Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 2018)
6A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 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 Restore gillnetting on Columbia River C olumbia River salmon need all the friends they can get. So why is former Gov. John Kitzhaber still demonizing some of the most knowledgeable and passionate salmon advocates? Like a boring house guest who won’t shut up and go home, Kitzhaber has popped up again, trying to con- vince Oregon and Washington policy- makers to double down on his failed bet about how to restore the river’s once-legendary salmon runs. In a video on an anti-commercial fishing website, Kitzhaber repeats the debunked claim that gillnets — the main tool available to provide local salmon for local dinner tables — indiscriminately kill passing fish and marine wildlife. This ignorant claim either ignores or misunderstands the reality that Columbia gillnetting was fine-tuned to catch specific species and sizes of salmon by varying mesh sizes, loca- tion and timing of fishing, and other strategies. Supposedly to preempt an outright ban proposed by 2012’s Ballot Measure 81, Kitzhaber rammed through a clumsy program of barring gillnets from the river’s main stem, expanding net-pen fisheries like the one in Young’s Bay, and research- AP Photo/Don Ryan Gillnetters repair a net in Astoria in 2012. ing other methods of harvesting salmon that would avoid impacts on wild-spawning fish. As The Daily Astorian reported Oct. 24, promises to commercial fisher- men have turned out to be empty ges- tures. Far from avoiding economic damage to fishermen, professional staff members with the two states’ fish- eries departments acknowledge the Kitzhaber plan simply isn’t working. It was a political Band-aid, not a valid restoration plan. At one time an emer- gency-room physician, we must hope Kitzhaber was better at patching up people than patching together salmon policies. Recreational fishermen, who stood to gain the most from a reallocation of salmon away from gillnetters, have seen only “marginal benefits,” accord- ing to Washington fisheries staff. State officials meet this Thursday for a comprehensive five-year review of the gillnet ban and its afteref- fects. They should stand their ground against urban politicians and unwind Kitzhaber’s blunder. This year was a reminder of the precariousness of salmon runs. For example, the most sought-after fish, spring Chinook, totaled about 88,000 at Bonneville Dam, compared to a 10-year average of nearly twice as many. The viability of the Chinook fish- ery and others long relied on a bal- ance between sportsmen, commer- cial and charter boats, conservationists and tribes. It was an alliance between these interests that succeeded in obtaining money from the Bonneville Power Administration and Congress to rebuild salmon habitat, improve fish passage and implement other expen- sive pro-salmon steps. There was an explicit understanding that commercial interests — which preserve local econ- omies and provide salmon to non-fish- ing consumers — are a vital part of this politically potent team. Kitzhaber broke this finely balanced structure. In order to restore salmon, we must restore this team. Getting smart, pro- salmon commercial fishermen back on the river is a key step. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Taylor for Astoria mayor Herman is correct choice I T n “Our View: Jones for Astoria Mayor” (The Daily Astorian, Oct. 19) the editorial board admits both candidates are equally qualified. But Jones was endorsed, primarily because of his leadership. There is no denying that Jones served as commander of Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, and com- manded the Air Station in New Orleans. The kind of leadership he demonstrated was as a commander, and is the kind of leadership well-suited to operations carried out by the mil- itary. However, the city of Astoria will not be well served by a military command style. It will be much better for the good people of Astoria to have a mayor like Dulcye Taylor, who has continually demonstrated by her many city services that she is a consensus builder. I personally experienced this while I was advo- cating for the Astoria Warming Center. Dulcye, as president of the Astoria Down- town Historic District Association, was urged to oppose the warming center. In the end, she worked with the center’s leaders to alleviate the concerns of those who opposed this winter homeless shelter. As a result the warming cen- ter was allowed a conditional use permit last year. And that permit has been renewed for the present year. Leadership style is important. You don’t need to be a commander to successfully lead a city. You do need to be someone who can pull different factions together, and obtain a good result for everyone. Dulcye Taylor is the candi- date who can do that best. GEORGE McCARTIN Astoria Taylor would be a terrific mayor for Astoria M y wife and I attended a couple of meet- ings of the Astoria City Council recently, specifically to a fairly hotly contested issue, and came away with a serious concern that the members of the council were in each case ill-prepared and unclear as to the specific deci- sions they were being tasked to make. It seemed vividly in evidence that neither the staff, nor the mayor, had prepared the coun- cilors with clear expectations for the hearing. It just seemed the councilors did not know what they were there to do. This was troubling for a number of reasons, but especially due to the apparent void of leadership. This experience was a significant element in our decision to back Dulcye Taylor for mayor of Astoria. In addition to needing one in the mayor’s seat who is vigorously creative, and with demonstrated history of motivating posi- tive change in the town, Astoria is at a number of challenging crossroads in terms of direction and how the town’s future qualities and charac- ter will be realized. It is our strong sense that our next mayor ought to be inspiring, innovative and clear about who she is, and what the community needs. Dulcye has shown the town she embod- ies these qualities and will be a terrific mayor. GREG LAVIN Astoria his is a letter to the undecided voters of Ward 3, who are debating between Joan Herman and Ron Zilli for Astoria City Coun- cil. This newspaper has endorsed Joan Her- man, and I think that is the correct choice (“4 great choices for Astoria council,” The Daily Astorian, Oct. 23). However, it is also important to note, again for the undecided voter, that Ron Zilli would be a poor choice. He simply does not appear to have the kind of temperament and decision-making style that are appropriate for our town. I am very wont to criticize cronyism and backroom deals in local politics, but I have not seen any evidence of that in recent years in the Astoria City Council. Mr. Zilli’s claims of lack of transparency imply the contrary, and that does not bode well for what this city