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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THuRSDAY, JANuARY 31, 2019
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
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Publisher
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Editor
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GUEST COLUMN
Our families need to be supported
L
ike all of us, I have been
extremely troubled over the last
several weeks to watch as our
hardworking federal employees, espe-
cially Coast Guard members, have been
used as pawns in a fight going on thou-
sands of miles away in Washington,
D.C. Hundreds of thousands of people
across the country, and hundreds of fam-
ilies up and down our coastline, have
been victims in the longest U.S. gov-
ernment shutdown in
history.
In the midst of a ter-
rible situation, the com-
munity came together
in support of our friends
and neighbors. From
TIFFINY
the Be the Light pop-up
MITCHELL
food pantry in Asto-
ria, to the Rockaway
Kiwanis in Tillamook
County, and the many other organiza-
tions and individuals who have stepped
up to help, it’s clear that the federal gov-
ernment should take a lesson from our
communities about what it means to be
compassionate, work as a team, and the
power of individuals to overcome bar-
riers larger than themselves to accom-
plish good.
After hearing the heartbreaking story
of an Astoria-area Coast Guard wife
and her family’s struggles to support
themselves with savings, it occurred
to me that, as a state representative,
I was in a position to do right by our
public servants. And while news of
this relief may make those efforts feel
inconsequential in light of the govern-
ment’s reopening, at least temporarily, I
wanted to make sure that our communi-
ties had assurances that this burden will
Be the Light food pantry, organized by a small army of local volunteers, provided groceries and daily living needs to more than 2,300
people over two weekends.
never happen again.
As someone who used to work for
a government agency that dealt with
unemployment insurance, I theorized
that there must be some way, in statute,
that the state of Oregon could change its
laws to allow for exceptions to its tradi-
tional program requirements for federal
employees. Though requirements vary
from state to state, I knew the basics of
the program and what functions we’d
have to look at to accomplish a specific
outcome.
After spending time working with
Senate President Peter Courtney, Gov.
Kate Brown and the Oregon Employ-
ment Department, I am excited that we
have figured out a way forward. The
bill (Senate Bill 722) that has been
developed, of which I am co-chief
sponsor, will change the nature of
the Oregon unemployment compen-
sation program to allow for that very
exception to exist. Our Coast Guard
members and other Homeland Secu-
rity employees, who are required to
work under government shutdowns,
will similarly be eligible for benefits
through a mirror program created spe-
cifically for this scenario and funded
by the state. I hope this legislation
moves quickly through the Legislature
so we can be prepared should the gov-
ernment close again in the middle of
February.
Our families need to be supported,
and it is our duty to make that happen.
I couldn’t be prouder to represent com-
munities that have come together to sup-
port others during such a difficult time.
Working on this bill as my first piece of
major legislation to help my commu-
nity and all Oregonians, in tandem with
many others, is precisely why I ran in
the first place. Thank you for the oppor-
tunity to let me serve you.
Tiffiny Mitchell represents House Dis-
trict 32 in the Oregon Legislature.
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be printed.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
We’re better than this
I take great exception with the reac-
tion to the posting of KKK flyers down-
town (“Man behind KKK flyers in Astoria
comes forward,” The Daily Astorian, Jan.
26). The foundation of the KKK is hate
that has resulted in lynchings and murders
over the years. This hate is based on skin
color.
The KKK is classified as a hate group,
and the response locally reverts to the First
Amendment. The individual who posted
the flyers is seeking “like-minded” indi-
viduals, and is hiding behind the Constitu-
tion to justify hate.
“The KKK wants you” goes way
beyond a solicitation for like-minded
folks. It appears to be a recruitment
attempt. The community needs to respond
loudly and clearly to curtail this kind of
hatred.
The police chief was correct to men-
tion free speech. That said, the original
poster creator’s word that he is not associ-
ated with the KKK isn’t sufficient. In these
times, where racial division is being advo-
cated by the current administration, it is
important to shine a light on persons who
advocate or support hate.
I would hope that local law enforce-
ment contacted the FBI regarding this
issue. We’re better than this.
RICHARD McINTOSH
Astoria
Take the hood off
This week I have followed The Daily
Astorian’s coverage of the KKK fliers.
