THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015
Long two years
D
id you watch the President of
the U.S. (POTUS) State of
Union address? He seems to have
a really high opinion of himself,
and is living in some fantasy world
when it comes to the economy and
employment numbers.
He takes credit for the lower
prices on gas when he’s done every-
thing in his power to drive the costs
up.
He wants all kinds of new taxes
on the “rich” and more government
freebies for all, including free medi-
cal leave, day care and free commu-
nity college, but he doesn’t say how
he’ll pay for it.
He talked about infrastructure,
but forgets when he was elected
president in 2008 that the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act
was passed that cost the taxpayers
$830 billion — which was supposed
to address some of it, then.
Where did that massive cash cow
go, instead? To every government
program and agency imaginable,
and we still don’t have any better
roads and bridges. As if road and
bridges would turn the whole econ-
omy around, anyway.
He claims foreign policy victo-
ries worldwide, when it’s the worst
situation we’ve been in seen since
before the start of World War II.
He claims to have made the
world a better place with his en-
vironmental policies, when all it’s
done is cost taxpayers billions. He
sees the dollar signs for all of his
green energy cronies, and lectures
us about doomsday global warm-
ing, when it’s a myth that has been
debunked over and over again.
He calls for bipartisan coopera-
tion and then threatens four differ-
ent times he’d veto legislation that
addresses Obamacare, amnesty and
his other bad policies.
But the most memorial line
from his long-winded deception of
an ego trip was when he taunts the
Republicans with this statement: “I
have no more campaigns to run. (A
few Republicans applaud in the au-
dience.) I know, because I won both
of them.”
That statement in summary ex-
plains Obama, and what he thinks
about himself or any bipartisan co-
operation. He isn’t going to consent
to any change in his failed policies.
It’s going to be a long two years.
JEFF JACQUES
Astoria
POW/MIA tributes
I
n 1971, I met a former U.S. Army
sergeant major, a member of the
Army Special Forces. His name
was Norman (Norm) Doney. He
was very involved in trying to bring
home Prisoners of War (POWs) and
having many of those Killed in Ac-
tion (KIA) returned to their loved
ones. He was spending many hours,
and much of his own funds in this
work. He is highly regarded by vet-
erans in Clatsop County for his hon-
est and compassionate assistance to
those veterans in need.
FRIDAY EXCHANGE
5A
Port of Astoria’s potential
A
s a concerned citizen and commercial fisher-
man, I have watched the Port of Astoria’s long
painful slide into disrepair through micromanage-
ment and lack of vision for diversity on the part
of the port commissioners. I’ve seen other ports
up and down the coast flourish, while ours, which
should be the showboat of the West Coast, slowly
turn to ruin, both financially and physically.
The Central Waterfront Master plan which was
adopted in June 2001, still in place in 2010, has
been totally disregarded. Obviously something
needs to change. When invited to sit in on the
meetings of the Committee to Rebuild, Revitalize
and Restore the Port of Astoria (CR3PA), chang-
ing the way the port commissioners were selected,
I accepted.
It was the mayors of the cities of South Coun-
ty who started formulating the petition. They felt
though their cities contributed a large amount of
the Port’s tax base, they were not being represent-
ed. The CR3PA initiative is not intended to take
away the vote of the people, but merely to change
the way the commissioners are selected. From a
popularity vote (who has the most signs wins), to
selecting people with skills in management and un-
derstanding of representing the interests of all of
Clatsop County.
There is a tremendous amount of talent in Clat-
He passed away in February
2013, and is buried at the Fort Ste-
vens Military Cemetery. My reason
for mentioning him is two-fold. I
want him and his work not forgot-
ten. They both need to be honored.
His work was not just local. It was
nationwide. His belief in the POW/
Missing in Action (MIA) pro-
gram was very strong. His month-
ly newsletter went out to many
around the world.
