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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 16, 2018)
4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 editor@dailyastorian.com KARI BORGEN Publisher JIM VAN NOSTRAND Editor Founded in 1873 JEREMY FELDMAN Circulation Manager DEBRA BLOOM Business Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN Production Manager CARL EARL Systems Manager GUEST COLUMNS Vote ‘yes’ for Vote ‘no’ on county jail bond new county jail T E here is never a good time to fund a new jail. Over the past 12 years as a Clatsop yes they have but they do not see; ears they have but they do not hear. (Jeremiah 5:21) County Circuit Court judge, I have observed the many ways our jail no longer Twice in past years a bond issue for a new jail has been presented to the good serves the needs of our community. people of Clatsop County. It was soundly defeated. Now the sheriff and the district I pose the question: “A new jail? What’s in it for me?” attorney have managed to convince the Board of Commissioners to bring a jail bond before Research shows that immediate and short jail interventions are successful in con- the citizens once again. forming and redirecting criminal behavior. The use of short jail sanctions as part of a Not satisfied with a proposal to convert the former Oregon Youth Authority property to a consequence for noncompliance is an essential tool used by Clatsop County’s specialty new, modest jail costing $14 million, they opted for a high-end model to the tune of $24 mil- lion. Of this amount $20 million would come from the bond measure to be court (treatment, mental health court and drug court) programs. Specialty considered by the voters on Nov. 6. The remainder will be financed from courts provide an opportunity for high-risk and high-need offenders that part of the general fund designated for capital improvements, (referred to remain productive and engaged in community-based treatment, to by some as the “slush fund”). while public safety is provided for with enhanced supervision and The newer, larger facility will require higher maintenance costs. The accountability. county leadership has already provided for this by raising the lodging tax. We have observed that “jail avoidance” can be a real incentive and This increase, coupled with the recent additional tax imposed by Astoria, a marker of achievement. We regularly celebrate with a participant the CINDEE GEORGE means tourists will be burdened with a tax of 12 percent. Elected officials days they do not spend in jail. Without adequate and reliable jail space, MATYAS McCARTIN of Astoria and Clatsop County seem to have forgotten that old adage, we cannot always count on this intervention. “don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” Clatsop County boasts one of the highest rates of drug and alcohol When considering whether to vote for Measure 4-195, a voter must ask if we should abuse and related deaths in the state. Drug and alcohol abuse often go hand in hand with continue to build correctional facilities to criminal behavior. For defendants with warehouse criminals of every sort from addictions, the implementation of a short shoplifters to murderers. Many people jail sentence — and the confidence that would affirm that this is necessary; some the time will be actually served — is an would go so far as to recommend lifetime essential and often life-saving part of our incarceration for those who break the law. public safety response to criminal behav- ior spurned by addiction. Such people believe they would then be The time spent in jail with needed safe and secure with respect to both their medical support allows a person to property and their person. “clear” and have more control over the The United States constitutes 5 percent grip of their addiction — making them of the world’s population and 25 percent more amenable and physically able to of the world’s prison population. States make better sobriety choices and avoid and the federal government are bereft of criminal activity. The occasion spent in implementing alternatives to incarceration. jail is often valuable by giving the court, Local governments, however, have no jail staff, probation and treatment provid- need to follow suit. ers time to connect the person with local The key argument for building a resources and programs. new jail is the fact that the present jail is Each weekday at 1:15 p.m. the court overcrowded. Before spending millions of conducts in-custody arraignments where taxpayer and tourist dollars for a facility, defendants are advised of the charges and perhaps reducing the jail population their rights. Each day, release decisions should be considered. are made and the available jail space — About 65 to 75 percent of inmates or lack of available space — is a primary confined in a county jail are awaiting trial. factor. Each and every day, the system The great majority of these accused will engages in a juggling act to keep people never have a trial. So why are they taking in jail who pose a danger to the public, up jail space for six months to a year or who do not follow release conditions, more? Because it is in their interest to who do not show up to the court and do so, even if they are innocent. It is not who are not compliant with probation surprising that after an inmate has spent Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian conditions. However, every day people considerable amount of time in jail, she/ Officials hope to convert the former Oregon Youth Authority facility in Warrenton into a are released — not because they are a he is ready to cop a deal. The other players low risk for these issues, but because the new county jail. — judge, prosecutor and defense attorney jail is too crowded. — are more than willing to have them do You may have heard the phrase “truth so. Because lawyers are always hesitant to in sentencing.” It refers to the process where prosecutors and defense attorneys negotiate put the fate of their clients in the hands of a jury, they do whatever is necessary to have the in good faith to resolve cases with certain terms, expectations and goals. Jail sanctions, accused meet and plead. or the threat of a jail sanction, are typically part of any negotiation. Victims rely upon the No one involved in this broken justice system hesitates to have a client waive the right to courts and the system to bring justice. a speedy trial, as provided by the U.S and Oregon constitutions and by state statute. In my Whether jail is used “up front” or whether it is held in abeyance and used as a sanction law practice I was often appointed by the court to represent criminal defendants. Thus, I can for noncompliance, victims rely upon the court to uphold a defendant’s accountability. understand that sometimes the defense or prosecution needs more time to prepare for trial. When a court sanctions a defendant to jail and then we see the person out soon after due But the speedy trial provisions should not be routinely cast aside. Under the leadership of the to overcrowding, the entire system fails. Victims feel re-victimized and justice loses its judges, criminal defendants could be brought to trial much quicker than they are now. This meaning. would alleviate jail overcrowding to a large extent. When offenders chronically fail to appear for court, are picked up on failure-to-appear It has also been argued that a new jail is needed to provide space for the mentally