A5
THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Develop a plan
Beware the fl im-fl am man
e “Developer wants live-work units below Astoria
condos” (The Astorian, Sept 17): Ted Forcum sub-
mitted a confusing and poorly thought-out proposal to
the Astoria Planning Commission, which turned it down.
Now he has gained the attention of The Astorian, with
a one-sided recitation of his appeal to the Astoria City
Council.
If the developer were to spend similar time work-
ing with the owners at Cannery Loft to develop a plan
that owners could understand and support, it is my opin-
ion that that would be very much welcomed by our condo
community.
LESLIE MOREHEAD
Astoria
I
R
Reprise
wrote this letter to The Astorian back in September
2016. I feel the same way today:
If The Donald is successful in buying the presidency,
heaven help the U.S., and much of the world.
Running a nation is about the people. Yes, this
includes the 99% who aren’t among the wealthy.
This includes: the disadvantaged, all the way up to the
extremely advantaged; both genders as equals; religious
freedom, as well as the freedom to not be religious; sex-
ual freedom; quality education and health care for every-
one; decent housing and decent jobs; rebuilding this
nation’s infrastructure; and yes, our military and national
defense systems.
Being president is a tough job. The president needs to
be rational, responsible, strong, considerate, reasonable,
able to work with all political parties and other world
leaders, and always thinking about how his or her actions
will affect the future of our nation.
Which of the above does The Donald display today,
and in his past? His past and his present will be his (and
our) future, if he is successful in buying the presidency.
Think folks, before you vote. If you fact-check on the
various things he says, most of his speeches aren’t fac-
tual. His speeches aren’t realistic or truthful. Don’t be
fooled by his power, money, or ego.
Think before you vote. Being president of our nation
isn’t a reality show. He or she won’t get retakes when he
or she makes a blunder. Our nation’s future and place in
the world is on the line with the outcome of this election.
Again, think before you vote.
KAREN ELDER
Astoria
I
At what cost?
he public works questionnaire arrived without any
details on what, when, where or how much for this
Resiliency P roject.
This is hardly a localized concern for those living in the
areas the county wants to develop. By defi nition, a road is
development. Taxpayers are going to be asked to fund it,
should it go forward.
Look at the maps. Local geography makes this scheme
ridiculous. Whatever you call it, they will not improve traf-
fi c by buying and paving logging roads between already
choked U.S. Highway 30 and the intersection of Wahanna
Road in Seaside.
We may be asked to move other public facilities out of
tsunami zones. Look at the $99 million bond levy for the
new Seaside school. It is now over budget.
The gated logging roads the county wants to buy,
upgrade and maintain have been around since steam
trains logged this county. First responders have gate keys.
Recently upgraded Lewis and Clark Road is a redundant
route from Astoria to Seaside.
Locating public works at the county-owned North Coast
Business Park makes sense. It is over 100 acres, close to
populated areas for disaster assistance and is close to other
similar entities such as the Oregon Department of Trans-
portation, Pacifi c Power, Medix and our county sheriff’s
offi ce.
Buying a total of over 80 acres at two sites to replace
seven seems a bit extreme. Answer your questionnaire
carefully.
LINDA BRIM
Astoria
T
Needs to be done
ecent comments regarding the relocation of the Clat-
sop County Public Works Department concern me,
because it doesn’t appear there exists an understanding of
the functions they perform.
Road maintenance (including downed tree and snow
removal), small bridge maintenance, signage and signal-
ing, storm-related issues, mutual support of communities,
as well as a host of other tasks, are performed by p ublic
w orks.
They are essential for day-to-day life and business.
Returning to normal operations in a post disaster event
will be critical. One only has to look at various hurri-
cane-related events in the South, as well as earthquakes
in recent history, to understand their signifi cance. It also
needs to be mentioned that they supply fueling for fi rst
responders.
We live very close to the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Like the San Andreas F ault to our south, it’s only a mat-
ter of time until our local zone ruptures. Yes, it costs
money to be prepared for an emergency. Public w orks
has a mandate to be prepared. Relocation of their facili-
ties is a basic step to save lives and property. It needs to
be done.
