Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 2019)
4A MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 The Observer OUR VIEW An idea for public records State Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, a candidate for Secretary of State, said recently that he will make improving access to public records his first policy priority if he’s elected in 2020. That may not be surprising — Hass is, after all, a former television news broadcaster — but surprising or not, his is a good idea. Hass’ first target would be the relatively new Public Records Advisory Council, which, he says, is overburdened with representatives from govern- ment. He’s got a point. Of the 12 members on the council, fully eight either work for government or are members of the Oregon Legislature. Hass would cut the number of government repre- sentatives in half, increase the current three slots for journalists by one, add two members from nonprofits that use public records and add a second member of the public. The change would mean that journalists and the public agencies from which they seek records would be represented equally on the board, surely a more balanced mix than the current one that gives public agency members an absolute majority on the council. It also would mean that either of those groups would have to persuade three of the four remaining mem- bers when journalists and government representa- tives were evenly split on an issue. That, too, is a good idea. It would force both press and government representatives to think more about the people of Oregon and what serves them best. Hass also agrees with Ginger McCall, the state’s first Public Records Advocate who left Oct. 11, that the advocate should be appointed by the council rather than by an elected official. That, too, is a good idea. It was McCall’s disagreement with Gov. Kate Brown’s staff over the advocate’s independence that led her to resign. Without independence, the advocate runs the risk of being seen as a partisan member of the governor’s camp, no matter who is governor at the time. The Public Records Advisory Council and its leader, the Public Records Advocate, have important work to do in Oregon. Hass’ changes would lend credibility to that work. CONTACT YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS Union County Commissioners: Donna Beverage, Matt Scarfo and Paul Anderes; 1106 K Ave., La Grande, OR 97850; 541-963-1001; fax 541-963-1079. Wallowa County Commissioners: John Hillock, Todd Nash and Susan Roberts; 101 S. River St., Room 202, Enterprise, OR 97828; 541-426-4543, ext. 11; fax 541-426- 0582. City of La Grande: Mayor Steve Clements, City Manager Robert Strope; P.O. Box 670, La Grande, OR 97850; 541-962- 1309; fax 541-963-3333. City of Cove: Mayor Del Little, (503)-508-6727 504 Alder Street P.O. Box 8 Cove, OR 97824 City Manager Donna Lewis, (541) 568-4566. MY VOICE Hammonds were guilty of arson Y our recent editorial about the Ham- monds starts with the inaccurate notion that it’s the Hammonds versus the environmentalists, and then you disregard the facts of the case. Instead of helping to calm passions, you throw fuel on the fire. And you aim your guns at the wrong culprits. The Hammonds were convicted of arson, not field burning. They intention- ally and illegally started fires on public land during a dangerous time of year. You ask, “Why they were charged with an anti-terrorist statute with a manda- tory minimum sentence of five years”? Simple answer: What they did fits that law exactly. It’s a law against arson on federal property. It was touted as anti-terrorist, but it’s primarily a law against arson. The fires they intentionally started endangered the lives of nearby firefight- ers who were already fighting wildfires in the vicinity, and they endangered one of their own family, a youngster they enlisted to help start the fires, when the fires he started got out of control. This had nothing to do with en- vironmentalists. The trial took two weeks, if I’m not mistaken. The trial took place not in liberal Portland, not in environmentalist friendly Eugene; the trial took place in Pendleton, with jurors who are sensitive to farmers and forest issues. Twelve jurors believed the Hammonds’ defenses were not credible and that they were guilty of arson. Not terrorism. Arson. When your editorial blames environ- mentalists, you insult the efforts and intelligence of the 12 Eastern Orego- nians who sat on that jury. And your snide comment that the second judge “dutifully sentenced them to the full five years” shows complete ignorance and disrespect for our judicial system. The sentence passed by the first judge About the author Write to us Martin J. Birnbaum, 83, served as the Union County District Attorney. He is now retired and lives in La Grande. My Voice columns should be 500 words. Submissions should include a portrait-type photograph of the author. Authors also should include their full name, age, occupation and relevant organizational memberships. We edit submissions for brevity, grammar, taste and legal reasons. We reject those published elsewhere. Send columns to La Grande Observer, 1406 5th St., La Grande 97850, fax them to 541- 963-7804 or email them to news@ lagrandeobserver.com. