From A Swing Voter: Support SB 30 - Brian Grubb, Portland

Representatives,

I am writing to stress the importance of your vote on Senate Bill 30-Metolius. As you may know, this bill will prohibit siting a destination resort in or within three miles of the Metolius River Basin. I urge you to vote yes on this bill and the reason is simple: the Metolius River Basin is just too special a place to mess with any further. The consequences of the proposed development in the area would be devastating and irreversible.

When Jefferson county officials voted to rezone the area to permit the proposed development, I believe they were trying to act for the good of the county, economically. They saw dollar signs and the revenue that 3500 new homes would bring to county coffers. Unfortunately, I do not believe they gave the rezoning issue the due diligence or conducted the research required for a proposal of such enormous magnitude.

Fortunately, for the rest of Oregon and the World, this is not just about Jefferson County. What we‚re talking about here is an Oregon treasure, a jewel- unique in its place on tiny planet Earth. What we‚re talking about here is a National treasure- a World treasure- a place people come to from all over the globe to visit its pristine serenity. Oregonians should consider themselves blessed to have such a place to call their own. When I travel, I tell people, "We have this place in Oregon, the Metolius River, it's unbelievable". I pray I never have to say, "We had this pristine place once, the Metolius River, but it was forever changed by a irrational land use decision". Please help keep the distinctness of the Metolius in the present tense.

If you have never been to the Metolius River Basin, you must go. You will experience something special- too special to alter. Every summer, our family vacations at a Central Oregon destination resort, one of many in the area. We always make a point of visiting the Metolius, an entire river that drips out of the side of a hill in what must be the most incredible Ponderosa Pine forest on Earth. Crystal clear water and World-class fly-fishing attract anglers from countries around the globe. Our small children delight in its mystique and explore with great curiosity its natural wonders. I hope that their children and grandchildren can experience the area in the way that they have been privileged enough to. I hope that your children and grandchildren can do the same.

As an elected representative of our state, I believe it is your duty to act on behalf of the will of the people of Oregon. This is not a partisan issue, as a "yes" vote benefits everyone- Republican or Democrat. Please do not politicize this, as your Republican colleagues in the Senate did (not a single Republican Senator voted in support of SB30 despite overwhelming public support and minimal public opposition for the bill). This is not a Jefferson county issue. If it were, you would not be asked to vote on this bill on behalf of your constituents. This is an Oregon issue. Our Oregon.

Thank you for your consideration and I'm putting my faith in you to make the
right choice.

Sincerely,
Brian Grubb
Native Oregonian
Concerned Citizen
Constituent
Registered Independent Swing Voter
Portland, OR