Beta Males Begin
Month: March 2018
Turkeys Terrorize Track Town
By EDDY GAZPACHO
The Rose Cityian/RoseCityLive
It appears Track Town has a bit of a pest problem.
Like much of the rest of the state, Track Town has had its share of issues with rats lately and the University is home to more than a few pudgy, beggar squirrels. But folks in Lane County have recently run afoul of another winged menace: turkeys.
The Register-Guard reports that things have gotten so bad the Track Town city council has begun deliberating on penalties for folks who feed the birds under a proposal originally intended to curb the municipality’s problem with deer and feral cats.
While the birds have long wandered the outskirts of the city, particularly in the wilds adjacent to the Lane Community College main campus, they’ve begun terrorizing students in the neighborhoods west of the University of The State and closer to downtown, upsetting the urban pecking order.
–Eddy Gazpacho
egazpacho@rosecitylive.com
Bookstore Arson on Hawthorne
ROSE CITY – Investigators believe arson was the caused a fire at a Woman’s Empowerment Bookstore Friday night.
According to police, officers responded to a burglar alarm at the bookstore located on Hawthorne by 37th AVE around 10:38 p.m.
About eight minutes later, the fire alarm sounded. Firefighters responded and fought the fire at the business.
Through the course of their investigation, it was determined that someone slid an explosive device through the mail slot.
No one was in the building at the time and there are no reported injuries.
So far, no arrests have been made.
A note left by the bookstore claims a group called “The Bridge City Beta Males” were responsible for the arson. At this time investigators have not released any details of the fire.
Arts Tax Collection Budget Approved
Rose City Council has agreed to lift the administrative cap on the city’s Arts Education and Access Fund, better known as the arts tax. Dismal collection rates have dogged the arts tax since its inception in 2012. The Rose City Revenue Bureau estimates 1 in 4 eligible citizens just skips it.
But the terms voters agreed to require the revenue bureau to spend no more than 5 percent of gross collections over a five-year period.
Arts advocates have argued that the 5 percent administrative cap has hogtied the bureau from chasing delinquent accounts, and is inconsistent with what other departments — for example, the Rose City Water Bureau — spend on bill collections.
But critics of the arts tax, like Commissioner Dan Saltzman, say waiving the cap would be out of step with voters’ wishes.
Commissioners Nick Fish and Chloe Eudaly once again came together with Mayor Ted Wheeler to present revisions.
Wheeler said the changes should give the city a chance to boost collections appropriately, while maintaining public trust in the arts tax.
“I want to remind everybody this was brought to City Hall a number of years ago by the public,” Wheeler said. “The public, if they so choose, could pull it back. But in the meanwhile it is our obligation to run it as best as we can. I believe the changes made in this ordinance give us the opportunity to better manage this program and to be more accountable in the administration of this program.”
To address the concerns about accountability, the proposal orders that Council revisit collection costs every year. Further, the advisory board overseeing the arts tax will continue offering annual reports.
Council also decided to expand some exemptions for the tax.
The $15 annual arts tax is due on April 17. https://rose-city.net/services/art-tax/
Coffee Shop victim of Arson
Rose City – Another explosion took place Friday night on Powell Blvd. The Spritely Bean, a coffee shop, was the victim of arson committed by the self-proclaimed Bridge City Beta Males.
A thunderous explosions shook the area, sending large black smoke plumes and debris billowing into the air.
Witnesses report hearing a deafening boom, feeling buildings shake, lights go out. Some thought it was an earthquake.
“I did time in Iraq. This was just like a bomb going off,” said one witness.
“You could almost feel the noise, that’s how loud it was,” said another witness in the area. “It’s hard to talk about. Glass shattered, everything exploded. … It was indescribable.”
Large smoke plumes were visible from blocks away. Local residents were warned to avoid the area if possible.
The explosion, just after 10 p.m., were in a row of businesses that also houses Steakadelphia, and a scientologist print shop, which is a total loss. The owner of Steakadelphia told the Rose Cityian that all his employees are accounted for.
No fatalities have been reported.
Crews are asking residents to stay away from the area. Power and gas have been cut in the area.
Police are asking for tips on the whereabouts of the Beta Males. They have yet to find members of this rogue band of arsonists.
