Is Grants Pass "odd"? (Eugene, Ashland: lawyer, relocating, wages)

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Culture_Withdrawal

That sounds like something your grandfather would say.

I've lived all over the country and Grants Pass is by far, the worst place I've ever lived.

I've lived all over the world and this is by far the best place to raise a family and enjoy God's green earth.


freedom

[Cornerguy1]

After carefully reading of Culture_Withdrawls posts, I get the impression that Grant's Pass has been somewhat disappointing for them.

Luckily, everyone is entitled to express their opinion (within the TOS boundaries, of course), just as they are free to move from an area that displeases them.

As one of those yobs whos e experience with Grant's Pass is limited to passing through on the way to the coast, I've always found the place quite acceptable.

[TribalCat]

Originally Posted by Culture_Withdrawal

YES!!! My wife and I were duped by websites like City of Grants Pass : Home and http://www.visitgrantspass.org. Which, from their background image, seems to be run by the same people. Moving here was the biggest mistake of my life! We moved here thinking this would be a perfect location to raise a child…boy, were we dead wrong! We got here and the first thing we learned was there was no library. After a few trips to town, the reason was obvious. Do people read books in this town? Apparently, the good-ole-boys who run this town don’t. Three of the four libraries throughout this backwards county were closed due to lack of county funding. There is obviously no shortage of food, however. I’ve never seen so many fat and disgusting people in one town in my life! Everyone looks dejected here…like they are waiting for Death to knock on their door and save them from their miserable life. I never thought I’d see so many homes for sale in such a small town! Obviously, people who are smart enough get out are doing just that.

Don’t get me wrong, the scenery is beautiful and on the surface, Grants Pass seems like Mayberry. If you set your camera in the right place, you can actually make this town appear attractive. It’s great as long as you don’t point your cameras at the poverty stricken, illiterate drifters begging for money, or the unemployed/unemployable meth attics and teenage single mothers hanging out at the post office, or the shacks that so many people call home here. The river is pretty…pretty loud! Boatnik may take place just once a year, but they practice for this event all Spring by speeding up and down the river in jet boats. This not only wastes expensive gas, but offers noise pollution to the area. For a town that seems to care about the environment, or so they would like you to think, pollution levels here are worse than the very large city from which I came! I cannot even begin to touch upon the fact that my wife can hardly breathe due to the pollution in the area.

It seems to me as though those who run this town are more interested in how the town appears to people passing through in a day than those who choose to make this their home. Grants Pass looks great if you are on your way from I-5 to the coast and stop here for coffee or buy a chachki from one of the useless and extremely overpriced, yet attractive stores on the main strip. Stay here longer than a weekend and you are in for a shotgun blast of truth that will upset every one of your senses. The gap between classes is big enough to drive a logging truck through.

From what I’ve witnessed, nothing gets done around here. If a storm blows down a tree across the road, you better own a chainsaw or find another way to get where you are going. If your house is being robbed by a methamphetamine aficionado to support their daily habit - don’t call 911 - you better own a gun! There is a Starbucks coming here but it’s been two years since they decided to open and protests have crippled any chance of it opening any time soon (they charged for bottled water back in 2001 and the people of this great town have protested ever since). Never mind that substantial economic boost such a large corporate entity could offer the city and county. The people here ignore the fact that such an improvement in the town would not only create great jobs (Starbucks offers medial and dental insurance for part time and full time employees that rivals many larger corporations), but bring a huge amount of revenue to this severely cash strapped part of the state.

However, if you like coffee, you don’t have to look far; there seems to be a Dutch Brothers on every single corner of this wretched town. Hypocrites abound here, little do the townspeople know that Dutch Brothers is a chain store, run in similar fashion as the evil Starbucks (it is just a smaller chain, but a chain all the same). Except, it does not offer insurance and is cheaper to run and, if you have a hundred thousand bucks you can own your very own piece of mediocrity. Even people on welfare and disability drink Dutch Brothers here, which is ironic because not being able to afford food or baby formula doesn’t matter when there are 40 coffee shops in the county.

It’s fine to take your coffee black, just as long as you aren’t. It is not rare to see vehicles adorned with stickers of the Rebel flag with words like “Fear This” beneath it. I was not surprised when I read that Grants Pass (even in the 1960s) was the last town in Oregon that maintained a Sundown Law.

