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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
JIM VAN NOSTRAND
Editor
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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
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‘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
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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
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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).
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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
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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
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