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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 2017)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017 FRIDAY EXCHANGE Another Democrat falls dd another illustrious Demo- crat to the lengthening list of sex predators, misogynists, perverts and all-round low-life savages. The latest to join that sparkling list of Democrats is Hollywood mogul and movie producer Handsome Harvey Weinstein. Handsome Harvey was revered by highly-placed Democrat politi- cians, and it wasn’t because of his looks or manners. He was tolerated because of the huge amounts of dol- lars he donated to the Democratic Party, not to mention the bags of cash he bundled for many low-life Democrat politicians. Literally dozens of beauti- ful women have come out — after years of silence because of fear of retribution — to expose the vicious, depraved pervert as hav- ing forced his repulsiveness on them for promises of Hollywood-style fame and fortune or, conversely, threats of career destruction for noncompliance. At least two or three have accused him of rape. Repulsive Harvey is the latest to join the list of Democrats, most of them elected politicians, engaged in this type of behavior. The Hall of Shame includes the late, not-so-great U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, who not only was a serial womanizer, but also one who left one of his female vic- tims to drown in a Cape Cod pond; the disgraced, impeached Bill Clin- ton, who sexually assaulted a long string of women (his wife, Hillary, led the “cleanup” squad to squelch and destroy his victims), and Anthony Weiner, alias Carlos Dan- ger, pervert and close friend of the Clintons, who displayed his private “wares” to women and children via computer. Other Democrats in the Pantheon of Disgrace include Ku Klux Klans- man U.S. Sen. Bobby Byrd, racist President Lyndon Johnson and rac- ist and liar President Barack Hussein Obama — a partial list that must make Democrats swell with pride. There’s one bright spot in the Democrat darkness, however, and it’s the fact that that pathetic loser and punchline, Hillary Clinton, never made it to the room of her dreams — the Oval Office. For that gift, we can thank President Donald J. Trump. E. ROBERT NASSIKAS Astoria munity. Our county needs more housing. Let’s encourage this. Last on the ballot is some- thing that appears almost innocent: “Require public vote for the Vaca- tion Rental Ordinance or any sub- sequent ordinance relating to Vaca- tion Rentals.” Currently our city council has the ability to change the existing ordinance if needed. If passed, Measure 4-188 removes all abilities of our elected representa- tives to do anything at all regard- ing nightly rental regulation. Any changes would require yet another public vote. Each additional vote costs Gearhart about $10,000. The option of changing any provision of Measure 4-188 is virtually removed if it passes. If this measure passes, you could have a “virtual motel” next door, for- ever. Do you want that? I sure don’t. Vote “no” on Measure 4-188. MAGGIE SHUMAKER Gearhart A Animal cruelty he Jordan World Circus is com- ing to town. With a long and horrific history of negligence, mis- treatment and violent behavior toward the animals in their care, the Jordan World Circus had their license as an animal exhibitor revoked in 2010 by the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture, yet they are still able to bring and exploit lions, tigers, bears, elephants and other animals to venues across the U.S. According to People for the Eth- ical Treatment of Animals (PETA), to bypass the inconvenience of los- ing their exhibitor’s license, the Jor- dan World Circus simply is able to lease animals from other unscrupu- lous exhibitors, such as Carson and Barnes Circus, who also have a dis- gusting history of animal abuse and neglect, with over 100 violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Animals that are forced to do tricks and stunts for human amuse- ment suffer mental and physical trauma. Animal trainers and associ- ated operators assure us that the ani- mals in their care are trained with positive reinforcement, but don’t be fooled. If this is true, then why do you see the trainers with bull- hooks, electric prods and whips in their hands? Behind the scenes these magnificent and majestic animals are beaten and abused into submis- sion to perform senseless and inhu- mane stunts and tricks, such as tigers jumping through hoops on fire, dancing bears and elephants stand- ing on their heads. As most circuses operate the majority of the year, these animals are deprived of socialization, stimu- lation and physical exercise. Animals entrusted in the care of the Jordan World Circus will never experience something as simple as running free as they were meant to be. Trans- ported thousands of miles annually, elephants, lions, tigers, bears and other circus animals are confined to small, inadequate cages. This is totally unacceptable and in the year 2017. It is way past time to evolve, and put circus ani- mal acts into the history books. As Albert Schweitzer once said, “Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.” In 2014 Clatsop County voters approved a ban for the use of bull- hooks, electric prods and whips on elephants, felines and primates in Clatsop County. Let us take this one step further to ban circuses that con- tinue to allow cruel animal acts in T 5A It’s about the money earhart’s vote on Measure 4-188 has begun. With the cam- paign starting the final push, it’s obvious what this thing is all about. It’s neither profound nor compli- cated: It boils down to money. The sponsors of Measure 4-188 want to reserve their “right” to make as much money on their prop- erty as possible. They want no hin- drances, certainly no regulations. They believe it’s their right to turn their property into a motel. Not only to use it as a nightly rental, but to remove any obstacles that might reduce profits if they decide to sell. Regardless of the impact on their neighbors. The catch is that this commer- cial activity; nightly