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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2020)
A6 THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 Rally: Activists came from all parts of Oregon Continued from Page A1 to the Capitol to support Sen- ate Bill 1530, which aims to cap and shrink the state’s carbon emissions and gener- ate revenue for environmen- tal projects. One of those local teens was Angelique Prater, 17, of Salem, who spoke to the crowd about her activism. In an interview, she said that her parents, immigrants from Mexico who work in agriculture, were already feeling the effects of climate change — extreme tempera- tures in winter and summer. She said she fi rst heard about the proposal from friends in school and then got involved in activism. “I’m here today to fi ght for the climate crisis and to, you know, push our legisla- tors to fi ght for strong climate legislation,” Prater said, add- ing that legislation was the most important part of “solv- ing the climate crisis.” The cap-and-trade pol- icy would carve up the emis- sions limit into allowances that emitters can buy and sell on a market. The idea is that as emissions targets get lower, fewer allowances are available, and indus- try would improve pollution controls. Opponents have criti- cized the plan for its poten- tial impact on consumers and small businesses, par- ticularly through higher fuel costs. Recent revisions to the legislation spare counties east of the Cascades from regulations on fuel importers and provide a way for natu- ral gas companies to guard their low-income customers against higher costs. The climate event began at noon with speeches on the Capitol steps from activ- ists and political offi cials, including remarks from Multnomah County Com- missioner Jessica Vega Ped- erson, Milwaukie Mayor Mark Gamba, who is running for Congress, and Eric Rich- ardson, the Eugene-Spring- fi eld NAACP president. Following speeches, the demonstrators marched around the Capitol chanting and waving signs with mes- sages supporting the climate Neighborhood: Commission approved a host of new development codes to help Continued from Page A1 Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau Activists pack the steps of the Oregon State Capitol on Tuesday to show support for a cap-and- trade bill being considered by lawmakers. legislation. The event, organized by the environmental group Renew Oregon, was a coun- terpoint to a protest in Salem last week organized by #TimberUnity. Activists made the trek to Salem from all parts of the state , including Dean Myer- son, who was part of a car- load of demonstrators who drove three hours from The Dalles. Myerson said he believes Oregon needs to lead the way on climate action. “We can’t just wait for everybody else to do some- thing fi rst, which seems to be one of the arguments. ‘W e can’t do this alone,’ which is true, but some- body has to start,” Myer- son said. “In Wasco County, we had a series of really bad fi res a couple years ago. A lot of historic homes were destroyed, a farmer died … There’s always been fi res, but climate change is mak- ing them worse.” Maia Stout, a 15-year- old from Yachats, explained to the crowd what climate action means to her. For the past several months, Stout — like 17-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg — has participated in the global youth climate strike, stand- ing outside her high school in Newport every Friday to bring attention to the issue. “I advocate for climate action because I understand that the mistakes we’ve made don’t fi x themselves,” Stout said. “I raised my voice because I can’t vote for three more years and time is run- ning out.” Coral Avery, 22, a stu- dent at Oregon State Uni- versity, is an enrolled mem- ber of the Shawnee T ribe of Oklahoma. “Climate and natural resource use really goes back to indigenous people,” Avery said. “That’s the main rea- son why I’m here today, is to represent, the best I can, rep- resent my community and other indigenous communi- ties who have overall been left out of the conversation or at least haven’t been cen- tered in it before.” Avery, who is involved in student government at Ore- gon State , said that she has lobbied for climate legis- lation for four years, since moving to Oregon. She said she was “most hopeful” for the bill that was proposed last year, but that it didn’t protect rural communities. “And I’ve heard that, through reading it, that it’s been revised in some ways to better support them and look out for when things change when polluters are held accountable for their emis- sions,” Avery said. The rally drew people like Andy Saultz, who is running for the Portland state House seat being vacated by Mitch Greenlick, a retiring Dem- ocrat. Saultz said he was running for offi ce “because we have not seen climate action.” “We have not seen a Leg- islature really prioritize the next generation,” Saultz said, “ … As a father of two toddlers, I just really worry about the long-term health of our community.” Saultz, a Democrat, addressed why he would enter politics at a moment where tensions in the Capi- tol have started running high, and as Republicans seem prepared to leave the build- ing to avoid taking a vote on the reworked cap-and-trade policy. “I want to help, I want to get active,” Saultz said. “These are problems that are real and, again, my kids can’t be here to advocate for them- selves. And so I think we have a moral obligation to advocate for them.” The Oregon Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group, Pamplin Media Group and Salem Reporter. suggested the name Chel- sea Gardens based on his- torical city maps of the area. Emmons is working with Walsh Construction Co. out of Portland to build an affordable housing com- plex of nearly 50 units in the region. He has hailed the master plan as providing a more livable neighborhood for development proposals like his. “I want to be near transit, being near workplaces, near shopping, obviously mar- kets,” he