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8A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017 WORLD IN BRIEF Associated Press S. Korea’s leader willing to visit North, talk to US, China SEOUL, South Korea — New South Korean President Moon Jae-in said as he took office today that he was open to visiting rival North Korea under the right conditions to talk about Pyongyang’s aggressive pursuit of nuclear-tipped missiles. Moon’s softer stance on North Korea could create fric- tion with Washington, which has swung from threats of mili- tary action to hints of dialogue as it seeks to formulate a policy under President Donald Trump. South Korea’s first liberal leader in a decade, Moon also said he’ll “sincerely negotiate” with the United States, Seoul’s top ally, and China, South Korea’s top trading partner, over the contentious deployment of an advanced U.S. missile-defense system in southern South Korea. The system has angered Bei- jing, which says its powerful radars allow Washington to spy on its own military operations. In a speech at the National Assembly, Moon pledged to work for peace on the Korean Peninsula amid growing worry over the North’s expanding nuclear weapons and missiles program. “I will quickly move to solve the crisis in national security. I am willing to go anywhere for the peace of the Korean Penin- sula — if needed, I will fly immediately to Washington. I will go to Beijing and I will go to Tokyo. If the conditions shape up, I will go to Pyongyang,” Moon said. Far fewer refugees entering US despite travel ban setbacks AUSTIN, Texas — Somali refugee Mohamoud Saed was elated when he learned that his wife and eight children had completed the lengthy refugee application process that would allow them to join him in the U.S., reuniting the family for the first time in seven years. But the Saeds never made the trip to the Atlanta suburbs because their travel documents expired during the legal wran- gling over President Donald Trump’s executive orders to limit the refugee program and ban travel from several countries, including Somalia. They are now living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia, desperate for a permanent, peaceful home. The family’s case illustrates how Trump’s travel bans have caused the number of refugees coming into the U.S. to plum- met in the last two months, despite his executive orders largely being blocked in the courts. The number of refugees arriving in the U.S. dipped to 2,070 in March, which was a six-year low except for a period in 2013 when the federal government was shut down. The figure was slightly higher in April, 3,200, but it was still much lower than the months preceding Trump’s order. An executive order signed by Trump in January decreased the refugee limit from 110,000 to 50,000 this fiscal year, but the cap was not blocked in court until mid-March. That caused the State Department to tightly rein in monthly arrivals when the cap was in effect. Trump to meet top Russian diplomat at the White House WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will meet today with Vladimir Putin’s top diplomat at the White House, officials say, marking the highest level, face-to-face contact with Russia of the American leader’s young presidency. It would also signal that the two countries have improved ties that Trump recently described as being at an “all-time low.” Trump’s talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lav- rov will take place after the Russian’s meetings earlier in the day with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Coos County to vote on block to LNG project By JES BURNS Oregon Public Broadcasting PORTLAND — Voters in Coos County are considering a May ballot measure that would block the Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas project. The measure is a product of the community-rights move- ment, which broadly aims to give local communities final say over corporate projects that affect them. The Coos County measure specifically targets and bans fossil fuel transport through the county, except when it is intended for local use. It estab- lishes a county-wide bill of rights that guarantees a “sus- tainable energy future” and the rights of nature to thrive. “What we’ve been doing isn’t really working,” says mea- sure co-petitioner Mary Ged- dry. “So we have to get to a point where a community can say, ‘We’re not going to nego- tiate how many toxins or poi- sons we’re willing to accept in the air,’ which is what happens when you work through the regulatory process.” The Coos County measure and larger community-rights movement stem from a feeling of frustration and powerless- ness when faced with contro- versial industry activity. “We are being abused for corporate profit. That is not acceptable. I don’t think that’s acceptable in any commu- nity,” said Nancy Ward, a board member of the state community rights umbrella group, Oregon Community Rights Network. Trump support The Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas export terminal and pipeline project is owned by the Canadian company Vere- sen. Federal energy regulators blocked the project last year, but the company has reap- plied for permits. The Trump Administration has voiced sup- port for the project, though the final decision will fall to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Support for the project has been mixed. Proponents tout job creation and economic Jes Burns/OPB “Hike the Pipe” supporters on Rogue River show opposition to the Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas project last year. development. Some opponents don’t want additional fossil fuel development; others oppose the probable use of eminent domain (the forced taking of private property) by a foreign corpora- tion along the pipeline route. A similar measure in Lin- coln County would block aerial pesticide spraying. Residents in Columbia County are using the community rights framework to try to block oil trains. Local organizers there are currently collecting signatures to put that measure on the next ballot. Coos Bay Mayor Joe Ben- etti is a committee member of