Published in the Gazette-Times on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008

Bicycle-club events

keep members busy

In response to Elizabeth Dewey’s letter of Sept. 1 regarding the sharrows vs. bike lanes, the City Council will decide the issue. This letter seeks to inform the public about the Mid-Valley Bicycle Club.

The club has more than 300 members, and 65 percent or more are still employed or in school. Last year, club-sanctioned miles in and around Corvallis more than 111,000.

Over the years the club has been concerned with bicycle education. Last year the club made a $20,000 contribution to an endowment fund to support classes, which include classroom and guided rides, in both the Corvallis and Albany public schools. Further, two club members lead bicycle diversion classes for roadway infractions. Attendees can avoid the fine and keep their record clean.

Every year the club sponsors the Covered Bridge Ride. Almost five hundred riders from the Northwest and beyond rode in this event this year. Most of the proceeds go to bicycle education through the Bicycle Transportation Alliance.

Other club events include regular weekly rides, the annual Loop Tour (a 500-mile tour in Oregon), and the annual Crater Lake Rim ride. Each spring MVBC supports the Ride of Silence, commemorating those injured in bicycle accidents.

Incidentally, I would note that of the 45 letters submitted about the 10th Street controversy, 25 were from nonmembers of the club.

Jim Gau

Corvallis

President of Mid-Valley Bicycle Club

Business-fee effort

hasn’t included CIBA

In Wednesday’s article on the opposition by the Corvallis Independent Business Alliance to the City of Corvallis’ proposed business license fee, the reporter states that members of CIBA serve on the stakeholders committee that is deciding how to implement the fee. This is incorrect.

In a memorandum dated May 26, the city finance director directed the Administrative Services Committee to include CIBA members on the stakeholders committee, and the names of two of CIBA’s board of directors willing to serve on the committee were forwarded to the mayor by July 7. The mayor chose not to appoint any CIBA member in time for the first stakeholders meeting on July 24.

Bill York, the chairman of the stakeholders committee, now feels it is “too late” to add any new members to the committee despite complaints from CIBA leadership that retailers and small manufacturers are not being represented. The actions of the mayor and the committee chair collectively suggest that the city is not especially interested in the local business community’s opinions on how best to fund economic development.

Kate Lindburg

Corvallis

McCain, Obama have different views

We are now 56 days from voting for the next president. While there are a number of candidates running for office, there are really only two serious contenders: Barack Obama and John McCain. They each have different views on issues:

The Economy: McCain doesn’t think there is a problem with the economy, and his economic advisor enabled the Enron scandal and the sub-prime mortgage fiasco. Obama at least acknowledges the economic problems of the United States even if he hasn’t gone into detail about how to turn it around. There are pros and cons to this approach.

Energy: McCain believes in drill here, drill now, which doesn’t solve our energy crisis and certainly won’t make the United States energy-independent. He also supports nuclear power, when we don’t have any way to safely dispose of the poisonous waste. Obama is proposing a broad approach, which includes seeking out alternative energy solutions.

Health Care: McCain says everyone has health care; it is called emergency rooms. Obama has a health-care plan that includes lower costs for everyone who currently has health insurance, insurance for everyone who works, with Medicaid for everyone else.

Taxes: McCain wants tax cuts for the rich when our country is more in debt than ever before. Obama will cut taxes for those who earn below $250,000 while raising them for those who earn more.

Foreign Policy: McCain operates on the Bush doctrine; bully, threaten and bomb. Obama wishes to engage in diplomacy.

Jeffery K. McGonagill

Corvallis

Pit bulls deserve a chance; blame owners for bad behavior

I just wanted to agree with Brian Cooke’s letter “Don’t judge dogs by their looks” (Sept. 2). We adopted a puppy last Christmas at Heartland Humane Society that our kids fell in love with at first sight. She is obviously a pit-mix and is the sweetest, most-friendly dog ever.

I have to admit that I had a little trepidation about adopting a puppy with pit in her, but she has proven to me that with love and proper care, a dog will thrive and be good. Owners are the ones to blame for aggressive or bad-behaving dogs. We like to say that our puppy looks like a “spotted rain forest piglet,” but if she is a pit-mix, that is fine, too! I am sorry that Brian and his family were denied a dog solely on looks.

Alexis Spakoski

Corvallis

Give ‘family values,’

Palin’s daughter a rest

Question: Why should Sarah Palin’s daughter’s teenage pregnancy become an issue in this year’s presidential campaign?

Answer: Because all of us have been subjected to an endless noise of often-shrill moral self-righteousness about “family values” for what feels like decades. Please give us all a rest.

Douglas Walker

Corvallis

McCain has experience,

will lead effectively

Sen. John McCain has a great amount of experience to offer as a presidential candidate. He has served in the House of Representatives and now the Senate. He has 26 years of congressional experience.

He has worked effectively with Democrats, independents and Republicans to help our country. He seeks smaller government while recognizing a greater strength of government by the people, the American citizens. He is against pork-barrel funding and he is a strong supporter of individual rights.

He has the integrity and wisdom needed to be president of the United States. As an example, he has chosen a running mate who is a breath of fresh air and is a example of the kind of leadership we need to lead our country. Just look at her record as governor of Alaska.

That is the kind of leadership we can expect from John McCain as our leader.

McCain and Palin will shake up Washington and move this country forward.

John Wilder

Corvallis