RICHARD McINTOSH
Astoria
R
Mind matters
ach of our lives is like a ship. If we look out over the
stern and recall our past, we can choose to recall all
our happy memories, or we can choose to recall all our
negative memories. The choice is up to each one of us.
Mind matters.
If we look out over the bow of the ship to our future,
the same is true. We can choose to look forward to all of
the adventure and happy times ahead, or choose to pre-
dict all our fears and doubts and negation. The choice is
up to each one of us. Mind matters.
It’s really no mystery, for as a man thinketh, so is he.
Let us all make our minds matter positively for a victori-
ous future.
JIM BERNARD
Warrenton
E
n 60 years of living mostly here in Astoria, I have wit-
nessed a fl ip from when a person’s word was dependable
to no one trusting anyone. A person had to have honor and
integrity or they were labeled a “fl im-fl am man.”
This not-so-dumb “leader” of our nation is using the best
public relations program on earth to persuade any and all
that even having a democratic thought is wrong.
The show is making all who would watch have tun-
nel vision, while behind the curtain millions of taxpay-
ers’ money is being used to fi nd loopholes in many laws to
which he and his other, very rich white friends, can change
to make more money. Mostly off of people who scrape to
get by in the fi rst place — American citizens.
As a veteran, I am personally embarrassed to call myself
an American. Our nation’s government has gone from the
most powerful in the world to the most dysfunctional reality
television show ever thought of.
Can we please at least get back to “red and blue,” argu-
ing about the best move forward for our nation? Vote!
TROY HASKELL
Astoria
Church and state
he role of government is to unite the country, not divide
it. Right?
I’ve been reading Jacob Soboroff’s recently published
book, “Separated.” Mr. Soboroff describes and quotes Jeff
Sessions, the Trump administration’s fi rst attorney general,
who evoked the Apostle Paul (Romans 13) to try to justify
separating children from their parents.
It bothered me when Attorney General Sessions did this.
It worries me more now, and I think it should cause all of us
to stop and think about what is happening in our country.
I believe the use or abuse of religion in order to achieve
a political agenda is dangerous, and smacks of possible reli-
gious persecution. The Founding Fathers knew this when
they set up separation of church and state. See the First
Amendment to the Constitution — freedom of religion.
Allow me to now be crystal clear regarding what I think
about this. If I was 90% sure I’d vote for Joe Biden for pres-
ident before, I’m 100% sure now.
CARL DOMINEY
Astoria
T
ing of our community, and that every social determinant of
health — housing, food, education, employment, etc. — is
equally important. There is no competitive feel, even among
organizations serving the same needs.
I’ve heard, and often used the phrase, “it takes a village,”
and for me, CHART is where the villagers come together
and make what feels impossible possible.
Thanks to all who have been a part of CHART, and I
look forward to continued collaboration in our village.
ALLISON WHISENHUNT
Warrenton
Caesar
ulius Caesar lived from 100 B.C. to 44 B.C.
Many people believe that the decline of the Roman
Empire as a republic began when Julius Caesar said, “the
die is cast,” and crossed the Rubicon River into Italy with
one legion in 49 B.C. It was an illegal act, and amounted to
a declaration of war against his own state.
It is estimated in the nine to 10 years that Caesar spent in
Gaul (France) that one million Gauls were killed, and one
million enslaved. History would record Caesar as one of the
world’s greatest generals.
One of the reasons that Caesar went to Gaul was to avoid
prosecution from people who did not like him in the Sen-
ate. The tradition was that offi ce holders could not be pros-
ecuted while in offi ce. However, once leaving a protected
offi ce, a person could be prosecuted and put on trial by the
Roman Senate.
Roman history did not like kings. Caesar became dicta-
tor for life in 44 B.C. and was assassinated by some mem-
bers of the Roman Senate in 44 B.C.
TERRY J. SMITH
Warrenton
J
Consult a
PROFESSIONAL
Our chance
want to remind voters that contrary to fake advertis-
ing, Joe Biden is not a socialist but a centrist, a moderate
Democrat who is best qualifi ed to heal the division and vio-
lence that President Donald Trump continues to incite.
Biden will begin his fi rst term by bringing economic
recovery and modify the tax cut for the rich that never paid
for itself as promoted. The extremely large budget defi cits
during the Trump administration were augmented by the
coronavirus economic stimulus spending.