rentals were never legal. This would-be motel is in a R-1 zone — a residential zone. Commercial use is not permitted. We’ve been a sleepy beach com- munity, where a handful of vaca- tion rentals coexisted peacefully with full-time and seasonal resi- dents. Nobody gave it any thought — until several years ago. That’s when the short-term nightly rentals became supercharged by the inter- net. That’s when this cancer came to visit Gearhart. The city was kind and concilia- tory with those who had conducted illegal rentals. Though this usage was never a “right,” it was grandfa- thered into Ordinance 901. Everyone in town was given several months to apply for permits as short-term nightly rentals. This process entailed septic inspections, fire and safety inspections, occupancy limits. This seemed like reasonable and pretty common sense stuff. But clearly this was not enough. Those in favor of Measure 4-188, which is heavily financed by short- term nightly rental interests, are try- ing to convince us that growth of short-term rentals will bring “eco- nomic benefits” to Gearhart. Since the existing short-term rental Ordi- nance 901 has been put in place, the number of full-time residents has increased. This is what creates a more sustainable, robust year-round economy. Even if their arguments weren’t so self-serving, there are few in our community who would trade our town’s beauty and quiet neighborly atmosphere for all the money in the world. Our town is a gem. Our town is not for sale. Vote “no” on Measure 4-188. LISA CERVENY DAVID RUSSELL Gearhart G their venue. Please show your sup- port by not attending the Jordan World Circus. STACEY McKENNEY Astoria Don’t attend the circus he circus is coming to the Clat- sop County Fairgrounds on Monday. Thanks to county Measure 4-170, which bans bullhooks, elec- tric prods and whips, there will be no elephants. According to the Fair Board, there will likely be at least one tiger. How will they be controlled and trained? The use of bullhooks, elec- tric prods and whips are the most likely way. Please do not attend. No animal should suffer for our entertainment. LORI DURHEIM Astoria T Bad parenting moved to Astoria a year ago, and have come to love this town. Today, though, I saw two things that are making me think about the chil- dren of this town, and what they are being taught. While shopping at Safeway, I watched a young girl about 11 years old climb the stack of pumpkins out- side the store, with her mother’s encouragement, so that she could take a picture of her daughter stand- ing on top of the pile of pumpkins. The mother had no regard for her daughter’s safety or the fact that she was damaging property that didn’t belong to either of them. The second instance involved a father walking on the sidewalk out- side my apartment, looking at the painted rocks in my front yard. He told his daughter it was OK to take one of my painted rocks, and when I knocked on the window and motioned for her to put it back, her father came back to stare in my win- dow at me, trying to intimidate me. If the girl had asked me, I would have given the rock to her — but neither her or her father asked — they just took it. Stealing and dam- aging other’s property are not things my parents taught me, and I am appalled at these two parents’ behav- ior, and the example they are setting for their children. HANNAH MEDFORD Astoria I Save our community y husband and I have both worked and lived in Gearhart, enjoying family and friends here for over three decades. In fact, Gear- hart is where we met and married. Jim, a now retired urologist, trav- eled from Portland to Providence Seaside to practice several times a month to care for the local people he cared about. I co-owned the Pacific Way Café building during the 1970s and 1980s. We have felt community pride, cooperation and made lasting friend- ships in our small city. We want a solid and safe community — where we can know, and get along with one another — to continue. We want volunteer firemen and women. We want volunteers in our libraries and schools. We want our community mem- bers to run for our volunteer gov- ernment. We want locals involved in the Start Making A Reader Today (SMART) program. We want coaches for our kids. We want to visit and interact with friends as we drop by the post office or walk our dogs. None, or rarely, do the above happen when we create a growing motel-like interfacing with people. In the past two-plus years we have seen our neighborhood become an increasing mix of rotating short-term rentals. As we saw this unfold, we M have watched neighbors and new- comers buy, only to embrace the short-term rental trend. There are nine homes on our street, three of them are short-term rentals. Both Jim and I worked with the city to come to an understand- ing that would work for both sides. We didn’t get all that we wanted, but neither did the other side. What we have in place now it is an honestly regulated and safe code. Please help us save our commu- nity, and the citizens who care about where they live. Gearhart residents, vote “no” on the Gearhart Measure 4-188, and urge your neighbors to do likewise. Do your part as a caring and concerned citizen. JIM and MARILYN GILBAUGH Gearhart Save the neighborhood am asking Gearhart residents to please vote “no” on Measure 4-188, which would repeal our exist- ing common sense short-term rental ordinance. Our current ordinance provides fair and appropriate over- sight of fire, safety and septic inspec- tions, and controls over parking, garbage, noise and the number of visitors per rental. If our current ordinance is repealed, there will be no limit on the number of short-term rentals allowed in our residential commu- nity. Do we, as a community, want to lose the neighborly quality of our town? Do we want to allow for an unlimited number of commercial short-term rental units, with a con- stant turnover of visitors, to take over Gearhart? Many of those who support the repeal of our existing ordinance speak to the need to protect individ- ual property rights, that an owner should have the right to