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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 2020)
A4 THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, AuguST 13, 2020 OPINION editor@dailyastorian.com KARI BORGEN Publisher DERRICK DePLEDGE Editor Founded in 1873 JEREMY FELDMAN Circulation Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN Production Manager CARL EARL Systems Manager WRITER’S NOTEBOOK Young blood good for a city council W hen our family arrived in Astoria in 1987, we had two children in tow — ages 4 and 18 months. Not surprisingly, child care was the topic of the first three-part series The Daily Astorian produced after I became editor. When our chief operating officer, sit- ting in Salem, saw the series, he said: “I see something has changed at the Astorian.” Our perceptions and our choices stem largely from our stage and situa- tion in life. Day care was not top of mind for my father, who was in his 70s when he retired as editor. But for my wife STEVE and me, that need was in FORRESTER first place. In 1991, Doug Thompson joined the Astoria City Coun- cil at the age of 40. He brought new per- spectives and enthusiasm. Thompson was a champion of the predecessor of the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association. At Thomp- son’s urging, the city did what was called the Tenth Street project — a demon- stration of how street trees and curbing enhance a streetscape. He also promoted the Sixth Street project, which involved repurposing the former Bumble Bee Sea- foods headquarters building. Former City Manager Paul Benoit remembers Thompson’s pivotal role in development of the Smith Point round- about. Without Thompson’s pushing, said Benoit, the Oregon Department of Transportation would have installed a traffic signal. Also in the 1990s, a young woman named Jan Fletcher was elected to the City Council. Thompson remembers that, “She was a pretty strong voice for women, young families with both par- ents working outside the home, small businesses and early work-from-home technologies.” At 33, Dirk Rohne joined the Clatsop Community College Board of Directors. Subsequently, he served on the Clatsop Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian Odd Fellows Building owners Jessamyn Grace West, left, and Andrea Mazzarella dance and laugh together for a music video. THERE ARE MANy REASONS FOR ASTORIA’S REMARKABLE COMEBACK. AT THE TOP OF THE LIST HAVE BEEN NEW BLOOd ANd yOuNg BLOOd THAT HAVE BROugHT AN INFuSION OF ENERgy ANd NEW IdEAS. County Board of Commissioners and now the Port of Astoria Commission. In each of these roles, Rohne has been a game changer. Another younger face in local gov- ernment — Mayor Henry Balensifer of Warrenton — has brought a fresh per- spective to the future of that city. I thought of Thompson and Fletcher especially after reading about Jes- samyn Grace West’s decision not to run for election to the City Council seat to which she was appointed in 2019. In choosing West, who is 43, city council- ors were impressed with her background, and they sought a younger perspective. West’s decision not to compete for a full term is understandable. Being a city councilor is time consuming and a major responsibility. West has two other jobs. No one comes fully equipped for the task of becoming a public person and a policymaker. Many of us were heartened by West’s appointment to the council, and we would have enjoyed seeing her grow in the job. There are many reasons for Asto- ria’s remarkable comeback. At the top of the list have been new blood and young blood that have brought an infusion of energy and new ideas. Steve Forrester, the former editor and publisher of The Astorian, is the presi- dent and CEO of EO Media group. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Think twice O regon parents should think twice about sending their children back to any school that opens. Children frequently do not show symp- toms. As more children are finally being tested, the reported infection rate is increasing. Recent research demonstrates younger children have a significantly higher infection load in their nasal pas- sages, and are far more likely to transmit the virus to others. Places without really good ventilation can spread the virus. Many schools have horrible ventilation, and no windows. Younger children are less likely to be able to keep their bodies in line with the strict behavior requirements. Children will experience profound trauma, despite the best efforts of their teachers and aides — who are being forced to risk their health and lives. Required to remain in spaces. No play- ing with friends. No playing with toys or looking at books. If a child becomes dis- tressed or disruptive, the teacher cannot approach to calm that child. School classrooms will be petri dishes waiting for disaster. If any child in your child’s class tests positive for the virus, it must be assumed your child is infected. Your entire family is then at risk of infection. Your child will likely be required to stay by themselves in a “sick room” for 10 or more days. No interactions with other family