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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 2018)
4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 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 OUR VIEW Buehler for governor Oregon needs leadership Children at risk The state’s child welfare agency audit shows decades of neglect and lack of accountability. To Brown’s credit, she removed the agency head and set out steps to improve the system. But the steps were never followed. And the agency’s fail- ure to follow those steps still has not been addressed. Her failure to demand account- ability puts our most vulnerable children at risk. The Oregon Health Authority audit pointed out millions misspent on Medicaid payments, noting that the agency lacked “well-defined, consistent and agency-wide processes” to detect improper payments. Following the release of a draft public relations plan crafted by OHA to smear Family Care, a Portland-area health care provider, the OHA director resigned, but Brown hired the communications direc- tor who drafted the plan to an economic development position in the governor’s office, according to the Register-Guard. Can’t wait any longer Kate Brown has spent 25 years in state government, and knows Oregon’s peo- ple and values. She’s personable and plays well to a state that was described by the Washington Post as one of the nation’s most “anti-Trump.” But we no longer have time to take a wait-and-see attitude on PERS, education, vulnera- ble Oregonians and our rural, natural resource-based economies. Both Republicans and Democrats play- ing to the base have helped push nearly one-third of Oregon voters into the non- affiliated category — more Oregon vot- ers are neither Democrats or Republicans than are affiliated with either party. Oregonians are tired of politics as usual. We urge a vote for Buehler to lead Oregon. A Buehler governorship carries risk. It requires that he come through on his promise to be a moderate governor, working with a Democrat-controlled Legislature to get action on his ambitious ideas for education, housing and health. It also relies on the Legislature being will- ing to work with Buehler. But based on his record, Buehler has showed an ability to make deci- sions based on the best outcomes for Oregonians — and not always along party lines. He is pro-choice, in favor of gay marriage and often critical of Trump. He supported the “coal to clean” energy bill, breaking ranks with Republicans to vote for it. We don’t like some of Buehler’s stands — supporting the LNG terminal in Coos Bay, and repealing the state’s sanctu- ary law through Measure 105 — but he demonstrates an awareness of the need for timely and decisive action that’s been lacking from Brown. Kate Brown has not convinced us that the next four years will be different than her first four years as governor. The next four years under Knute Buehler will. Vote ‘yes’ for Astoria school bond Please vote ‘yes’ for Astoria kids n Nov. 6, you, the citizens of Astoria, can make a choice to help the children of our town. Chances are you know a child living in Astoria. Whether you’re a parent or a grandparent, a neighbor or an employer, children make up almost 20 percent of the population in Astoria, and as such, it is our responsibility to keep them safe and ensure that their right to a quality education is met. On Nov. 6, you can vote “yes” for Astoria kids. “Yes” for John Jacob Astor getting a new boiler, so the school will not have to close over winter. “Yes” for upgrading Astoria Middle School’s fire alarm system, so they can stay safe and enjoy much-needed ventilation and natu- ral light in the outdated building. “Yes” for fix- ing Astoria High School’s significant security concerns. Safety and security in our schools are urgent priorities. Saying “yes” for Astoria kids says “yes” to Astoria’s future. Their success will be our success, too. So please vote “yes” for Asto- ria kids. REBECCA SHERMAN Astoria I O regon unemployment rates are at historic lows and the state revenue forecast at historic highs. The state’s incumbent governor should be riding a wave of approval into the Nov. 6 election. So why then, in the latest polling, is Kate Brown only barely leading Republican Knute Buehler? There are at least two reasons for the closeness of this race. After a long drought, Oregon Republicans have nominated a credible candidate who appeals to mainstream Oregonians. And Gov. Brown is vulnerable because she lacks the kind of bold leadership that Oregonians like to think they deserve. The Daily Astorian’s editorial board believes that the Oregon governor’s race comes down to leadership on pension reform, education, natural resources and human welfare. PERS Despite the largest revenue bud- get ever projected for the 2019-21 bien- nium, $1.1 billion will go to fund the Public Employees Retirement System’s liabilities — a 38 percent increase in PERS expense in just two years. Those increased revenues won’t ever reach the classroom, fund more public safety per- sonnel or programs for our most vulner- able populations. It will go straight to the public employee pension liability. In its worst manifestation, school districts are laying off teachers in order to pay the benefits for retired personnel. Gov. Brown thinks that state employ- ees need to have more “skin in the game,” and recent union contracts require state employees to pay a 6 per- cent contribution to their retirement in place of the employer contribution. But Brown gave state employees a 6.95 percent raise to more than offset the contribution. State Rep. Knute Buehler and Gov. Kate Brown debate in Portland. Buehler says, “I won’t sign any new spending bills until I have a PERS reform bill on my desk.” He wants to transition state employees to a private-sector style, 401(k) retirement plan, and cap the final salary used to calculate an employee pen- sion at $100,000, essentially limiting maximum pension benefits to $45,000 to $50,000 a year, indexed to inflation. The proposal could save as much as $500 million per biennium. We call that bold leadership. Gillnetting Former Gov. John Kitzhaber’s 2012 ban of gillnetting on the main stem of the Columbia River assumed that gillnet- ting took more than a sustainable num- ber of salmon out of the river for the fish- ery. Five years later, studies showed that banning gillnetting has not had a positive effect on salmon runs. