Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site zeus.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!tektronix!teklds!zeus!bobr From: bobr@zeus.UUCP Newsgroups: net.jokes Subject: Pronouncements of our lame duck mayor Message-ID: <436@zeus.UUCP> Date: Wed, 19-Dec-84 16:00:35 EST Article-I.D.: zeus.436 Posted: Wed Dec 19 16:00:35 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 21-Dec-84 07:44:25 EST Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 71 [From FRANK TALK, by Portland's (soon to be ex-) Mayor Frank Ivancie] No nuclear-free zone "Don't foul our nest. "Don't trash our city. "Don't hide behind the Constitution. "Meet the issue head on. "The City of Portland must not bow to pressure for a nuclear-free zone. It will undo all the good we did with the repeal of the unitary tax. It will set Portland and our neighboring communities back to the dark ages as far as attracting new industries is concerned. "It will also cost us thousands of existing jobs. "A nuclear-free zone is `any well defined geographical area, regardless of size, in which no nuclear weapons shall be produced, transported, stored, processed, disposed of or detonated. Neither shall any facility, equipment, supply or substance for their production, transporation, storage, processing, disposal or detonation be permitted within its borders.' "At least two large Portland plants fall under the second half of that definition--Precision Castparts and OECO. Both produce parts used in the nuclear industry. Both represent hefty payrolls in this city. Putting them out of business would force thousands of breadwinners into the bread lines. "But more than large corporations would be affected by the imposition of a nuclear-free zone on Portland. A machinist with a lathe in his basement would be forbidden to turn out a military item that might be used in connection with a nuclear defense weapon. He would also be forbidden to repair such an item, store, process or transport it. "Similarly, more than Portland would be hurt. To many outsiders, Portland and its neighboring communities are seen as one. If they hear that Portland is seriously thinking of instituting a nuclear-free zone, they will turn their backs on the area as a whole. Thus, the damage would extend beyond our boundaries, blighting the seedling `Silicon Forests' in Washington County and Gresham. "The unitary tax was our `China Wall.' It kept large multi-national firms from locating here. Once repealed, the floodgates to such investments were opened and we are now seeing the results. There have been six announcements in as many months of major new foreign investments in the Portland area. "Nuclear-free zones area on a parity with unitary taxes as negative industry inducements. If we become a city that even seriously considers barring job-producing opportunities which are military related, we will be sending all the wrong signals to portential investors. "What firm would really consider locating in a city which changes--or threatens to change--the ground rules on old established firms within it boundaries? Locating in such a city would be like having the sword of Damocles hanging over your head. You'd never know when your own investment might be similarly threatened. "Firms thinking of locating here today may want to go after defense contracts in the future. Should we be telling them to take their job-producing investments elsewhere? "If we are seen as jumping on the nuclear-free zone bandwagon today, we could well be asked what other potential plant closure bandwaogns we'll be likely to jump on tomorrow. We could become known as the Berkeley of the Northwest if we are not careful. "The nuclear-free zone ordinance is one the whole community should rally against--business, industry, labor, the media ... everyone with a dollar or a job or a home at stake in this community. It's bad news and it will make bad news in investment circles and corporate headquarters across this country and overseas. "Once the bell has been rung, it can't be unrung. And once a reputation is established, it takes years to erase it." Well, I though it was funny--especially the parts about the cottage nuclear weapons industry in Oregon and the threat of Portland becoming the "Berkeley of the Northwest." Thank God that Frank is almost gone, and hurrah for mayor-elect Bud Clark, a man of character, color, and most important, intelligence. -- Robert Reed, Logic Design Systems Division, tektronix!teklds!bobr