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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2017)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017 Women’s prison focus of state summit, legislative session second women’s prison at the old Oregon State Penitentiary Minimum Security facility in Salem. The state’s only exist- ing women’s prison, Coffee Creek Correctional Institu- tion in Wilsonville, has been chronically over capacity for more than a year. The popu- lation on Thursday stood at 1,290, about 10 over the limit, according to the Department of Corrections. Meanwhile, the state faces a nearly $1.8 billion revenue shortfall, and the state’s jus- tice reinvestment funding is at risk of reduction or elimi- nation this budget cycle, said state budget writer Sen. Rich- ard Devlin, D-Tualatin. Yet lawmakers from both parties are rallying behind efforts to avoid opening another prison and to main- tain funding for the criminal justice reform initiative. “I am very excited about the fact that both Democrats and Republicans, men and women, are saying to me: Let’s figure out how we can avoid opening a second wom- en’s prison, and I am like, hallelujah,” said Gov. Kate Brown in a phone interview with the EO Media Group/ Pamplin Media Group Capi- tal Bureau. “I would just say the open- ing of that facility is at a time Researcher recommends gender-focused treatment By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau R.J. Marx/The Daily Astorian Plans call for a video poker area with four lottery ma- chines in a new Gearhart brew pub. Gearhart to schedule poker date Owner’s appeal to be heard by City Council By R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian GEARHART — Video poker will be on the agenda for the City Council in April as councilors decide whether to permit four lottery machines in a new brew pub. A special session was held Wednesday to determine the next step as Gearhart hears an appeal by property owner Terry Lowenberg of a Plan- ning Commission decision blocking the machines in his brew pub. Lowenberg, who closed the former Gearhart Grocery in December, received a permit for his brew pub at 599 Pacific Way last spring. In December, he sought to add four video lottery machines. Lowenberg said he needed the machines to make his pro- posed brew pub profitable. The city responded that installation of four poker lot- tery machines will devote space to “adult-only activ- ity” that may operate in con- flict with surrounding proper- ties. “The machines encourage drinking and conflict with the family-friendly character described in the original pro- posal,” City Planner Carole Connell wrote in a staff report. Poker lottery machines are not in compliance with some of the city’s comprehensive plan policies, the planner added. “Further there is no evidence of demand for the machines in the central city core … The city finds gambling stations that encourage alcohol con- sumption do not coincide with the intent of a neighborhood cafe as defined.” Planning commissioners agreed and denied Lowenberg’s request 5-2. They said the lot- tery machines could open the door to gambling downtown. Others were skeptical that video poker could “prop up” Lowenberg’s failing business. In an appeal, Lowenberg said the city lacked evidence to deny the machines based on studies linking gambling and drinking. The staff report, he wrote, “sounds like it was writ- ten by an angry citizen firmly against lottery machines.” Wednesday’s meeting lim- ited the council’s hearing to public testimony already on the record, one of four avail- able council actions. “The default for appeal of the Plan- ning Commission decision is review of the record,” City Attorney Peter Watts said. Under this option, the record will include all comments and correspondence presented at earlier hearings. “That means you will see in written form everything the Planning Com- mission saw. Both parties will be able to testify, but will not be able to introduce new informa- tion,” Watts said. Others council options could have been to pres- ent additional evidence, con- duct a new hearing or send the appeal back to the Planning Commission. “We have a consensus, which is the recommendation of attorney and staff,” Mayor Matt Brown said. “Staff will work imme- diately on trying to schedule that,” City Administrator Chad Sweet. “I’ll do my best to get it in April.” Astoria schools add two days back to year The Daily Astorian The Astoria School Board voted Wednesday to add back two student days, after three were canceled because of icy weather. The board added March 6, SALEM – The women’s prison population has tri- pled in the past two decades because of sentencing reforms and a criminal justice system that is biased against women, according to a criminal justice reform researcher. The increase is “not the result of women becom- ing more violent or becom- ing more problematic, but the fact that our sentencing laws have changed and our policies around the war on drugs has also been a war on women, particularly on women of color,” said Emily Salisbury, a criminal justice associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Salisbury’s provocative statement during an address at Oregon’s Justice Rein- vestment Summit Thursday is salient to crucial decisions lawmakers will make this leg- islative session. Lawmakers will have to decide whether to spend $17.5 million into opening a when the state resources are already limited and is con- trary to Oregon’s approach of justice reinvestment and focus on reducing recidivism and supporting self-sufficiency.” After seeing the turnout of 1,000 registrants at Thurs- day’s summit, Brown said she is “confident the Legislature will continue to fund Justice Reinvestment.” The governor’s proposed budget includes about $32 million for justice reinvest- ment grants for counties in the next two years. Brown said that if the state can