda that a majority in the community might oppose. Other times it might be a small sliver of truth in an agenda driven article, buried deep in the article with hopes that busy people will just read a biased headline and maybe skim the first part of the article.
Some claim they are not biased because there is that hint of truth in an otherwise heavily biased article, all too often missed or overlooked by readers.
And other times a quote is included in what might otherwise be considered an unrelated article that actually sheds light on another matter citizens of a community should be made aware of.
There is just such a little quip contained in the October 23, 2013 Lazy C article, Ridgefield mayor faces write-in candidate, announcing Tim Wilson stepping up to run against Mayor Ron Onslow, who was previously running unopposed.
Wilson’s reason given is that Onslow’s “vote with the C-Tran board pushed me over the edge a little bit.”
Ron Onslow was one of five who voted to enter into a binding contract with TriMet to fund their light rail extension into our community at a special meeting, Sep. 26, 2013, presumably sight unseen by any Board members.
As you can see and hear from the Oct. 8, 2013 Board meeting, no one is able to answer Commissioner Madore that they actually saw the hastily drawn up 40 page contract that was approved by resolution and signed the very next morning and apparently with several parts that likely will prove very detrimental to our community.
Yet, buried in the article announcing Tim Wilson’s entrance into the Ridgefield Mayor’s race as a write-in candidate, we read,
“As an alternate on the C-Tran board, Onslow doesn’t usually vote. La Center Mayor Jim Irish represents his city and Ridgefield on the board. Irish was out of town and could not attend the Sept. 26 C-Tran meeting. He and Onslow discussed the contract before the meeting and agreed to vote in favor of it, Onslow said.”
As can be seen in the video clip, Mayor Onslow is not present and La Center Mayor Jim Irish has returned, but does not answer when asked if any had seen the contract.
So this begs the question, did Onslow and Irish receive copies of the contract to look over prior to the meeting that other board members did not?
If so, is that not corruption on the part of those who wish to force Portland’s financially troubled light into our community against the wishes of the people, since it was not made available to all board members?
And if they had not received a copy of the contract, just what is it they discussed and agreed to vote for prior to the meeting?
Did they just agree to blindly vote yes without seeing or knowing just what was actually in that contract?
If so, is that not incompetence?
As attorney Tom Wolfendale explained it, Oregon’s TriMet was not receptive and refused to negotiate a clause allow either party to terminate the contract without penalty. As signed now, should we citizens succeed in stopping this madness, it may cost taxpayers $5 Million in penalties to be awarded to TriMet.
Were Onslow and Irish aware of that omission? Or any of the other portions not favorable to Clark County?
As was addressed in the post Mayor Leavitt and C-Tran Declare Jihad, TriMet pulled a similar stunt on the people of Clackamas County Oregon, completely nullifying the vote of the people and forcing their light rail onto them through the courts.
And they have now succeeded in doing the very same thing to Clark County Washington through the votes of the C-Tran Gang of Five, Vancouver mayor Tim Leavitt, Vancouver City Council members Bart Hansen and Larry Smith, Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart and Ridgefield Mayor Ron Onslow, voting on behalf of La Center Mayor Jim Irish, who agrees with the vote.
These five, six if you wish to include Jim Irish, sold you out. They approved a contract that they either did not see first or was only shared with a few, in violation of how a Board is supposed to operate.
I can’t see any other explanation for this other than outright corruption or incompetence, or both.
And Onslow’s reward? Bombastic 49th Legislative District Representative Jim “sue your constituents to invalidate their vote” Moeller calling for eliminating C-Tran service out in your community.
If Moeller gets his way, you will stop seeing bus service out in your community, but you will not be exempted from paying for Oregon’s choo choo train.
Ridgefield, you deserve better. If for no other reason than this, you should write in Tim Wilson and let Ron Onslow know you do not appreciate his act on Sep. 26, 2013.
Vancouver should follow suit and kick Tim ‘The Liar” Leavitt out on his bum too.
It’s time to take back your communities from these special interest sell-outs and return the community to a government of the people, by the people and for the people, not for special interests.