ill. warrants and then are released from jail due to crowding, efficiency and case resolution Those of us who suffer from a mental illness shudder at the thought of ever being confined fall behind. The courts continue to schedule hearings and if the person does not appear, to jail. A person who has a serious physical illness goes to a hospital for treatment. In most a warrant is issued and the scheduled court time and the attorney time are wasted. When communities the hospital is where people with severe mental illness go. Locally, both law enforcement finds the person, serves the warrant and takes the person to jail, another Lutheran and Catholic hospitals, founded on the Gospel, turn their back on mentally ill court date is scheduled and the case gears up again. people. If the person is released due to crowding and does not show up again … the cycle Twenty-five percent of the Clatsop County correctional population is on prescribed med- ication for the treatment of mental disorders; 50 to 60 percent are in jail for criminal offenses continues, burdening law enforcement and court resources. Our ability to keep offenders stemming from their dependence on illegal drugs or alcohol. The criminal charges against in jail who chronically fail to appear time and time again would dramatically improve our them are secondary to the real problem. Building a larger jail only fosters the error in treating ability to resolve cases. When cases move forward without these disruptions, they can be the symptoms of this pathology rather than the cause. settled or trials can occur sooner rather than later. Bringing cases to a speedy conclusion Passage of Measure 4-195 will have widespread negative financial impact on the good helps the offender move forward too. people of Clatsop County. The supporting document in the voters pamphlet claims the bond The current conditions of our jail are inhumane for both inmates and jail staff. The will only result in an estimated $42 increase in property tax for an owner of a $230,000 space is cramped, dark and crowded. A surprising number of inmates have medical issues home. On the contrary, the median price of homes currently listed in Clatsop County is such MRSA or even tuberculosis. Holding them in our cramped facility without adequate $385,000 — a property tax increase of $81. For persons at the high end of the economic ventilation endangers other inmates, as well as those who visit and staff the jail. scale, $81 is spare change. For seniors on a limited income, however, or working families In addition, there are very few placement options in the jail for those who pose a risk living from hand to mouth just to pay their mortgage, any tax increase will adversely impact to public safety but have special needs or who may be suffering from a mental health their budgets. crisis. The current jail is not a place any of us would want their friend or family member It is well-settled that a vast number of service workers employed in jobs that do not pay to work or to be lodged. a living wage are unable to find affordable housing in the area where they work. Passage Clatsop County, and the jail that served it 30 years ago, is changing. The jail no longer of Measure 4-195 will raise rents even more. Whether a single-family house or a multimil- serves the needs of our community. There is never a good time to fund a new jail, but it is lion-dollar apartment complex, rest assured the landlady or landlord will pass along the tax an essential part of our justice system, providing critical public safety benefits for all of us. increase to the tenants. Once again the number of working homeless will increase. I invite you to explore this issue further. If you have questions or want to take a look There are many more positive alternatives in lieu of building a new jail. Clatsop County at our jail, please contact the sheriff or the jail commander. If you want to get a glimpse voters have said “no” to a jail bond twice before. Hopefully voters will see the wisdom to of how the court system must address the release of offenders due to jail crowding, say “no,” once again. please stop by the courthouse any weekday at 1:15 p.m. and observe the in-custody George McCartin of Astoria is a retired attorney who has run for both City Council and arraignments. county commissioner. Cindee S. Matyas is a Clatsop County Circuit Court judge. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Vote Swedenborg for Cannon Beach council am writing in support of Greg Swedenborg, who is running for City Council in Cannon Beach. Greg has stated interesting, positive and creative ideas for many of the issues that our community faces. I think his presence on the council will be a breath of fresh air, and if you are in doubt, please read his statement in the voter’s pam- phlet that is available for the upcoming election. His intelligent assessment of “manage the future, respect the past” reflects his deeper understanding of the Can- non Beach he grew up in, and is now rais- ing how own children. Please vote for Greg Swedenborg. LINDA SWEENEY Cannon Beach I Vote ‘yes’ on Measure 102 assing Measure 102 could help the coast in the future. At first glance, it might seem like Measure 102 doesn’t apply to those of us living and voting in Clatsop County. After all, we don’t have a housing bond on the ballot. But the purpose of Measure 102 is to give cities as many tools as possible to maximize their funds and help as many people as pos- sible, and Measure 102 could definitely help us here on the coast in the future, as the need for more affordable housing tops the agenda at nearly every public meeting and candidate forum. Currently, Oregon law does not allow local governments to use bond funds in partnership with private groups or nonprofits. Instead, local municipalities are required to work in a silo to create affordable housing. They’re cut off from the resources and expertise available at local nonprofits. P Making this small change to the Oregon Constitution will empower local choice across the state to more effectively combat housing instability and get our neighbors into perma- nent and stable housing. The housing crisis is something we will have to contend with for years, or decades, to come. We need to utilize as many resources as we possibly can. Voting yes on Measure 102 will give folks throughout the state the oppor- tunity to not only build more housing than they would otherwise be able to, but it will enable us to follow suit when we decide to build more affordable housing in Clatsop County. KATE ALLEN Astoria Embrace change for our future fter looking at the proposed redesign for a new hotel, I am troubled that we seem A to deny change which would result in jobs and tourism increases. I looked at the Holiday Inn Express this morning, and could not believe that it, and the addition, were approved while this new property, which mimics the Cannery Pier Hotel, was denied. Does the Design Review Committee think closed-up store fronts on Commercial Street will lead to an increase in tourism, and there- fore, jobs? This seems to be at best shortsight- edness, or worst case, the good old boy club out in full force. It appears now the developer may leave the entire project. Not the way to deal with a changing economy, in my view. We should move on from fishing and timber, while still providing good jobs and an economic contri- bution to the area, and embrace change for our future. BOB JENSSEN Astoria