said. “Ideally, peo- ple can walk to a market and use transit, not absolutely have to have a car.” Along with Chelsea Gar- dens, the City Commission on Tuesday approved a host of new development codes meant to increase the density of housing. Cronin’s recom- mendations included lower lot size requirements and more diverse housing types, such as mixed-use commer- cial-residential buildings, multiplexes, townhomes, cottage clusters and acces- sory dwelling units. The Planning Commis- sion had struck Cronin’s recommendation that subdi- visions of 20 or more homes be required to include acces- sory dwelling units, and another banning certain sid- ing materials city staff sees as unsuitable for the region’s environment. The City Commission, which pushed Cronin to increase lot size and park- ing requirements for cottage clusters, on Tuesday also struck Cronin’s language defi ning transitional hous- ing “provided as a social service to homeless such as a shelter, warming center or dormitory.” Mayor Henry Balensifer said he isn’t opposed to tran- sitional housing, but worried about setting a precedent allowing it before the city has developed standards to regulate such development . urban renewal funds. The city hosted a series of open houses gathering com- munity input. Kevin Cronin, the city’s community devel- opment director, proposed a mix of commercial property, varying densities of hous- ing, public spaces, trails and improved streets. Cronin proposed limiting the number of new housing units in the neighborhood to 350. Commercial space in the neighborhood will be limited to 20,000 square feet per building, with a 50,000-square-foot cap overall. The master plan also prohibits drive-thru restau- rants to avoid traffi c impacts like those seen at the nearby Wendy’s. The Planning Commis- sion initially rejected the plan, calling it too restric- tive on property owners while not directly address- ing the traffi c concerns that prompted the need for a master plan. Commissioner Ken Yuill, who owns much of the property in the Spur 104 area and recused him- self during the c ommis- sion’s hearings, criticized how prescriptive some of the standards are but said he recognizes the city’s goals of managing traffi c and willingness to meet in the middle. “I think all and all, no, I’m not happy about it,” he said . “But the commission felt this was the best they could do at the time.” Vijaya Nakka, who owns two plots of land in the neighborhood where he plans to build two homes for senior living spaces, said he is grateful the city wants to improve the neighborhood while controlling traffi c. Several property own- ers in the neighborhood have spoken with Stuart Emmons, an architect and planner from Astoria who Mexican Food Mitchell: New bill ‘accommodates feedback’ Continued from Page A1 ue “Q en o f “It tends to usually be some of these bigger issues that bring people out — cli- mate change, gun control — that are usually those big things the media gloms on and political parties glom onto,” she said. “But in truth … we’re all people. We all live here, and I think most of us really just want what is best for Ore- gon and the people who live here. We care about each other. W e’re neighbors. It’s just sometimes we have dif- ferent perspectives about that. At least most issues we’re all on the same page. “It’s those big ones that I think are going to be the more problematic ones where we’re going to have to have those broader con- versations,” Mitchell said. th e Hear Valentine’s Dinner Prime Rib Dinner with all the trimmings Friday February 14 th 5-7 PM Our Flowers and a Box of Chocolates Pre-purchase tickets at the Post 12 Lounge $10.00 per person INSIDER Get the inside scoop on state government and politics! “K ARAOKE D AVE ” 6 PM UNTIL ? Food & Drink Specials February 14 th • 12pm - 10pm “Queen of Hearts” will receive M USIC : DJ & K ARAOKE Bring your special valentine for VALENTINE’S DAY All proceeds to Clatsop Post 12 Building Fund BY OREGON CAPITAL ts” “I believe this new ver- sion accommodates feed- back from Oregonians who are concerned about impacts to local jobs and econo- mies, while still begin- ning to take reasonable and urgent action to address the climate crisis that is already negatively impacting our communities. ” During the town hall, Mitchell said most of the concerns in House District 32 center around the Geor- gia-Pacifi c Wauna Mill and the regulation of fuel . Farming and forestry interests are exempt from the bill, she said, and fuel regulation in counties west of the Cascades would not start until 2025. She said Georgia-Pacifi c could qual- ify for some relief under the bill . “The Wauna Mill has been very cooperative in this entire process, very open about what their spe- cifi c hurdles and obstacles are ,” Mitchell said. Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, has said she would oppose the bill unless managers at the Wauna Mill tell her they are OK with the legislation. Several people associ- ated with #TimberUnity and the Clatsop County Repub- lican Party challenged Mitchell during the town hall. “We’ve called, emailed, blown horns ... you DO NOT listen,” Christal Kum- pula, a leader of the c ounty GOP , wrote in a live feed during the town hall on the representative’s Facebook page. “I really do try to listen,” Mitchell said in response to the criticism . “I’m not always going to agree with everything that is said, but I will do my due diligence in making sure not only that I listen to you, but that I try to do as much research as I possibly can to verify infor- mation and to make sound decisions based off of that information — it’s the best and most that I can do.” She told constituents that relations between D emo- crats and R epublicans in Salem are not as adversarial as they appear , and that the vast majority of bills passed are by consensus . ASTORIA AMERICAN LEGION Clatsop Post 12 1132 Exchange Street, Astoria • 503-325-5771 EL COMPADRE 119 S. Main St. • Warrenton 503-861-2906 1900 Pacific Ave. N. • Long Beach 360-642-8280
