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Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com Wednesday, June 23, 2021 B11 White extremist views strong in Oregon despite majority opposition, poll finds Gary A. Warner ■ By Oregon Capital Bureau Nearly four in 10 Oregon residents agree with statements aligned with white extrem- ists’ views, according to a poll commissioned by a major progressive group released Thursday. A majority of state residents support the ideals of a multi-cultural democracy, according to the survey conducted by DHM Research. The poll was commissioned by the Western States Center, a Portland-based non-profit that says its mission is to mon- itor extremism in the region and work to “strengthen inclusive democracy.” The poll showed a “disturbingly” sizable population in Oregon from which extremists can gather followers and sympathizers, said Lindsay Schubiner, program director at the Western States Center. “They are social movements spreading bigotry to attain political power,” Schubiner said. About 40% of respondents said they strongly or somewhat agreed with the state- ment, “America must protect and preserve its White European heritage.” About 39% of respondents agreed with the statement, “White people in America face discrimination and unfair treatment on the basis of their race.” The poll was conducted in January with the release of data today under agreement between the Western States Center and DHM Research. The poll was done as “a community service by DHM Research in partnership with the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center,” a state- ment with the poll said. Both said they are independent and non-partisan. The poll asked 603 Oregon adults for their views on white nationalism, right-wing extremism and the strength of democracy in the state and nation. The estimated margin of error is 4%, DHM said. The groups were weighted to reflect the gender, age, race, economic status and geo- graphical location of the respondent. The statistics were also divided into subgroups. The main geographical distri- bution covered three portions of the state: The tri-county region of Portland, the rest of the Willamette Valley, and the remainder of Oregon. Just under half of those polled were sat- isfied with how democracy was working in Oregon. But the 49% rating was higher than the 47% who said democracy was working in the entire nation. Four of 10 respondents believed “bad actors” across the political spectrum were responsible for violence in Portland and the rest of Oregon. Far left activists were chiefly responsible, according to 14%, while 13% blamed far right agitators. Another 8% blamed police and 4% pointed the finger at elected officials. The remaining 22% said they didn’t know who was ultimately responsible. The areas around Portland and the Willamette Valley skewed higher in per- centage of those blaming the far right and police, while the third group that included all areas of the state outside of Portland and the Willamette Valley, was somewhat more likely to blame left-wing groups. Overall, right-wing militia groups and white extremists were seen as bad for busi- ness and the state’s image. They hurt the economy, according to 74% of those polled. The armed groups created a dangerous situation, 69% said, and 68% said laws were needed to prevent people from bringing firearms to public rallies. The pollsters said more than seven out of 10 respondents “were not buying” argu- ments by militia groups that their presence was to support law enforcement or protect the public. Mild to strong support for militia groups was highest — 24% — among those who identified as “rural” Oregonians. Schubiner said the key to limiting the damage of white extremist groups was to see it as a political and social issue, not just a police issue. The broadest and most vocal coalition of political, business and other leaders must speak out against militias and their ideology, she said. “It’s incredibly troubling to see the spike in numbers” of public officeholders who openly sympathize with parts of the paramilitary, white nationalist movement, she said. Eric K. Ward, executive director of the Western States Center and a senior fellow with the Southern Poverty Law Center, said the poll was a wake-up call to Oregonians that there is a resurgence of racist, some- times violent attitudes with a deep history in Oregon. Ward said Oregon’s early years were built on “exclusion by design,” with a narrative of a white agricultural and