OPINION
6A
Founded in 1873
STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher
LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor
BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager
CARL EARL, Systems Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager
DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager
HEATHER RAMSDELL, Circulation Manager
Old building,
new owner
A
Enlightened landlords are
critical to a town’s revival
storia’s rebirth would not have happened without en-
lightened landlords.
Some of those were non-prof-
its, such as Liberty Restoration,
Inc., which restored the Liberty
Theater, and the Columbia River
Maritime Museum, which re-
stored the Astoria railway station
and repurposed it the Barbey
Maritime Center.
Some landlords were pri-
vate investors such as Chester
Trabucco, who restored the Hotel
Elliott or Robert Jacob, who
built the Cannery Pier Hotel.
Some were governments,
such as the City of Astoria,
which put City Hall through a
complete upgrade, and Clatsop
County, which restored the Guy
Boyington Building.
Bill Lind and Virginia
Laughery, who have sold the
Carruthers Building at 12th
and Commercial, converted a
former drug store (Owl Drug,
which famously appeared in
“Kindergarten Cop”) into a
grand space that became a sculp-
ture gallery and then a restau-
rant.
In all of these ventures, the
property owners are local.
That is a critical fact, because
neglectful absentee landlords
are the bane of small towns.
Edward Eng of Los Angeles, for
instance, was content to let the
Liberty Theater slide into a state
of deep atrophy.
In selling the Carruthers
Building to Jim Defeo, Bill Lind
said he was especially pleased
to find a buyer who was com-
mitted to downtown’s future.
A former Portland restaurateur
who moved here in 2006, Defeo
has made his mark by bringing
new life to 11th Street with the
Astoria Coffee House and Bistro
as well as other properties.
Big cities and small towns are
in a constant cycle of deteriora-
tion, decline, death and renewal.
The same is true of the human
population of those places. In
that cycle, new blood with new
ideas is essential. And that’s
where a fertile mind like Defeo
comes in.
Watershed restoration
good for wildlife, humans
E
Refuge could become increasingly
important sanctuary
fforts to restore tidal con-
nections around the south
end of Willapa Bay will reach a
new milestone with completion
of a project at Greenhead Slough
east of Long Beach, Wash.
The project on land acquired
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service in recent years aroused
no vocal objections, in stark con-
trast to earlier work that removed
dikes along a far less publicly vis-
ible shoreline abutting uninhab-
ited hills owned by the Willapa
National Wildlife Refuge. In that
earlier phase, objections largely
came from hunters and nearby
farmers who feared geese, ducks
and elk would all be dislodged
from accustomed habitat, along
with officials worried about po-
tential flooding of a county road.
There is little evidence so far that
adverse impacts resulted from the
restoration work.
The Greenhead project differs
in several important respects.
In its case, the “dike” is U.S.
Highway 101, which won’t be
removed or relocated — though
sea level change could eventual-
ly force a move later this century.
Instead, water passage is being
returned to something more like
historical rates by eliminating
an inadequate culvert, replacing
it with a steel bridge. When it’s
complete, more than 2,300 acres
will become far more accessible
to salmon and other species.
Originally established by
President Franklin Roosevelt in
1937 to protect migratory birds
traveling the eastern edge of the
Pacific flyway, the Willapa ref-
uge is certain to become increas-
ingly important as a sanctuary
and stop-off place for species
fleeing drought and other cli-
mate impacts.
When it comes to fish, con-
troversies between gillnetters
and recreational fishermen,
along with dissatisfaction with
Washington state salmon-man-
agement policies, shouldn’t
obscure the fact that providing
more habitat for salmon is bound
to be a good thing. They won’t
necessarily find places to spawn
in the usually slow-moving wa-
ters flowing into Greenhead
Slough, but they will greatly
benefit from 18 miles of streams
in which to feed, mature and
hide from predators.
Although it has neared com-
pletion without generating much
public awareness, there may
be some backlash as additional
salt intrusion begins to effect
fresh-water vegetation visible
from the highway. Breeching
dikes and allowing saltwa-
ter back into former tidal flats
around South Bend, Wash., is a
continuing irritant for some in
that community. Dike changes in
Clatsop County haven’t gener-
ated as much comment, thus far
anyway, perhaps because histor-
ic flood plains on the south side
of the estuary were less exten-
sive or have been more devel-
oped, and so are less suited to
restoration.
Shoreline changes, wheth-
er initiated by people or nature,
will be one of the biggest stories
of the 21st century. By taking
the initiative and proactively
managing the hydrology of lo-
cal watersheds, we may forestall
some negative consequences for
habitats, highways and neigh-
borhoods.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2015
Among the ruins, a
case of righteousness
done. Three weeks ago,
for example, 150 Syrian
Christians were airlifted
to refuge and safety in Po-
land.
