THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017
FRIDAY EXCHANGE
Reasonable regulation
ote “yes” on ballot Measure
4-188 to reasonably regulate
Gearhart vacation rentals. Contrary
to representations made by Gearhart
citizens, and even its mayor, vaca-
tion rentals will still be regulated for
safety issues and septic issues under
Measure 4-188.
The measure requires home
inspections by licensed home inspec-
tors. Licensing is regulated by the
state of Oregon. Ballot Measure
4-188 simply allows the vacation
rental applicant to choose a licensed
home inspector. Additionally, Gear-
hart didn’t get over-run with vacation
rentals in the first 100 years of unreg-
ulated vacation rentals, and it won’t
in the second 100 years.
The city, with all its lengthy
research at taxpayer expense, during
2015-2016 didn’t identify any more
rentals than eventually applied for
permits by the October 2016 dead-
line — only 84 out of 1,600 homes.
Over-restrictive vacation rental
ordinances will force rental home-
owners underground. Many cities
along the Oregon coast, across Ore-
gon and the U.S. regulate vacation
rentals, even Las Vegas — a city
from which some very new Gearhart
citizens fled, allegedly due to vaca-
tion rentals.
At the public hearings on the City
Council’s ordinance, experts in the
vacation rental business testified that
in locations where ordinances are too
restrictive, homeowners needing or
desiring to rent on a short-term basis
go underground. An unintended con-
sequence of the City Council’s ordi-
nance is just this: unpermitted, unin-
spected and possibly unsafe homes.
Ordinances are only as good as
the ability to enforce them. The city
has failed to regularly and consis-
tently enforce its existing ordinances
regulating garbage, septic, parking
and appearance of properties, and
now its increasing its responsibil-
ity to regulate an ordinance that is
misguided and over-reaches. Mea-
sure 4-188 will be more manageable,
requiring enforcement of existing
ordinances and adding enough addi-
tional regulation to preserve home-
owners’ rights and balance the inter-
est in public safety.
I helped draft ballot Measure
4-188, and I’d be delighted to talk
with anyone to go over a line-by-
line comparison of the city’s ordi-
nance and Measure 4-188. Make the
best choice for Gearhart by voting in
favor of Measure 4-188.
KATHERINE SCHROEDER
Gearhart
V
Some stand out
t’s been a rough week for this
country, but there were three
heroes who stood out.
The first is the Mayor of San
Juan, Puerto Rico, Carmen Cruz. She
stood waist deep in flood waters cry-
ing and begging for help for her peo-
ple. She wasn’t interested in politics,
she was trying to save the lives of
Puerto Ricans. She was strong, and
brave, and would not be shut up.
Secondly, Air Force Lt. Gen.
Jay Silveria, of the Air Force Acad-
emy, lectured the young cadets in his
charge not to be racist or sexist, and
suggested it would be a good idea
that they “get out” if they held those
prejudices, as there was no place for
them at the academy. He spoke of the
values of our country, and encour-
aged them to be good Americans.
Thirdly, Tucker Benedict, a
freelance writer who wrote a stir-
ring open letter to President Don-
ald Trump that can be found on the
internet.
Hooray. Hooray. Hooray.
MARY TANGUAY WEBB
Astoria
I
Pink is a reminder
y story is different from Laura
Snyder’s (“Breast cancer?
Think more than pink,” The Daily
Astorian, Sept. 29). I am a breast
cancer survivor and remain “can-
cer-free” almost 11 years later. I
know that the cancer could rear it’s
ugly head again. There’s no way to
ever be certain; no ability to claim
“cured.” But, I have no problem
with “painting the world pink” every
October.
I agree that awareness is not
the issue it once was, yet I am fre-
quently amazed by the misinforma-
tion I hear. It seems to me that people
are not really aware of breast can-
cer until they are touched personally;
until a loved one has been diagnosed
with this horrible disease. Then, the
research and education begins —
they become aware.
The mortality rate for breast can-
cer is decreasing. And yet according
to BreastCancer.org, 252,710 women
and 2,470 men in the U.S. will be
diagnosed with some form of breast
cancer in 2017. Yes men, you are not
immune. The fact that 20 to 30 per-
cent of those with early-stage breast
cancers will get metastatic disease is
scary. But, that also means that 70 to
80 percent of those early-stage cases
M
will not. Early detection and early
intervention remain key.
That is why I like to see all
the pink. It starts conversations. It
reminds women to get that mam-
mogram they’ve put off. It presents
people with multiple foundations to
support — Dr. Susan Love Research
Foundation and Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center are both
excellent. I agree that people need to
check into how much of that money
is funding what projects vs. lining
someone’s pocket. Fordcares/War-
riors in Pink donates 100 percent of
the net proceeds.
