The Issues - Curt Ankerberg

CURT’S POSITION ON MEDFORD’S ISSUES

I oppose road diets, and I’ll eliminate them. Roads are intended to get people and commerce from Point A to Point B as quickly and efficiently as possible.

I oppose the ridiculous parking layout (with bollards) on Main Street downtown, and I’ll remove them.

I oppose the reduced speed limits downtown, and I’ll change them.

I oppose communist Agendas 2020, 2030, 2040 (and so on) that have been adopted, and I’ll reject them.

According to the Medford First Responders I’ve spoken with, homelessness and drug addiction/abuse are as bad as ever in Medford. The homeless vagrant and drug problems haven’t been solved, even though Medford has already squandered more than $30 million on the homeless and drug problems. Most of the homeless problem is emanating from outside Jackson County (and from out of State). I’ll vigorously clean-up the homeless vagrant mess, and reduce crime, and I’ll put a stop to non-profit organizations that attract, incentivize, contribute to, or encourage the homeless vagrant and drug problems in Medford. Medford has a very high property-crime rate due to criminal drug-addicted derelicts. I’ll make a difference.

I won’t take government grants that have strings attached that are contrary to my conservative core beliefs.

It’s unacceptable that Medford currently has one of the highest crime rates in Oregon. I’ll add another 20 police officers to the Medford Police Department without raising your taxes. That’s correct! I won’t increase your taxes when I add 20 more cops. There’s lots of fat, waste, and bloat in the Medford budget that I’ll eliminate. I know how to do it.

Increased jail capacity is the Number One issue in both Medford and Jackson County. Jackson County has the highest crime rate in the State. I’ll be a strong advocate to get a new 300-person jail-addition built without raising your taxes. Jackson County currently has enough unrestricted money in the bank to pay cash for a new 300-person jail-addition. I’ll browbeat the Commissioners to get it done quickly. The corrupt good old boys, and their corrupt bought lackey politicians like Rick Dyer, Dave Dotterrer, Michael Zarosinski, Randy Sparacino all want to increase your taxes to construct a new overpriced 800-person jail (that I oppose) that will bankrupt the taxpayers, then they’ll give a no-bid contract to their good old boy crony friend Adroit Construction to build it.

I’ll quickly revitalize downtown, and make it vibrant again (at minimal cost to taxpayers). I have the skills to make it happen. As former City Councilmen, my opponents Zarosinski and Bearnson were directly responsible for destroying downtown.

I’ll increase the amount of parking downtown (and I’ll stop giving away City parking lots to the politically-connected good old boys like my opponents Zarosinski and Bearnson have wanted to do).

I won’t raise your taxes. A large portion of Medford is retired, or is low-income, and many folks can’t afford tax increases, particularly when the money is being spent on unneeded City boondoggle projects. I’ll always be respectful of the taxpayers and their money. My opponents Zarosinski and Bearnson are huge liberal tax-and-spenders who will bankrupt you. They don’t care about you. They report to their masters at the Chamber of Commerce.

Currently, nothing is done in Medford unless it scratches a good old boy’s back. The Chamber good old boys control the Mayor, the City Council, my opponents, and the media from behind the scenes. I’ll stop spending city taxpayer money on corrupt good old boy projects that don’t directly benefit the residents.

Medford is currently being sued for millions of dollars for creating fraudulent red-light camera speed-traps (and Medford is going to lose the lawsuit). I’ll ensure that all red-light cameras are calibrated legally and properly, and that they don’t rip-off drivers with phony, abusive speed traps that are used as revenue-generators.

I’ll always search for cheaper alternatives when it comes to replacing government equipment and facilities, such as new fire stations. The City Council currently wants to increase your taxes yet again to pay for a shiny new overpriced $9 million fire station, which I oppose, while I can completely refurbish and upgrade the current Roberts Road fire station for only $2 million. I’ll save taxpayers millions of dollars with my financial skills. The City Council wants to give a no-bid contract for the construction of this fire station to one of their cronies. Crony capitalism is corruption.

Low-income housing has become a scam, when an average low-income apartment unit costs more to construct ($436,000) than the cost of an existing 3-bedroom house with land in east Medford. I’ll create lower-cost alternatives to solve Medford’s housing shortage. I have the skills.

I oppose the Coquille Tribe Casino proposed to be built in south Medford. There are already two gambling casinos located within one hour from Medford in Yreka and Canyonville. The Coquille Tribe already owns and operates a casino in North Bend, and Medford is not located in their historical Tribal territory. A casino located in Medford will be toxic for the City, and it will attract organized crime to Medford, and it will generate more social ills for Medford such as more bankruptcies, more gambling addictions, more spousal abuse and more child abuse, and more divorces. Medford doesn’t need that. A casino will not be beneficial for Medford. Consequently, I strongly oppose this proposed casino.

Folks, you get what you vote for. My opponents Zarosinski and Bearnson are both failed former 8-year City Councilmen who saw the City deteriorate under their watch while they twiddled their thumbs. They’ve had numerous chances to make Medford better, but they both failed, and left Medford in worse shape than when they started. They destroyed downtown Medford with their poor management. Neither has any financial or management skills. Both are liberal big tax-and-spenders who will bankrupt you with numerous tax increases. Both are beholden to the Chamber of Commerce good old boys, and they will put the Chamber’s interests ahead of yours.

I won’t do that. I’ll always put Medford residents first. My opponents will cost Medford taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Medford is currently in bad shape because of my opponents. I’m the only candidate with the prerequisite knowledge, experience, skills, and strength of character to clean-up Medford.

I ask for your vote for Mayor.

Thank you.
Curt Ankerberg