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Observer welcomes letters to the editor. Letters are limited to 350 words and must be signed and carry the author’s address and phone number (for verification purposes only). We edit letters for brevity, grammar, taste and legal reasons. We will not publish poetry, consumer complaints against businesses or personal attacks against private individuals. Thank- you letters are discouraged. was illegal. The law performed as intended: to punish arson, not to curb terrorism. Moreover, the mandatory minimum sentence laws that require a five- year sentence for arson were in place because those in my own Republican Party believe that the courts were too lenient with criminals, that judges were too “soft on crime,” so they took away the authority from judges to take cir- cumstances into consideration. Guilty of arson? Bingo. Five years in the pen. No ifs, ands or buts. Judge wants to be more lenient? No can do. That’s a violation of the law. It wasn’t the environmentalists who appealed the first sentence. It was the prosecutors. I’m willing to bet the Hammonds were among those who supported manda- tory minimum sentences until it turned around and bit them. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION STAFF Phone: SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE NEWSSTAND PRICE: $1.50 You can save up to 34% off the single-copy price with home delivery. Call 541-963-3161 to subscribe. Stopped account balances less than $5 will be refunded upon request. Subscription rates per month: By carrier...............................................$11.80 By mail, all other U.S. .............................. $15 A division of Then you claim it’s the fault of sev- eral “environmentalist” groups that a judge limited grazing on the allotments. Did you ever consider that “the cows, which have grazed there for years and years, are (in fact actually) damaging the environment”? Is the judge also a rabid environmentalist? Or was there sufficient evidence in front of him, just as there was proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the Hammonds were guilty of arson? You say “the Hammonds were unnec- essarily dragged into prison”? You say “we can all be assured that what’s legal and what’s just are two very different things”? What would you propose, a medal to the Hammonds for endangering the lives of the firefighters who were trying to do their job? And by the way, is it just, is it fair to all the other ranchers and farmers who abide by the rules to let the Hammonds be scofflaws without any accountability, any consequences for illegal behavior? You want to help build some bridges? Find a way better way. Stop throwing fuel on the fire. 541-963-3161 An independent newspaper founded in 1896 (USPS 299-260) The Observer reserves the right to adjust subscription rates by giving prepaid and mail subscribers 30 days notice. Periodicals postage paid at La Grande, Oregon 97850. Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except Dec. 25) by EO Media Group, 1406 Fifth St., La Grande, OR 97850 (USPS 299-260) COPYRIGHT © 2019 THE OBSERVER The Observer retains ownership and copyright protection of all staff-prepared news copy, advertising copy, photos and news or ad illustrations. They may not be reproduced without explicit prior approval. Toll free (Oregon): 1-800-422-3110 Fax: 541-963-7804 Email: news@lagrandeobserver.com Website: www.lagrandeobserver.com Street address: 1406 Fifth St., La Grande POSTMASTER Send address changes to: The Observer, 1406 Fifth St., La Grande, OR 97850 Periodicals postage paid at: La Grande, Oregon 97850 Publisher........................................Karrine Brogoitti Home delivery advisor.................Amanda Fredrick Regional circulation director ....................Kelli Craft Customer service rep ......................... Mollie Lynch News clerk....................................Lisa Lester Kelly Advertising representative...............Juli Bloodgood Sports editor .......................................Ronald Bond Advertising representative...................... Amy Horn Reporter................................................Dick Mason Graphic design supervisor................Dorothy Kautz Reporter....................................Sabrina Thompson Graphic design ..............................Cheryl Christian Classifieds ........................................ Devi Mathson Chris Rush, Regional Publisher
