This is pure insanity. Salem is trying its best to close up our bars by raising the tax on beer 2,800% with House Bill 3296. The Pendleton Police Department is helping by handing out those high-dollar DUII tickets and threats of prison time. All this revenue promised to be used for treatment programs that aren’t even free.

The city council has, on the other hand, decided to hand out cash to the bar owners in an effort to keep their businesses open.

Does any of this make sense?

Rick Rohde

Pendleton