avoid opening the second women’s prison, she would propose adding the savings from that to the $32 million. The justice reinvest- ment initiative came out of a 2013 law that expanded early release programs, lowered penalties for certain property and drug possession crimes and authorized about $55 mil- lion in grants since 2013 to pay for counties to set up and enhance support services for offenders on probation and parole. So far, the program has saved the state an estimated $52.7 million from reducing the male and female prison popu- lation, said Rep. Duane Stark, R-Grants Pass, co-chairman of the Ways and Means Subcom- mittee on Public Safety. “It’s a proven investment that is reducing public safety costs and improving commu- nities,” said House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland. “It’d be penny- wise and pound foolish to cut funding for the program.” Salisbury, a former fac- ulty member of Portland State University, has trained employees at the Oregon Department of Corrections in “gender-responsive strat- egies.” Similar strategies are becoming international policy in the treatment and super- vision of female offenders, Salisbury said. “Women are far less likely to engage in violence, less likely to use a gun, or a weapon in commission of an offense, far less likely to be the kingpin or ringmaster in criminal enterprises,” Salis- bury said. “This, of course, doesn’t mean that women shouldn’t be punished or held accountable. … But it should be recognized that they are far less dangerous, pose less of a risk to public safety and that the social and fiscal costs of their incarcera- tion have wider implications and effects on families and their children.” The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Rural job growth expected to trail behind state through 2024 to grow 14 percent between 2014 and 2024, more than double the national expected rate for that period. But in Harney and Malheur counties, the number of jobs is expected to increase merely 3 percent until 2024. That’s compared to 6 and 7 percent in neighboring counties to the north and west, which is a rate on par with expected job growth nationally. By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Capital Bureau SALEM — Job growth in Oregon’s rural areas — par- ticularly southeastern Oregon — is projected to trail behind the rest of the fast-growing state until 2024, according to the Oregon Employment Department. Oregon’s jobs are expected Counties near the central Columbia River Gorge, mean- while, are expected to see 11 percent job growth until 2024. The outlook comes in the broader context of the slow post-recession jobs recovery in rural areas of the state. While Oregon as a whole has made up the jobs it lost during the Great Recession, that’s not the case for many of the state’s rural areas — such as Gilliam and Wheeler counties. But the future may be brighter for them: Both are projected to exceed the country’s jobs growth rate until 2024. Construction, health care and professional and business services jobs are expected to grow the fastest, according to a presentation employment department officials made to lawmakers on the state’s work- force committee Thursday. Pop-up lunch on tap for next week an opportunity to learn, gain experience and be part of a diverse community, while also offering a dining experience to guests from all walks of life, regardless of their income level. The Clatsop Commu- nity Action Regional Food Bank will be in attendance Wednesday and Thursday to distributie supplemen- tal produce for low-income visitors to the pop-up lunch. Chef Outta Water is a global membership program of events that celebrate food and travel through chef exchanges. This event will The Daily Astorian Baked Alaska, and Tongue Point Job Corps Culinary Arts program pres- ent a “Pay What You Can POP-UP Lunch” next week. This Chef Outta Water event takes place Monday to Friday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Baked Alaska “Annex.” The Baked Alaska “Annex” is located just east of Baked Alaska at the foot of 12th St. The purpose of this lunch is two-fold., event organiz- ers said, is to offer students previously a teacher in-ser- vice day, and June 15, which will extend the school year by one day. Visit www.astoria.k12. or.us for the revised 2016-17 school calendar. Flower • Edibles Concentrates • Beverages All purchases are confidential NO Personal Info Captured take students from through- out the Northwest out of their comfort zones and give them an opportunity to learn from professional chefs on the front line. Diners will have the opportunity to interact with the chefs, students and other diners in a family-style setting while offering a lim- ited, made-to-order lunch menu. Volunteer Pick of the Week Daisy 10-year old Australian Cattle Dog Want to be lucky in love? Adopt a Shelter Dog. Cultivate true companionship with delightful Daisy! (More on http://Petfi nder.com/ ) Sponsored By B AYSHORE A NIMAL H OSPITAL SHOP FREEDOM MARKET GREAT PRICES & HUGE SELECTION C LATSOP C OUNTY A NIMAL S HELTER 1315 SE 19 th Street, Warrenton • 861 - PETS www.dogsncats.org Noon to 4pm, Tues-Sat ILLWACO • 133 HOWERTON WAY W A NTED WARNING: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and over. Keep out of reach of childre. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. 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The chip leader at the end of 50 minutes wins a Visa Cash Card valued at 50% of the total buy-in per game. Maximum potential prize money is: 1st Game: $150 | 2nd Game: $200 | 3rd Game: $250 th 892 Marine Drive | Astoria 503.338.0101 Antiques Glassware Vintage Decor Nautical Items Saturday FEB. 18 503.325.2203 or cchs@cumtux.org 1 BLOCK OFF BROADWAY • 1 BLOCK FROM BEACH 20 N. COLUMBIA, SEASIDE • 503-738-4331 NormasSeaside.com Prize for best 1920’s costume Thanks to our Sponsors! Jim & Janet Aalberg Patricia Roberts