small town society in a land devoid of indigenous Americans and Black people. Slavery had been barred from new states by the time Oregon joined the union in 1859. But its original constitution did not allow free Black people the right to live in the state, with those who did not leave within a relatively short time subject to public lashings. As civil rights spread in the United States after World War II, Ward said, reactionaries embraced the idea of the “Pacific Northwest Territorial Imperative” — a white ethno-state — which became part of the philosophy of groups from the KKK to skinhead Neo-Nazis and “patriot” militia groups. When white extremism was pushed underground, its believers became “early adopters” of internet technology as a way to spread their message widely but less openly. With more open support from some political leaders, Ward said white separatist ideas are resurgent. He included the “Greater Idaho” movement that would cleave most of Oregon east of the Cascades and fold it into what they believe is an ideologically more compatible government in conservative Idaho. Ward said the movement is just the latest attempt to give political cover by presenting a white ethno-state dream rehashed as a strictly geographic division. “Our rugged rural culture east of the Cascades is somehow incompatible with West Coast progressivism,” Ward said. Ward pointed to the presence of groups such as Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys at rallies in Oregon, some of whom later took part in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 during the certification of the Electoral College vote. Ward noted that extremists targeted im- migrants and indigenous people of Oregon. They had defaced the Holocaust Memorial in Portland. Fliers with images of the mass murder of Jews during World War II were distributed by anti-Semitic activists in the district of Rep. Rachel Prusak, D-Tualatin. Prusak believes she was targeted for supporting gun control legislation whose opponents include some extremists. The bill passed the Legislature and was recently signed into law by Gov. Kate Brown. A group of conservative Republican current and former state lawmakers has submitted a proposed referendum that would put the gun law on hold until a statewide vote in November 2022. Ward pointed to the actions of one of the referendum’s sponsors, Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence. The lawmaker is facing criminal charges and expulsion from the House for allegedly allowing violent protest- ers into the state capitol while the Legislature was in special session last December. It’s action that has historical resonance, Ward underlined. “The willingness of a state elected official to open the door to those who espouse racial violence,” Ward said. Public Notices NOTICE SOLIC- ITING SEALED BIDS FOR SURPLUS REAL PROPERTY On April 9, 2018, the City Council of the City of The Dalles adopted Resolution No. 18-010 declaring the following vacant and developable lot as surplus property: ASSESSOR’S M A P N O . 1 N 13 E 10BA TAX LOT 7400 The property has no site address. Its legal description is: Lots 6 and 7, WILL’S FIRST AD- DITION TO DALLES CITY, in the City of The Dalles, County of Wasco, State of Oregon ALSO, the por- tion of the vacated area along the North boundary line of Lot 6 The City is solic- iting written, sealed bids for this proper- ty’s sale. The min- imum acceptable bid to the City is $50,000. Written, sealed bids will be received by the City until 2:00 p.m. Pacific Prevail- ing Time on July 7, 2021. The bids will be received by: Jonathan M. Kara City Attorney City Hall, Second Floor 313 Court Street Th e D a l l e s , O R 97058 (541) 371-5585 The bids will be opened at 2:30 p.m. Pa c i f i c Pre v a i l i n g Time on July 7, 2021, in the Council Cham- b e rs a t C i t y H a l l , 313 Court Street in The Dalles, Oregon. If the City receives bids exceeding the minimum acceptable bid, the highest bid will be accepted, and the City Manag- er or City Attorney will complete the sale. June 23, 2021 #9172 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The City of Dufur will hold a public hearing before the Planning Commis- sion at 6:00 PM on Th u rs d a y, J u l y 8 , 2021: File Number: 2021-01CUP/2021- SP Hearing Date: J u l y 8 , 2 0 21, 6:00 p.m. Hearing Location: Dufur City Hall, 175 NE 3rd St, Dufur, OR 97021 or via Zoom: Join Zoom Meeting https:// us02web.zoom.us/ j / 8 4737 719 0 3 8 ? p w d = N i 9 t U 0 FJ S 2 h jMnZRREF0anVybV Jpdz09 