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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2018)
7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2018 FIELD TEST Candidates Wanted URGENT NOTICE: You may be qualified to participate in a special Field Test of new hearing instrument technology being held at a local test site. Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian Andrea Gonzalez spoke at a rally in Astoria in July against repealing Oregon’s sanctuary law. Gonzalez: Has been part of opposition on several fronts Continued from Page 1A Gonzalez, a member of the Lower Columbia His- panic Council, came in con- tact with the ACLU at a recent conference. She was asked to take part in the ad, which was filmed that same day. “We knew about the con- ference itself, but the oppor- tunity to be in the video pre- sented itself that day, and I just decided, I guess, to be a part of it,” she said. Gonzalez has been part of the measure’s opposition on several fronts, including a rally in Astoria in July. She is not the first person from Clatsop County to weigh in on the issue to a broader audience. Sheriff Tom Bergin penned a letter in August sup- porting the measure, with 15 other sheriffs from around the state signing on. Bergin cited respect for the law and an ability to ease local law enforcement’s rela- tionships with U.S. Immigra- tion and Customs Enforce- ment as reasons to support the measure. He added that, if the sanctuary law is repealed, the sheriff’s office would not question someone solely about their immigration status. Crime: ‘Right now, the weak link in our criminal justice system is the jail’ Continued from Page 1A Public safety is a theme in the campaign for a new jail — the red- and-white signs for the November bond measure say “Keep our streets safe!” Vio- lence like murder or rape is rare, but a thick stew of assaults, threats, sex abuse, theft and drug- and alcohol-fu- eled crime has kept the county near the top. The state crime rankings, adjusted for population, are tied to the county’s drinking culture and the lack of sub- stance abuse and mental health treatment options. But the rankings are also inflated by visitors who have made the North Coast one of the state’s most popular getaways. Last year, 27 percent of the more than 2,400 bookings at the jail were people who live outside the county. District Attorney Josh Marquis said the long-run- ning crack among attorneys is, “Come on vacation, leave on probation.” “It’s become a very desir- able place for a lot of people to live and recreate,” Marquis said. “Unfortunately, a micro- cosm of that, is that it has also become a popular place for some people to prey on those people.” Marquis emphasizes his point by comparing Clat- sop County — with a popula- tion of about 39,000 — with Columbia County to the east, at 51,000. Columbia County ranked 16th in 2017 in behav- ioral crimes, 28th in crimes against people and 28th in property crimes. “No offense, but who says, ‘Oh, gee, let’s go spend the weekend in Scappoose or, you know, St. Helens,’” Marquis said. “It’s just not a destination.” Lodging tax The large share of out-of- county jail bookings was part of the rationale county com- missioners used this summer for a 1 percent lodging tax to help pay for operations at a new jail. Leaders in the tourism industry fought the lodging tax and are increasingly punch- ing back against the percep- tion that visitors are driving the county’s crime rate. “I rail against the idea of vilifying our guests, who are part of an industry that creates a lot of jobs and a lot of reve- nue for our county,” said David Reid, the executive director of the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce. While some visitors who stay in hotels commit crimes, Reid believes there is no direct CRIME REPORTS The Oregon Uniform Crime Report tracks offenses by county. Rankings for 2017 are based on reported crimes per 100,000 popu- lation. *Behavioral — Covers dis- orderly conduct, drunken driving, liquor, drug and other crimes. (Clatsop, Coos, Jackson, Benton, Marion) *Persons — Covers as- saults, threats, sex abuse and other crimes. (Clat- sop, Morrow, Douglas, Jefferson, Jackson) *Property — Covers theft, fraud, burglary, vandalism and other crimes. (Mult- nomah, Jackson, Marion, Coos, Clatsop) correlation with the 27 percent of out-of-county jail bookings. As the tourism industry becomes more sophisticated at marketing the North Coast, raising the quality of the expe- rience and stressing visitor spending over volume, part of the message will be how people can enjoy the region responsibly. “The conversation about teaching people how to enjoy our area is an increasing one,” Reid said. “It’s something we’re getting a little better at.” Difficult to measure The Oregon Uniform Crime Report is the best state- wide overview of offenses reported by law enforcement, but the data is limited. Not all law enforcement agencies con- sistently submit reports. Clatsop County generally has a good reporting rate, but Warrenton police, for example, did not participate in 2017, so the county’s totals are lower than what they should have been. The county’s placement near the top of the state crime rankings is not in isolation, however, nor is the idea visi- tors influence the crime rate. “Our numbers are way too high for our population,” Chief Deputy Paul Williams, of the sheriff’s office, said. Last year, The Daily Asto- rian documented how the county was among the highest in the state for sending people to prison for drug and prop- erty crimes. In 2016, the news- paper showed how roughly 40 