THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016
FRIDAY EXCHANGE
5A
Eliminate sea lions
ollowing four conirmed
cattle kills by the wolves
in northeastern Washington,
Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife managers
ordered the killing of wolves.
As a result, effectively 10 per-
cent of the wolf pack was
eliminated.
The cost to reintroduce
wolves and build their popula-
tions over the years has likely
cost in the millions of dollars.
In the meantime, after mil-
lions — if not billions — of
dollars have been spent over
the years on any number of
measures to bolster salmon
runs, sea lions continue to
multiply and feast on salmon.
A recent population survey
counted thousands of these
predators just on the West
Coast. They have taken over
docks from San Francisco to
Astoria, and cost the Port of
Astoria thousands of dollars a
month in lost revenue. All the
while, they take a signiicant
portion of the salmon runs that
have been so costly to rebuild.
Thank you Rep. Jaime
Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., for
backing a bill to kill sea lions
to protect ish runs. Maybe
our leaders are inally going
to address this problem. In the
meantime, I guess sea lions
are safe as long as they don’t
start killing cattle.
PATRICK ST. JOHN
Vancouver, Washington
Monumental tribute
F
Support schools
write today urging everyone
in our Seaside School Dis-
trict to vote yes for the bond
issue for our local schools.
As a retired senior citi-
zen, I have not had a child in
these schools for many years.
My grandchildren have all
been educated in other places,
where others have paid the
taxes to educate them. I know
it is my turn to step up to the
plate and carry forward what
the members of our commu-
nity did for my generation and
me in the 1950s.
Yes, I attended Broadway
Middle School in the early
1950s, when it was new and in
good condition. This is no lon-
ger the case. I recently visited
Broadway, as well as Gear-
hart Elementary and the high
school, and was astounded at
the deteriorating walls, roof-
ing and heating issues.
And, I learned that nearly
$500,000 a year is being spent
beyond the normal mainte-
nance budget to patch up the
most pressing problems. What
a waste to spend this kind of
money, and still have unsafe
facilities that no longer meet
the needs of education in the
21st century.
We are fortunate to be in
a position where the land for
the new buildings has been
donated by Weyerhaeuser, and
when we can take advantage
of some of the lowest inter-
est rates we have ever known.
The state will also contribute
$4 million as a one-time con-
tribution if the bond passes this
November. In addition, Seaside
has three of the four schools
in the state that are in the tsu-
nami zone. And although it is
uncertain when that could be
an issue here, the probability is
very high in the next 50 years.
These are some of the rea-
sons that Seaside branch of
the American Association of
University Women (AAUW)
has chosen to support this
measure this year. Our chil-
dren are our investment in the
future. Our organization is one
that values and supports edu-
cation as a means to a better
future. It is our time to step
forward and insure that our
children receive the education
they need to be successful.
They deserve it. Please give
them your support.
CAROL BRENNEMAN
President, Seaside AAUW
I
Vote yes for schools
ear Seaside School Dis-
trict residents: It’s time
for all of us to step up and
support our children by vot-
ing yes on the Seaside School
District bond measure this
November. I was fortunate
to grow up when the schools
were maintained, and educa-
tion was supported. Now it’s
my turn to support our district
children, and I ask you to sup-
port me in voting yes, too.
In the 2013 election, the
bond measure didn’t pass. The
writers of the bond listened to
D
he ceremony conirming U.S. cit-
izenship upon new citizens was
recently held at Knappton Cove Her-
itage Center — a very appropriate
venue. As one of the attending mem-
bers of the Astoria Chapter of the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
tion, this was the irst such event I
had ever attended. Several other ser-
vice organizations, such as the Astoria
Lions Club, created an appropriate set-
ting for the dignitaries and ceremony
oficiators.
As a native-born citizen, I was
impressed with the one man and 10
women, from a variety of countries,
who stepped forward to receive their
oficial documents afirming citizen-
ship. Later, they indicated it had not
T
your concerns and have made
several important changes:
• They have reduced the
cost of the bond by 37.5
percent.
