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Thursday, June 14, 2012

Don't Cali-fornicate Oregon and HP annexation history

headline 'H-P executive predicts 700 new jobs' Gazette-Times Aug. 8, 1974, p. 2

PHOTO: Hewlett-Packard's plans to build a calculator plant and research facility in Corvallis is described in a newspaper article by John Atkins, "H-P executive predicts 700 new jobs," Gazette-Times Aug. 8, 1974, p. 2. (See previous post HP and Corvallis newspaper history (3/11/09) about the move of the Hewlett-Packard calculator division to Corvallis in 1975 and see the the front page in previous post Obama flubs AIDS prevention by recommending "contraception" (1/22/09))

Gazette-Times newspapers from Aug. 8, 1974 Nixon resigns and Jan. 21, 2009 Obama a new era -- shows paper has shrunk from 15 inches wide to 11 inches wide

PHOTO: Gazette-Times newspapers, August 8, 1974 President Nixon resigns and Jan. 21, 2009 Obama, "A new era." (See previous post Obama flubs AIDS prevention by recommending "contraception" (1/22/09))

My latest letter:

It is ironic that that only a fifth of voters opposed the recent McFadden Annexation, given how 38 years ago Corvallis citizens vigorously fought annexing portions of the same farm to build the first Hewlett-Packard calculator and handheld computer factory.

The Aug. 8, 1974, news headline announcing President Nixon's resignation pushed to page two a Gazette-Times story by John Atkins, "HP executive predicts 700 new jobs." Despite this impressive promise of good jobs, citizens were angered because they were still suffering from the consequences of an unplanned post-World War II building boom in Corvallis.

Anti-growth sentiments in the 1970s were expressed by a popular Oregon bumper sticker that said, "Don't Cali-fornicate Oregon," which humorously referred to California's hyper growth problems. This and the unpopular HP annexation caused Corvallis voters to demand a right to vote on all annexations.

Republicans unjustly blamed voters for scaring off new businesses in Corvallis during the Reagan recession. In fact, HP actually created thousands of jobs and Corvallis has remained a wonderful place to live, thanks to smart voters and good city planning. Hopefully, future citizens will not become complacent and permit unplanned growth to "Cali-fornicate" Corvallis again as it did 50 years ago.
(Quoted from Thomas Kraemer, "Letter: Oh, how the times have changed toward new development," Gazette-Times, posted Jun. 14, 2012)

Some previous posts and links: