Bad choice. The Salem newspaper is leaning toward giving a "Tossup" to The Nature Conservancy for contributing more than $350,000 to the Yes on Measure 49 campaign.
Measure 49 is a much-needed fix for Measure 37, which trashed Oregon's land use system and gave special rights to a few privileged property owners.
The Statesman Journal editorial board is asking for comments on their planned Winners and Losers piece that will run tomorrow (Monday). This is what I told them:
Come on. The Nature Conservancy should get a big thumbs-up, not a tossup, for contributing $350,000 to the Yes on 49 campaign. Gee, the Nature Conservancy is trying to conserve Oregon nature. How can they get an equivocation from the Statesman-Journal for that? Passing Measure 49 is absolutely essential if Oregon farmland, forestland, and groundwater limited areas are to be protected from unnecessary greedy development. I urge you to change your Tossup to a Winner.
There's probably still time to send in more feedback about the Statesman Journal draft opinion about The Nature Conservancy. You can write to the newspaper editorial board here or here.
The Nature Conservancy has explained why they're supporting Measure 49, even though they usually don't weigh in on ballot measures. These are good reasons for every Oregon voter to do the same.
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