percent of drunken-driving cases each year involve people who live outside the county. Marquis and Bergin have well-earned reputations for being tough on crime and skeptical of criminal justice reform. As the most visible advocates for a new jail, they are targets of critics who claim they only want more cells to lock people up. But Marquis is retiring as district attorney at the end of the year, and Bergin has said he will not run for re-elec- tion as sheriff in 2020, so oth- ers will have the chance to set policy. “These are much, much larger forces than any one per- son can control,” Marquis said. Overcrowding The debate over a new jail has mostly focused on inmates who are released early because the 60-bed jail in Astoria is overcrowded. Last year, 459 inmates were forced out early, according to the sheriff’s office. A new jail at the for- mer North Coast Youth Cor- rectional Facility in Warrenton would have 148 beds with the potential for expansion. Increasingly, though, the question for policymakers is not how many inmates should be in custody, but whether jail space is being used effectively. Over the past year, the county, led by Judge Paula Brownhill, the presiding judge of the Circuit Court, has tested a new pretrial release policy to try to lower the high percent- age of inmates at the jail who are awaiting trial. Using risk assessment tools, the county weighs an inmate’s risk to public safety, the likelihood of new criminal activity, the threat to victims, and the prob- ability the accused will appear for court. As part of Oregon’s push to reduce state prison use — known as justice reinvestment — the county is also encour- aged to supervise more crimi- nals locally through jail or pro- bation. One of the strategies is to use sanctions — includ- ing short-term stays in jail — to control behavior, which is difficult when the jail is overcrowded. With more jail space, more inmates convicted of crimes would serve their full sen- tences, while the county would have more flexibility to use the hammer of jail time to enforce probation. “Right now, the weak link in our criminal justice system is the jail, and it has been for a couple decades,” Williams said. For Marquis, a new jail would help send the message that there are immediate and real consequences for getting arrested. The fear of conse- quences, over time, might help reduce the crime rate. “That information, you don’t need to paste it on Face- book for it to be known, and for it to be common knowl- edge pretty quickly,” he said. An industry leader in digital hearing devices is sponsoring a product field test in your area next week and they have asked us to select up to 15 qualified candidates to participate. They are interested in determining the benefits of GENIUS™ 3.0 Technology in eliminating the difficulty hearing aid users experience in difficult environments, such as those with background noise or multiple talkers. Candidates in other test areas have reported very positive feedback so far. We are looking for additional candidates in Warrenton and the surrounding areas. Dates: October 17 th - 19 th Miracle-Ear Center Youngs Bay Plaza 173 S. Hwy 101 Warrenton, OR 97146 (503) 836-7921 Miracle-Ear Center 2505 Main Ave N, Suite C Tillamook, OR 97141 (503) 836-7926 In an effort to accurately demonstrate the incredible performance of these devices, specially trained representatives will be conducting testing and demonstrations during this special event. In addition to an audiometric hearing evaluation, candidates will receive a fiber-optic otoscope exam, a painless procedure that could reveal common hearing problems such as excessive wax or damage to the eardrum, as well as other common cause of hearing deficiencies. Qualified Field Test Candidates: • Live in Warrenton or the surrounding area • Are at least 55 years of age or older • Have experienced some level of hearing difficulty, or currently wear hearing aids • Don’t currently work for a market research company FIELD TEST PARTICIPANTS Will be tested and selected same-day. We have a limited supply of the GENIUS™ 3.0 test product currently on hand and ready for testing. We have also been authorized to offer significant discounts if you decide to take the hearing instruments home. If you choose not to keep them, there’s no risk or obligation of any kind.† TO PARTICIPATE: 1. You must be one of the first 15 people to call our office Mention Code: 18OctMicro 2. You will be required to have your hearing tested in our office, FREE OF CHARGE, to determine candidacy. 3. Report your results with the hearing instruments to the Hearing Care Specialist over a three week test period. Qualified candidates will be selected on a first- come, first-served basis so please call us TODAY to secure your spot in the Product Field Test. Participants who qualify and complete the product test will receive a FREE $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card* as a token of our thanks. AVOID WAITING – CALL AND MENTION CODE: 18OctMicro *One per household. Must be 55 or older and bring loved one for familiar voice test. Must complete a hearing test. Not valid with prior test/purchase in last 6 months. While supplies last. Free gift card may be used toward the purchase of food at participating restaurants where a minimum purchase may also be required. See restau- rant.com for details. Not redeemable for cash. Promotional offer available during special event dates only. †If you are not completely satisfied, the aids may be returned for a full refund within 30 days of the completion of fitting, in satisfactory condition. See store for details.
