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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2018)
6A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 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 Transparency messy, but necessary A few words about government transparency: It makes democ- racy messy for government officials; it makes democracy incon- venient for those who hold power; it makes democracy work. The Kate Brown administration got a quick comeuppance last week and a par- tial lesson in transparency. The Oregon Department of Education quietly decided it was not releasing the annual school district report cards, as had been scheduled for last week, and instead would delay them until Nov. 15. The public was outraged. Gubernatorial candidate Knute Buehler seized on this — rightly so — as an example of Gov. Brown’s lack of trans- parency. At Brown’s direction, the department hastily reversed course and released the data, more or less. The public now can use the Department of Education website to look up report cards on the performance of each school district and individual schools, but cannot run comparisons. State schools chief Colt Gill said pro- gramming required more time, which was one reason for the Nov. 15 release date. The Oregonian newspaper proved him wrong. Overnight, its newsroom data team converted material into a use- able, searchable format. The newspa- per also deserves credit for breaking the original story about the delay, showing AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill speaks with reporters last week in Portland about the state’s statistical school rankings. once again why a democracy needs a free press to serve as watchdogs. It was not lost on anyone — except perhaps Gill, who said the outcry caught him off guard — that Nov. 15 is after the gubernatorial election in which educa- tion could be a deciding issue for voters. This episode either was tone-deaf management by Gill or, as Buehler claimed, deliberate deception by Brown or her staff. In the end, as Gill said was the case, the data showed little new about Oregon schools. What Oregonians will remember, however, is that Brown’s administration intended to delay the data release, regardless of why. Brown got a reprieve on another debacle. The Oregon Court of Appeals temporarily blocked a lower court rul- ing that would have forced disclosure of potential legislation being considered by her administration. Those legislative concepts — more than 260 of them — might have revealed whether Brown was consider- ing tax increases and other controver- sial measures for the 2019 Legislature. After ending the 2017 session by saying tax reform was a high priority for 2019, Brown has not followed through — at least not publicly. Legislative concepts submitted by state agencies have been considered public records in the past, although lit- tle attention was paid to them. Now the Brown administration is making the dubious claim that they are protected by attorney-client privilege. Even then, Brown could choose to make them public. It appears that political opponents wanted access to those legislative con- cepts, probably to use against Brown in the election. That is one of the risks a public official takes. Incumbency has a great advantage over challengers, but incumbency should never shield a politi- cian from transparency. Brown supporters will argue that Buehler is not being transparent, because he has not released his complete income tax returns, unlike Brown. They are right; however, there is a difference between public records and an unelected person’s private tax returns. Candidates promote transparency when running for office, whether for city councils and school boards or the presidency and governorships. Once in office, they prefer the darkness of closed government to the sunlight of full dis- closure. That shift might be understand- able but it is inexcusable. Full transparency must be the con- stant standard by which Oregon govern- ment operates. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Jones for the pilot seat storia has an unusual opportunity to elect a remarkably qualified leader. Bruce Jones, whom I first met when he was commander of Group Astoria, U.S. Coast Guard, seven years ago, brings remarkably broad leadership and knowledge to a city we love. I’m impressed with his campaign man- ner. He’s participating in every sort of com- munity conversation, from the arts to natural resources, and not simply showing up to shake hands. He’s listening carefully, enjoying thor- oughly, engaging in substantive conversations about the work and needs of the organization. Astoria isn’t just geographically on an edge. It’s also on the edge of maintaining its heritage — its “grit” — on the edge of being overly “discovered,” of struggling with big- city problems like homelessness, housing, traffic and crime. Bruce is a helicopter pilot who, among other duties, commanded Coast Guard assets in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, when the Coast Guard was the only government entity that showed up and delivered. He’s showing up and delivering for Astoria. Harry Reasoner once wrote: “A helicop- ter does not want to fly. It is maintained in the air by a variety of forces and controls working in opposition to each other, and if there is any disturbance in the delicate balance, the heli- copter stops flying, immediately and disas- trously. There is no such thing as a gliding helicopter.” We need Bruce Jones in the pilot seat. Please join me in voting for Bruce Jones for Astoria’s mayor for the 21st century. JOSH MARQUIS Clatsop County District Attorney A ‘Yes’ for Astoria kids have been an educational assistant at Asto- ria Middle School for the past six years. I support the Astoria school bond. I work in all the classrooms in the area they call the “dia- mond,” where the classrooms only have a small window, if any. The majority of the rooms don’t have a window to the outside. This can be a very difficult environment in which to learn for students and in which to work for staff. In addition to limited windows, our build- ing does not have reliable heating or cooling. In the winter months, the building tempera- ture is often below 60 degrees in the halls. Yet, in the early fall and late spring, the classroom temperature is nearly 90 degrees. Our students and staff deserve to work and learn in build- ings where the boilers work, or at least they can be repaired when needed. The building looks worn out. There are classrooms and hallways where the floors are not connected to the wall, and doors won’t close. The Astoria School District needs to assure that we have facilities that are safe. In par- ticular, the district needs to monitor and con- trol entry and exits, as well as provide security cameras and door lock systems that assure our I students are safe and secure at school. The Astoria community has a very import- ant decision to make about the future of our education within our school district. Our chil- dren are our responsibility and our future. Please vote “yes” for Astoria kids. JULIE NIEMI Astoria Vote ‘no’ on Warrenton school bond ast week I received my voters pamphlet in the mail. I always enjoy reading the argu- ments in favor and arguments