OPINION
6A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017
Founded in 1873
DAVID F. PERO, Publisher & Editor
LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor
BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager
JEREMY FELDMAN, Circulation Manager
DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager
CARL EARL, Systems Manager
OUR VIEW
Arts: More
important here
than most realize
W
hat comes to mind when thinking of our area’s most
important economic sectors? Fishing? Wood prod-
ucts? Tourism? Retirement living? Manufacturing?
All these contribute to employment, taxes and other social goods,
but as a new report makes clear, we too often overlook the arts as
a prime source of community vitality and financial well-being.
The National Center for Arts Research — housed at Southern
Methodist University in Dallas — just computed scores for all
the nation’s counties and cities. Its report ranks every coun-
ty’s relative position on five metrics — arts dollars, arts pro-
viders, government support, socio-economic and other leisure
characteristics.
The three Lower Columbia River counties are in the top 10
percent of all in the U.S. in terms of this “arts vibrancy” — the
strength of our arts sector. Altogether, 12 of Washington’s 39
counties and 13 of Oregon’s 36 are in the top tier of U.S. “arts
counties.”
Local details
Clatsop County has more arts providers in comparison to its
population than 97 percent of other U.S. counties. It ranks bet-
ter than 93 percent of other counties in terms of arts dollars —
things like revenue produced by art-related programs. It is below
average on only one of NCAR’s five metrics — government sup-
port for the arts. We get much less federal arts money than aver-
age, doing better than only 11 percent of U.S. counties. The
report judges our overall socio-economic rank as better than 62
percent of counties. When it comes to the catch-all category of
“other leisure,” we’re better off than 98 percent of counties. For
example, it will come as little surprise that our restaurant situa-
tion is said to be unsurpassed in the nation, while we rate better
than 97 percent of other counties in terms of hotels.
It isn’t just Clatsop that has a thriving arts community. Pacific
County across the river rates better than 88 percent of U.S. coun-
ties when it comes to art providers per resident, and generates
more art money per capita than 99 percent of counties. It ranks
at the 53rd percentile for government arts support, but is only in
the 21st percentile for its socio-economic health. It is in the 89th
percentile for other leisure activities. Neighboring Wahkiakum
County has very similar rankings, with more arts providers per
capita than 87 percent of other counties. Elsewhere in southwest
Washington, nearby Clark County (home to Vancouver) also
is among Washington state’s 12 counties in the top 10 percent
nationwide for arts vibrancy, as is Thurston County (Olympia).
Income producer for rural areas
In fact, the Columbia estuary counties are part of an impres-
sive cluster of arts-centric counties grouped around Portland and
Seattle, which themselves each rank near the top of America’s
list of large cities with thriving arts sectors. Counting Clatsop,
10 of Oregon’s art counties are in the state’s northwest corner
and the adjoining Columbia Gorge.
Oregon’s three other art coun-
ties are Lane (Eugene), Deschutes
Clatsop
(Bend) and Jackson (Ashland).
County has
Although National Center for
more arts
Arts Research’s analysis is not
without flaws, there’s no doubt we
providers in
are far stronger and more interest-
comparison
ing communities thanks to the arts
and our residents who create them.
to its
We must not take this for granted.
population
Rural counties like ours are par-
than 97
ticularly fortunate to possess such
an intrinsically homegrown cre-
percent of
ative sector. Elsewhere in the West,
other U.S.
only four Idaho counties are in
the top tenth; Nevada has four;
counties.
Arizona two; Utah six. In the U.S.
as a whole, arts and the money they
produce are skimpy across vast areas.
Aside from acting as a general rallying cry for the arts,
the report serves as rebuttal to President Trump and those in
Congress who would gut the National Endowment for the Arts.
Although Clatsop’s arts sector prospers with little federal sup-
port, this analysis makes clear that federal art grants produce
good returns, and don’t benefit privileged communities to the
detriment of poorer ones.
“Our analysis shows that the arts benefit Americans at all
income levels, and that NEA funding of the arts is remarkably
impartial to community wealth characteristics,” said Zannie
Voss, director of the National Center for Arts Research.
Few forms of economic development are so beneficial and
inherently “by and for” local people as the arts. Let’s continue
spending money and time with local artists of all kinds, while
supporting the modest government programs that keep some arts
programs viable.
GUEST COLUMN
Clothing children is a big mission
By SUSAN CODY
For The Daily Astorian
W
hat if you are a child in
need of new shoes, but
your parents can’t afford
them? Or you have outgrown your
pants and sweat-
shirts and don’t
have anything that
fits.
When other
kids have newer,
cooler clothes, the
stress and embarrassment of not
fitting in even affects kids’ ability
to learn.
That’s why the Assistance
League of the Columbia Pacific
steps in to help. The all-volunteer
nonprofit exists solely to create and
support philanthropic programs
that promote the well-being and
self-esteem of children and teens
throughout Clatsop County.
The Assistance League’s
national Operation School Bell
program helps provide children
with clothing.
“When you think of Nike
Night,” said the league’s Opera-
tion School Bell chairwoman, Liz
Knutsen, “perhaps you think of a
joyful, slightly chaotic store full of
young boys shopping side by side
with men and women and coaches
and teachers searching for the per-
fect pair of brand-new Nike shoes,
and maybe a cool hoodie to match.
