October 18, 2003
(Updated) 'Sunday Oregonian' Addresses PUD Debate From Several Angles
Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.
Well, okay, so I have indeed stated how skeptical I am that there is enough time prior to the November election to have a proper and thorough public discussion on forming a People's Utility District in Multnomah County. But tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Oregonian has no fewer than four separate pieces related to the debate.
On the front page, the paper tries to provide an overview of the issues involved, and the conflicting arguments from the opposing camps.
Over in the business section, the paper reviews a PUD formation in Columbia County which included an anti-PUD public relations push remarkably similar to the one PGE is subjecting Multnomah County voters to now.
And in the commentary section, PUD supporter Dan Meek and PUD opponent Brian Gard have dueling opinion pieces.
One irony is the business article quoting Brian Gard as saying of PUD supporters, "When people don't have facts, they call names." In all honesty, in what exposure I've had to the opposing camps on this issue, PUD supporters are far more likely to make reference to the assertions of PUD opponents, and then attempt to counter them -- while PUD opponents simply toss out every slur or scare tactic they can find, doing all they can to avoid mentioning much of what the PUD supporters say. Then again, I suppose it could be argued that's what public relations advertising is all about.
Update
For what it's worth, the middle story, on the previous PUD battle in Columbia County actually appears in the "A" section of the print edition today. I had it in the business section based upon the section included in its OregonLive URL.