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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2017
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
JIM VAN NOSTRAND
Editor
Founded in 1873
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Circulation Manager
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Business Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
OUR VIEW
Amtrak crash mustn’t derail
mass transit along I-5 corridor
AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
Cars from an Amtrak train that derailed lay spilled onto Interstate 5 alongside smashed vehicles Monday in DuPont, Wash.
I
n what some are calling “the Titanic of train wrecks,” Monday’s deadly
crash of the inaugural run of a new higher-speed passenger Amtrak
train between Seattle and Portland will certainly cause some to question
the viability of improving rail transportation along the Interstate 5 corridor.
Horrific as it was, we should not be so quick to give up.
The loss of life was tragic, along with
injures suffered by dozens of other pas-
sengers, crew and passing motorists.
Economic damage also will substantial,
with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declar-
ing a state of emergency in two coun-
ties. Traffic delays, reconstruction costs,
equipment damage and inevitable law-
suits will easily add up into the tens of
millions against a rail-improvement
project that had a budget of about $181
million.
Investigation of precisely what
caused the derailment will takes weeks,
if not months. It is, however, safe to say
that officials can never be overly careful
when it comes to ensuring all assump-
tions are correct and all risks have been
mitigated to the maximum extent pos-
sible. But just as passenger steamships
didn’t collapse as an industry follow-
ing the Titanic disaster, neither will the
move toward high-speed rail end due to
this incident.
The failing race to address traffic con-
gestion by adding more lanes to I-5 — a
strategy particularly prevalent in Wash-
ington state — has about reached its
inevitable conclusion. There must con-
tinue to be steps toward better mass-tran-
sit options throughout the interconnected
megalopolis stretching between Vancou-
ver, B.C. and the mid-Willamette Valley.
This isn’t necessarily to say that
European or Japanese-style ultra-high-
speed rail lines are the immediate
answer. In an example of supremely bad
timing, just last week consultants esti-
mated such a line connecting Vancouver
and Portland could cost up to $42 bil-
lion — somewhat more than Oregon’s
current total annual state spending. Mas-
sive federal aid would be required. Infra-
structure spending on such a scale —
not yet counting other steps that would
be needed to link communities to the
new train — are almost impossible to
imagine in today’s national political
environment.
In a longer time frame — and assum-
ing we resist wasting more trillions on
pointless foreign wars — rapid eco-
nomic growth in this region may fully
justify such a massive expenditure.
Ultra-high-speed rail, depending on
the technology used, brings speeds of up
to 270 mph — compared to the 81 mph
Monday’s Amtrak train was estimated to
be traveling. Such amazing speeds are
facilitated by dedicated routes, including
some partially or totally underground.
These trains have outstanding safety
records in other countries, and are cer-
tainly far safer than traveling by high-
ways in private vehicles.
While we await such marvels, it’s
vital to learn from whatever mistakes
were made leading up to Monday’s
crash. The remainder of the Seattle-Port-
land route must be intensely exam-
ined. Technology and protocols must
be implemented to further minimize the
potential for human error.
In our rush toward a brighter future
for mass transit, let us not get into such a
big hurry that lives are needlessly sacri-
ficed. But after every precaution is taken,
we must try again.
GUEST COLUMN
Oregon Youth Authority
seeks second-chance
families in Clatsop County
C
harlene Hall gets so many phone calls
on Mother’s Day that she has to turn
off her ringer so she can enjoy the holi-
day with her family.
But no matter how many messages the
Junction City resident receives, she returns
them all. She only has three biological chil-
dren, but about 500 young
people can call her mom —
the youth she took into her
home over the past 33 years
as an Oregon Youth Author-
ity (OYA) foster parent.
For these young peo-
ple,
Charlene was their sec-
Jered
Schlunegger ond-chance family — their
second chance at having a
home that was positive, sup-
portive, and safe; and their second chance at
trying to change their lives for the better.
OYA has many youth who could bene-
fit from foster parents like Charlene, but we
don’t have nearly enough homes to send them
to.
Clatsop County currently has zero OYA
foster homes. Statewide, OYA only has 36.
What is OYA? We’re the state’s juvenile
justice agency. We provide safe environments
and opportunities for rehabilitation for youth
ages 12 through 24 who are committed to our
custody by the courts.
Some youth in our custody go to our juve-
nile correctional facilities. But the majority
live in the community, where we try to place
them in the most appropriate setting for them
to get the treatment and support they need to
be crime-free, productive members of their
communities.
OYA’s foster care program is different
from others you may have heard about — we
only provide homes for teenagers and young
adults, and we don’t do adoptions. We serve
teens who are working their way toward
returning home, as well as youth ages 18 to
24 who need help learning independent-liv-
ing skills.
We often try to place youth in foster homes
that are near their regular home so that they
can be near their families and local support
networks. But with no foster homes in Clat-
sop County, that means local youth who are
good candidates for foster care would have to
go live elsewhere in Oregon. Or we may not
have any available homes at all.
So who may qualify to be an OYA foster
parent? You must be:
• At least 21 years old, or 25 if you are
working with youth 18 and older.
• A U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Able to pass a background check.
• Emotionally mature and able to help
youth build positive relationships and develop
life skills.
Our youth have their own state medical
card to pay for their medical, mental health,
and other necessary treatment costs. Fos-
Oregon Youth Authority
Charlene Hall is a foster parent in Junction City.
ter parents provide their basic housing, food,
clothing, transportation, recreational opportu-
nities, spending money and reasonable inci-
dentals. Our foster families receive a monthly
payment to reimburse them for the services
they provide.
You don’t need previous foster care expe-
rience to sign up. We provide a wide range
of training, from first aid and CPR, to how to
work with youth who have been through the
court system, to how to help youth dealing
with mental health or drug and alcohol issues.
OYA foster parents also have a strong sup-
port network. We call at least once a week and
visit at least monthly, in addition to providing
continual support via phone or email. OYA
parole and probation officers include our fos-
ter parents in case planning for their youth.
Our youth reap countless benefits from
supportive foster homes, but our foster
parents also see rewards. Just ask Charlene.
She loves that her former foster youth keep
calling year after year. They often share news
of how they’ve moved on to find satisfy-
ing jobs, go to college, and have spouses and
children.
She gave them a second chance. And it
made all the difference.
Jered Schlunegger is the Oregon Youth
Authority foster care certifier for Clat-
sop County. To learn more about being an
OYA foster parent, please contact him at
Jered.Schlunegger@oya.state.or.us or 971-
718-7902, or visit their website at bit.ly/
oyafostercare.