• They have persuaded
Weyerhaeuser to donate 80
acres of land east of Seaside
Heights Elementary school.
• The district has applied
for and is in line to receive
$4 million in state match-
ing funds, but can only receive
these funds if the bond mea-
sure passes.
But more important, three
of the four schools that our
children are attending are
more than 50 years old. Their
maintenance repair costs are
ever increasing. Those same
schools are in the tsunami
zone, and cannot receive state
funding to retroit or relocate
those schools.
It’s time to act now. Inter-
est rates are at an all-time
low. Costs to build in the
future are expected to rise 4
percent each year. The new
schools will be more energy
eficient, and those savings
can be passed on to program
development and teacher
salaries.
Deteriorating schools give
the wrong message to our
students and teachers. They
deserve safe, eficient loca-
tions in which to learn. Good
education strengthens our
community and creates lead-
ers for our future.
As an added bonus, when
the tsunami comes — and
experts say it will occur some-
time in the next 50 years —
the new schools not only will
keep our children safe, but
will provide emergency shel-
ters for the whole community.
For $1.35 per $1,000 value
of your property, you can
assure our children safety and
a quality education. A win-win
for all of us.
Vote yes for our local
schools.
CYNTHIA GOULD
Gearhart
VERN FOWLER
Seaside
been easy, but each had the determina-
tion to accomplish their commitment to
the U.S. by attending classes, studying
hard and passing the examination.
They were all smiling broadly, as
were friends and families, and the
youngsters who accompanied them.
They were eager to become part of our
democracy in a republic, and to use
their rights and privileges to take part in
their government and to vote.
As I watched them, I felt my mater-
nal grandfather, the Hon. John A.
Buchanan (1863-1935), standing
next to me. Appointed to the Ameri-
can Legion Commission of Naturaliza-
tion in 1920-1930s, he always kept his
Astoria law ofice door open for log-
gers, ishermen, immigrants — anyone
not make a dime off of me;
what Brent did for me was
priceless.
Thank you, Brent. May
the kindness you generously
shared with me return to you
100-fold.
DENESE SKINNER
Amarillo, Texas
Character?
fter the Constitutional
Convention in 1787,
Benjamin Franklin was
asked, what did you create?
Franklin replied, “A republic,
if you can keep it.” America’s
founders did not always polit-
ically agree with each other,
but there was a certain moral
standard of conduct for hold-
ing public ofice.
As America’s second pres-
ident, John Adams, stated,
“Our Constitution was made
only for a moral and religious
people. It is wholly inade-
quate to the government of
any other.” Until recently,
citizens would not toler-
ate politicians who demon-
strated unethical or immoral
behavior.
It is very perplexing how
the ethically challenged Hil-
lary Clinton can still gener-
ate support. Hillary lied to
Congress and the FBI over
the security of emails. In tes-
A
and all who wanted to learn the history
of these United States and about our
form of government.
He also taught them about the for-
mation of the Paciic Northwest and,
his passion, about our area’s Indian
lore. Many of his students became nat-
uralized citizens through his dedication
to education and his strong belief in
service toward all.
As a tribute to him, a monument
stone will be placed on his gravesite
at Ocean View Cemetery. To help
fund this, please donate to the Clatsop
County Historical Society, in beneit
for the Buchanan Memorial Fund, P.O.
Box 88, Astoria, OR 97103.
CAROL C. LAMBERT
Hammond
timony before Congress, FBI
Director James Comey admit-
ted that Hillary had received
110 classiied emails. The
decision by Comey not to
recommend criminal indict-
ment against Hillary, based
on the difference of “intent”
versus “gross negligence,” is
a blow to justice and those
who have been convicted
for lesser crimes in handling
government secrets.
There is also the critical
issue of how four brave men
were killed in Benghazi. Hil-
lary stated in congressional
testimony, “… what differ-
ence does it make?” Presi-
dent Obama sent out national
security advisor Susan Rice
to deliberately lie to the
American people, saying the
attack was caused by a video,
when in fact it was well
planned terrorist attack. Wake
up, America.
