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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018
editor@dailyastorian.com
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Publisher
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GUEST COLUMN
Please vote ‘no’ on Measure 105
Unity, inclusiveness
are part of our values
I
am voting “no” on Measure 105 for
three main reasons. One, because I am
opposed to racial profiling and discrimi-
nation. Two, because our local law enforce-
ment should not spend money from their
limited budgets to do the job of federal
immigration agents. And three, because I
believe in a united Ore-
gon where everyone feels
safe regardless of their
skin color, background or
national origin.
If you’re unfamil-
iar with Measure 105, it
aims to overturn the state’s
JORGE
GUTIERREZ sanctuary law, which pre-
vents local law enforce-
ment from using resources to enforce immi-
gration law. Removing this restriction is not
a good idea, especially when we remember
the circumstances that led to its adoption in
the first place.
In 1977, Delmiro Trevino, a U.S. citi-
zen of Latino origin, was one of several men
accosted by Polk County sheriff’s deputies
and forcefully questioned about his citizen-
ship status at a restaurant in Independence.
The deputies carried out their actions with-
out identifying themselves and without a
warrant.
Trevino and several other plaintiffs filed a
lawsuit to highlight a growing trend of racial
profiling by local law enforcement agencies
across the state. The lawsuit was dismissed,
but it brought attention to the problem and
helped pave the way for legislative action.
In 1987, Republican and Democratic
state legislators came together to over-
whelmingly pass the Oregon sanctuary law
58-1 in the House and 29-1 in the Senate.
It aimed to combat racial profiling and pre-
vent situations such as the one Trevino had
to endure.
Removing this law would once again
open the door for racial profiling. It would
indiscriminately target Latinos, such as
myself. To my knowledge, Caucasians
are not asked about their immigration sta-
Christopher Oertell/ Forest Grove News-Times
Demonstrators congregated outside the Washington County Courthouse last week to
protest Measure 105. They were part of a seven-day march from Sheridan to The Dalles
tus; why should I be? Voting “no” on 105
ensures we are all treated equally and that no
particular group is singled out.
If Measure 105 passes there could also be
financial consequences for our communities
if local police — already under tight budgets
and understaffed — are diverted to immigra-
tion work. Voting “no” on 105 ensures that
immigration enforcement is left to the fed-
eral government and that local police con-
tinue to focus on keeping us safe.
One of the biggest misconceptions often
tied to the idea of a sanctuary law is that
it shields immigrants who commit felo-
nies and other serious crimes. This is false.
A sanctuary law does not protect individ-
uals who commit crimes. If you vote “no”
on 105, local law enforcement will con-
tinue to hold everyone accountable for their
crimes, including both immigrants and
nonimmigrants.
For me, this is an issue of human dignity
and compassion for our fellow Oregonians.
Passage of Measure 105 would neg-
atively impact a lot of good people. This
includes people you know, because they are
your neighbors and people you work with.
They are the families you see at school when
you drop off your children, or those you
nod to and greet at the supermarket. Some
of them are your friends and possibly even
family members. Measure 105 would neg-
atively affect people from all walks of life
directly and indirectly. Some of the impact
is apparent, but the most damaging impact
is often invisible and only manifested in the
psyche of the community.
In my five years as executive director of
the Lower Columbia Hispanic Council, I
have worked with and gotten to know hun-
dreds of Latino families who live on the
North Coast. Like many of the Scandina-
vian families that came before them, Latino
families moved to this area to work hard and
build a better life for their families. Some
have said they initially struggled to find their
footing within the broader community, but
after years of living here, many have started
to feel included. Measure 105 threatens to
disrupt that sense of community and replace
it with fear.
This is apparent when you speak directly
with Latino community members.
For a high school student from War-
renton who identifies as half Hispanic and
half Caucasian, the consequences would
be felt by her family. “My skin is white,
my English is perfect. As you see me Mea-
sure 105 would not affect me at all, but I am
only 15 years old and have a father who has
brown skin. If this measure passes I fear my
father could be deported.”
Another high school student, a 16-year-
old who attends Seaside High School, says,
“If this measure is passed it will not only
affect me and my family, but also the whole
Hispanic community. This measure is cruel
and not Oregonian.”
A Hispanic man from Astoria — a skilled
tradesman, husband and father — adds
“there is already a lot of fear within the His-
panic community, and if Measure 105 passes
this would add to that fear. Some families
may be too afraid to send their children to
school, or take them to the doctor when they
are sick.”
A Latina woman from Seaside who
works directly with the Latino community
says, “It’s heartbreaking to see the fear some
immigrant folks are experiencing in the cur-
rent political climate. Measure 105 poses
a threat not only to the Oregon families it
would persecute, but also to the local econ-
omies that thrive because of the honest and
hard work of the immigrant community.”
These are just a few of the many con-
cerned voices from the North Coast who are
urging the public to vote “no” on 105.
I firmly believe that regardless of your
background or whether you came from
another state or country, if you live in Ore-
gon, you are an Oregonian. We should
all stand together, united as Oregonians,
because unity and inclusiveness are part of
our values. Voting “no” on 105 will reaffirm
those values and I hope that you join me in
standing up for our neighbors, friends and
family.