Yes, The Susan G. Komen
Research Foundation is a behemoth.
But, in addition to research, it funds
education, services and treatment.
Women in this area who are unin-
sured or underinsured have received
mammograms free of charge, and
some medical and travel expenses
reimbursed, thanks to Komen.
MARCIA FENSKE
Astoria
‘Let’s Log It Fast’ Bill
hile many of us are still griev-
ing the fires in the Colum-
bia River Gorge and the loss of a
treasured forest, others are using
the event as an opportunity to rush
through a “salvage logging” bill. The
bill would fast-track clearcut logging
of National Scenic Areas, while sus-
pending environmental protection
laws and restricting public comment
and legal action.
Ironically, Oregon Rep. Greg
Walden, calls his bill the “Scenic
Columbia Gorge Restoration Act
2017” (HR3715). Here are some of
the highlights of Walden’s approach
to “restoration:”
• The bill specifically targets
National Scenic Areas, including the
Columbia River Gorge, for post-fire
logging, which typically includes
clearcutting areas up to 10,000 acres.
• The Secretary of Agriculture
would be legally required to pro-
pose logging within 30 days after a
fire, regardless of how much infor-
mation is available on the effects of
the event.
• HR3715 allows the Secretary
of Agriculture to utilize a “categori-
cal exclusion” to avoid environmen-
tal analysis of the area affected by
the fire.
• The bill allows the Secretary
of Agriculture to “self consult” on
whether logging may harm salmon
or other endangered species. No fur-
ther scientific review is required.
Please research Secretary of Agri-
culture Sonny Perdue to get the full
implication of this.
• HR3715 makes no mention of
genuine restoration — such as sta-
bilizing roads and trails, prevent-
ing erosion and protecting streams
and wildlife habitat — or of require-
ments regarding native species use in
re-planting, or the impact of logging
on soil compaction.
• The bill reduces or eliminates
public review and input. Now, I
wonder why.
If you feel that the Columbia
River Gorge deserves a thoughtful
restoration that considers the natu-
ral forest habitat, please contact your
representatives and senators.
GWENDOLYN ENDICOTT
Nehalem
W
‘It’s about the money’
oresters for the city of Astoria
have long maintained that log-
ging in the Bear Creek Watershed
is being done to improve the for-
est rather than for the money. Why,
then, is the amount of revenue gen-
erated for the city by logging in the
watershed always mentioned when
that practice is discussed by the
City Council or the Public Works
Department? In the words of H.L.
Menchen, “If they say it’s not about
the money, it’s about the money”
In addition to learning how much
the timber companies make on the
harvest, it would be interesting to
know if the net revenue for the city
includes: deductions for the percent-
age of their forester’s salary that is
devoted to planning and supervising
the harvest; other public works sala-
F
ries for employees involved in prepa-
ration for the harvest; cleanup after-
wards and road maintenance; and
office time handling the business
costs involved, including keeping
statistics for the 52-page Bear Creek
Watershed Forest Management Plan.
Speaking of that document,
in spite of the current city forest-
er’s stressing the importance of for-
est management in a time of cli-
mate change, the management plan
doesn’t even mention those words.
Nor is climate change mentioned
in the Bear Creek Hydrology Man-
agement Plan because, even though
water quality is touted as the No. 1
priority in the watershed, no such
document exists.
The latest scientific data confirms
that clearcutting in a watershed is a
bad practice. But our forest manage-
ment plan allows for clear cutting,
as well as cutting large older trees.
Both practices are counterintuitive
in maintaining high water quality, or
mitigating (dare I say the words?)
climate change.
Shouldn’t the City Council call
for a revision in the forest manage-
ment plan that eliminates these two
practices, in favor of occasional thin-
ning rather than a yearly harvest? It’s
time for the city to wean itself from
the revenue stream generated by log-
ging in the watershed in deference to
its primary function of providing us
with clean water.
ROGER DORBAND
Astoria
Gearhart is not for sale
t’s time to send a loud, clear mes-
sage: “Gearhart is not for sale!”
The California resident and polit-
ical strategist, David Townsend,
Joy Sigler and our District 2 Clat-
sop County Commissioner, Sarah
Nebeker, are behind Measure 4-188.
This measure is also known as the
“repeal and replace” initiative. Their
group is not a grassroots organiza-
tion. They want unlimited short-term
rentals with virtually no city regula-
tion on their businesses. The mea-
sure has also cost the city of Gear-
hart $10,000 to put on the ballot this
November. If approved, Measure
4-188 will require that any changes
be put to a popular vote, costing
$10,000 for each ballot measure.
