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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2020)
WEEKEND EDITION // SATuRdAY, FEbRuARY 15, 2020 147TH YEAR, NO. 99 $1.50 Legislators try to sell cap and trade Some elements from #TimberUnity By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Oregon Capital Bureau AT ISSUE/HOMELESSNESS Photos by Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian A man shows off his rainbow suspenders during his night at the Astoria Warming Center. For Astoria’s homeless task force, few concrete solutions A homeless services coordinator might be named By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Astorian T wo years after its formation, a task force intended to confront homelessness in Asto- ria has found few concrete solutions. The task force endorsed a Helping Hands reen- try facility in Uniontown and advised police on a sweep of camps in the woods. But other ideas, including a fine forgiveness program, have been left sitting on the back burner for months, simmer- ing in subcommittee discussions. Now a homeless services coordinator might be named to gather data and address gaps across Clatsop County. While the task force has weighed different options and tried to build a more nuanced under- standing of why people are homeless, homeless- ness has increased. In 2017, there were an estimated 680 homeless people in Clatsop County — a count that included people living on the streets and those in shelter but still considered homeless by the state. By 2019, that number swelled to 894, with 22% considered ABOVE: Single mats with bags of clean blankets and pillows sit lined up on the floor at the Astoria Warming Center. BELOW: A ‘no camping’ sign hangs on the Douglas fir exhibit outside the Clatsop County Courthouse. SALEM — Lawmakers have changed the plan to cut back on the state’s green- house gas emissions to ease the impact on rural Oregon and adopt elements pro- posed by #TimberUnity. The revisions are part of the continu- ing effort by Democratic sponsors to drive a policy that has greater statewide acceptance. The revisions to Senate Bill 1530 incorporate requests from Republicans and #TimberUnity, a grassroots organi- zation that has been agitating against a cap-and-trade policy. Senate Republicans fled the state over last year’s version of the bill. The cap-and-trade program would set a limit on statewide carbon emissions and aims to reduce emissions over time. Limits on emissions would apply to certain industries and major fuel import- ers. The policy 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 industry would improve pollution controls. Opponents have criticized the plan for its potential impact on consumers and small businesses, particularly through higher fuel costs. See Cap and trade, Page A5 Warrenton admits to sidewalk mistake Missed requirement for the new county jail By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian See Homelessness, Page A6 AT ISSUE/HOMELESSNESS Homelessness has become more visible on the North Coast and across the West. The Astorian asked a homelessness solutions task force what it has accomplished in two years. Let us know what you think in a letter to the editor: bit.ly/2kuT0PZ WARRENTON — The city erred in not requiring Clatsop County to build sidewalks along nearly 950 feet of 19th Street from Ensign Lane to the site of the new county jail. But while Planning Commissioner Christine Bridgens wanted a redo of the county’s application over the error, city staff, the city attorney and other commis- sioners chalked the mistake up to a learn- ing moment. The Planning Commission in Janu- ary approved the county’s design of the new jail with a multiuse path covered in reflective green paint to delineate it from See Mistake, Page A5 Peterson takes over as new judge Up for election in May By NICOLE BALES The Astorian After nearly a month on the bench, Beau Peterson is settling in as the new Clatsop County Circuit Court judge. The former senior deputy district attor- ney was appointed by Gov. Kate Brown in December to replace Paula Brownhill, who retired in November after 25 years. The posi- tion is up for election for a six-year term in May, and Peterson intends to run. “I’ve always liked public service, that’s part of what drew me to being a DA, is you get to help people. And not everybody, and not always in the way that people want, but you’re still helping the community and that feels good. And this is another way I can keep doing that,” he said. Peterson grew up in Portland and earned his bachelor’s degree and later his law degree from the University of Oregon. While attending law school, he spent a summer working as a law clerk for Brown- hill, and decided he wanted to live and prac- tice law in Clatsop County. He moved to the county after graduating and spent nearly 13 years as a prosecutor. Peterson handled a range of cases, includ- ing vehicular manslaughter, assault, elder financial abuse, embezzlement, drunken driv- ing, thefts and burglaries. He was the lead prosecutor on the trial that convicted Adeena Copell and Christian Wilkins in May for the murder of a Newport man. “It was a little bittersweet knowing I was going to leave an office that I really loved, Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian See Judge, Page A5 Beau Peterson is the new Clatsop County Circuit Court judge.