use their property in any way they choose. In fact, individual rights are always bal- anced with the rights of the commu- nity as a whole. That’s why we have zoning laws. Every city in the nation has laws dic- tating where certain types of res- idences and businesses can exist. Gearhart’s Comprehensive Plan and zoning laws state very clearly the intention to maintain Gearhart as a residential community. An individual’s right to drive a car 100 mph anywhere they please is superseded by the community’s right for safety, so we make laws called speed limits. So it is with property rights. An individual’s right to use their property as a commercial enter- prise with little oversight for safety, septic, garbage and parking in a res- idential neighborhood is superseded by the rights of the community. Thus we have a fair ordinance that pro- tects our community values. Please vote “no” on Measure 4-188 to maintain Gearhart as a neighborly residential town, and not allow it to become a high-traffic commercial rental enterprise. ERIC HALPERIN Gearhart I Keep it friendly irty politics has no place in Gearhart. Let’s stick to the facts. The ballots are out, and we can argue about the merits of both sides of Measure 4-188 all we want, but we need to understand we are all part of this community. The facts are that a “no” vote will protect our current laws, which have a balanced and responsible cap on nightly rentals while allowing all of our citizens to rent a room, level or entire home for 30 days or more at any time, with no permit, requiring adequate septic regulations recom- mended by the Department of Envi- ronmental Quality, and legal safety inspections for fire and life safety. It also promotes a sustainable year- D round economy through the influx of full-time residents. A “yes” vote would allow unlim- ited nightly investment rentals on all of our neighborhood streets, no DEQ-recommended septic regu- lations, and eliminates legal safety inspections that require fire escapes in bedrooms. Measure 4-188 replaces them with inspections from a “home inspector,” who legally is not allowed, and not required, to report on fire and life safety issues in the state of Oregon. Ultimately, it’s up to the citizens to decide what’s best for Gearhart. We all have a right to publicly advo- cate for the issues that are import- ant to us, and no one should try to silence a neighbor, a citizen or an elected official from sticking up for what they believe in. We have already had a very divisive few years, and with a few weeks left in this election, let’s not personally attack each other, let’s not spread false and misleading claims, let’s not steal people’s signs or ignore neighbors when we walk by them on the street. This is Gearhart. Let’s refrain from the dirty politics we see every- day on the news. I’m going to per- sonally reach out to someone today who is on the other side of Measure 4-188, and tell them I respect their opinion; I hope you do the same. MAYOR MATT BROWN Gearhart Vote ‘no’ for Gearhart earhart Citizens: Vote “no” on Measure 4-188. Voting “yes” rescinds common sense, community standards and protections. Vote “no” to preserve fire and safety protections. In case of fire, occupants must have access to escape. Vote “no” to continue to ensure that septic systems work properly. Failing or overtaxed sep- tic systems affect our community’s water supply. Vote “no” to continue to ensure reasonable and responsible property occupancy. Vote “no” to continue to ensure 24-hour property response in case of emergency. The existing ordinance is work- ing, and should not be repealed. Vote “no” to keep our community safe and vibrant. For more information, go to www.keepgearhartresidential.com. Join me in voting “no.” BEATRICE “BEBE” MICHEL Gearhart G No ‘virtual motels’ f Measure 4-188 passes, Gear- hart will become what it was more than 100 years ago — a destina- tion resort town. Our comprehensive plan, first written in 1978, supports and protects Gearhart as a residential community. The most important part of the upcoming ballot measure is buried toward the bottom. “Remove current limitation on the number of Vaca- tion Rentals” or put another way, an unlimited number of nightly short- term rentals are allowed. Every house in Gearhart could be a nightly vacation rental if this passes. Exist- ing Ordinance 901 allows for a lim- ited number (currently 84) of nightly rentals in residential areas. This is more than enough. We have a high-density tour- ist zone in town. There are more than 200 units available for nightly rentals. That is 17 percent of Gear- hart’s total housing. The number of nightly rentals is the highest amount it has ever been. We don’t need more. Long-term rentals of more than 30 days still are an option for home- owners in Gearhart. This remains protected by the existing ordinance. Long-term renters have always been welcome, and are part of our com- I The ballots are coming et’s get real. You live here because Gearhart is a great neighborhood community. There are few places left where there’s little crime, kids can ride their bikes to the Sweet Shop, and you are greeted by your first name at the post office. It’s a short hike with your dogs to the best beach in Oregon. This is our home — whether it’s a full-time family, or seasonal week-enders in love with the bakery, unique shops, great eats, challeng- ing golf or just hanging with friends. All are welcome. Always have been, and always will be. Protect this best place, your place, with a “no” vote on Measure 4-188 and the unlimited invasion of short-term rentals. Today Gearhart is wisely man- aging just over 280 licensed rent- als. Our city’s safety inspections and regulations are keeping renters safe, streets open and safe to first respond- ers, our septic and water systems safe. Most importantly, our qual- ity of life is being looked out for by our city council, mayor and Gear- hart neighbors — folks you know — grassroots Gearhart, not the Goliath $20,000-plus bankrolled initiative of vacation rental companies and absentee short-term rental owners. VICKIE ABRAHAMSON Gearhart L