The Daily Astorian recently ran
a front page headline titled “Clatsop
County ready to tackle vacation rent-
als” (The Daily Astorian, Sept. 26).
It also ran a series of articles cover-
ing what all communities in Clat-
sop County consider the No. 1 issue
in our area, housing for full-time
residents. Measure 4-188 directly
impacts housing available to full-
time residents in Gearhart.
We find ourselves in Gearhart
defending our City Ordinance 901
that regulates short-term rentals in
our R-1 and R-2 zoned residen-
tial neighborhoods. It took over two
years to craft. There was extensive
community input, and it was passed
into law by our elected city council
representatives. The regulations were
reviewed by the Land Use Board of
Appeals, and were upheld.
Measure 4-188 is not in the best
interest of Gearhart and its full-time
residents. We need to vote “no” on
Measure 4-188 to keep Gearhart a
residential community.
BETTY SMITH
Gearhart
I
‘Gearhart is Gearhart’
recently read Gearhart’s ballot
Measure 4-188 online, as well as
letters and op-eds written by Gear-
hart Mayor Matt Brown (“What
Gearhart repeal means,” The Daily
Astorian, Sept. 22) and David
Townsend (“Other side of rent-
als,” The Daily Astorian, Sept. 29),
all addressing short-term rentals in
Gearhart.
Measure 4-188 will gut laws that
the city of Gearhart approved to reg-
ulate short-term rentals, after hun-
dreds of work-hours were invested
in public meetings; those short-term
rental laws were planned in great
detail, and debated from all sides
to provide adequate safety, health
and tax/revenue issues for both vis-
I
itors and city residents. Those laws
were a fair compromise to establish
a responsible cap on the number of
short-term rentals in Gearhart Resi-
dential-1 and Residential-2 zones.
In Mr. Townsend’s letter there are
apparent plans to use Measure 4-188
to pocket short-term profits from
his property in Gearhart, and help
his friends do the same. Short shrift
was given to the detail that Measure
4-188 in no way restricts anyone
from renting their property for more
than 30 days.
Mr. Townsend’s letter was actu-
ally an enlightening experience,
because it helped me understand
the definition of a “true Gearhar-
ter.” I paraphrase James Beard, Gear-
hart’s icon: A true Gearharter loves
Gearhart simply because Gearhart
is Gearhart, the jewel of the Oregon
Coast. A true Gearharter would never
exploit Gearhart for profit.
What was also clear in Mr.
Townsend’s letter was his self-cen-
tered position that the property rights
mantra should protect him and his
plans. My family lives in a house in
a Gearhart neighborhood zoned res-
idential R-1. Passage of Measure
4-188 would allow commercial busi-
nesses and out-of-state corporations
to surround my home with motels.
Where is the respect for my prop-
erty rights?
Mayor Brown’s letter lifted my
spirits, and showed me that he is a
true Gearharter. He loves and val-
ues Gearhart for what it was, what
it is and what it will continue be,
only if we residents stop and reverse
the commercial exploitation of our
semi-rural, residential R-1 and R-2
neighborhoods.
All of my comments here are
solely my personal opinion.
RD SMITH
Gearhart
Vote ‘yes’ for Gearhart
favor fair and reasonable regula-
tion of short-term vacation rentals
in Gearhart. A “yes” vote on Mea-
sure 4-188 will improve the city’s
current overly restrictive ordinance
by:
1. Preserving an important prop-
erty right for all Gearhart home-
owners. Currently, the city’s ordi-
nance allows homeowners who were
granted short-term vacation rental
permits before year-end 2016 to be
the only properties that will ever be
allowed to rent short-term. This will
reduce property values in the com-
munity now, and in the long term.
Measure 4-188 would allow any
homeowner to rent, assuming they
apply for a permit, agree to com-
ply with current regulations covering
septic, fire safety, garbage pickup,
parking, noise restrictions, prop-
erty management oversight, etc.,
that apply to all property owners in
Gearhart, and pass all inspections
required.
2. Providing fair and reason-
able regulation of short-term vaca-
tion rentals. Contrary to what Gear-
hart Mayor Matt Brown stated in a
letter that compliance with “no septic
regulations” will be the case (“What
Gearhart repeal means,” The Daily
Astorian, Sept. 22), Measure 4-188
instead requires short-term rentals to
abide by all the same requirements
that any Gearhart homeowner must
follow regarding noise, parking, sep-
tic, garbage pick up and residential
appearance, just like those listed in
the new current city ordinance.