members. Your entire family will also need to be in quarantine. Oregon’s leaders want to open schools so students can get good test scores, and parents will have child care. Is this worth the risk? NANCY WILLARD Veneta Important check T he Astorian is shutting down. No it’s not, but what if it did? Throughout the country, newspapers are shutting down at an alarming rate. The seemingly endless ad revenue they enjoyed in the past now goes to Google, Apple and other companies with no stake in local communities. Local newspapers serve as an important check on our elected officials and administrators. Municipali- ties tend to spend more money after their local paper shuts down. Where does the money go? The Astorian has claimed they’ll sur- vive the sudden loss of advertising dollars as a result of COVID-19. Perhaps they’ll be bought by a hedge fund that only pro- longs their demise by laying off staff, and extracting what little capital remains until there is nothing left. Maybe they’ll limp along and come out of this relatively unscathed. Maybe not. If it weren’t for The Astorian, how would we know what a mess the Port of Astoria had been, and how they’ve turned things around? Or that the county commis- sioners were a mess, and still are? Or that Bruce Jones, the mayor of Astoria, is no friend to those in our community who are struggling financially? Or that Brett Estes appears to go above and beyond in his job as city manager? What about Michael McNickle, our public health director, who was dismissive of the pandemic in the beginning, and now seems to be fighting tirelessly for the health and safety of our community? The Astorian is still in business. Let’s hope it stays that way. ED MORGAN Astoria Portland agenda T o those of you who are moving to the North Coast in order to flee unrest and high taxation, I would like to ask you to kindly vote for candidates this Novem- ber who will continue to protect the peace- ful quality of life that attracted you to our area. These candidates are people who are loyal to local, collaborative neigh- bor-to-neighbor politics. They are not can- didates whose loyalty lies with a fully-fi- nanced, outside, Portland agenda. The case study regarding the recent shameful betrayal of our local union work- ers by Debbie Boothe-Schmidt should be a cautionary tale for anyone new to our area who may wonder for whom to vote in the next election. If you are not familiar with this, please do some research. Boothe-Schmidt’s betrayal, and her loy- alty to the Portland agenda, clearly demon- strate the threat to our way of life here on the coast. We do not want Astoria to become Portland. Boothe-Schmidt’s cautionary tale should warn you to consider your pre- vious voting patterns, and the way that those patterns created an environment that compelled you to leave your home and to move here. Don’t repeat those patterns LETTERS WELCOME Letters should be exclusive to The Astorian. Letters should be fewer than 250 words and must include the writ- er’s name, address and phone num- ber. You will be contacted to confirm authorship. All letters are subject to editing for space, grammar and factual accuracy. Only two letters per writer are allowed each month. Letters writ- ten in response to other letter writ- ers should address the issue at hand, and, rather than mentioning the writer here. This November, please connect the dots and have the courage to consider a new way of looking at local politics. Vote to protect the reasons that attracted you to move here by voting for candidates who clearly demonstrate loyalty to protecting our way of life in this, the most beautiful part of the world. CYNTHIA MALKOWSKI Seaside Political debate A s our Founding Fathers struggled to form this great nation, a number of important principles were agreed upon. As a hedge against tyranny and dictatorship, opposing political views would be heard. In fact, lively discussions were not merely by name, should refer to the head- line and date the letter was published. Discourse should be civil and people should be referred to in a respectful manner. Letters in poor taste will not be printed. Send via email to editor@ dailyastorian.com, online at bit.ly/asto- rianletters, in person at 949 Exchange St. in Astoria or 1555 North Roos- evelt in Seaside, or mail to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 210, Astoria, OR., 97103. suggested, they were required. Incredible ideas and solutions would be the result of what we now call a political debate. However, forcing someone to partici- pate, only to exclude their ideas, and the insistence of only one correct view, takes a wrecking ball to democracy. Further, if you belittle your opponent with shouting, cuss words and insults, you replace the debate with character assassination. If you form a dog pile to ensure your victory, you are not a patriot, but a coward. The moral high ground of a debate is reached through honor, dignity and respect. You will never make America great again by trashing your opponent ver- bally or physically. In fact, by refusing to play by the rules, you make America hate again. TIMOTHY J. BISH Astoria
