Ok so I know I gave Central Oregon a ration of shit about Public Transit and then I find this...
http://www.cascadeseasttransit.com/index.html
Wow; maybe if everyone would get together and make it a regional plan then maybe we would have a cohesive system that might, just might rival some other areas but as we see here....http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=10446012 This is not the case at all; Bend has Bend Area Transit (BAT) and now Redmond is working on one...I hope they come up with something more original then Redmond Area Transit (RAT) but we shall see.
However this is all too late; there has been a call for Deschutes Area Transit System for a very long time and all we get is disjointed attempts that might very well work however is the Parkway is any indication it could take ten to fifteen years before it is completed if it ever is and even then it is obsolete.
Just another reason to GTFO Of Bend
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Give peace....ah...I mean Bend...a chance
Ok so I spent the last post decrying the fiscal nature (or lack thereof) of Bend and I mentioned that I had applied to three positions so far; well to day I sent out another three resumes with cover letters and just on a lark I also found something here in Bend which I applied for as well.
Now don't get me wrong I have applied for this same position three times before 2 of which they decided to close before the end date since they did not have the budget, I'll say this again as I feel it is important...They posted this position 3 times before and 2 of them they closed due to lack of budget. So why did I put myself through this again? Simple really; I want to give Bend a fair chance even though I know it is a waste of my time. But hey I don't want anyone thinking that I did not give this wonderfully dense environment a chance. hehe
Now don't get me wrong I have applied for this same position three times before 2 of which they decided to close before the end date since they did not have the budget, I'll say this again as I feel it is important...They posted this position 3 times before and 2 of them they closed due to lack of budget. So why did I put myself through this again? Simple really; I want to give Bend a fair chance even though I know it is a waste of my time. But hey I don't want anyone thinking that I did not give this wonderfully dense environment a chance. hehe
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Real Question
So one might ask; Why leave Bend, Oregon? I mean Bend, Oregon is a very scenic location with mountains, a river or two nearby some great hiking trails along with real good fishing. It has beautiful campgrounds and has one of the best known ski areas. All of which are true and the people here are not too bad at all either.
However; despite all of the above incentives the real question should be: "Why come to Bend, Oregon?" If the above listed items are what you seek then for you the answer is simple. However if you are seeking fiscal opportunities, you know those opportunities that will allow you to not only be a contributing member of society but also allow you to explore other options that require some form of fiscal liquidity? If those are the reasons you are thinking of coming here well you might as well just stay right where you currently reside.
Why? You might ask. I shall explain.
In order to have fiscal liquidity opportunities there must be resources for fiscal mobility; in short there must be a way for one to obtain better money while remaining in the community so that one can contribute to said community by spending money within the above mentioned community. Which in short requires jobs; I don't mean jobs which suffice for survival or the seasonal job types either, I mean the kinds of jobs that require a growing industry with a proven track record such as technology (Computer Sciences, Information Technology), medical (no hospitals do not count), transportation, research and the like which bend does not have in any great, growing abundance. Why? Population growth and the infrastructure to support said growth.
Bend and it's surrounding areas: Prinville, Redmond, Sunriver, Sisters has had a non-growth mentality for at least 15 years. How do I know this? I have lived here 15 years and the only serious population growth projects I have seen are the Bend Parkway and the Redmond Bypass. All of which are internal and local projects. None of the cities I have mentioned have a viable public transit system and few if any of them are Bike friendly...Oh I know that you might be thinking 'What about BAT?' All one has to do is look at their information to know that it was a half baked idea with poor implementation http://www.ci.bend.or.us/bend_area_transit/ and come see the routes for oneself to know that it does not work. Heck we do not even have a viable way to connect Bend with the outlaying areas for those who live outside of bend and work in bend. This alone would probably dissuade me from moving my corporation here. There is more however; the areas poor buildimng plans also do not allow the potential growth this area could see. Oh I know that some say 'We want to keep the beauty of the area as pristine as possible.' Ok I can understand this however there are vast tracts of land here that are being developed for housing (Which by the way is unaffordable to the average working stiff)(Take a look at Mt. Washington Drive) but none of the available areas in question are being touted as industry earmarked; even there were there is no serious infrastructure to speak of for getting people to work besides car which is not actually environmentally friendly (for those pristine types).
