Council Corner: Vacation musings
After spending a week on the Oregon coast, not checking emails and with limited cell service, it was quite a jolt to return to the reality and the politics of Ashland and the rest of the world. Two...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Fourth of July parade memories
The truth is that before I moved into a house on the parade route, I’d never even attended Ashland’s July 4th festivities. Instead, I usually spent my holiday pouring coffee or flipping eggs at my...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Vision and voice of the people
My final year on the Ashland City Council is a time for reflection. I’ve learned a great deal from you, the citizens of Ashland, over these seven-plus years. Many of you have written, phoned and...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Witness to a historic day
Be forewarned: I'm writing this strictly from memory and my experience of the event is totally subjective. For that reason I invite readers who were also present to send me your versions of what...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Should Ashland be carbon-neutral by 2047?
No single issue carries greater long-term significance than the condition of our environment, and climate change is a factor in an increasing number of policy decisions made by the City...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Stopping the cycle of discrimination
A few weeks back I was interviewed by a TV news reporter regarding the ugly incident in which a member of our community was threatened during a racist tirade by another local resident. During the...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Hopes and dreams for Ashland
I believe I have seen more people of color in our community.I hope it is so.I have heard from college students who face less housing discrimination.I hope it is so.I am committed to the fight for...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Reflections from under the bus
In my five-plus years on the council, the last couple councils have been really good and this has been one of the best, serving the citizens of Ashland. Some trying times for sure, but we work very...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Grow monument for flora, fauna, people
We all know we live in a special place. Sometimes it takes an act of good government to help us realize the truly unusual nature of our landscape.In June 2000, with the authority Congress gave...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: The '10 X 20' ballot initiative
During the last two months, over 2,000 Ashlanders signed a petition in favor of bringing a renewable energy initiative to the November ballot. The measure will require Ashland to produce at least 10...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Community can create the future
Editor's note: We are continuing to publish Council Corner columns by the mayor and City Council members while some are campaigning for re-election. We invite challengers to submit columns of their own...
View ArticleUsing meals tax to fix streets is a no-brainer
General election ballots contain fascinating decisions, but the most immediately impactful choice Ashland voters will make this November doesn't involve candidates — it pertains to the future condition...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Poverty simulation illuminates struggle
We all see it. All of us know people that live with it every day, but not all of us have experienced what it is like to be in poverty. Despite that fact, we support programs and give to causes that...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Prejudice takes many forms
This summer Ashland started working on a process to “unpack “ racism. I am glad Ashland is addressing this issue in a proactive way. I hope we continue to look at how we can be a community that truly...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Voters' concerns have common thread
I have been campaigning to be elected to House District 5 since last December.Over the past 10 months I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with people across the district, perhaps including you.Thanks...
View ArticleAging Happens: Four tips to help select your successor trustee
It’s great when people have made arrangements for their estate planning by setting up a will or a trust. Most people understand the importance of having these legal documents in place and reviewed with...
View ArticleAging Happens: Say what? Hearing loss could lead to behavior change?
Most people would say that other than being a nuisance, hearing loss is not that big of a deal. Read this data from the American Academy of Audiology (www.audiology.org) and see if it changes your...
View ArticleHerb Rothschild Jr.: Peaceful patriotism
The Fourth of July prompts reflections on patriotism. We might discover something of worth if we can get past its association with war.The founders of our nation created something unprecedented: They...
View ArticleHerb Rothschild Jr.: 'Remain,' reluctantly
While writing my July 2 column on patriotism, I knew I would follow it up with reflections on Brexit, Great Britain’s narrow vote to withdraw from the European Union. One reason is the Brexit debate...
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