Maybe you hear loud music, and
laughter. Maybe you smell fresh
Fultano’s pizza, homemade cook-
ies. Maybe you just feel a sense
of warmth and community. That’s
what our partnership with Nike
Factory stores has provided for the
past seven years.”
The Assistance League partners
with merchants, such as Ter Har’s,
Nike and Ross, to receive dis-
counts so children can choose from
popular new items.
Each child is taken on a shop-
ping trip to a local store with a vol-
unteer to advise them how to spend
their money — $80 for elementary
school children and about $120 for
middle and high school students.
This school year the league was
able to take over the Nike Fac-
tory Outlet store for an evening of
fun and shopping, and clothed 135
Susan Cody/For The Daily Astorian
John Kawasoe, head golf professional at the Astoria Golf and Country
Club, helps Gracie Brown with her golf stroke at the Assistant League’s
Golf Drop on Saturday. More photos online at www.dailyastorian.com
middle and high school boys.
“To date we have teamed up to
clothe over 900 boys, and we have
spent over $9,000, Knutsen said.
“We are just so grateful to Mike
Burk and his team members at the
Nike store in Seaside for working
with us to provide an unforgetta-
ble event for the young men of our
community.”
Burk, who is the manager of the
Seaside Nike Factory Outlet store,
was then given a National Opera-
tion School Bell award.
Burk said, “You are the people
who make it happen, I just over-
see everything,” as he thanked
his co-workers and “the peo-
ple upstairs,” who provide the
donations.
Golf Ball Drop
The Assistance League raises
funds through its Golf Ball Drop,
Home and Chef Tour, member-
ships, contributions, sponsorships
and grants. The Golf Ball Drop
was held at the Astoria Golf and
Country Club Saturday. People
purchased golf balls for $5 and a
chance to win a prize. The Colum-
bia River Bar Pilots dropped the
balls from a helicopter over one
green. The balls that land closest to
the pin win prizes.
The event also included a free
golf clinic and putting contest for
children, a barbecue, bake sale
and a raffle.
Growing commitment
In 2007, when the local Assis-
tance League chapter started, it
was able to clothe 70 children,
Knutsen reported. This year, it
clothed 690 children. “We spent
$66,000 that went back into the
community,” she said.
There are 128 members who
contributed 9,556 volunteer hours
this year, secretary Karen Rad-
ditz said. “This group of women is
basically the fabric and soul of our
community.”
Miss Oregon Alexis Mather
attended the the Assistance
League’s luncheon earlier this
month and said its mission meshes
with her platform of mentoring to
develop leaders.
“I feel very lucky and very spe-
cial for how this community has
wrapped its arms around me,” said
the Astoria High School graduate.
“And I also believe that is exactly
what this organization does for
our youth within Clatsop County,
which is extremely inspiring. This
organization is providing the tools
that these children need in order to
be successful.”
Susan Cody is the communica-
tions lead for the Clatsop County
Way to Wellville. She is also a for-
mer deputy managing editor for
The Daily Astorian.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Hot vehicles
ith summer time being right
around the corner, a lot of
people are going to be driving
around running their errands with
their pets. Remember vehicles can
get very hot on a sunny day, and
pets should always have easy access
to water and fresh air.
In just 70 degree weather, the
inside of a car can go to 89 degrees
in just 10 minutes. Every summer
pets die, and the same goes for little
kids. Even if you think your going
to be right back, a living being
shouldn’t be left in a hot car if they
are not capable to get help or fresh
air on their own.
Just a friendly reminder so
everyone in this community can
have a warm and safe summer this
year.
MERANDA GODWIN
Astoria
W
Voting in the dark
dreadful mistake was made this
year regarding the May 16 spe-
A
cial district election: The county
did not publish a voter information
booklet.
I’ve been calling and email-
ing people about this critical elec-
tion, and am stunned by the number
of people who know next to noth-
ing about the candidates or the Port
bond issue. Unless people read The
Daily Astorian daily, they have no
other easily known sources of infor-
mation about the election.
They might not even know
who’s running, so they can’t go
to candidate websites. They don’t
know that the Clatsop County Dem-
ocrats and Indivisible North Coast
Oregon have information about
and/or statements from some can-
didates online. Many voters don’t
know about KMUN’s series of
interviews with candidates, or the
American Association of University
Women candidates forum.
How can we expect people to
participate in an election if they
don’t even know what the election
is about? The 2015 Clatsop special
districts election had a 23 percent
voter turnout. Shameful. Around the
world, people get killed for running
for office and for voting, yet most
Clatsop voters don’t vote. I now
have a partial explanation for this
appalling turnout.
Voters tell me they want:
• A voter information booklet
for special district elections —
providing information about, and
statements from candidates, and
information, plus pro and con state-
ments about bond and other ballot
issues
• An online version of the voter
information booklet — well-publi-
cized in county newspapers, social
media, county website, radio and
local cable access TV, etc.
Each of us must tell our county
commissioners to make sure there
is a voter information booklet for
every election. We can’t have rep-
resentative democracy if people are
in the dark. Contact the commis-
sioners at commissioners@co.clat-
sop.or.us
LAURIE CAPLAN
Astoria