against for all the measures. On Measure 4-198, Warrenton School District 30C bond proposal, there were no arguments against. I would like to remedy that lapse. For a $200,000 home, the tax increase per year for 31 years is $536 ($2.68 times 200) more each year as the property increases in value. I very much doubt my Social Secu- rity increase is going to cover it. My home is my nest egg. If I ever go into assisted living, the value of my house will have to cover the $5,000 or more per month that will cost me. God help me if I live longer than the 35 to 40 months the money will cover. I looked into the state deferment on real estate taxes, but that has an interest rate of 6 percent each year on the outstanding deferral. It wouldn’t take very long for that to eat up those “assisted living” months. This kind of tax increase will also hit all those older folks who rent. No apartment owner will just eat that tax increase. The rent will just have to go up, believe me. Don’t get me wrong. I would love for the children to have a safe place to be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. But what happens if the tsunami hits on the weekend, or later in the afternoon or at night? How much would it cost to protect all of us 24/7? Maybe we should all move to higher ground. Excuse my levity. I don’t know how many Warrenton resi- dents can afford that kind of increase to their taxes. I can’t, and will vote “no.” AVIS BUCK Warrenton L More info needed on Warrenton variance n Sept. 4, a formal proposal was received from Pacific Seafood requesting a two- stage project that would require a land zoning variance — along with a major modification to the Warrenton building code — to allow this company to create a new type of hous- ing, located directly adjacent to the Colum- bia River in Warrenton, to be used only by the seasonal transient employees of this company. On Oct. 12, a local newspaper printed the limited information available to the public for this proposal (“Seafood processor plans worker housing in Warrenton,” The Daily Astorian). O This is another non-transparent Warren- ton government process used to conceal from the voters what is about to happen in their city. This news article stated there will be a meet- ing in November to discuss the zoning vari- ance. It did not state if there would be a vote at that time on the zone variance. Creating a totally new type of housing for Warrenton, which is the implied goal of this proposal, is a citywide issue of great interest to a large number of voters. We need a public meeting where voters can voice objections to this proposal without the maximum three-min- ute time limit the mayor allows. It is necessary for newspapers to report these public objec- tions at least two weeks before a final rezoning vote, so newspaper readers are fully informed. SCOTT WIDDICOMBE Warrenton Jones for Astoria mayor ometimes at City Council over the past four years, I’ve wished for big bags of large denomination dollars and a Big Idea to start or move a project along. They would help, of course, but not without the essential element: Leadership. Google the word “leadership” and get 1.8 billion results, all with common words. Integ- rity. Focus. Self-awareness. Passion. Empathy. Empowerment. Decisiveness. Expertise. Bruce Jones should be Astoria’s next mayor. He has a record of leadership that car- ries our respect. He knows how Astoria fits within the economic and social structure of our neighbor cities, the county, the state, the federal government. I’ve sat next to Bruce and worked with him on City Council for the past two years. We haven’t always voted the same way. I’ve an idealist’s raised-fist “fight the power” streak that Bruce smiles and nods his head at, and then makes an independent, well-reasoned decision. I respect him, and I like him. I trust Bruce to make balanced, inclusive decisions that will benefit all Astorians. It’s been a great honor and much fun to represent Ward 3 as a city councilor for the past four years, and I hope I served you well. The decisions I made were never based on special interests or identity politics. I lis- tened to you, I learned the facts and the laws, I worked for the betterment of Astoria. I watched Bruce Jones do that, too. Please vote for Bruce Jones. He is the mayor for Astoria. CINDY PRICE Astoria City Councilor, Ward 3 S Vote ‘no’ on Measure 104 ave you read Oregon’s Measure 104? I did. Wow. Aren’t you tired of the political dou- ble-speak over ballot measures? Pro and con sides attempt to make their case, but if you’re like me, your mind is spinning. “Yes” folks want you to believe the bill will make it easier to buy a home or car, and fear is their cannon. “If this bill does not pass, the Home Mort- H gage Interest Deduction will be eliminated. It will harder to buy a home.” Well, no. It’s because fewer homes are being built, they are outrageously expensive and employers refuse to pay their workers a living wage. Supporters of 104 include the Automo- bile Dealers Association of Portland (aver- age new car price, $33,560); Oregon Home Builders Association (average new home price, $315,000 to $410,000); and the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association (average hotel price midweek for one night, $151). Can’t imagine why they would support such a bill. “No” people claim it’s a scam allowing corporations more tax breaks, like big dairy farmers, owners of mobile home parks, vaca- tion homes and businesses making more than half-a-million dollars a year. Y’know? Com- mon folk. The state Constitution calls it “raising reve- nue,” which Oregon courts have interpreted to mean a bill that brings in money by levying or increasing a tax. Therefore a bill imposing a tax for some benefit or service is not included. Like, for example, buying a home? Or a car? Or a hair- cut? Could that happen? Why not? That’s a “service.” When politicians start tweaking a stand- ing bill, something smells. Like Measure 104. Vote “no.” THOMAS RYAN Seaside Mayoral candidate’s behavior off-putting am writing this letter to express my opin- ion and disapproval of Bruce Jones for mayor. I have attended several city council meetings, and witnessed how he bullies other members until they agree with his demands. This behavior comes from his experience as a commander in the Coast Guard, where he was conditioned to issue orders without opposition. When citizens from the community pres- ent their valid concerns about fee increases, he smirks and laughs. I believe he operates in the vein of Queen Marie Antoinette with his “let him eat cake” approach to our communi- ty’s concerns. Instead of being supportive of our tour- ism industry, he refers to the visitors who spend their hard-earned money with our local businesses, while attempting to visit a world-famous site, as “crazy people” (“Asto- ria approves steep fines for parking violations near Goonies house,” The Daily Astorian, Oct. 16). He doesn’t understand that he cannot keep increasing fees and taxes on the local citizens and dismissing one of the largest industries in our city. He should welcome and encourage local tourism and the opportunities that his so-called “crazy people” bring by experienc- ing our community’s stores, restaurants and museums. DAVID JOHNSEN Astoria I
