Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 2018)
A6 THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, DEcEMbER 31, 2018 OPINION editor@dailyastorian.com KARI BORGEN Publisher JIM VAN NOSTRAND Editor Founded in 1873 JEREMY FELDMAN circulation Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN Production Manager CARL EARL Systems Manager OUR VIEW Happy New Year: Let’s work together to make it happen Homes, jobs, preservation and community well-being are top priorities Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian Patrick Webb/For The Daily Astorian Sheila Roley We need intense scrutiny of the building and zoning rules in Astoria’s riverfront area. Cooperation between housing advocates in Pacific County, the city of Long Beach and others helped move an affordable housing project forward. Construction is underway at the new Seaside school campus. W e wish our readers a Happy New Year and welcome 2019 as an opportunity for a fresh start. As this year wraps up, we believe the North Coast has some significant unfinished business that must be a priority for action. Schools and housing One unchanged goal is to attract quality, higher-wage, nonser- vice sector, nonseasonal jobs. We believe that becomes a greater possibility when we are a more attractive prospect for potential employers. The first things potential inves- tors check as they view a commu- nity is schools and housing. The prevalence of homelessness in America is a national disgrace. How can we as a society accept that for such a large proportion of the population the American dream is a nightmare? A disproportional number are veterans — the same citizens we almost deify on holi- days two or three times a year, but cross the street to avoid the rest of the time. We are still reporting high num- bers of homeless students in Clat- sop County. Those are two words that shouldn’t even be contem- plated in the same sentence. Every child deserves the best education they can achieve in our public schools. Part of that is a secure living environment and food in their stomachs as they embrace science, math and history. Seaside, Warrenton and Asto- ria schools are embarking on ambi- tious plans to enhance facilities, thanks to their communities’ ter- rific support of recent bonds. Par- allel to this effort must be a con- certed outreach to ensure that all kids have a safe, stable home base. Affordable options needed Affordable housing is such a huge key to enhancing our commu- nity. We won’t solve our shortage overnight, but government leaders need to create a climate in which private-sector developers can invest with confidence. A recent study commissioned by leaders from Clatsop County, Asto- ria, Warrenton, Seaside, Cannon Beach and Gearhart points the way. Of course the beach and river are attractive places to live. But if every new house built carries a price tag of $300,000 or higher, that’s unlikely to help low- or even middle-income workers seeking accommodation. Kevin Leahy, executive director of Clatsop Economic Development Resources, and Henry Balensifer, the perceptive mayor of Warrenton, are among those shaping a strategy. The study’s recommendations may cover potential regulatory, zoning and code changes for the county and our cities to consider; these likely will be shaped to serve as an incentive to developers. Plan- ners say there are 11,800 acres of potentially buildable land in the county, although wetlands issues must be properly addressed. That signals considerable potential. Across the river in Washington state there are a couple of excel- lent examples where government has helped housing options expand on the Long Beach Peninsula. The city of Long Beach’s support spurred housing advocates to move forward on a 28-unit complex of low-income apartments being built just north of downtown. And the city of Ilwaco looked favor- ably on an ambitious renovation of the long-empty Doupé Building at the heart of downtown, by permit- ting the new buyer to include more apartments than commercial zon- ing usually allows. Rules overdue for scrutiny Astoria faced a challenge 25 years ago when it started to reshape its appearance and com- munity assets. Gains have been spectacular. Getting rid of those disgusting downtown bars in the mid-1990s was a remarkable achievement. The restoration of the Liberty Theatre and Hotel Elliott that followed was a superb cata- lyst and signaled the proper way to preserve our historic character. The more recent freeing up of the Fla- vel buildings is something to cele- brate, too. But our waterfront remains a puzzle. Must it be developed? Who is it developed for? Of course, we want to encourage our tourism industry and provide rooms for vis- itors, especially during our spar- kling summer festivals. But that must be balanced by making deci- sions that favor year-round resi- dents. After all, hillside residents pay for lovely homes with spec- tacular views. The 3-2 vote by the Astoria City Council on the Mar- riott hotel reflects this divided thinking. We are long overdue for intense scrutiny on building and zoning rules to avoid a repetition of this controversy. Economic balance A three-way balance between fishing, timber and tourism fuels the economy of the North Coast, along with the stability of the Wauna Mill and expanding health services provided by our hospi- tals and clinics. Efforts to diversify our economy prove valuable, espe- cially when one sector experiences a downturn. The giant stores in Warrenton and Seaside provide employment for many plus attractive pricing for shoppers. But small, locally owned shops compete, offering person- alized customer service and hard- to-find items while their owners invest in preserving our region’s historic buildings and gener- ously support youth activities and area nonprofits year-round. Let’s express our gratitude through our patronage. The Northwest’s reliance on a natural resource economy has been balanced by enhanced awareness of the necessity to properly protect our environment. That must never change. Declining fish stocks and chang- ing regulations have driven many out of commercial fishing. The hardy folks who survived that roller coaster deserve consider- able applause. It should always be a significant part of the lifeblood of our community. Groundfishing quotas are improving, but efforts must continue to lessen restric- tions on gillnetting on parts of the Columbia. Caring for the vulnerable Along with homelessness, our community must continue to find ways to properly care for the needs of those with substance abuse and mental health issues. Often these go hand in hand. The mark of a truly caring community is how it assists those who are most vulner- able. The recent closures of drug and alcohol treatment facilities puts pressure on those who remain. The controversy over the Asto- ria Warming Center encapsulates this. It has struggled to recruit vol- unteers and raise money, and its location has drawn criticism. With no offense intended to those who work tirelessly on behalf of people who use the center, wouldn’t we have a better society if there was no need for it? How do we get to that point? Join the conversation Looking into a crystal ball is rarely surprising. A TV weather forecaster can be correct 50 percent of the time by saying, “more of the same.” So can prognosticators. But we don’t want just more of the same. The North Coast is the best place in the Northwest to live, with its spectacular water- front attractions, its rich historical traditions, and residents who care about the quality of their Clatsop hometowns. But it needs some fine tuning. A good newspaper has been described as a “community hav- ing a conversation with itself.” We believe our community is long overdue for a wide-ranging con- versation about our needs and pri- orities. And how, together, we can address them. In the months ahead, we plan to lead that conversation on the topics mentioned here. Join us.