Similarly, the measure will not
“get rid of state-certified inspec-
tions for fire and life safety.” Instead,
it allows homeowners access to a
larger pool of certified inspectors for
qualified, timely service.
3. Encouraging homeowners to
openly engage in the permit appli-
cation process. Measure 4-188 will
make our communities safer because
homeowners will be more willing to
consistently comply with regulations.
Vote “yes” on Measure 4-188.
PAGE KNUDSEN
Gearhart
I
Don’t change livability
am in favor of safe, fair and rea-
sonable regulation of short-term
I
5A
rentals in Gearhart. That is why I am
voting “no” on ballot Measure 4-188
this November. I believe the short-
term rentals ordinance, unanimously
passed by the Gearhart City Council,
is fair in every way.
Fair means open, transparent
conversations followed by deci-
sion-making based on the needs and
desires of the community. Fair means
copious research, acquisition of fac-
tual information, communication, lis-
tening, compromising, evaluating,
monitoring and tweaking.
Fair means upholding Gearhart’s
comprehensive plan by retaining a
low density residential community
while allowing all current short-term
rental owners the opportunity to con-
tinue to rent their homes safely fairly,
and uniformly. The current short-
term rental ordinance meets all these
criteria.
In contrast, ballot Measure 4-188
is not safe, fair or reasonable. It is
not safe to have an unlimited num-
ber of renters 12 years of age or less.
It is unreasonable to assume unlim-
ited numbers of youths and children
have a lesser impact on a septic sys-
tem. It is not fair for Gearhart tax-
payers to foot a nearly $10,000 spe-
cial election bill.
Finally, it is not fair or reason-
able for the two chief petitioners to
compromise the safety, livability and
taxpayers’ money so their children
can afford to keep a family home by
renting their inherited “gift” to tran-
sient visitors.
Know all your facts so you can
vote reasonably and fairly.
SUE LORAIN
Gearhart
No more rentals
hen the proponents of Gear-
hart Measure 4-188 — on
the November ballot to repeal and
replace city law regulating and lim-
iting transient rentals — claim that
their measure will “protect property
rights,” they mean their right to rent
their homes on a short-term (usually
weekends, or less than 30 days) basis
— in other words, to conduct an ille-
gal commercial business in a resi-
dential zone.
When we bought our home in
Gearhart, we relied on our own legal
right to live in a zone that was ded-
icated to residential use — a zone
where commercial use, like turning a
home into a motel, was illegal. When
the city grandfathered the 84 existing
short-term rentals last year, it was an
act of kindness and compromise. It
put a stop to the growth of an illegal
industry heavily promoted by outside
vacation rental agencies (Vacasa,
Oregon Coast Vacations, etc.); at the
same time, the city allowed those
who were already renting illegally to
continue, as long as the property did
not change hands.
In a town that already has an R-3
residential zone for around 200 legal
short-term rentals, we now hope to
see a gradual decline in the num-
ber of short-term rentals permitted
by compromise in our R-1 zone. The
idea that out-of-state, absentee own-
ers can advocate violating residents’
rights by allowing every house in
town to become a short-term rental
— sacrificing community for profit
— is nothing short of outrageous.
Gearhart, vote “no” on Measure
4-188.
PENNY and RICK SABOL
Gearhart
W
Making a difference
lfred Mann, who died in 2016,
certainly made a difference.
In his lifetime he founded Spectro-
lab, Helioteck, Pacesetter, Minimed,
Bioness, Quallion and Mankind.
All of his inventions benefited soci-
ety. Minimed, which makes insu-
lin pumps, was sold to Medtronic
in 2001 for $4 billion. Alfred Mann
also started Mankind, and put $1
billion of his own money into the
business.
Diabetes is a terrible disease,
which my wife and I have witnessed
through our delivery of meals on
wheels. In 2015 the FDA approved
Mankind’s drug Alfrezza for inhaled
insulin. There were conditions on
the drug.
Today the FDA signed off on
revised labeling for Alfrezza. The
updated label includes study data
that describe the time-action profile
by dosage strength, showing the first
measurable effect starts in 12 min-
utes, peaking at 35-40 minutes, then
returning to baseline after 1.5 to 3
hours for the four unit and 12 unit
cartridges, respectively. There is also
an eight-unit cartridge.
Alfrezza is taken before meals.
According to Mankind CEO Michael
Castagna, many people with dia-
betes have a hard time maintaining
the proper base of insulin. They are
either too high or too low. Alfrezza
will help maintain the proper dos-
age of insulin, and once taken is out
of a person’s system in 1.5 to 3 hours
according to the FDA label.
TERRY J. SMITH
Warrenton
A