In working with him, and learn-
ing the method he used in paying
physical tribute to the POWs/
MIAs to honor all military service
units at one time, including the
Merchant Marine, I set up a pro-
gram that will always be available
to any group or organization that
wishes to display and honor their
memory. The program includes
the lighting of the candles and the
salute by each of the military ser-
vices.
Under ORS 187.220,2013, the
law reads: A public body shall dis-
play the National League of Fami-
lies POW/MIA flag with the United
States flag upon or near the prin-
cipal building of the public body
on the following days: (a) Armed
Forces Day on the third Saturday in
May, (b) Memorial Day on the last
Monday in May, (c) Flag Day June
14, (d) Independence Day July 4,
(e) National POW/MIA Recogni-
tion Day, (f) Veterans Day on No-
vember 11.
Gov. Kitzhaber proclaimed
Sept. 19 to be POW/MIA Rec-
ognition Day in Oregon. Lest we
forget. These figures may have
come down a bit, but summary
statistics of unaccounted for from
past conflicts stand at: World War
II 73,515; Korean War 7,860; Cold
War 126; Vietnam War 1,636; and
sop County, but there has to be a benign and colle-
giate workplace to attract them. The voters select
their city and county commissioners, and may also
recommend to any sitting council or commission
member anyone they feel is qualified to stand for
port commissioner.
It would be the job of the city and county com-
missioners to then vet the nominees for qualifica-
tions; nominees must be Clatsop County residents.
The names are then sent to the governor’s office
for final selection, which would be the governor’s
only involvement. Although there is a recall peti-
tion being proposed, it is not from this group. No
port commissioner now sitting is threatened; this is
merely a way to select more qualified, professional
commissioners in the future.
I was put off by any involvement by the gover-
nor, as Oregon voters have been slapped in the face
by him too many times, but as I studied the propos-
al I realized we will still have full control through
our city and county commissioners.
If they have the clear-sightedness to ask the
right questions, all prospects will simply have the
well-being of our port and the development of all
its facets as their sole agenda. The potential of our
port is huge, the dereliction, mind boggling.
DAVE DENSMORE
Astoria
Iraq and other conflicts 6; bringing
the total to over 83,000.
There are many other people
and many organizations and frater-
nal groups that display the POW/
MIA tribute at special events. If
you have an opportunity to attend
this special honor, please do so. It
is something you will not forget.
It was men like Norm Doney who
helped increase the knowledge and
awareness of our unaccounted for.
As long as I can, I will help display
and pay tribute to those not back
home. I am available most anytime
and have all the materials required
to display.
MEL JASMIN
Warrenton
6DIHW\¿UVW
T
here is a recent proposal from
Brim Aviation via Kyle For-
tune to allow Brim Aviation/Air
Rescue Systems (ARS) to become
the Fixed Base Operator (FOB) at
the Port of Astoria. Yet all safety
and historic information about this
outfit has not been clearly outlined.
Safety should come first, not
promoting existing businesses
with multiple issues, including two
separate fatalities on the business
watch of Burl Brim Jr. Jon Suhr
was dropped to his death by Brim
Aviation/ARS two years ago, in
Childress,Texas. Brim Excavation
also had a fatality, when the back-
up sounding horn did not work
properly. Burl Brim was fined for
that.
On Dec. 3, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) proposed a
$220,000 fine against Brim Avi-
ation/ARS for being reckless and
breaching safety requirements
(http://tinyurl.com/brimavia1).
There is also a current lawsuit
against Brim/ARS in California for
an incident at the Siskiyou Coun-
ty Airport, wherein crops were al-
legedly destroyed (Rex Houghton
v. Brim Aviation). Craig Morrison,
Brim’s pilot, had his license sus-
pended for “endangering the lives
of others” as ruled by the Nation-
al Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB Order No. EA-5619) re-
garding flying and filming on the
Rogue River.
The list goes on. Working in a
dangerous field of business is one
thing, negligence and scofflaw be-
havior are another.
Fortune claims the MD Heli-
copters Inc. (MDHI) helicopter is
temporarily parked at the airport.
