Letters to the Editor

[October 29th, 2003] PUBLIC UTILITY DISSED

I am concerned that Multnomah County's lack of experience in running a Public Utility District will bring down the local power grid. Officials in Multnomah County have no experience in running an electric utility, no electric utility equipment, and no money to purchase PGE's and Pacific Power's poles and wires.

The 12 candidates running for the five Multnomah County PUD Board positions do not have the experience needed to manage a billion-dollar company. Any decisions made by this inexperienced PUD board will not be regulated by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. If the board does anything that is imprudent, they can just increase rates without asking anyone.

Multnomah County lacks reliable computer systems to handle utility billings, schedule maintenance, and manage power outages for 240,000 new customers. In addition, Multnomah County lacks a trained and experienced electric utility staff and proper equipment to maintain the reliability record customers currently enjoy.

I am concerned that a Multnomah County PUD's lack of experienced staff, proper equipment, and money can negatively impact electric reliability for all of us. I urge you to vote NO on PUD Measures 26-51 and 26-52.

Chris Dieterle
Beaverton

Editor's Note: Contacted by WW, Dieterle confirmed that he is employed as an analyst by Portland General Electric.

SELLER BEWARE

I am not a lawyer, and I have no idea whether Derry Jackson committed an ethics violation, but I have done venture capital deals, and I would bet Mr. Jackson may have violated securities laws by offering to sell shares in his Internet start-up company to school custodians for $50 ["Derry Goes Again," WW, Oct. 15, 2003].

The Securities and Exchange Commission has rules which limit sale of shares in a development-stage company to accredited investors (what are known as "angels" in the trade). To be an "angel," you need an annual household income over $200,000, or a net worth over $1 million.

One doubts that many school custodians are "angels" under SEC rules.

Andrew Wilson
Southwest Downsview Court

A KNIT TO PICK

With reference to "Needles & Knitstorms" (Look, WW, Oct. 15, 2003), I welcome the new kids on the block, Lint and the Knit Knot Studio. Free advertising for the new enterprises is fine but recognition and credit is due to NW Wools, the Yarn Garden, Robin & Russ and, more recently, FiberArts Northwest. I would like to commend the long-standing and ever patient local yarn shops that have been supporting the fiber-arts community with materials, answers and classes for many years. I hope that you can correct a great omission and give kudos to those that have earned them!

Lisa Dunning
Northwest Evergreen Street