gdp's Comments

KATU - Portland, OR : Audit finds fringe benefits spike for TriMet employees | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic W

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 01:25:08 +0000

Margu, Why are you trying to taint the messenger John Charles? He is 100% accurate. Go look at the audit yourself. "That’s adding apples, oranges and grapefruits together to get a completely unreasonable number,” said Neil McFarlane, TriMet’s general manager McFarlane is trying to cover up his own audit? That "adding" and "unreasonable number" is directly from the TriMet's own independent audit. Page 26 http://www.trimet.org/pdfs/publications/financial... It's unethical to mischaracterize or cover up the fiscal crisis at TriMet. As for the employee benefits, there is room for them to take a big cut and still be near the highest of all transit agencies and far above most other public and private benefits. Since the union knowingly participated in the malfeseance of deal making without the funding they are on the hook for suffering some of the consequences. Elect better union leaders and stop giving money to the lousy politicians who make these deals with you.

KATU - Portland, OR : Audit finds fringe benefits spike for TriMet employees | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic W

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 15:44:55 +0000

Crystal clear here. The union knew all along they were getting enormous fringe benefits that were NOT funded. They continued to support the politicians who looked the other way and continue to preserve the status quo of Light Rail and subsidized development. The union could come clean NOW and oppose the horrific Milwaukie Light Rail that will take reckless misappropriation to a new level. But all we hear is crickets from the union. The hypocrites. You want your benfeits? The get out there and help stop the $1.8 billion Milwaukie Light Rail. Sitting around while it all collapses is not working.

KATU - Portland, OR : Residents demand highway redo no matter the cost | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 03:12:45 +0000

"According to the state, it was an honest mistake " I wonder if they've ever made an honest mistake of adding lanes? Now that is funny.

KATU - Portland, OR : Sheriff blames crime increase on MAX line | Clackamas News

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:58:49 +0000

RSCConsulting The 61 to 134 arrests was only for one major store. There were many more of course. The store security also reported that. Yes CC has had a satellite pricinct at the Mall for along time. Yes many of the suspects do say they rode the MAX line to Clackamas Town Center. But more important is that crime county wide has droped every year for the last five years and has risen only in the MAX area. The crime pattern speaks for itself. The Sheriff has been thorough and utilized nationally proven methods as he works to continue growing the police presence on and around MAX. Unfortunatley the incompetent CC commissioners who are enamored with light rail are forever misppropriating revenue whic the Sheriff needs. TriMat is also not cooperating as Wa and Clack Co. would like. The State, Counties, Cities, Metro and TriMet cannot afford to pay the $1.4 BILLION, plus interest, to extend MAX to Milwaukie. The combined State and local shares will exceed $1 Billion. All of which will be taken from tax money already flowing to basic services including education and public saftey. The public never voted to approve or allow this.

KATU - Portland, OR : Sheriff blames crime increase on MAX line | Clackamas News

Wed, 9 Jun 2010 19:43:30 +0000

stclair001, Don't be silly. And try and pay attention and grasp what is happening. Tri-met is building these light rail lines under false presences. In doing so TriMet has put the agency deep into growing debt, slashed bus service, raised rates and made additional commitments they cannot keep. I don't blame you for not having been aware of this grave situation. The press has been completely negligent in their reporting. TriMet is unwilling and incapable of adequately addressing the crime problem. But they also stubbornly refusing to allow the real police to handle that role. It has been proven that enhanced real police presence would be a big help. Instead of Trimet paying for transit police without guns or training, TriMet should grant that funding to police agencies and let them handle it right. The Sheriff is simply reporting reality. Crime has dropped county wide each of the last 5 years. It increased only in the MAX area. TriMet is an obstacle to solutions while making the problem worse with more MAX which no one can afford.

KATU - Portland, OR : Sheriff blames crime increase on MAX line | Clackamas News

Wed, 9 Jun 2010 18:25:56 +0000

MAX is an insane waste of money perpetrated by agenda driven bureaucrats duping public officials. They have completely corrupted the due diligence process and replaced with a process of tax funded activist's deceit. The State, Counties, Cities, Metro and TriMet cannot afford to pay the $1.4 BILLION, plus interest, to extend MAX to Milwaukie. The combined State and local shares will exceed $1 Billion. All of which will be taken from tax money already flowing to basic services including education and public saftey. The public never voted to approve or allow this. The crime problem is just one of many other detriments the TriMet board is neglecting to consider as they fail to perform the due diligence they are charged with providing. The Milwaukiie Light Rail project must be suspended now.

KATU - Portland, OR : Sheriff blames crime increase on MAX line | Clackamas News

Wed, 9 Jun 2010 18:25:19 +0000

KATU left out that crime has dropped county wide each of the last 5 years but increased only in the MAX area. The Sheriff is spot on. Sex offender/burglar uses MAX http://clackamas.katu.com/content/police-nab-man-... Contrast the Sheriff's work with TriMet who propagandizes ever step of adding more light rail. When the 205/Green Line plan was advancing TriMet was saying MAX would "spur development around the Mall and along 82nd". Never was there any mention of additional spending to do the so called "spurring". 2 two weeks after the final MAX Green Line funding had been was approved Clackamas County Commissioners approved a $25 million Urban Renewal/TIF expansion for the Clackamas Town Center. MAX increased crime and TIF reduced the funding for law enforcement. . Get wise to TIF here http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:TI... Also the "61 arrests over five months but this year, during the same five months, there have been 134 arrests." was for arrests in only ONE of the major stores at CTC.