Oregon Governments Supress Landslide Info that Impacts Homeowners
A shocking article appeared in The Sunday Oregonian summarizing how the State of Oregon has suppressed information concerning landslide predictions made by state geologists in order to appease local governments - over concerns of land development - that the negative reports could impact property values.
The Oregonian reported that Gail Achterman, chairwoman of the Oregon Transportation Commission - who also heads the taskforce on landslide risk stated:
The hard policy decisions have simply not been made…It’s easier to do nothing and wait for FEMA to bail you out.
The report was first generated in response to fatal landslides that occurred in 1996. The state has done nothing to inform would-be property and home owners in high risk areas. The Oregonian states that one reason for this was the Measure 37 debate. Measure 37 allows property owners to require local government to waive regulations imposed after a property purchase that would reduce the value of the property, or to financially compensate the property owner.
The Oregon legislature and local governments demonized Measure 37 for a variety of ills and successfully put on the ballot and passed Measure 49 to remove many of the rights restored to property owners in Oregon by Measure 37.
A sad part of living in the state of Oregon is that the initiative system - known as the Oregon System, established with great foresight by the 1902 electorate - is a necessity for Oregon voters to maintain control of their state despite the legislature and state bureaucracies. That the legislature or state or local governments would suppress this information about landslides - which affect high value properties where individuals build homes - is beyond offensive. While highly politicized groups suggest curtailing the initiative process - this sort of suppression is exactly why the initiative process has been enshrined as the most progressive form of government.
Important Links
