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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2019
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
GUEST COLUMN
Icon of Astoria will
be honored Friday
Robert
‘Jake’
Jacob
ears from now, Astorians will still be
ria to be affi xed this 15th day of April, 2019.
telling stories about a daring visionary
City of Astoria Mayor, Bruce Jones
and iconoclast, Robert “Jake” Jacob.
Horns and whistles
With matinee idol good looks and piercing
At 5 p.m. on Friday, horns and whistles
green eyes, Jake was a force of nature — unfor-
throughout Astoria will sound, including Jeff
gettable in life, unforgettable in death.
Daly’s Joy Train and the Astoria Ferry Tour-
Jacob died in September 2018, leav-
ist No. 2. Jones hopes Astorians will take a
ing behind a rich legacy of good works in his
moment to remember Jake with gratitude for all
hometown.
of his contributions to the community, he said.
At Monday night’s City Council meet-
Many have called Jacob an “icon” of Asto-
ing, Mayor Bruce Jones read the following
ria. More than 400 people attended a celebration
proclamation.
of life for him at the Astoria Armory last fall.
WHEREAS, Robert H. Jacob, known affec-
Friends and acquaintances found his audacious
tionately to Astorians as “Jake,” was born
ideas and over-the-top antics refreshing
in Astoria in 1949 and spent the last
and even hilarious. They knew his crazy
decades of his life enthusiastically help-
genius allowed him to imagine and do
ing create a vibrant and thriving Asto-
things others would not dare.
ria; and
Former Mayor Willis Van Dusen
WHEREAS, Jake designed the mas-
joked that the only thing in town Jacob
ter plan of the Astoria Riverwalk, using
had nothing to do with was the Column.
his architectural skills to incorporate the
“Jake is part of the Astoria lexicon,”
working riverfront with people, places
DONNA
Van Dusen said.
and uses for all; and
QUINN
Jacob “John Wayned” his way through
WHEREAS, Jake worked to save and
life, believing that one should “do some-
then preserve the Liberty Theatre for the
thing, even if it’s wrong.” He continued to try
city of Astoria; and
new things, even as he struggled with alcohol-
WHEREAS, Jake located and brought the
ism. Challenges and setbacks did not defi ne him
Astoria Waterfront Trolley, also known as the
— he always fi gured there was another way to
“Old 300,” to Astoria; and
make something work out. A maverick, eccen-
WHEREAS, Jake envisioned, designed and
tric entrepreneur with charm and charisma, he
built the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa; and
left his fi ngerprints everywhere in Astoria.
WHEREAS, Jake led the charge to preserve
Jacob was proud of his Finnish heritage, and
and restore the Astoria Armory; and
would be amused to know that his brainchild,
WHEREAS, Jake led the charge to preserve
the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa, just purchased
and restore the Astoria Ferry Tourist #2; and
a decorative trash bin for the Astoria Scandina-
WHEREAS, Jake inspired and mentored
vian Heritage Park in his name.
other Astorians to do work to benefi t the city of
“Jake loved to throw away trash and clutter,
Astoria;
and he would love the idea that a trash bin in a
NOW THEREFORE, to honor Jake as the
Scandinavian park would be a place his buddies
Astoria creative visionary he was and the
could visit — and also leave the town a cleaner
dreamer he wanted each of us to be, the city of
place,” said friend Terry Rosenau.
Astoria declares April 19, 2019 (which would
Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa staff is building an
have been Jake’s 70th birthday) as
outdoor bench with a plaque in his honor near
ROBERT “JAKE” JACOB DAY
the hotel — a bench built with contributions
Astoria is a better community for everyone
from each staff member, many of whom worked
to live in and visit because of Robert “Jake”
with him since the hotel opened in 2005.
Jacob.
Donna Quinn is director of sales and market-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have herewith set
ing for the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa.
my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Asto-
Y
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Breath of fresh air
his Sunday was the fi rst time in a
long time I felt there was hope for our
country. A smart, kind young man, Pete
Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indi-
ana, declared his candidacy for president
of the U.S. What a breath of fresh air in
this quagmire of a troubled country and its
people.
Buttigieg spoke to many issues: The
economy, the rebuilding of unions, global
warming, our relationship with the rest
of the world, Medicare for all and much
more. He approached these things with
intelligence and thoughtfulness.
He talked of bringing the country
together, of having more empathy for one
another, and presented a picture of a better
and stronger country. He wasn’t didactic,
he wasn’t cruel and he wasn’t bullying.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg helped South
Bend rebuild after the recession, and once
again it is a thriving city. He is a veteran
of the Afghan War as an intelligence offi -
cer. He is a Harvard graduate and attended
Oxford. He has been a business consultant
for many corporations, he speaks seven
languages and plays concert piano. He is
a devout Christian. And oh, yeah, he is an
openly gay man married to a gay man. The
people in Indiana don’t seem to care. They
love him.
