Print publication: Monday, Aug. 5
The utility of Uber
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Regarding the editorial "Tech biz vs. Portland's taxis" (Aug. 2): I use Uber's smartphone app in Seattle. I live in Portland, but work four days a week, every week, in downtown Seattle.
I fly in, so I have no car. Taxi drivers don't see me waving, and they don't come when I call. With Uber, it's not just town cars, either. I typically request a Prius. Uber displays the nearby cars on a moving map on my smartphone, and when I request one, I get the ETA, a photo, the name of the driver and the license plate number. When I arrive, I hop out, say "Thank you and goodbye," and Uber automatically charges my credit card. I get an email receipt in my inbox immediately.
My Seattle co-workers who commute to Portland always rent cars. The MAX doesn't go everywhere, and hailing taxis is just time-consuming. Give Portland Uber.
CHRISTINE SWAN
Southwest Portland
Timber counties
Regarding the article "Forest plan clears committee" (Aug. 1): A bill pushed by three Oregon congressmen would dramatically increase logging in western Oregon forests and send more federal bailout bucks to rural Oregon counties that have repeatedly refused to help themselves.
Less than three months ago, voters in Josephine and Curry counties again rejected property tax increases to pay for services, despite the fact that property owners in those counties already pay far less in taxes than what the rest of us pay. Many "timber county" homes are taxed at well under half of what an equivalent-value home is taxed in the Portland area.
Until citizens in those counties are willing to pay at least a moderate share of their own costs, I oppose sending them more money and cutting down more trees.
GENE GREER
Beaverton
Portland sidewalks
The definition of "sidewalk" in the Encarta World English Dictionary is "a paved path for pedestrians alongside a street."
Straightforward, correct? The word "pedestrians" means a path not to be used by bicycles, skateboarders and, of course, those I-have-a-right campers, many of whom were lured here by the Portland magnet for drug use and passive justice that we the taxpayers pay.
The historic planners of sidewalks in Portland left us an amazing gift that should be only for those walking, whether locally, on business or holidaying. Remove threatening fast-moving objects like bikes or skateboarders (thank you, former commissioner, now mayor). You know so well, city leadership, that local businesses downtown pay taxes that support education and job development. Clean the sidewalks and streets so more companies will generate that revenue.
When was the last time you took your family or friends downtown on the streets of Portland?
City leadership, stop side-stepping the issue. Change the law(s), or explain to us why you can't, to make this city a welcome port of call. You are losing our trust.
From us on the outside, it would seem straightforward.
GARY MANSAVAGE
Northwest Portland
Government surveillance
I believe that the government tracking phone calls is wrong. A simple cost-benefit analysis shows some reasons why. The benefit is that they might find a terrorist attack and stop it (I'm sure more are stopped by other means, anyway). But several drawbacks exist.
One is cost. It costs a lot to track and store phone calls, and the government could do something more productive with that money.
Also, suppose the government became corrupt and we needed to stage a revolution (a random scenario, but possible). With this power, the government could stop us from protecting ourselves.
The biggest drawback, though, is privacy. There is a limit to how far the government should snoop in our business. For example, I would not want a random stranger listening in on a conversation between me and my best friend.
In all, there are more drawbacks than benefits to tracking phone calls, and the government should stop.
DAVID COHOE
North Portland
Cohoe will be in 11th grade this year.
Jeff Cogen
Regarding the article "Cogen says criminal check will clear him" (Aug. 2): When Multnomah County Chairman Jeff Cogen leaves office, and he will, he will have learned a political reality. Poor judgment in one area implies the possibility of poor judgment in all areas.
Regardless of the outcome of the investigation and whether he did or did not violate any laws or policies, he will never again have the public's confidence.
He certainly had many examples from which to learn this lesson, but perhaps the old adage is true: "Experience keeps a hard school, but some will learn in no other."
KAREN MAYFIELD
Southeast Portland
School supplies
It's that time of year. Parents with long lists of school supplies are running around all the stores looking for prices they can afford for their kids. So here's a suggestion:
How about the school districts using their buying power to purchase all items on the list the parents get. Set aside a couple of days and enough space somewhere to have multiple volunteers come in and prepare individual "boxes" of those supplies, per student, and make them available for parents to buy at cost, plus 10 percent for "handling."
Think of the amount of fuel (and fuel costs) saved alone.
SANDIE JANSEN
Oregon City
College boards
The recent announcement by Oregon State University President Ed Ray that the university will be welcoming a new institutional board is great news ("Oregon State University opts to get its own board just like UO, PSU," OregonLive.com, July 30).
Adding the firepower of a group of leaders from across the state and its diverse sectors will make OSU better able to fulfill its role as the only land-grant institution in Oregon, with a mission to provide opportunity to all the state's residents.
The new board will play a pivotal role in making this goal a reality.
RUTH BEYER
Lake Oswego