Portland's Stimson Lumber Fights Measure 49, Says "Tim-ber!" To Their Integrity

Oregonians In Action, the Tigard-based organization that sponsored Measure 37 (a.k.a. Oregon's land-use holocaust), can now count a Portland-based company tied to the building industry as its largest contributor in the fight against Measure 49, the initiative on next month's ballot that would restore a few of the key land use provisions.

Portland's Stimson Lumber has donated $200,000 to the campaign against 49. They are eyeing subdivisions and strip malls to be built on Oregon's precious farmland and forests. Stimson also has Measure 37 claims involving about 57,000 acres.

Waiting in my email in-box this morning after reading the article was a letter to the editor that architect Stuart Emmons has sent to the paper, which I wanted to pass on:

I call on 2000 people who love Oregon to get out your checkbook right now and write a $100 check to ‘Yes on 49’ to negate this self-serving, Oregon-damaging contribution. I am in Oregon because it is a place that cherishes its unparalleled natural beauty and tries to develop responsibly. Talented, creative people and sustainable, forward-thinking businesses locate here because of our quality of life, brought on by a tradition of respect for our natural heritage. Unfortunately, there are, and will always be, short sighted people who are comfortable trashing our beautiful state with sprawl, asphalt and billboards. We just need to respectfully continue to say no to those who support a decline in our quality of life.

If any of you feel the same about Oregon's land use laws, the sheer unadulterated horror of Measure 37 and the worthiness of even a weak Measure 49 fix, and most of all want to give Stimson Lumber an earful, their telephone number is 503-222-1676.

Comments

[ilie]

Great article, I'm always happy to hear when others are rightfully outraged towards such fraudulent "contributions". Looking through the state contribution files, I found that many other timber companies have also given large chunks of money. I'll be posting on that today at measure37watch.com - come take a look.

[Joe]

You can contribute $50 as an individual to a political campaign and receive it back as a tax credit in the State of Oregon. I did this for the YES on 49 campaign.

[Micheal Wilbon]

Oregonians and policy makers for years have been pushing ever increasing regulations on the forest industry. It is now by far the most regulated industry in the nation and in Oregon. These regulations directly affect the profit margins of growing trees throughout the northwest. Now some timber companies are looking for other avenues to make money. With the weak housing market and the lumber market at a 16 year low, things are looking bleak. I dont blame Stimson one bit for exploring this option. Its time Oregonians made a choice, live with forest management i.e. clearcuts, which do grow back with trees, or development of some of these urban fringe areas. These areas are plagued by vandals, illegal dumping, and trespass, making for ever increasing cost of management. I dont recall any outcries as urban sprawl has been slowly swallowing forest and farmland out towards Hillsboro and Cornelius Pass. It is just another case of the big bad timber companies, they can do no good, whether they are supplying materials for homes or land for homes.