That’s the work of the
Weidenfeld Safe Havens
)XQG,WSURYLGHGWKHÀLJKW
and will support the ref-
ugees for as long as 18
months as they try to re-
make their lives.
doors,’” to explain why
“I’m a man in a hurry.”
Remarkably healthy and
stunningly energetic (as
ASHINGTON — Christi-
distant cousins, we are
anity, whose presence in the
often in touch), he ap-
Middle East predates Islam’s by 600
pears nowhere near any
years, is about to be cleansed from
exit doors. But he is
the Middle East. Egyptian Copts
aware of and deeply trou-
may have found some respite under
bled by the doors closing
Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, but after their
in on a community in
Charles
persecution under the previous Mus-
Syria largely abandoned
Krauthammer
by the world.
lim Brotherhood government, they
In context, the scale of
know how precarious their existence
In those large
the initial rescue is tragically small.
in 90 percent Muslim Egypt re-
The objective is to rescue 2,000
mains. Elsewhere, it’s much worse.
swaths of
families. Compared to the carnage
Twenty-one Copts were beheaded
in Syria wrought by the pitiless
E\WKH,VODPLF6WDWHDI¿OLDWHLQ/LE\D
Syria
and
Iraq
combatants — 230,000 dead, half
for the crime of being Christian. In
the 22 million population driven
those large swaths of Syria and Iraq
where the
from their homes — it’s a paltry
where the Islamic State rules, the
Islamic State
sum. But these are real people who
consequences for Christians are ter-
will be saved. And for Weidenfeld,
rible — enslavement, exile, torture,
rules, the
that counts.
PDVVDFUHFUXFL¿[LRQ
Yet he has been criticized for
Over the decades, many Middle
consequences
rescuing just Christians. In fact, the
Eastern Christians, seeing the rise
U.S. government will not participate
for Christians
RISROLWLFDO,VODPDQGWKHLQWHQVL¿FD-
because the rescue doesn’t extend to
tion of savage sectarian wars, have
are terrible —
Yazidis, Druze or Shiites.
simply left. Lebanon’s Christians,
This comes under the heading of
once more than half the population,
enslavement,
no good deed going unpunished. It’s
are now estimated at about a third.
a rather odd view that because he
The number of Christians under Pal-
exile, torture,
cannot do everything, he should be
estinian Authority rule in the West
massacre,
admonished for trying to do some-
Bank has dwindled — in Bethle-
thing. If Weidenfeld were a man of
hem, for example, dropping by half.
crucifixion.
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(The exception, of course, is Israel,
be valid. As it is, he says rather sen-
where Christians, Arab and non-Ar-
ab, enjoy not just protection but civil
The person behind all this is Lord sibly, “I can’t save the world.” The
rights. Their numbers are increasing. George Weidenfeld: life peer, philan- Arab states, particularly the Gulf
But that’s another story.)
thropist, publisher (Weidenfeld & monarchies, are surely not without
Most endangered are the Chris- Nicolson, established 1949), Euro- resources. With so few doing so lit-
tians of Syria. Four years ago they peanist (founder of the Institute for tle for so many, he’s doing what he
numbered about 1.1 million. By now Strategic Dialogue to promote classi- can.
And for him, it’s personal.
KDYH ÀHG 0DQ\ RI WKRVH cally liberal European values), proud
remaining in country are caught ei- public Jew (honorary vice president In 1938, still a teenager, he was
ther under radical Islamist rule or in of the World Jewish Congress), life- brought from Vienna to London
WKH FURVV¿UH EHWZHHQ IDFWLRQV $V long Zionist (he once served as the where the Plymouth Brethren took
the larger Christian world looks on FKLHIRI&DELQHWWR,VUDHO¶V¿UVWSUHV- him in and provided for him. He
passively, their future, like the future ident, Chaim Weizmann) and, as he never forgot. He is trying to return
of Middle Eastern Christianity writ will delightedly tell you, the last per- the kindness, he explains, to repay
large, will be determined by Iran, VRQWR¿JKWDGXHODWWKH8QLYHUVLW\ the good that Christians did for him
Hezbollah, the Assad dynasty, the Is- of Vienna — with sabers, against a 77 years ago. In doing so, he is not
just giving hope and a new life to
lamic State, the Nusra Front, various Nazi. (No one died.)
other local factions and by regional
Weidenfeld, now 95, once in- 150 souls, soon to be thousands. He
powers seeking advantage.
voked Torschlusspanik, “a German has struck a blow for something ex-
Meanwhile, on a more limited phrase which roughly translates as ceedingly rare: simple, willful righ-
scale, there are things that can be the ‘panic before the closing of the teousness.
