OPINION Vote YES on 9-139 – Bonds to Renovate, Upgrade, Construct and Equip Library Facilities Those who regularly attend cultural events in Central Oregon know a central truth: This region, growing at breakneck speed and poised to welcome tens of thousands more residents in the coming years, is sorely lacking in its indoor cultural facilities. While plenty of public entities could take up the charge to deliver the type of large performing arts and gathering space that the region needs, it is in the Deschutes Public Library that we see the most promise for actually getting one open soon. DPL has already located land upon which it aims to build a facility that will serve not only as the Central Library for Deschutes County—but also as that coveted performing arts space. That is just one reason voters need to vote yes on the library bond this election season.
WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / OCTOBER 15, 2020 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE
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Amid the global pandemic that has resulted in so many shutdowns, we have seen yet another reason to support the upgrades and construction projects that this bond would bring: Libraries are not just places to grab a great read or to rent a movie; they’re also havens of access to information, internet and so many other resources for kids, as well as the region’s most vulnerable. While it’s difficult to see DPL programming and access be so limited at this present moment, that’s not going to be the case forever, and investing in public information and access for the future is the right thing to do. A cost of $68 per year for the homeowner whose home has $200,000 in assessed value is a very small price to pay to foster those noble ends—and to get a performing arts center, to boot. Vote yes for the Deschutes Public Library bond.
Vote YES on 9-135 – City of Bend Bonds for Traffic Flow, East-West Connections, Neighborhood Safety Improvements While the term, “unprecedented times” is thrown around a lot these days regarding the pandemic, it also holds true for the type of growth that Bend is experiencing. Our community had been faced with the incredible task of keeping up with rapid growth before, but the newfound appeal of our community to pandemic-induced telecommuters, emigres from the decline of the big-city lifestyle and COVID-19 induced retirees is straining our infrastructure. The $190 million General Obligation bond on the ballot, some will be surprised to find out, is not going to be nearly enough to keep up with the demands this flood of wideeyed would-be outdoors-people will require. A “no” vote on this measure and the potential for disaster that forestalling infrastructure improvements would cause should not be underestimated. While many of us could commiserate that Bend continues to lose the war on cars by not placing enough in this bond toward transit and alternative modes of transportation, the bond represents what is possible politically at the moment. Keep in mind that after putting all of
the years of work that a bond like this requires to create, two Bend city councilors still couldn’t see their way to putting it forward this election cycle. Thankfully, they were in the minority. And while the economy as a whole is ailing and the pandemic appears to be lingering longer than anyone can fathom, that will not change the fact that the lifestyle refugees are coming, and they need housing, roads and sewers. Voting against will not make this reality go away. We can’t help but say to the property owners who might consider turning this measure down that the cost could have been far less had there been more political will to pass a gas tax when we had the opportunity. (As it stands, this bond to fund needed transportation improvements will cost the average Bend homeowner $170 per year.) For whatever reason, adding a tax on tourists, cars and transportation interests continues to see less favor than taxing property owners. So again, we are left without balance. Bend’s infrastructure needs do not diminish; they only get more expensive. Vote YES on the transportation bond.