There is a reason that Russia’s violent leader Vladimir
Putin wants Trump to continue as U.S. president — Trump
has done more for Russia than any U.S. president:
Weakening NATO; withdrawing U.S. troops from north-
ern Syria to allow the Turks to slaughter our allies the
Kurds, who helped defeat ISIS, and driving the Kurds into
an alliance with Russia; ignoring the bounty that Russia
offered the Taliban on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan; and
sowing division within the U.S.
Whenever President Trump yells “fake news!” I know
that he has been caught again in either incompetence or
fraud. After a while, even his supporters should understand
that in his mental state, Trump can’t tell any difference
between truth and lies.
Nov. 3 is our chance to send Trump to a mental institu-
tion, prison, or to Russia.
DAVID FITCH
Astoria
I
Best choice
ebbie Boothe-Schmidt is the best choice to be our rep-
resentative for House District 32. Debbie has been a
small business owner and a union member and leader for
the last two decades.
She knows what it is like to run a business during the
coronavirus crisis, and to make payroll in tough times to
support employees who are counting on her.
As a president of her union, she has fought for better
pay and benefi ts for her members. Debbie truly understands
labor issues from both sides of the table, and she knows
how to listen, negotiate and solve problems.
Debbie raised her two daughters as a single mom here
on the North Coast, so she understands how important the
issues of a living wage, health care, education and afford-
able housing are to raising a family.
Debbie understands that we have to protect our natural
resources, our water, our air, our land and our forests from
the changes in climate that are at our doorstep. As this is
being written, the devastating wildfi res are just another sign
that we must take climate action now, and Debbie is com-
mitted to this.
We are in unprecedented times of division in our state and
our country, and we need someone who knows how to collabo-
rate and who will work to unify the diverse needs of our district.
Debbie is the right person for this job. Join me in voting
for Boothe-Schmidt for House District 32.
ERIC HALPERIN
Seaside
D
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Astoria, OR • 503-325-2300
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Q: How does sensitive
toothpaste work?
A:
Imagine one of your teeth - it has
two main sections: the crown above
the gum line and the root below.
JEFFREY M. LEINASSAR
DMD, FAGD
L E I NA S S A R
DENTAL EXCELLENCE
503/325-0310
1414 MARINE DRIVE,
ASTORIA
www.smileastoria.com
People with sensitive teeth experience pain
when their teeth are exposed to something
hot, cold or when pressure is applied.
The layer of enamel may be thinner and the
gum line may have receded, exposing more
dentin. Therefore, the recession makes teeth
more sensitive.
Sensitive toothpaste works by blocking the
tubules in the dentine with a chemical called
strontium chloride. Repeated use builds up a
strong barrier by plugging the tubules more
and more, leading to less-sensitive teeth.
Q: Do I need a
referral to come
see you?
ASTORIA A: Typically no, but we
CHIROPRACTIC
Alicia M. Smith, DC
Owner
503-325-3311
2935 Marine Drive
Astoria, Oregon
are more than happy to
check when you come
in. Give us a call and take
advantage of our free
initial consult!
Celebrate
s the Community Health Advocacy and Resource Team
(CHART) celebrates its 10-year anniversary, I’ve been
refl ecting on the impact I’ve seen from this great collabora-
tive group.
As a social worker, CHART has been instrumental in my
professional life to stay informed of the resources available
in our community, and to form partnerships with other com-
munity agencies to fi nd new ways to support the health and
well-being of our county.
As a mother raising two children in this community, I
have personally been impacted from the inspiration I feel
as I experience conversations among people who truly care
about making this great county even better.
On the surface, CHART may look like any other import-
ant community collaborative meeting; however, the true
greatness of CHART is the collective wisdom and ideas that
are generated through intentional collaboration activities that
focus on the entire community, rather than on any one por-
tion of our population.
CHART fosters an environment that reminds us all that
there are so many factors impacting the health and well-be-
Q: What is the best
A
way to get results
from my limited
advertising dollar?
Lisa
Cadonau
Advertising Representative
503-325-3211
www.dailyastorian.com
949 Exchange St., Astoria, OR
A: The combination of a
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