Does character still matter
in politics? Fifty years ago,
Hillary could not have been
elected dog catcher, and now
there is a chance of winning
the election for president.
Maybe the voters no longer
care about personal and gov-
ernment ethics; just keep the
welfare and entitlement pro-
grams coming.
LARRY SPARKS
Cannon Beach
Our team
t was so nice seeing repre-
sentatives of the Trail Blaz-
ers in Astoria last week. I hon-
estly didn’t think they gave a
care about us here.
There were so many attend-
ees at the fair. My wife and
I got to meet a few friendly
folks, including the writer cov-
ering the story for The Daily
Astorian, who seemed to know
a lot about the team. We did
enjoy seeing his story after
(“Trail Blazers Rip City comes
to the coast,” Sept. 21).
It proved to me to an extent
that maybe, just maybe, they
realize there are fans outside
the Portland area. I’m ready
and excited for the approach-
ing season. I just wish some-
one local could cover them.
No radio station carries them.
The local newspaper doesn’t
cover them. I’d like to see
more coverage somewhere, if
possible. After all, they sup-
posedly are our team. That’s
what they say, anyway.
JIM SAUNDERS
Astoria
I
Housing hopes
egarding the Planning
Commission meeting
Sept. 27, and The Daily Asto-
rian article Sept. 28 (“Plan-
R
ning Commission mulls ways
to gain homes”): There are a
lot of problems with the con-
cept of “accessory dwelling
units,” which really translates
to increased density for a city
like Astoria.
Increased density is not
good for humans or animals,
with the resulting loss of pri-
vacy, yards for kids and gar-
dens, disputes with neighbors
over parking spots and the
deterioration of neighborhood
characteristics.
Lots of single family homes
in Astoria have already been
converted into plexes, without
off-treet parking, resulting in
our narrow streets becoming,
in effect, one-way streets.
The proposed plan will
eventually get us into the
same hassle taking place in
Cannon Beach and Gearhart
over vacation rentals.
For you homeowners who
think this will be a inan-
cial beneit to you, beware.
After you pay for design, per-
mits and construction, your
property’s assessed value
will increase, and likewise
your property tax. Also, any
income you receive is subject
to income tax, or the IRS will
come to visit.
The City Council can pro-
mote “affordable housing”
by encouraging developers
to accommodate this goal by
building apartments on land
such as the soon-to-be-gone
Ford dealership property —
and it’s on a transit line. Other
parcels of land are probably
known to local Realtors.
If the proposed code
changes are made, I am con-
cerned that there will be a
lack of code enforcement,
and subsequent unintended
consequences.
MIKE GREEN
Astoria
Editorially tired
an we get some edito-
rials from people other
than The New York Times?
It’s depressing to open the
paper every day and see Paul
Krugman, Nicholas Kristof,
Charles M. Blow, etc.
BUDDY HOELL
Astoria
C
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Thank you, Brent
want to let the Astoria
community know that you
have an amazing Chamber
of Commerce representative
working in your Enterprise
Rent-A-Car store: Brent Sul-
livan. He went out of his way
to help me ind transportation
from Astoria to the Portland
airport.
All of his cars were rented
for the day I needed one, as
cruise ships were docking for
excursions. Rather than just
saying so and getting back
to the business of running
his Enterprise Rent-A-Car
location, he offered several
options for me.
One option required that
he research a local person
who on occasion rented from
Enterprise Rent-A-Car to do
medical transports from Asto-
ria to Portland. Within the
hour he called back with the
most perfect option for get-
ting us to the airport. The fol-
lowing day Brent’s contact,
Elliott Jarrell, picked us up at
the hotel and drove us to the
airport.
I would have expected
Brent to convey that all of
his cars were booked and
send me on my way. What
I did not expect was for
Brent to go out of his way to
help me. Brent was my life-
saver. Brent was kind, caring
and professional. He did not
have to do what he did, but
he stepped up and assisted a
total stranger. Brent’s Enter-
prise Rent-A-Car branch did
I
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