By CHARLES
KRAUTHAMMER
Washington Post Writers Group
W
Guns and the two Americas
a week ago — a shooting
theater in Lafayette,
E\ D KDWH¿OOHG PDQ ZKR
La., are not gun-free at
all. They have no met-
was able to legally obtain
he waves of mass shootings a gun despite a history of
al detectors or screen-
continue to roll over the United mental illness — Rick Per-
ing — that would cost
too much, the theater
States like surf on the ship of state’s ry called gun-free zones a
owners claim. Gun-free
prow. Every few weeks now we bad idea.
is a suggestion, and
get hit with a jolt of cold water. We
In his view, echoing
therefore a misnomer.
shake and shudder, and then brace that of the fanatics who
Eventually, the more
ourselves for the next one.
own the Republican Party
prosperous
theaters
So we beat on — a nation whose by intimidation, everyone
Timothy
in
better
communities
people are 20 times more likely to should be armed, every-
Egan
will pay for metal de-
die of gun violence than those of where. Once a shooting
most other developed countries. The starts, the bad guy with the gun will tectors, further setting apart the
only thing extraordinary about mass be killed by the good guy with the two Americas in our age of mass
shootings in America is how ordi- gun, somehow able to g et a draw on shootings.
The Mall of America — more
nary the killing grounds are — ele- the shooter in a darkened theater or
than 500 stores in 4 miles of retail
mentary schools, high schools, col- behind a pew in church.
space, drawing 40 million annu-
leges, military recruitment centers,
al visitors to a climate-controlled
theaters, parks, churches.
part
of Minnesota — is trying to
Is no place safe? Actually, sev-
What we’re
be a gun-free zone. “Guns are
eral places are. You want protection
banned on these premises” is the
in a country that allows a deranged
moving
mall’s official policy.
man to get an assault weapon to hunt
toward, then,
If the mall took up Rick Perry’s
down innocent people in a public
suggestion, shoppers could roam
space? Go to the airport — that bub-
are regions
among the chain stores packing
ble of gun-free security. Or go to a
heat, ready for a shootout. The
Major League Baseball game, or
that are safer
owners of that vast operation, sim-
a stadium in the National Football
ilar to those who stage concerts
League.
than others,
and pro sports, think otherwise.
Our big league venues may be
and public
The mall has a security force of
engaging only in security theater, as
more than 100 people. Yeah — I
critics assert, but their owners don’t
spaces that
hear the joke about the feckless
think so. They now mandate metal
mall cops. But the Mall of Amer-
detectors to snag weapons, and most
are safer than
ica trusts them more than well-
of them even ban off-duty cops from
armed shoppers to protect people,
bringing guns to the games.
others, led
as they should.
Nationwide, if you want to lessen
by private
Surprising though it may seem,
your chances of getting shot, stay out
gun ownership is declining overall
of the South. The South is the most
enterprise,
in the United States. We are still
violent region in the United States
awash with weapons — nearly a
and also the place with the highest
shunning the
third of all American households
rate of gun ownership. More guns,
have an adult with a gun. But
easily obtained by the mentally ill,
gun crazies
that’s down from nearly half of all
religious fanatics and anti-govern-
who want
households in 1973.
ment extremists, mean more gun
What we’re moving toward,
deaths.
everyone
then, are regions that are safer
Better to go to a city or state with
than others, and public spaces that
gun restrictions, at least if you’re
armed.
are safer than others, led by pri-
playing the odds. Most of the states
vate enterprise, shunning the gun
with tighter gun laws have fewer gun
deaths.
This scenario almost never crazies who want everyone armed.
That’s one America, the slightly happens. The logic is nonsense, The new reality comes with the in-
safer one. It includes government the odds of a perfectly timed convenience and hassle of screen-
gun-screened zones like airports, counter-killer getting the drop on ing and pat-downs similar to the
courthouses and many high schools. the evil killer unlikely. And even routines at airports — enforced
%XWPRUHVLJQL¿FDQWO\LWDOVRFRYHUV when such a situation does hap- gun-free zones, not mere sugges-
property used by our most popular pen, as in the Tucson shooting tions.
As a way to make everyday
obsession, pro football — the free of 2011, the armed citizen who
market at work.
jumps into the melee can pose a life seem less frightening, the new
The other America is an open- mortal threat to others. In Tucson, reality is absurd. But that’s the
¿UH]RQHEDFNHGE\SROLWLFLDQVZKR an innocent person came with- cost, apparently, of an extreme
think it should be even more crowd- in seconds of getting shot by an interpretation of a constitutional
ed with average people parading armed bystander who wasn’t sure amendment designed to fend off
British tyranny, a freedom that has
around with lethal weapons. Just af- whom to shoot.
ter the tragedy in a Louisiana theater
Most gun-free zones, like the become a tyranny in itself.
By TIMOTHY EGAN
New York Times News Service
T