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THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, MARcH 31, 2022
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
Founded in 1873
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
SHANNON ARLINT
circulation Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Don’t shame
t the forum on homelessness con-
ducted on March 23, referenced in
“Astoria leaders hear concerns about
homelessness, downtown businesses at
forum” (The Astorian, March 26), Mayor
Bruce Jones called out those photograph-
ing and posting the declining situation in
downtown Astoria, calling it “disgusting.”
As a downtown business owner of Giz-
mo’s Arcade, I felt ashamed and angry at
the same time. Having a front row seat
daily to Commercial Street, I occasionally
take pictures for documentation purposes
when people accuse me of hyperbole.
We are aware that legally the city’s
hands are tied, and they can’t help us in
most situations. I haven’t seen any report-
ing in The Astorian about planters down-
town being used for drug deals or some of
the other problems that have happened in
the past month.
When journalism is lacking a side of
the story, citizen reporters will step up, for
better or worse. The videos that have been
posted on our experience downtown are
meant to show others how bad it’s gotten,
so collectively, as a town, some action can
be taken.
So instead of scolding us like chil-
dren, how about scolding the “bad actors”
or “frequent flyers” amongst the home-
less population who are behaving like chil-
dren. The expulsion zone ordinance being
presented by Police Chief Geoff Spalding
seems like a good “timeout” solution.
But don’t shame business owners and
concerned citizens for bringing to light our
side of the story!
ANDREA McDERMED
Astoria
A
Should not be rushed
’d like to thank the city and the project
developer for their time spent with our
community, sharing their process and gath-
ering public input for Heritage Square.
Based on information shared to date,
and my 30 years of experience develop-
ing affordable and market rate housing,
the following are needed by our commu-
nity before making any commitment to the
project as proposed:
• Schematic building designs and ele-
vations, with parking noted, including
shadow studies for areas adjacent to the
building.
• Budgeted development costs and
30-year income and expense projections to
ensure longevity of the project, and finan-
cially viable options in terms of unit mix
and rents.
• Confirmation of required city subsi-
dies (land, tax abatement, loans, grants,
etc.) for development, i.e. all potential
investments by our city and taxpayers in
the project.
• Definition of mechanisms to be put in
place to ensure ongoing experienced man-
agement and ownership and to enable the
city to step in if operation and manage-
ment of the property is not to community
standards.
• Documentation defining current down-
town core residential statistics (number of
existing residential units, populations being
served by those units and household rents
paid), confirming the unit mix will best
service community needs.
As we are seeing, affordable housing
developments are not simple, they will
impact the community for a long time in
the future, and they should not be rushed.
Tax credit and Local Innovation and
Fast Track funds are not going away in
2023. Let’s all ensure we use this import-
ant site in the best way possible for our
community.
MAURA LEDERER LINEHAN
Astoria
I
Support affordable housing
am writing in full support of increas-
ing the stock of affordable housing in
Clatsop County and within Astoria, more
specifically.
Every person deserves to have their
basic needs met. I encourage our commu-
nity to find compassion, empathy and a
sense of community care as we consider
the development at Heritage Square.
Unhoused people aren’t our problem.
The lack of living wage jobs, and an ade-
quate stock of affordable housing, are our
problems.
ERICH PITCHER
Astoria
I
Just the facts
t is a waste of time and energy talking
about floor plans, whether Clatsop
Behavioral Healthcare will be part of the
project, if it includes parking and open
space, and how many stories high.
It is simply not compatible with the
small historic context of downtown
Astoria.
None of it in its entirety!
I
Twisting and turning the design
is fruitless. Put your energy into the
proper location and you will have full
steam ahead support of most citizens.
Try the basic tenet for crossing the
street: Stop, look and listen (to the
people).
• Feb. 7, 2022: Public hearing on
Heritage Square agenda. Hearing
closed at 10 p.m. with continuance for
public comment until Feb. 22 because
many people have their hands raised to
speak on Zoom for three minutes.
• 11 a.m., Feb. 22, 2022: Petition of
450 signatures demanding a pause on
Heritage Square development process
for further public comment and study
of this important proposal is filed and
entered into record as public comment
towards the public hearing on Feb. 7.
• 6 p.m., Feb. 22: Sixty people stood
in 29 degree weather for an hour wait-
ing to enter City Hall chambers. The
mayor ruled no comments were being
accepted, denying the aforementioned
petition. Of the five councilors, three
voted “yes” — those three won’t be
seeking reelection this year.
• 2 p.m., March 23, 2022: Three
hundred signatures of an ongoing peti-
tion stating, We the undersigned, appeal
the decision to give Heritage Square
away to Edlen & Co. Filed as public
comment towards the open house on
March 14, 2022.
LISA DeCICCO
Astoria
Why?
he definition of community is to
come together and unite. Referring
to workforce housing in and around
Astoria, I’m not seeing any cooperation
with all the other major players.
Why are the school district, Clat-
sop Community College, the Clat-
sop County commissioners, the Port
of Astoria, hospital, U.S. Coast Guard,
and all others who have a stake in this
real-life issue, not involved?
If we are not allowed to have a busi-
ness in residential areas, then why do
you want to put housing in the center of
our business and entertainment zone?
The Astoria Sunday Market has been
set up the way it has to utilize the only
semi-covered spot, with electricity, a
band can play under that is outside and
in town. We know that self-employ-
ment will almost certainly double soon.
That means more vendors for the mar-
ket, which also means more tourists,
and don’t forget about the cruise ships
bringing even more people.