Stay tuned for a long and interesting
ride with Pete Buttigieg.
MARY TANGUAY WEBB
Astoria
T
Fresh eyes for Port
W
hy I am running for the Port of
Astoria Commission, Position 3:
I have always believed in term limits for
any political offi ce. Without them, “we the
people” could not have a government. We
do not have a monarchy; we are a repub-
lic. We pledge our allegiance to the fl ag …
and to the republic for which it stands.
I believe that members of a commis-
sion are chosen by a larger group to act
in the best interests of the entire popula-
tion. I think a commission should resem-
ble a family, with all its personalities. The
family members may disagree like heck
behind closed doors, but those disagree-
ments shouldn’t come rolling out the door.
For leadership to work, it needs to be uni-
fi ed in public.
I am not running against someone, but I
am running for the Port and the people of
Clatsop County.
There is a lot of good happening at
the Port, and most of the employees go
beyond their prescribed duties to make the
Port a better place.
We cannot change past history. We can
learn from it, and we can grow. As it is
said, “If we continue doing the same thing
the same way we have always done it,
we will continue to get the same result.” I
bring a fresh set of eyes to the Port. I ask
that you give serious consideration prior to
casting your vote for the members of your
Port Commission. I would be honored to
be one of those for whom you vote.
SCOTT McCLAINE
Astoria
Our tax dollars
A
fter reading the article regarding Ore-
gon Highway 202 and the continuing
issues with the soil stability, a quote from
the Oregon Department of Transportation
maintenance manager really stuck out for
me (“On state Highway 202, a landslide
brings drivers down,” The Daily Astorian,
April 12). He was quoted as saying the
local contractors advised him to wait for
the soil to dry out.
The state employs civil engineers to
make this sort of determination for a lot
of reasons, and rightly so. Seeking a pri-
vate contractor’s input is valuable, but
should never be the sole justifi cation for
the expenditure of tax dollars.
RICHARD McINTOSH
Astoria
Climate change is here
I
t is clear that climate change is upon us.
We are seeing melting ice sheets at the
poles, prolonged wildfi re seasons, extreme
storms, rising sea levels and acidifi cation
of the oceans. The overwhelming consen-
sus of the scientifi c community agrees we
must reduce carbon and other greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere.
We, as Oregonians, must do our part to
reduce greenhouse gas pollution. That is
why we must pass the Clean Energy Jobs
Bill, House Bill 2020. It’s a policy that
caps and prices greenhouse gas emissions
from large polluters, and reinvests the pro-
ceeds into clean energy and energy effi -
ciency solutions.
An independent economic study found
the policy will add 50,000 new jobs by
2050, and grow the gross domestic prod-
uct (GDP) by 2.5 percent. We have much
to gain from Clean Energy Jobs, and much
to lose if we fail to seize this opportunity.
Imagine the cost to society if we do noth-
ing in the face of the climate change.
Please let state Sen. Betsy Johnson and
state Rep. Tiffi ny Mitchell know you sup-
port HB 2020.
SHARON KLOEPFER
Gearhart
Stevens for Port
P
lease cast your valuable ballot for
Robert “Steve” Stevens for Port of
Astoria Commissioner.
Let’s get out of the red and into the
black. Steve Stevens is all about our
Port realizing its great potential for tour-
ism and in industry. He is also mindful of
maintaining harmony with our communi-
ty’s well-being. The community’s voice
is important, and should be heard. He is
interested in people’s concerns.
He sees the cards on the table but is
the visionary viewing the Port’s poten-
tial. He understands a cohesive agenda
requires both short-term and long-term
goals. He has the grit to prioritize infra-
structure improvements and see them to
completion.
Playing to win — he will be fuel in
the money-making machine our Port was
always meant to be. He cares about what
people have to say. He is a good listener,
and will be accessible to his constituents.
He will foster transparency from the Port
to the people.
His leadership skills will promote a
no-nonsense, rational and productive
exchange of ideas. He is intelligent, calm
in crisis, and thoughtful and measured in
his responses. The Port would gain a wise
diplomat.
He has an earnest commitment to our
community and will work hard to optimize
its future. Having retired in Warrenton, he
is here for the duration. He will be pres-
ent and accounted for at all proceedings in
behalf of the Port’s interests.
He will make a long-lasting and great
contribution. Please cast your valu-
able ballot for Steve Stevens for Port
Commissioner.
MARTHA PHILLIPS
Astoria