Save Coos Jobs, a PAC formed to oppose the Coos County measure. He says he under- stands the feelings of power- lessness supporters of the mea- sure feel. “I totally agree with some of their sentiment that they want to make sure they have a dis- cussion in this. And I think they have and I think they need to continue to do that,” he said. But Benetti says this mea- sure is not the way to accom- plish those goals. “It’s going to give a wrong impression that we’re not open for business,” he says. supporting the measure, Yes on Measure 6-162, has raised just over $12,000. If the measure does pass, it will tread on some untested legal territory. It will also come up against constitutional law — namely the supremacy clause. “Essentially what it states is Consult a P ROFESSIONAL Q: Are headaches a way of life? least 80 percent of headaches A: At originate from problems with ASTORIA CHIROPRACTIC For and against The Coos County measure has drawn major attention from the corporate backers of the Jor- dan Cove Project. As of May 5, Jordan Cove Energy Proj- ect LP has contributed nearly $360,000 to “no” campaign. By contrast the committee that federal laws supersede state and local laws. And that’s a real foundation to our legal struc- ture,” said Greg Dotson, a law professor at the University of Oregon. Congress and the federal government have the author- ity to regulate interstate com- merce — things like natural gas pipelines. “This ballot initiative is sim- ply not going to be able to wrest that authority away,” he said, adding it would likely not stand up if challenged in court. But Dotson said there is some uncertainty, because the measure contains a severabil- ity provision — meaning even if a court strikes down a piece of the measure, the other provi- sions would still stand. “It’s not clear to me what would be left, so you could end up with some activities with- standing judicial scrutiny that would create certain unlawful acts,” Dotson said. Barry Sears, D.C. 503-325-3311 2935 Marine Drive Astoria, Oregon the neck. Tendons from the neck muscles go into the skull and attach to the brain’s covering. When the neck is locked up, tight or tweaked in some way, the fibers pull on the dura where all the pain-sensitive nerves are in the head — then you have a headache. Chiropractic care on the neck frequently gets rid of headaches quickly and permanently. There are no side effects from medications and it’s very safe.Call Astoria Chiropractic today at 503- 325-3311 to see if we can help. Q: My daughter is having her wisdom teeth removed and fillings put in at the same time. Is this safe? Cannon Beach: Clashes over supervisory control upgrading outdated pump sta- tions and fixing sand filtration Instead, the city will con- systems. But there were clashes sider a 3 percent rate increase to cover normal operational over the necessity and cost costs, as well as transferring up of a supervisory control and to $250,000 and $275,525 for data acquisition system, called water and wastewater capital SCADA, that would automate data-point collec- projects, according to tion and give remote a draft of the budget. access to operators. Public Works “I think we should Director Dan Grass- be cautious and take ick said that any rate slow steps into this increase after this fis- instead of all at once,” cal year will be con- committee member sidered after the pub- lic works committee Dan Grassick Les Wierson said. Grassick reminded finishes reviewing the master plans and rate structure, the committee to think of the which would have increased plan more like a 20-year wish water bills from about $52 a list to work off slowly. The advantage of a plan like this is month to $70. “That is a very complex so that when it is submitted to and multifaceted discussion the state, there is evidence to that will need to involve an say the city has a plan to solve in-depth and detailed discus- a known problem, Grassick sion with the full council, and said. That in turn helps keep a given this is Cannon Beach, city’s insurance rates low. “You want to replace with the greater residential and business community before your system every 80 to 100 any decisions about a poten- years,” Grassick said. “That tial rate increase are decided is an industry goal. It’s about upon,” Grassick said in an resiliency.” While the committee agreed email. many of the projects were nec- essary, they didn’t feel com- Butting heads During a special meet- fortable recommending to City ing Tuesday, Grassick and Council a rate increase that members of the public works committee member Carolyn committee did find common Propst said felt problematic. “For the past four years, the ground on projects such as replacing brittle water lines, average amount of water used Continued from Page 1A Need more info about the elections? Check out Podcasts on the Coast Community Radio website. We have recorded interviews with candidates and city offi cials as well as city halls and candidate forums. Find it all at CoastRadio.org on the Listen/Podcasts page entitled Local Politics 2017 per household has been 4,270 gallons. But in the rate study, it was based on 3,270 gal- lons,” she said. “Fundamen- tal assumptions were not rec- onciled between actual usage and that is my main concern. How can the amount of water we use be that different from one year?” Next steps The public works commit- tee will now spend the next week preparing what they will recommend to the City Coun- cil to adopt at the next council meeting. But in the long term, the committee will need to spend time reviewing priorities and looping back with consul- tants about alternatives, Grass- ick said. “Those decisions will drive what rates may look like,” Grassick said. Some on the committee believe that many of the proj- ects included in the master plans should be paid for with a general obligation bond rather than revenue bonds from rates. “G.O. bonds are something the people can vote for,” Wier- son said. “And it’s the best way to have second-home owners pay their fair share.” It’s a strategy that has worked in the past. 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