How do we know that they are not
being used for training and person-
al financial gain?
The laws are for everyone,
equally. The valid and factual list
of concerns goes on. Hiring “staff”
is not the answer, nor disqualify-
ing the competitive bid process, or
rushing the procedure for FBO.
Safety should come first. The
Port has a lot of concerns and ques-
tions facing it just now. It would be
prudent to listen and proceed cau-
tiously.
LINDA LEWIS
Ashland
Library risk
W
hile I don’t have deeply po-
larized opinions about the
expansion of the Astoria Library
into the Merwyn space, I have a
few questions that should come up
at a planning commission meeting.
Apparently Astoria still issues
building permits to private parties
to build in earthquake and tsunami
risky locations, and I presume the
city requires the private parties to
hold the city harmless for their up-
coming loss and possible death.
When it comes to expanding a
public building within a risky loca-
tion do the rules of liability change?
Does one use the library at one’s
own risk? The existing library was
completed in 1967 (48 years ago).
Was it built on piling? Apparently
it was not built on fill over estuary,
so enhanced movement may not be
an issue, but a tsunami is.
Since dense building materials
are prone to greater damage than
lighter building materials in an
earthquake, shouldn’t a geotech-
nical engineer estimate the sus-
ceptibility of both buildings to a
9.0 event? If the seismic risk is
high, then perhaps a new building
of safer construction at a less risky
location would be a better invest-
ment?
My personal opinion is the
Merwyn facade is more attractive
than the existing library’s exterior,
which reminds me of a concrete
block with a door, or a World War
II pill box. My dad designed the
Coos Bay library of 1965, and it
has timeless beauty.
Is it likely that future office
space will be needed for the city
administration in the future? The
existing library could become the
convenient office annex. Just issue
the employees hard hats and run-
ning shoes.
DAVID FITCH
Astoria
Lights missing
R
ecently my wife, our dog and
I were almost hit in the cross-
walk by Safeway. This is my third
close call. I mean close — all three
vehicles were within reach as they
sped through a left-hand turn.
I was wearing my high visibility
safety yellow jacket. I was wearing
a 120-lumen headlight, pointed at
the driver. Last month I witnessed
a four-point buck get hit in the op-
posite crosswalk.
While all three of these inci-
dents had their specifics, they all
share one common aggravating
factor noticed by my co-worker:
The intersection is unlighted.
There are streetlights on all the
blocks in every direction. The traf-
fic poles are designed to be capped
with streetlights, there are two very
heavily used bus stops, and zero
streetlights at this intersection.
The cynic in me wonders who
bargained away the requirement
for one of the busiest crosswalks
of east Astoria, or, conversely what
lack of planning oversight allowed
this to occur? Now, having almost
been killed for the third time in
two years — all three times wear-
ing high visibility clothing and a
headlight.
The city is aware of the prob-
lem, and has this project slated for
August, pending funding.
ROGER LINDSLEY
Astoria
TO ATTE N D :
F or M em bers:
D in n er & L ecture:$30 ea .
L ecture on ly: n o ch a rge
F or Non -M em bers:
D in n er & L ecture: $40 ea .
L ecture on ly: $15 ea .
Conserving the
Natural Heritage
of the
Columbia River
February 12th
Glen Lamb
Appetizers w ill be
a va ila ble a t 6 p.m .
D in n er w ill be served a t
6:30 p.m .
T h e spea ker w ill begin
a fter th e din n er service
is com plete a n d n on -
din n er m em bers a n d
guests of th e a udien ce
ta ke th eir sea ts.
F orum to be h eld a t th e
CM H Com m un ity Cen ter
a t 2021 E xch a n ge St.,
Astoria .
LIM ITE
SEATIN D
G
RE SE R
VE
SPACE TO Y D O U R
AY !
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H olly L a rk in s a t 503.325.3211 ext. 227 or foru m @ d a ilya storia n .com by F eb.9th, 2015
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