needs to move forward. The newly-elected City Council will be facing very complicated issues of develop- ment, housing, budgets and homelessness, to name but a few. We need city councilors who will tackle these issues in a spirit of coopera- tion, rather than confrontation. So, if you are undecided voter in Ward 3, select Joan Herman, as this newspaper has recommended. She is the correct choice. BARRY PLOTKIN Astoria Mitchell for state rep F our candidates are on the ballot to replace retiring District 32 State Rep. Deborah Boone. Only one, Tiffiny Mitchell, will be able to continue Boone’s experience of working successfully on behalf of our local issues: • Housing stability and availability for all of our families, at prices and rents that provide safe homes for all workers; • Affordable health care, including treatment for substance abuse and mental health services; • Stable funding for education at all levels, including career readiness and technical train- ing, to reduce class sizes, improve the gradua- tion rate, and restore classes like physical edu- cation, art and music; • Protection of our beautiful North Coast, while investing wisely in our crumbling infra- structure; and • Maintaining a strong economy, with safety and security for all. Tiffiny Mitchell will collaborate with like- minded legislators from around the state, and with state and local elected officials, to direct our scarce resources in ways that ben- efit the residents of District 32, as well as all Oregonians. Your vote is so important. DAN SEIFER Arch Cape ‘Yes’ on Measure 102 W orking families need access to sta- ble housing. Low wages, high hous- ing costs and out-of-towners competing for second homes. Utility costs soaring and rent increases running out of sight. Many work- ing families are spending half their income on rent, and are losing hope of ever owning a home. As the executive director of Community Action Team (CAT), we are on the front lines of our region’s affordability crisis. CAT helps families struggling to stabilize their lives with services like rental and utility assistance. For most families, housing is their greatest cost. With rents doubling and housing prices soar- ing, the working families in our communities are facing their most severe crisis in CAT’s history. That’s why we are urging you to vote “yes” on Measure 102. It’s a simple solu- tion that will help get us on the path to hous- ing affordability. Measure 102 will allow local governments to partner with nonprofits and businesses to increase affordable housing options with voter-approved bonds. It is a sen- sible, bipartisan measure to help local com- munities create more affordable housing for families, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. This is particularly critical in our rural communities, where housing projects often fail to compete for scarce federal and state investments in affordable housing. Oregon’s community action agencies have come to the rescue of many families in our state. Without making housing more affordable, it becomes increasingly difficult to help our struggling families. That’s why Measure 102 is so vital. Please join us here at Community Action Team in voting “yes.” DAN BROWN Executive director, Community Action Team Inc. St. Helens Smith for Gearhart council I called the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife office to ask about the rampant hoof disease that Jack Zimmerman, candidate for Gearhart City Council, claims affects the Gear- hart elk herd (“Gearhart elk indeed suffering hoof rot,” The Daily Astorian, Oct. 12). I sug- gest you also call them, if you want to verify this is not a problem. It is not. But also, as I understand it, Fish and Wild- life cannot verify that there is absolutely no hoof disease, a common malady, in the herd. That would be like being asked to verify that no one has a cold in a large roomful of people. This is not the only issue I have with Jack Zimmerman’s candidacy. What we need on our council is a person who both knows and respects the facts, not one who uses “fake news” and stirs up trouble, wasting city time and resources. This is why I am voting to re-elect Kerry Smith. CAROL LUCAS Gearhart Astoria school facilities need updates T he Astoria School District is in need. As a student, I have had the opportunity to attend school in each one of the facilities in the district. I know firsthand that our facilities need to be updated. In middle school, I attended class in rooms with cracks across the floor; these same rooms lacked any natural light. In my time in high school, I have found that our school lacks some of the necessary facility improve- ments that could protect us in the event of a shooting incident. In my freshman year, our school was threatened with violence by a community member. This event called attention to the fact that Astoria High School has over 70 external exits in over 40 different locations. The school district has no automatic door locking system and is in need of updated camera and sound systems. Measure 4-197 funds all of these things. This bond would also fund the expansion of the student’s education. The measure would build and update classrooms that would expand our music, science, technical learning, art and agricul- tural programs. Our auditorium would be upgraded, supporting all students and com- munity groups who wish to use it. KEGAN RASCOE Astoria One vote counts ore than any other figure, the num- ber one is the most intriguing. There is something mystifying, magical, and focus- ing about it. It creates its own aura because it signifies something is close, or important, or both. “We’re No. 1,” the fans chant. Over time, one-point victories, or defeats, become more memorable and appreciated. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln won New Jer- sey’s electoral college by one vote. This was one state, but imagine what America might be like without Lincoln pushing through the 13th Amendment (equal rights) to the Constitution. In 1868, President Andrew Johnson was acquitted of allegedly conspiring against Con- gress (an impeachable offense) by one vote. In 1877, Rutherford B. Hayes became president when he received all 20 disputed Electoral College votes, thus defeating Sam- uel Tilden by one vote. In the 1960 presidential election, John F. Kennedy won the popular vote over Richard Nixon by less than 1 percent of the over 68 million votes cast. In 2012, Heidi Heitkamp became a U.S. senator from Montana by, you guessed it, 1 percent of the vote. The 14th, 15th, 19th 24th and 26th amend- ments to the U.S. Constitution all address voting. Wow. Voting is something really important. “Every vote counts” is not a cli- che. It really matters. The Constitution starts with “we the peo- ple,” so whatever happens Nov. 6, let’s make it the will of all the citizens. Your vote counts, my vote counts — let’s cherish that, celebrate it, and cast it. Grab your ballot, and let’s go vote. Yee haw! CARL DOMINEY Astoria M
