

On this day, July 9, 1921, during the boom times of the 1920s, the Montgomery Ward building opened in NW Portland. It has since been converted to office space and is now known as Montgomery Park.
Also on this day, July 9, 1945, a THIRD big Tillamook fire occurred near the Salmonberry River, and was joined two days later by a second blaze on the Wilson River, started by a discarded cigarette. This fire burned 180,000 acres before it was put out. The cause of the blaze on the Salmonberry River was mysterious, and many believed it had been set by an incendiary balloon launched by the Japanese, and brought to Oregon by the jet stream.
Also on this day, July 9, 1811, a party of the Montreal-based North West Company employees led by David Thompson in 1807, the British began land-based operations and opened trading posts throughout the region. Thompson extensively explored the Columbia River watershed. While at the junction of Columbia and Snake Rivers, he erected a pole on with a notice stating "Know hereby that this country is claimed by Great Britain as part of its territories"
Calls out “failures of the Governor and her Democrat Supermajorityâ€
Representative David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) calls out the failures of the Governor and her Democrat Supermajority to get resources to Oregonians that need them and condemns the purely political fanfare of a Special Session as their hail mary attempt to cover up their disasters in leadership.
“Republicans have solved this issue more than once for Oregonians, with nearly $360 million dollars allocated that includes over $70 million to administration costs for dollars to get to tenants and landlords†said Rep. Brock Smith. “The failure of the Governor’s Oregon Housing and Community Services Department to get these resources out the door is reminiscent of her disastrous Employment Department and their failure to get needed checks to workers that lost their jobs due to her closing businesses and industries in Oregon.â€
There are a number of budgetary items on the list for a Special Meeting tomorrow (Saturday) to be heard by a Special Committee appointed by the Speaker and Senate President, to then come to a Monday Special Session. The ONLY piece that needs legislation is the extension of the Eviction Moratorium.
“Extending the eviction moratorium is unnecessary and disruptiveâ€, said Rep. Brock Smith. “Contrary to the Governor’s recent maskless escapades back east, she’s currently directing her agencies to draft permanent mask rules. Oregonians are ready to move forward, get back to work and grow our economies, they are not fans of the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ mentality. There is no need for a special session and legislation to extend the moratorium as everyone to date that has applied for relief are in the que and if eligible for rental assistance, are covered. The other needed resources for drought relief, illegal cannabis enforcement and additional rent assistance dollars can be allocated through the Legislative Emergency Board that can meet at any time.â€
“Businesses continue to be crippled by a lack of workforce and data from other states clearly shows that an end to their eviction moratoriums had evictions lower than pre-pandemic numbers. An extension will only increase existing fraud within the system, hasten inflation, perpetuate a lack of workforce and add to the looming recession facing Oregon. What we need is Oregonians to have the ability to get back to work, not this political posturing by the Governor and her Democrats. The Speaker’s Gubernatorial campaign doesn’t need another headline of broken promises. In fact, if the Legislature is going to allocate more resources to help renters and landlords, they should give them to Gubernatorial Candidate, State Treasurer Read. He would definitely get them out to Oregonians with the proper information and he could surely use a headline.â€
--Staff ReportsPost Date: 2021-12-11 06:20:47 | |