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission recognized the failure of the ban and in 2017 approved an enhanced “rebalancing” plan that allowed limited gillnetting. Gov. Brown, in a letter to the commis- sion, said the rules adopted for the fish- ery reforms were “not acceptable” and she asked for the rules to be reversed. “The rules should clearly match … the policy of my administration,” she wrote. Kitzhaber’s gillnetting ban cost him the Clatsop County vote in the 2014 elec- tion. We think Kate Brown’s demand to enforce her policy over science should cost her the Clatsop County vote too. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Vote for Mitchell, Brown and Bonamici he critical midterm election is upon us. Your vote matters. My vote matters. Our votes are our voice. I’m voting for Tiffiny Mitchell, Kate Brown and Suzanne Bonamici; all strong Democratic women. Voting for these three dedicated women creates a strong Ore- gon and that contributes to a strong America. This focused Democratic trifecta will work to ensure that we all have access to affordable health care and protect women’s reproductive rights. Tiffiny, Kate and Suzanne will confront the dangers of climate change and work for effective solutions. They will support a vital, healthy economy for all Oregonians. They are dedicated to the welfare of our children through strengthening Oregon’s education sys- tem, which in turn, will build opportunity for them. Look for your ballot in the mail. Don’t delay; vote as soon as your ballot arrives. Strong, dedicated, focused representation is what Oregon needs. Tiffiny, Kate and Suzanne are applying for the jobs to represent you and me. Let’s hire them. Vote. CATHEY RYAN Seaside T Vote Wev for county commissioner ’m voting for Pamela Wev in the District 3 Clatsop County Commission race. Pamela has broad experience from a lifetime work- ing with smaller municipal systems. She is an experienced, respected professional in land use planning, as well as a talented negotiator and leader. And, she understands how to encourage sustainable economic growth. These four qual- ities alone make her the superior candidate. The county badly needs grounded, ener- getic leadership to solve the manifold prob- lems on its plate: enhancing affordable housing options; upgrading an aging and inadequately designed jail complex; creating reason- able options for the homeless; servicing pub- I lic health and mental health needs; and, most importantly, helping to maintain healthy indus- tries in forestry and fishing. The commission must take a strong leadership role in direct- ing the new county manager in tackling these tasks. Like it or not, we are going to grow rapidly in the next several years. Pamela has the tal- ents to assist us in doing so in a sensitive, sus- tained fashion. Her unique talents are vitally needed on the county commission. DAVE KRUGER Astoria Hotel project should reduce scale he proposed Fairfield Hotel roof line is 47 feet high, which is two feet above the limit, and its roof-mounted equipment is an additional foot higher. There is only enough parking for hotel guests, which includes the space most use for Josephson’s Smokehouse. This leaves none for a repurposed Stephanie’s Cabin or any of the hotel’s employees. Reduc- ing the scale would greatly help, and many hope the Design Review Committee will require such at their 5:30 p.m. Nov. 1 meeting — or deny it. Business owners along Commercial Street told me they left Cannon Beach and Seaside because those towns rely too much on tour- ists. They moved to Astoria to have a more year-around economy. I would hate for Asto- ria’s economy to be viable only during tour- ist season. The hotel design with balconies overlook- ing the Riverwalk will make walking this spe- cial path much less special with people inter- acting with us from on high. The Urban Core plan — for which the city is now accepting public input at Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. special Planning Commission meeting — has pictures of buildings with balconies facing both sides of the Riverwalk — think gauntlet with few river views. If the Fairfield is allowed balco- nies, then denying others will be difficult. GEORGE (MICK) HAGUE Astoria T O am an Astoria teacher and parent. I support the Astoria school bond because we are hin- dered by our aging facilities. Our students and staff deserve to work and learn in buildings where the boilers work, and can be repaired when needed, where the walls are connected to the floors, and where all classrooms have win- dows for natural light. The bond will also update many specific departments at Astoria High School, providing our students with modern opportunities in sci- ence, art, music, technology and career explo- ration. The current facilities are 60 years out of date. The bond will fix that. My third-grader recently had a nightmare about a school lockdown. Our kids deserve to go to school where they are safe. We need buildings that are up to date for our children’s safety. The bond will enclose most of our exterior doors and create single points of entry that can be moni- tored for the safety of everyone in the buildings. Our children are our responsibility and our future. Please vote “yes” for Astoria kids. REBECCA PIERCE Astoria