If you like cheap beer, playing in the mud, 16-year olds with babies, paying for coffee with your disability or welfare, smoking meth, looking at unhealthy and overweight people with no teeth, a good-ole-boy mentality, illiterate fundamentalist Christians, religious intolerance, working in retail, Republicans, transients, little or no middle class, zero nightlife, hillbillies, domestic violence, pollution, conservative politics, a 9.2% unemployment rate, racist people, no affordable housing in a civilized area, and bad food – you will love Grants Pass, Oregon! Don’t even think twice if you have a child. I am aghast at the idea of allowing my child to socialize with 99.9% of the people in this town. He has been taught the heralds of acceptance and culture. He would be an outcast here. God forbid, if you are a minority and/or someone with a three-digit IQ, do yourself a favor and look elsewhere for a place to call home!!! We will be moving as soon as possible and will never look back. Please, do not move here if you have any common sense or are under the age of 70.

I guess I have no common sense, because Grants Pass is still on my list, although I am concerned with the hot weather in the Summer, and I have questions about how my allergies would fare there.

[backdrifter]

I simply cannot believe the trash talking being done about Grants Pass. Socially, it is a very nice town these days. Such an improvement in the past 8 years or so. Of course there are the woes of unemployment, meth, the inbred local government/developers, unaffordable housing for the middle and lower classes, the lack of libraries, etc. But all in all, for quality of life, it's a great place. And thank something this town is getting more liberal year by year!

I mean, honestly... What kind of conservative city overrun by fundamentalist Christians allows a theatre to put on a live version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show that sells out and has monthly "Psychic and Holistic Fairs" at the fairgrounds? Not to mention the two New Age stores downtown, the multiple natural foods grocers, and so on. I must also say I ride my bike everywhere in town. It's very bike-friendly if you live anywhere north of the river, though I have to admit that south of the river is becoming a sprawling mess.

As for the library issue, many people WITHIN the city supported the library funding measure, while people in the rest of the county (higher population than just the city) tended to vote against it. Many people in Northern California and Southern Oregon are libertarians and are against taxes of ANY kind and want as little government interference as possible. There are Ron Paul for President stickers on every other bumper sticker and signs in every other yard here. That is the kind of conservative that you'll tend to find here and that may explain some issues.

Socially, culturally, and politically, Grants Pass is a MILLION times better than Medford, Central Point, Roseburg, Klamath Falls, Coos Bay, etc. Grants Pass is no Ashland yet, but it is MUCH better than many places in the country, and even in the local area.

[freedom]

Most of the troubled counties in So. Oregon can be traced back to the extreme enviros suing the industries that provided jobs and gov't dollars for Public safety, Libraries, and parks.

Josephine county is not the only one effected by the broken promises of the Federal gov't. Douglas, Klamath, Jackson, Curry, Lane, counties all have had the rug pulled out from under them.

In Josephine county more than 60% of the property is gov't owned, which for the most part was sustainably harvested timber land, which provided 12-16 million per yr. in revenues to the county gov't.

When enviromental laws were pressed beyond reason the timber industry collapsed, Mills closed, people were put out of work and the local gov't funds were gutted.

No libraries, increased social ills. Thank those that value untouched gov't. land over the quality of life of PEOPLE.........

freedom

[CharBon319]

Originally Posted by freedom

If you own a computer, and are hooked to the world wide web, it is as close as you are to your keyboard.

You would probably have to travel to Medford to their library. I don't know if Rogue River has one or not. It might since it's in Jackson Co. It's too bad the library had to close and all the long time employees lost their jobs. It was mainly due to mismanagement on the part of the acting director, and of course, the commissioners squandering what money they had.

[Culture_Withdrawal]

Originally Posted by freedom

If you own a computer, and are hooked to the world wide web, it is as close as you are to your keyboard.

Computers aren't libraries. Libraries are places to visit to check out a book, where a kid can get whatever book they like and do some quality reading. They also often have activities and encourage people to get out of the house, unplug from their computers, and socialize (with educated people).

Here in Grants Pass, the locals are being asked to raise money to save the library. "Every household and business in Josephine County will receive a yellow envelope from Josephine Community Libraries during the week of June 2. This will be everyone's official invitation to become a founding member of the new library." (Josephine Community Libraries, Inc. - Working to reopen the libraries in Josephine County) This is because they will not look to outside resources for funding. If the people of Grants Pass had the money to start a new library, we wouldn't have lost the old one. They need 50 grand per year to keep it open; I wish them luck...I'm not sticking around to see how it plays out.

On another sad note; along with the loss of the library, I have it on good authority that there just isn't a budget for law enforcement. Cops here are being reduced to one 8-hour shift and the rest will be out of a job. Perhaps someone will start a fund raiser and ask the people of Grants Pass to donate to pay the wages of the local law enforcement.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Culture_Withdrawal

Computers aren't libraries. Libraries are places to visit to check out a book, where a kid can get whatever book they like and do some quality reading. They also often have activities and encourage people to get out of the house, unplug from their computers, and socialize (with educated people).