You see I happen to care about the things that are missing here in the Bend area. I want to live in an area that actually cares the things I care about and shows their caring nature in action: A Public Transit system, an alternate transport friendly environment, a fiscally upwardly mobile friendly environment all of which Bend is not.
So what does it take to GTFO of Bend? 1. Willingness to get out; 2. Willingness to apply for work in the areas you want to work and live; 3. Willingness to take temporary extreme living measures.
I meet the requirements for number 1. I have applied for three positions so far and have another 12 to apply for to meet requirement number 2 and for number three I know I can live in my car temporarily if I have to and have done it before so that covers the third requirement.
Well I hope that I have not bored you or offended you with the truth. If I have offended you....either....get over it or do something about the underlying issues I have brought forth and ...GO AWAY!!!!
However; despite all of the above incentives the real question should be: "Why come to Bend, Oregon?" If the above listed items are what you seek then for you the answer is simple. However if you are seeking fiscal opportunities, you know those opportunities that will allow you to not only be a contributing member of society but also allow you to explore other options that require some form of fiscal liquidity? If those are the reasons you are thinking of coming here well you might as well just stay right where you currently reside.
Why? You might ask. I shall explain.
In order to have fiscal liquidity opportunities there must be resources for fiscal mobility; in short there must be a way for one to obtain better money while remaining in the community so that one can contribute to said community by spending money within the above mentioned community. Which in short requires jobs; I don't mean jobs which suffice for survival or the seasonal job types either, I mean the kinds of jobs that require a growing industry with a proven track record such as technology (Computer Sciences, Information Technology), medical (no hospitals do not count), transportation, research and the like which bend does not have in any great, growing abundance. Why? Population growth and the infrastructure to support said growth.
Bend and it's surrounding areas: Prinville, Redmond, Sunriver, Sisters has had a non-growth mentality for at least 15 years. How do I know this? I have lived here 15 years and the only serious population growth projects I have seen are the Bend Parkway and the Redmond Bypass. All of which are internal and local projects. None of the cities I have mentioned have a viable public transit system and few if any of them are Bike friendly...Oh I know that you might be thinking 'What about BAT?' All one has to do is look at their information to know that it was a half baked idea with poor implementation http://www.ci.bend.or.us/bend_area_transit/ and come see the routes for oneself to know that it does not work. Heck we do not even have a viable way to connect Bend with the outlaying areas for those who live outside of bend and work in bend. This alone would probably dissuade me from moving my corporation here. There is more however; the areas poor buildimng plans also do not allow the potential growth this area could see. Oh I know that some say 'We want to keep the beauty of the area as pristine as possible.' Ok I can understand this however there are vast tracts of land here that are being developed for housing (Which by the way is unaffordable to the average working stiff)(Take a look at Mt. Washington Drive) but none of the available areas in question are being touted as industry earmarked; even there were there is no serious infrastructure to speak of for getting people to work besides car which is not actually environmentally friendly (for those pristine types).
You see I happen to care about the things that are missing here in the Bend area. I want to live in an area that actually cares the things I care about and shows their caring nature in action: A Public Transit system, an alternate transport friendly environment, a fiscally upwardly mobile friendly environment all of which Bend is not.
So what does it take to GTFO of Bend? 1. Willingness to get out; 2. Willingness to apply for work in the areas you want to work and live; 3. Willingness to take temporary extreme living measures.
I meet the requirements for number 1. I have applied for three positions so far and have another 12 to apply for to meet requirement number 2 and for number three I know I can live in my car temporarily if I have to and have done it before so that covers the third requirement.
Well I hope that I have not bored you or offended you with the truth. If I have offended you....either....get over it or do something about the underlying issues I have brought forth and ...GO AWAY!!!!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Bend is a black hole. This has been said by many people over many years.
You know the other things that people say about Bend?
Minimum wage with a view.
Don't come here without a job waiting for you.
Great place to come if you have money, not so great if you need to make it.
I've said them all myself, more than once, and after spending the last eleven years here, it has never been more true than it is now. Economy wise, this county is hurting and it's in this fugue state, where nothing seems to be improving (at least not quickly enough) and there are no plans to improve any time soon. It's been said that every town wants high tech jobs, and I don't doubt this. Bend's unique distinction is that it hasn't provided any incentive for said high tech workers to move here...or to keep tech workers here.
I find myself in the latter category.
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