Jorge Gutierrez is executive director of
the Lower Columbia Hispanic Council.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Please don’t remove
opponent’s signs
Vote ‘no’ on
Measure 103
pen letter to Gearhart voters: Though I
am continents away, I have heard about
my opponent’s signs disappearing. I would
like to urge anyone who is involved in this
activity to stop immediately and return the
signs. This behavior is illegal. It gives our
town a bad name, helping no one.
Thank you to those who are supporting
my campaign in a positive way. Everyone
can express their opinions by writing letters
to the editor of The Daily Astorian or Sea-
side Signal. In hindsight, I would also like
to thank Mr. Al Carder, my former oppo-
nent, who conducted himself with respect
and dignity throughout the entire 2014
campaign. Ultimately, it is you, the peo-
ple of Gearhart, who will make your choice
through the voting process. I urge you to
vote on or before Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Gearhart is a special town made up of
kind, highly intelligent people, who may or
may not have a college degree. The major-
ity respect one another, look out for one
another, and live together in harmony,
though they may have different beliefs.
These people are not about telling others
how things should be. Gearhart folks like
the way things are and that is why they live
here. That is why I live here. Please help
protect what we have.
KERRY SMITH
Gearhart
A
no vote on Measure 103 is not, as
the opposition has gone to great
lengths to make you believe, a vote to
tax food. Nothing could be further from
the truth.
What a no vote on Measure 103 does
do is keep the power to raise or lower
taxes in the control of local governments
rather than in the Capitol.
Of course, any reasonable person
knows that taxing food is not a good
place to raise revenue. But if a local
government decided it needed to do
something about the childhood obesity
problem in their area, and decided to
tax sugary beverages, they should be
allowed to make that choice, or any other
choice, for the good of their community.
JEAN HOOGE
Astoria
O
Jones has what
Astoria needs
t was 35 years ago, nearly to the day, that
I met Bruce Jones. We were two skinny,
nervous, twenty-somethings reporting for
Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in
Yorktown, Virginia. With his calm, thought-
ful demeanor, Bruce and I quickly became
close friends — a friendship that has
allowed me to serve with, train with, travel
with, and socialize with Bruce.
We worked together through the intense
OCS training regime before both being
selected for U.S. Navy Flight School. Bruce
confidently met and overcame every chal-
lenge and we both were “winged” in 1985,
and began our Coast Guard aviation careers.
Unfortunately, we were never again sta-
tioned together. But I followed Bruce’s
career from afar, as he skillfully rose
through the Coast Guard ranks, perform-
I
ing admirably, not only as a highly skilled
helicopter pilot, but as an exceptional Coast
Guard officer.
As the commanding officer of Coast
Guard Air Station New Orleans, Bruce
faced the nightmare of Hurricane Katrina.
His skill set was exactly what was needed
to quickly take command and bring order
to the government response to the unimag-
inable challenges presented by this natural
disaster.
Now, we here on the North Coast are
blessed not only to have Bruce and his
lovely wife, Linda, as neighbors, but to
have Bruce willing to devote his incredi-
ble leadership skills to guide and enhance
this fine city. His calm, thoughtful, bal-
anced approach to any and all challenges
will be exactly what Astoria needs to lead us
forward.
MIKE DAVIES
Warrenton
Vote Wev for
county commissioner
here are important differences in expe-
rience and issues which set Pam Wev
apart from her opponent in the race for
county commissioner, District 3. One issue
of distinction is the role of county commis-
T
sioners and manager.
Pam clearly understands the role of
county commissioner. Commissioners make
policy, which is then implemented by the
county manager and staff. In addition, Pam
expects the commission to follow up, and
hold the manager and staff accountable for
putting those policies into action.
From Pam’s vast experience working
with a variety of county governments, she
knows that micromanaging is not useful for
staff or county residents. This is a hallmark
of Pam’s work ethic, which is to practice
civility and respect in all her actions.
As a daughter of a Coast Guard captain,
and working as an English teacher, Pam val-
ues those who serve the public. Combined
with her experience as a small business
owner, she brings fresh ideas for positive
economic growth for our communities.
Pam raised two children as a single
mother and is delighted to be a first-time
grandparent. She is committed to build-
ing a strong future for all our children and
grandchildren.
We shouldn’t look to the past for solu-
tions to the challenges of today. We deserve
fresh eyes and fresh ideas to move our
county forward. That is why I am sup-
porting Pam Wev for Clatsop County
commissioner.
CHERYL JOHNSON
Astoria
Vote Brown for
Oregon governor
ave you heard enough misleading
statements and lies from powerful
men in the last two weeks? It seems we
have another one, right here in Oregon.
Knute Buehler is saying anything
that he thinks will get him elected.
He’s trying to paint himself as an
environmentalist, while taking over
$850,000 from anti-environmental
groups (“Knute Buehler says he isn’t
taking anti-environment money. He’s
gotten more than $850,000,” The
Oregonian, Oct. 5). He supports the
planned Jordan Cove liquefied natural
gas (LNG) plant in southern Oregon.
When I phoned his office to
complain about the negative advertising
he started weeks ago, I was told that
Knute was not responsible — as if
he has no input into political action
committee (PAC) spending on his
behalf.
He voted no on HB 3391, which
provided coverage for women’s health
issues. Now, he is running ads about his
support for women and health care.
Knute Buehler seems willing to say
anything to get a vote. Don’t fall for
this. Vote for Kate Brown in November.
JOANN WILTRAKIS
Astoria
H