I/We support dozens of libraries in this county, every single school has a library, the children are not being neglected. Our public schools have summer classes, they have the library available to the children all summer long.
They also have developed other activities in order to fill the gap.

Here in Grants Pass, the locals are being asked to raise money to save the library. "Every household and business in Josephine County will receive a yellow envelope from Josephine Community Libraries during the week of June 2. This will be everyone's official invitation to become a founding member of the new library." (Josephine Community Libraries, Inc. - Working to reopen the libraries in Josephine County) This is because they will not look to outside resources for funding. If the people of Grants Pass had the money to start a new library, we wouldn't have lost the old one. They need 50 grand per year to keep it open; I wish them luck...I'm not sticking around to see how it plays out.

All of the libraries other than city schools, are County funded libraries. The City actually has the money to take over the library in Downtown Grants Pass. They choose to not get involved.
Every library levy has been rejected by the public. So i'm assuming the tax payers don't care to have County funded libraries.

On another sad note; along with the loss of the library, I have it on good authority that there just isn't a budget for law enforcement. Cops here are being reduced to one 8-hour shift and the rest will be out of a job. Perhaps someone will start a fund raiser and ask the people of Grants Pass to donate to pay the wages of the local law enforcement.

Not so, the Budget committee decided that the Sheriffs dept. was more essential than the matching funds of the library, and more important than having a multi million dollar contingency fund, so they increased and hired back 7 more deputies in order to have 24 hr. patrols and a capability of filling the jail, rather than the catch and release program they were forced to impliment.
You are confusing the City police dept. with the County Sheriffs. THe City has plenty of money and a very well trained and fully staffed police force.
The County Sheriffs have issues because the Federal Gov't broke its promise, and allowed Enviro Not-see's to stop every timber harvest off of the O&C timber properties, while refusing to give the land back to the Counties, which would allow them to sell and receive a tax base, in which they could fund County services. THis county is 70% Gov't owned, that's alot of tax revenue that is not available.
The only solution this local gov't has is to raise property tax, which requires the people to vote affirmatively, and that hasn't happened in the last 11 attempts.

We have resources in which we could continue to fund County gov't, but the Enviro lawyers and no growthers will not let that happen. So NO libraries. NOw you know who to thank for that.

freedom

[Culture_Withdrawal]

EnviroNazi or “Enviro Not-see” – I’ve seen you use that term elsewhere on this forum and it’s disconcerting. Basically you are saying that this county depends on funding from timber and is hard pressed to survive without it. Josephine County is literally addicted to Oregon & California timber money and/or federal timber replacement revenues. Without this O&C timber money, this county is cut off at the knees. A good question to ask would be – how long have the county commissioners known this funding would dry up and what did they do to prepare for this situation? Another good (and perhaps more on topic) question to ask would be – why bother moving to a county that is dependant upon an industry that is not allowed to operate?

The City actually has the money to take over the library in Downtown Grants Pass. They choose to not get involved… So NO libraries. NOw you know who to thank for that.

You are making my point about this place, Freedom…thank you for making it so clear.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Culture_Withdrawal

EnviroNazi or “Enviro Not-see” – I’ve seen you use that term elsewhere on this forum and it’s disconcerting. Basically you are saying that this county depends on funding from timber and is hard pressed to survive without it. Josephine County is literally addicted to Oregon & California timber money and/or federal timber replacement revenues. Without this O&C timber money, this county is cut off at the knees. A good question to ask would be – how long have the county commissioners known this funding would dry up and what did they do to prepare for this situation? Another good (and perhaps more on topic) question to ask would be – why bother moving to a county that is dependant upon an industry that is not allowed to operate?

You are making my point about this place, Freedom…thank you for making it so clear.

It shouldn't be disconcerting, Extreme Enviros do not see the consequences of their actions on the human race. We have more trees in Oregon than when it was first settled. We have better more efficient ways of harvesting and producing timber products without waste. The Enviro lawyers have crippled a thriving industry and put many out of work and gutted the treasury of most So. Oregon Counties.
They also are on the attack of residential and commercial development, which also limits the tax payers desire to become more independent of the counties timber resources.
We are addicted to breathing air as well, i don't recommend stopping its use.

Transitions are usually painful. Many move here not requiring employment or financial opportunities. Which also creates an atmosphere of limited gov't, due to property tax being the only way to offset the lack of the federal gov't following through with its promises. The retirement community is frugal and not willing to spend more on ineffecient gov't.

freedom