A6
THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2021
HEALTH NOTIFICATION!
Are You Hard of Hearing?
Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian
Astoria police receive many calls about behavior at a park at Ninth and Astor streets.
Homelessness: ‘We
know we could do more’
Continued from Page A1
Downtown
business
owners and homeless peo-
ple have clashed after peo-
ple slept or drank in door-
ways or left behind litter
and human waste. Mean-
while, there are few places
for the homeless to go.
Their presence on the
Astoria Riverwalk and in
other city parks has been
a source of frustration to
some in the community
and feeds the perception
that certain areas are less
safe than they used to be
— a perception also noted
in survey responses but not
backed up by police calls
and reports, Spalding said.
The purpose of the sur-
vey was not to single out or
attack any particular group,
the police chief explained .
“We understand many of the
people experiencing home-
lessness are good people. …
Our goal really is, through
enforcement, to get people
into services, ” he said.
The state Legislature
concluded this summer with
several new laws that fur-
ther complicate when and
how police can intervene
with quality of life issues
and crimes often associ-
ated with people who are
homeless.
Police are asked to deal
with issues that they prob-
ably shouldn’t, Spalding
said. When people don’t
FOLLOWING
THE SURVEY
RESULTS, THE
DEPARTMENT
PLANS TO STEP
UP COMMUNITY
POLICE WORK
TO MAINTAIN
A MORE
PROACTIVE
PRESENCE .
know who to call, they call
the police.
Following the survey
results, the department
plans to step up community
police work to maintain a
more proactive presence .
The City Council autho-
rized the hiring of a com-
munity outreach offi cer this
year, a position Spalding
hopes will go a long way to
building community rela-
tions . The position includes
some basic police training,
but will be more focused
on outreach and education.
Around a dozen people
have applied.
Besides
homeless-
ness, survey respondents
included concerns about
drugs and mental health
issues, as well as a desire
for more police patrols on
foot or bicycle.
A total of 369 people
responded to the survey.
The survey did not col-
lect detailed demographic
information, but did record
where people live . The
majority of respondents live
in Astoria, while others own
businesses or work in the
city or live in unincorpo-
rated areas .
A majority of respon-
dents said they felt Asto-
ria police were responsive,
respectful and treated peo-
ple fairly, but questions
about the department’s com-
munity relations showed
areas for improvement.
Some people felt the depart-
ment could do more to work
with residents to solve local
problems and make it easier
for people to provide input .
“We know we could do
more,” Spalding said.
But the police chief and
city councilors said they
were pleased with the sur-
vey results. There were few
surprises and offi cers have
told Spalding they feel sup-
ported and trusted by the
community. In response to a
question asking for people’s
overall opinion of the police
department, 25% of respon-
dents checked “Outstand-
ing” while 42% checked
“Good.”
“In the current environ-
ment we’re policing in, I
consider that a high score
for us,” Spalding said.
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Gimre’s Shoes: ‘No regrets at all’
Continued from Page A1
Throughout much of
the coronavirus pandemic,
Gimre employed only two
part-time workers, meaning
he was often left to run the
store on his own. He admits
that burnout from the p ast
year and a half played a role
in his decision to retire.
“Anyone who was in retail
through the whole COVID
situation has gone through
some sense of fatigue in one
manner or another,” he said.
“I certainly felt it.”
Gimre credits Paycheck
Protection Program loans for
his store’s ability to survive.
Since then, Gimre said sales
have rebounded and July
was one of the better months
on record.
“It makes you feel good
that there is demand out
there for a store like ours and
brick and mortar still has a
chance in today’s world,” he
said.
When Pete and Jon Gim-
re’s father passed along the
business, he told them to,
“ Treat people when they
come into your store like a
guest in your home.” That
philosophy won over many
within the community, as
evident by the large num-
ber of people who show-
ered Gimre with congratula-
tions and well wishes on his
retirement announcement on
Facebook.
“(I have) no regrets at
all,” he said. “I have made
more friends from just meet-
ing people in the store. The
store has allowed me to give
back into the community like
Special Notice State Employees
You may qualify for a hearing aid benefit up
to $4,000 every 4 years.
Call for eligibility status.
Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian
Gimre’s Shoes is a signature business on the North Coast.
‘IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD THAT
THERE IS DEMAND OUT THERE
FOR A STORE LIKE OURS AND
BRICK AND MORTAR STILL HAS A
CHANCE IN TODAY’S WORLD.’
Pete Gimre
I never would have imagined
when I was 24 years old in
multiple ways.”
Gimre is grateful for the
community that continues
to embrace the store, a com-
munity he does not plan on
leaving anytime soon.
Instead, he will continue
to enjoy the hiking, kaya-
king and outdoor activities
that the region off ers.
When Gimre thinks back
to what downtown Asto-
ria was like when he was in
high school, he remembers a
number of shoe stores.
While a few have
remained open, most have
come and gone, Gimre said.
“Gimre’s has always
found a way to survive
and I think it’s because of
hard work and dedication,”
he said. “We have been
extremely fortunate to have
the most loyal employees —
long-term employees — I
could ever dream of over the
course of time.
“That is a testament that
we are doing something
right.”
Gimre does not envi-
sion that changing under his
brother’s leadership.
“I wanted to keep that
legacy going and keep it in
the family if at all possible,”
he said.
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Youngs Bay Plaza
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2505 Main Ave N, Suite C
Tillamook, OR 97141
(503) 836-7926
Visit us online at
www.miracle-ear.com
Hearing tests are always free. Hearing test is an audiometric test to determine proper amplification needs only. Hearing Aids do not restore natural
hearing. Individual experiences will vary depending on severity of hearing loss, accuracy of evaluation by our Consultant, proper fit, and the ability
to adjust amplification. If you are not completely satisfied, the aids must be returned within 30 days of the completion of fitting, in satisfactory
condition for a full refund.