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THE ASTORIAN • TuESdAy, FEbRuARy 23, 2021
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
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GUEST COLUMN
Weather, tech glitches disrupt Legislature
W
ith the Oregon Legislature
running at half-speed last
week due to the ice storm,
we’ll start by talking a bit about what is,
or isn’t, happening at the Capitol. Then
we’ll catch up on other tidbits of news
and reader comments.
The Legislature canceled activities
because so many Oregonians – includ-
ing lawmakers and staff – were without
power, internet or phone
connections. Travel also
remained challenging in
some regions.
Due to the COVID-
19 protocols, legislative
committees are oper-
ating this year via vid-
DICK
eoconference. Lack-
HUGHES
ing electricity at home,
state Rep. Brian Clem,
D-Salem, had to use his Capitol office
to lead Wednesday evening’s hearing
on wildfire recovery. Some members of
the House and Senate wildfire commit-
tees were unable to participate due to the
ongoing power outages.
The public hearing lasted 4 1/2 hours.
“It’s truly the best part of the job when
we get to interact with real people. It
recharges the batteries,” Clem said at the
end.
Technology problems plagued the
virtual hearing, which was for southern
Oregonians to talk about the aftermath
of the Almeda, South Obenchain, Two
Four Two and Slater wildfires.
“It was just quite an evening for the
heart and the mind tonight. The breadth
and the depth of this testimony was
amazing,” said Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ash-
land, who chairs the Senate wildfire
committee. “Really, I feel very badly for
the frustration we may have caused with
our technical problems.”
Golden noted that the Almeda
fire started about 600 yards from his
house but the flames headed the other
direction.
Statesman Journal
Icy conditions hit Salem last week.
Rep. Lily Morgan, R-Grants Pass,
encouraged her colleagues to read the
written testimony that also had been
submitted, including one person’s story
about being dinged for new utility bills
on a home that had burned.
Weather disrupts legislative sched-
ule: With the House canceling its Feb.
16 floor session, the vote on whether to
expel Rep. Diego Hernandez, D-Port-
land, was moved to Tuesday. Hernandez,
who unsuccessfully filed suit over the
legislative investigation into allegations
against him of sexual harassment and
creating a hostile workplace, told Ore-
gon Public Broadcasting on Sunday that
he is resigning.
The Senate canceled most of its com-
mittee meetings on Wednesday, and the
House also canceled some.
Sen. Chuck Thomsen, of Hood River,
the Senate Republican deputy leader,
joined House Republican Leader Chris-
tine Drazan, of Canby, in urging the
Legislature to pause all committee meet-
ings and other work until Oregonians
regain power and internet service.
“This entire ‘remote session’ depends
on the public’s ability to access their
state Capitol through electronic means.
With over 150,000 still without power
and even more without internet, the pub-
lic’s involvement in their government is
actively being denied,” Thomsen said in
a statement.
On Thursday morning, the Senate had
an 11-minute floor session for the intro-
duction of more than 30 new bills. A
bare quorum of senators was present.
“It appears that no part of our state
has not been affected by some kind of
catastrophe this year. That includes some
of the members of this body who have
been hit and hurt very, very badly, and
our constituents. Yet you found a way to
be here today,” Senate President Peter
Courtney, D-Salem, told his colleagues.
When Oregonians see their govern-
ment continuing to function during these
challenging times, Courtney said, “It’s
like, ‘Well, we’re still going. We got
hope.’”
Catching up: A previous column
discussed the need for state officials to
more adeptly involve local leaders and
influencers in promoting compliance
with COVID-19 protocols. Former Gov.
John Kitzhaber said he made the same
points nearly a year ago in a letter to
Gov. Kate Brown.
The five-page letter provided analysis
and a host of recommendations on con-
fronting the pandemic, including work-
ing with communities “to prevent panic,
hoarding and blame.”
Kitzhaber wrote: “The best bulwark
against these things is close communica-
tions with communities through trusted
messengers — ensuring people that they
are not alone, keeping them apprised of
what is going on and, especially, how
they can help and support one another.
“Oregon already has a network of
community-based problem-solving and
delivery structures, including: watershed
councils, regional solutions teams, early
learning hubs and coordinated care orga-
nizations. We should be activating these
groups to participate in a coordinated,
well-thought out message of reassurance,
of what to be concerned about; what not
to be concerned about; and of the steps
being taken and progress being made to
address the virus itself, as well as its eco-
nomic and social consequences.”
Which offense is worse: Under Mea-
sure 110 approved by voters in Novem-
ber, possession of small amounts of
illegal drugs is now a civil violation pun-
ishable by a $100 fine.
A reader notes that in contrast, Senate
Bill 592 would make it a Class A misde-
meanor — punishable by 364 days in jail
and a potential $6,250 fine — to use a
lead weight for fishing or a lead shotgun
pellet for hunting.
Trees down, windows open: Trees
on the Capitol grounds and around state
buildings in Salem suffered significant
damage in the ice storm.