Today Astoria’s business is tour-
ism, and we are not prepared. We need
a place for musicians to play downtown
without looking like beggars. Artists
a place to draw funny faces of you for
a $5 bill. A larger food cart area, with
some seating. Maybe even a small cov-
ered spot, for getting out of the rain.
No town that I know of has ever grown
without a central park.
The proposals I saw were beauti-
ful if the location was, as an example,
the east end of lower Columbia Fields
— in the last 10 years, the most unused
plot of ground in town!
TROY HASKELL
Astoria
T
Not the best location
et’s keep the heritage in Heritage
Square. We have made a beautiful
start with the Chinese garden, but what
I am talking about is our own entrepre-
neurial heritage.
L
The one where local craftspeople,
along with local farmers and area fish-
ers, bring their goods to the city to sell.
A centrally located successful market,
one that is already beloved by residents,
and becoming famous for visitors.
The Astoria Sunday Market has been
located in downtown Astoria and bring-
ing in money and supporting jobs for
over a decade. The currently proposed
project in Heritage Square will neg-
atively impact our successful Astoria
Sunday Market by substantially reduc-
ing the number of vendor spaces and
potentially squeezing us out.
Do we need a mental health facility
and low-income housing? Absolutely!
But in the center of downtown Asto-
ria is not the best location. Please think
creatively. What about Blue Ridge for
housing?
TED MESSING
Astoria
Justice before commerce
he problem with Astoria’s business
community’s resistance to Heri-
tage Square workforce housing is that
their Main Street approach to revital-
ization is out of sync with the needs of
the community.
Urban gentrification, without first
dealing with homelessness, is destined
to backfire like it has in Portland. A
hallmark of urban gentrification is the
widening wealth gap created by dis-
placement of those less fortunate. The
Heritage Square displacement, which
could include young artists and crafts-
people, will be proactive, the tenants
being ousted before building construc-
tion begins.
Some say their resistance is about
the new building itself. But how can a
new building be worse than staring at a
gaping hole which hasn’t stifled yearly
increases in tourism?
“We want a downtown plaza,” they
say, “a place for outdoor concerts and
events.” Compete with the Liberty The-
atre and the Charlene Larsen Center
for the Performing Arts? I have trouble
scheduling a barbecue in summer with-
out getting rained on.
Some are concerned the mental
health component of the project bring-
ing individuals struggling with men-
tal illness into downtown. They are
already there! So what will be differ-
ent? They will have a dry central loca-
tion where they will be treated with
compassion and feel like they belong.
Finally, most visitors to Astoria
aren’t coming for a vibrant downtown.
They’re coming for the beer, the river,
the Goonies, the history, the funk and
what’s left of our city’s authenticity.
Astoria’s heritage is working class.
Let’s keep it that way. Justice before
commerce! Support the workforce
housing project at Heritage Square.
ROGER DORBAND
Astoria
T
Unprotected and scared
ne evening, I asked my dad for
pizza for dinner, and he told me to
order and pick it up, because Domino’s
was a block from our house. I did, and
I reluctantly went to pick it up.
It was almost dark, and on my way
there and back, I saw three homeless
people. I felt uneasy and anxious at
the sight of them. I wouldn’t be able
to defend myself if one of them spon-
taneously attacked me, no matter how
small the chance of that happening
was.
O
I crossed the street to not pass next
to them. I felt unprotected and scared
as I made my way back to my house.
I got home safely, but told my parents
that I never wanted to go downtown
alone at that time ever again.
ERIN MAGIE
Astoria
Evident
am Wev’s experience as a pro-
fessional planning and economic
development consultant has been evi-
dent since she was elected to the Clat-
sop County Board of Commissioners.
Everyone should watch Pam in
action at the commission meetings, or
on videos posted to the county’s web-
site. She always asks pertinent ques-
tions to stimulate discussion within the
commission, and has sage advice from
her decades of experience.
Her focus on long-term planning and
economic well-being of the county’s
residents is a high priority with her. She
is the county’s point person for hous-
ing on the Northwest Oregon Housing
Authority, and cares deeply about the
mental health of our community.
Please join me in voting to keep
Wev on the county commission.
JIM ALEGRIA
Astoria
P
Huge asset
oon it will be time to salute our
democracy once again, and vote for
county, state and federal elective posi-
tions. I urge you to vote in May. It’s
one of the most patriotic things you can
do!
I’m writing in support of Pam Wev
for Clatsop County commissioner, Dis-
trict 3, now representing most of Asto-
ria. I’ve known Commissioner Wev
since before she ran successfully in the
last election. She is bright, experienced,
and cares deeply about our community
and our county.
Pam has worked at every level of
government. She came to Oregon 33
years ago, and is familiar with “the
Oregon way.”
As our county commissioner, she
has supported housing, providing
needed services and the much-needed
update of the county’s comprehensive
plan. She needs no prep time.
Significant issues are under consid-
eration in the county. The continuity
of her voice and experience is a huge
asset. She’ll work collaboratively with
our cities on housing and infrastructure,
problems best addressed together. She
listens!
I ask your vote for Commissioner
Wev.
JAN MITCHELL
Astoria
S
Sound voice
am Wev, Clatsop County commis-
sioner, is running for reelection.
She has been doing a very good job,
and is a sound voice for all of the peo-
ple of the county.
Her previous experience with plan-
ning and economic development has
brought to the county commission a
strong influence and a good balance.
The county needs Wev to be
reelected. When your ballot is mailed
to your door in our May election, vote!
It really counts!
BOB WESTERBERG
Astoria
P