These articles have given the unnamed
individual the publicity he desires, but
doesn’t deserve.
He is creating the momentum for hate
crimes to exist in our community. Yet, he
doesn’t want to be identified publicly in
the paper, or accept responsibility for his
actions, even complaining when evidently
others have identified him on social media.
The Daily Astorian’s coverage makes
it appear that the Astoria Police Depart-
ment’s focus is protecting this individ-
ual from being victimized, instead of pre-
venting the perpetuation or normalization
of racist acts in our predominantly white
community that already struggles to make
people of color feel welcome.
Dude, if you mean what you post, have
the guts to identify yourself, and take off
the hood.
I am a man of color living in this com-
munity. To say that racism does not exist
here is far from the truth. In fact, I have
experienced several racist incidents in the
area in the past year.
I have, however, witnessed that our
community leaders are working to create a
better atmosphere for everyone. Last year
on Martin Luther King Jr. Day I watched
“Selma” at the Liberty Theatre in Astoria.
It was not a packed house, but there was
a good crowd, which leads me to believe
that this community has intolerance for
such behavior.
Unfortunately, systemic protection of
racist people doesn’t help. Maybe one
day we will all feel safe enough to list our
names.
DAVID HARPER
Astoria
Park is a fragile finger
of wilderness
The beaches and dunes of Fort Stevens
State Park draw people from all over the
world. For those of us who live here in the
North Coast, we recognize that it is a frag-
ile finger of wilderness that we treasure
and need to take better care of.
The following are of concern to the
many regular walkers that I have met:
• Dumping in the dunes: Unfortunately,
there are those who drive through the
dunes in their trucks and jeeps and dump
garbage, old car seats, mattresses and tele-
vision sets.
• Human waste in the dunes: In fish-
ing season, the trucks line up on the river
beach. Some of the fishermen don’t want
to lose their spot to go to facilities at Area
D. So, they defecate in the dunes. The
smell is unpleasant and could be a health
hazard.
• Littering: The most common items are
plastic shotgun wadding, plastic shopping
bags, cigarette lighters, bottles and bro-
ken toys. Most of these items are left at the
beach or in the marshlands.
• Speeding trucks on the beach: They
are a danger to walkers and wildlife.
These problems need to be addressed
and solved for the good of Fort Stevens
State Park.
JENNIFER NIGHTINGALE
Astoria
What message
are we sending?
I support legal immigration for any-
one who wishes to come here to the U.S.
and participate in pursuing the Ameri-
can dream by contributing to society in
a decent and lawful manner. To that end,
we all have a responsibility to send mes-
sages that reinforce decent and lawful
behavior.
I wonder what messages are being sent
by the teddy bear vigil (“Vigil held for
man detained by ICE,” The Daily Asto-
rian, Jan. 28). For one, it implies our jus-
tice system is doing something wrong.
Are we saying if a law is inconvenient
or disliked, you’re justified in breaking
it? What are we saying to the millions
of immigrants who are patiently waiting
(sometimes for years) as they apply for
legal citizenship?
It appears Ruben Vera Perez decided
to ignore that law and engage in more
dangerous law-breaking behavior.
Is it because he has a job and fam-
ily that he should get special treatment?
The majority of inmates are married with
families prior to their incarceration. Why
should Mr. Perez take obeying the law
seriously, when he is treated like a martyr
for suffering the consequences of his own
behavior?
What message do you send the vic-
tim(s) if Mr. Perez decides to drink and
drive again? I believe the 28 people killed
daily by a drunk driver are more deserv-
ing of a teddy bear vigil.
BRENTON KAHLE
Astoria
I wish I was not writing this
I do not like to write this.
Oregon is no longer the only state in
the union with no legal limits on termi-
nating human babies in the womb. New
York just passed a constitutional amend-
ment that abortion can be done up to the
due date, with no doctor present. If the
baby survives the procedure, whoever is
in attendance can legally finish the job
after birth.
When this legislation passed the
New York Senate by 30-something to
20-something, there was a standing ova-
tion (with cheers) from the Senate floor.
A “Catholic” governor signed the bill
into law.
I wish I was not writing this. I hope you
do not enjoy reading it.
JEAN HERMAN
Astoria