Meanwhile, crews are gradually
removing the plywood that had cov-
ered the Capitol’s first-floor windows
as protection against potentially vio-
lent protests last month. House Speaker
Tina Kotek, D-Portland, said the Capi-
tol facilities staff has developed a sys-
tem for quickly reinstalling the plywood
if needed.
dick Hughes has been covering the
Oregon political scene since 1976.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Two words
T
wo words. Two very simple words.
That’s all it would have taken.
There would have been no violence. No
bloodshed. No death. No impeachment trial.
No threat to our democracy.
No embarrassing, shameful, frighten-
ing day for the world to watch. Our nation
would have moved forward with pride, dig-
nity and hope.
Two words … I lost.
TIMOTHY J. BISH
Astoria
So glad
A
“thank you” goes to those volunteers
who set up the Clatsop County Fair-
grounds in Astoria for vaccine shots.
We were notified to arrive at 4:30 p.m.
on Feb. 11. The trip was about 15 minutes
from Astoria. The parking was close to the
entrance.
The building was set up in an excellent
way. The volunteers were plenty, pleasant
and helpful and the line went pretty fast and
good.
The vaccine had arrived. They had areas
for shots and areas where they were filling
syringes. It was heated, and our drug man-
ufacturers had shipped enough vaccine.
Everyone worked so well together, it took us
maybe 20 minutes to go through the line.
What a wonderful place to live, where
we have so many people who care and show
up and help. The parking was good, and
lots of people showed up. I am so glad we
live in this area. Thank you to all those who
volunteered.
NELSON TAYLOR
Astoria
Wishing
I
just wish the Seven Deadly Sins included
hypocrisy instead of pride.
DONNA LEE ROLLINS
Astoria
Responsible
P
ractically and morally responsible
for the events of the day, is how Sen.
Mitch McConnell described President Don-
ald Trump’s culpability in the certification
insurrection.
Trump flags flown by MAGA-clad
Republicans flooded the U.S. Capitol.
Shouting murderous threats, Trump support-
ers called for Vice President Mike Pence to
be hanged, and for House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi to be shot. A preponderance of audio
and visual evidence recognizing Trump’s
complicity requires no divine insight, only
mortal common sense.
Having lost the election, and without any
apparent intention of governing in a classic
democratic sense, Trump aided and abetted
a treasonous insurrection against constitu-
tional process.
Nevertheless, with flags and plac-
ards, Trump supporters — who seem to
endorse violence as an acceptable recourse
to the democratic process — continue to
exhibit their fealty to personality rather than
constitutionality.
Consequently, Americans who embrace
democratic propriety over totalitarian rule
will continue to eschew these public sym-
bols of authoritarianism.
Disingenuous claims that Trump called
for peaceful protestations amid the chaos of
insurrectionist rioting are laughable. Hack-
neyed defenses and weak-kneed rebuttals of
Trump’s actions fall far short of the reality
of the day.
Evidence from that day clearly show
Trump calling for rallygoers to march to
the Capitol to fight like hell to overturn the
results of a free and fair election. There is
no doubt a monthslong campaign of dishon-
esty orchestrated by Trump, surrounding the
question of election fraud, culminated with
insurrection on Jan. 6.
These seditious acts against democratic
normality will leave forever a lingering
black stain on American democracy.
MITCH and DEBBIE GRAMSON
Astoria
ering these despicable actions: “Those who
can make you believe absurdities can make
you commit atrocities.” — Voltaire
LaREE JOHNSON
Astoria
History lesson
T
A
history lesson recently unfolded in real
time; the dramatic and graphic images
we all saw, heard or read about were shock-
ing. And sad to say, it occurred in our coun-
try. It was not a peaceful protest, it was an
insurrection, i.e. a revolt against established
authority, an uprising, mutiny, sedition.
Shame on those who participated in the
deaths of five people; shame on those who
destroyed public property and hurt those
working to keep others safe.
Shame on those who condone these
insurrectionists vandalizing and violating
our nation’s Capitol as Congress was carry-
ing out “the people’s business” of democ-
racy. This is not patriotism, it can only be
called a shameful act.
Something to keep in mind when consid-
Feeling pain
o those on the Sunset Empire Park and
Recreation District Board, I under-
stand your decision not to open the Broad-
way Middle School, now vacant, as a shel-
ter for the homeless, and I feel your pain in
doing so.
Yes, there are people in Seaside who
are homeless, huddling in doorways, under
stairways and in makeshift tents, in tempera-
tures in the 20s and 30s, in snow, ice and
rain. But they are not your concern.
Sure, the middle school is vacant and
could, at least during these cold weeks, pro-
vide them shelter, but this would only get in
the way of a plethora of future possible uses.
It’s your job to look at the broader picture.
It’s not your job to look into the faces of
Seaside’s homeless, and to see their pain.
JULIA SNYDER
Astoria