Meeting ID: 847 3771 9038 Passcode: 475601 One tap mobile +12532158782,,8 4737719038#,,,,*47 5601# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,8 4737719038#,,,,*47 5601# US (Houston) Dial by your lo- cation +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) Meeting ID: 847 3771 9038 Passcode: 475601 Find your local number: https:// us02web.zoom. us/u/kdnvIHgnjA Applicant: Jeremi Keyser, 2062 Anthony Way, Eu- gene, OR 97404 Owner: John Dil- l o n , P O B o x 3 57 , Dufur, OR 97021 Designer: Bell Design Company, 900 W Steuben St, Box 308 Bingen, WA 98605 Property Location: 121 M a i n S t re e t , Dufur. Tax lot 6000 of Wasco County Tax Assessors Map 1S 13E 25 CB. R e q u e s t s : Th e Applicant is request- ing a conditional use permit and site p l a n a p p ro v a l f o r the construction of six apar tments above the existing Kramers Market. A variance to reduce the off-street parking requirements is also requested. Applicable criteria: City of Dufur Zoning Ordinance Article 3. Land Use Zones 3.2 - Residential Zone “R-2” 3.5 - Commercial Zone “C-1” Article 4. Supple- mentary Provisions 4.10 - Commercial Uses in Residential Zone 4 . 11 - V i s i o n Clearance Areas 4.13 - Off-Street Parking and Loading 4.14 - Site Plan Approval 4.15 - Landscap- i n g a n d D e v e l o p- ment Standards Article 5. Condi- tional Uses 5.1 - Authorization t o G ra n t o r D e n y Conditional Uses Article 6. Excep- tions and Variances 6.5 - Authorization t o G ra n t o r D e n y Variances 6.6 - Circum- stances for Granting a Variance 6.7 - Procedure for Granting a Vari- ance Article 8 - Admin- istrative Provisions 8.5 - Public Hear- ings All interested per- sons may appear, be heard, be represent- ed by counsel, or send written signed testimony. All written comments must be received by the City prior to the hearing date or submitted at the hearing. Fail- ure to raise an is- sue in person at the hearing or in writing p re c l u d e s a p p e a l by that person to the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). Failure to provide statements or evi- dence sufficient to afford the decision maker an opportuni- ty to respond to the issue precludes ap- peal to LUBA based on that issue. A copy of the ap- plication, all docu- ments and evidence submitted by or on behalf of the appli- cant and applicable criteria are available for inspection at City Hall during normal business hours, at no cost. Copies will be provided upon request at a reason- able cost. Interested persons may obtain a Staff Report within seven days of the date of the hearing. Please contact City of Dufur Planning Consultant, Tammy Wisco, at 210-896- 3432 if you have any questions. June 23, 2021 #9173 WHITE SALMON NOTICE OF CON- TINUED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HERE- BY GIVEN that the Klickitat County Hearing Examiner will hold a continued consolidated 2-part public hearing on July 29 and July 30, 2021, starting at 9:00a.m. on the Under Canvas Co- lumbia River Gorge Project: Condition- al Use Application CUP2020-13/Rec- reation Park Appli- cation RV2020-01. Applicant: Under Canvas Inc. The Project is to pro- vide a seasonally operated, 95-tent luxury camping fa- cility with individu- al canvas tents for sleeping quarters. Camping would be offered April through October (weather d e p e n d e n t ) . Th e tents would be a mix of standard safari-style struc- tures using shared restroom facilities placed throughout the site and deluxe tents with en suite bathrooms. Tents would be equipped with wood-burn- ing stoves for heat designed for use in such facilities, complete with spark arrestors and heat shields. No smok- ing, campfires, food, or cooking facilities would be permitted at individual tent lo- cations. Guest tents would be supported by a central lobby including kitchen and dining area for guests as well as ad- ditional guest ame- nities. Guest tents may be taken down at the end of the season and placed into on-site storage, while the lobby tent would remain year- round. Maximum build-out of 95 guest tents is anticipated to be completed w i t h i n 5 y e a rs o f construction start. The site is located between Husum and BZ Corner, east of State Hwy 141, the proposed project will be sited within Sec- tion 12, T4N, R10E and Section 7, T4N, R11E on portions of parcels 04-10-1200- 0023/01 and 04-10- 1200-0023/00. Part 1 of the pub- lic hearing is to hear the SEPA appeal on Thursday July 29, 2 0 21, s t a r t i n g a t 9:00a.m.. No gen- eral public testimony will be accepted during Part 1 of said hearing. Part 2 of the pub- lic hearing is to hear all interested parties who wish to testify for or against the proposed condi- tional use permit on Friday July 30, 2021, starting at 9:00a.m. Par ticipation in these meetings will only be offered vir- tually via Zoom. To join the meeting: type in https://zoom. us/j/94908057384 in your browser or use one of the call- in numbers below and Meeting ID: 949 0805 7384 669-900-6833 346-248-7799 929-205-6099 253-215-8782 301-715-8592 312-626-6799 Any person de- s i r i n g t o e x p re s s their views on the permit applications is invited to join the hearing virtually. If you wish to provide comments before the Hearing Exam- iner on Friday July 3 0 , 2 0 21, w e a s k that you please call or email our office at planning@klickitat- county.org or (509) 773-5703 prior to 5pm on Wednesday July 28, 2021 and we can add you to the list for provid- i n g t e s t i m o n y. I f y o u h a v e a l re a d y contacted the Plan- ning Department to be placed on the list for the original hearing, your name will remain on the list. At the meeting the names of those wishing to testify will be called out and at that time you will be able to present your comments/ concerns regarding the proposal. The live testimony from the public is limited to three (3) minutes per person. In the event a member of the public has sub- mitted a written pub- lic comment, that individual will only be allowed to testify live at the hearing to those matters not set forth within their written comments. Written comment period ended on June 11, 2021 and no additional written comment will be allowed. If you have questions regard- ing the land use p ro p o s a l o r h a v e questions about at- tending a virtual hearing, please con- t a c t t h e Pl a n n i n g Department at (509) 773-5703 or email planning@klickitat- county.org BY ORDER of the Klickitat County Hearing Examiner, dated this 17th day of June, 2021. /s/ Andrew L. Kottkamp gorge C O L U M B I A R I V E R June 23, 2021 WS #263 WHITE SALMON VA L L E Y S C H O O L DISTRICT C - C O U R T PAV - ING PROJECT FOR COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL INVITATION FOR BIDS Bid Date: Thurs- day, July 8th, 2021 Sealed bids will be received at the White Salmon Val- ley School District Of fice, Attention: Superintendent, Dr. Jerry A Lewis, locat- ed at 170 NW Lincoln Street, White Salm- on, WA 98672, until 3:00 p.m., Thursday, July 8th, 2021 for the White Salmon Valley School District’s C - C O U R T PAV - ING PROJECT FOR COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL. Th e p ro j e c t i n - cludes reconstruc- tion and paving of a p p ro x i m a t e l y o f 51,000 SF of parking lot area. A non-mandato- ry pre-bid confer- ence will be held on, Thursday, July 1st, 2 0 21 a t t h e w o r k location. Access is of f of NW Sim- mon Road, White Salmon, WA 98672. Statements made by Owner or Owner’s representatives at the conference will not be binding upon the Owner unless confirmed by written A d d e n d u m . Th e meeting will con- clude after the site visit. Bidding docu- ments for the project were prepared by Bell Design Com- pany. Availability of Bid- ding Documents: Bona fide general c o n t ra c t o rs m a y obtain the contract documents at the office of Bell Design Company, located at 900 W Steuben, Bingen, WA 98605, (509) 493-3886 or download them from the following link: https://www.bell- designcloud.com/ owncloud/index. php/s/g5EjFK5cXX UImAe Bid Security: A certified or bank cashier’s check in the amount of five percent (5%) of the bid amount, payable to the White Salmon Valley School Dis- trict, or bid bond ex- ecuted by a licensed bonding company is required with each bid. Rejection of Bids: Th e d i s t r i c t s h a l l have the right to reject any or all bids not accompanied by bid security or data required by the bidding document or a bid in any way incomplete or irreg- ular. White Salmon Val- ley School District is an equal opportu- nity and affirmative a c t i o n e m p l o y e r. Small, minority- and women-owned busi- nesses are encour- aged to submit bids. The bids will be opened at 4:00 p.m., W e d n e s d a y, J u l y 8 t h , 2 0 21 a t t h e White Salmon Valley School District Of- fice, located at 170 NW Linclon Street, White Salmon, WA 98672. For more information, call Mr. Devr y Bell, PE, at (509) 493-3886, devbell@belldesign company.com. June 23, 30, 2021 WS #264 July 2021 Reserve advertising space Sales@gorgenews.com 541-386-1234 Ext. 100