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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2022)
»INSIDE THURSDAY JUNE 2 2022 HART SEASIDE, GEAR AND ILWACO ART WALKS PAGES 4-6 A RIVERFRONT TUNE TENOR GUITAR FESTIVAL RETU RNS TO ASTO RIA BREWING RN FESTIVALS RETU PAGE 7 MARITIME IN EXHIBITS OPEN MANZANITA PAGE 11 PAGE 8 149TH YEAR, NO. 144 DailyAstorian.com // THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022 $1.50 GUN CONTROL In Cannon Beach, a transportation plan has some detractors Wyden says GOP faces ‘question of our time’ Senate would likely have to overcome fi libuster By PETER WONG Oregon Capital Bureau U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden says it’s up to his Republican colleagues to show whether they are serious about federal fi rearms restrictions after two mass shootings in May in Buff alo, New York , and Uvalde, Texas. The Senate debated such legislation most recently in 2013, after the 2012 shootings at Sandy Ron Hook Elementary School Wyden in Newtown, Connecti- cut , claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults. But the Sen- ate fell short of the 60 votes required to advance legislation without a fi libuster, although Wyden and fellow Oregon U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley voted for it. The Senate is now in recess for Memo- rial Day — and a group of Democratic and Republican senators began talks to see if there is a basis for legislation. “That is the question of our time. You noticed how I approached it: The next 10 days are really crucial,” Wyden, an Ore- gon Democrat, told reporters last week in the lobby of the federal building where he has his Portland offi ce. See Wyden, Page A6 Lydia Ely/The Astorian Cannon Beach is working on a new transportation system plan. Draft covers a prioritized list of projects, programs and policy updates By NICOLE BALES The Astorian C ANNON BEACH — A plan that would guide the city’s investments in transportation improvements over the next 20 years is nearing completion, but some resi- dents fear the proposed projects will increase urbanization and encourage more visitors. Some have even urged the city to look at ways to limit the number of tourists that visit during peak season. Cannon Beach is the last city in Clatsop County to complete a trans- portation system plan, which includes a prioritized list of projects, programs and policy updates . Cities are required to complete the plan to qualify for state grants to help fund the projects. Project leaders say the goal is to preserve the city’s village feel while identifying alternate options for trans- portation knowing that tourism is pro- jected to increase. While most people who have responded to surveys have supported the draft plan and recommended proj- ects, concerns and opposition raised PROJECT LEADERS SAY THE GOAL IS TO PRESERVE THE CITY’S VILLAGE FEEL WHILE IDENTIFYING ALTERNATE OPTIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION KNOWING THAT TOURISM IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE. during public comment have had dis- proportionate infl uence. The city’s Planning Commission delayed making a recommendation to the City Council last week after hear- ing calls to slow the process down. Some p lanning c ommission- ers were not satisfi ed with the poll- ing conducted during public outreach, and one called the survey data “worth- less.” Some suggested removing the most controversial options and reas- suring those who are concerned by outlining the public process that will take place each time a project is ready for development. Jeff Adams, the city’s community development director, said amend- ments can be made, but asked that the process be respected. “This is not worthless. This is real data,” he said. “These are people’s voices that share their comments and concerns. And maybe they didn’t write a letter or an email that gets posted in the public comments, but they fi lled out those questionnaires that had open- ended questions and let them answer. “I have been doing this ... kind of planning for 30 years. This is good turnout. T his is good data.” During the meeting, Eduardo Mon- tejo, a transportation planner with Parametrix, a Portland-based engi- neering company that prepared the draft plan, gave an overview and addressed some misunderstandings. Johnson’s gun stance under scrutiny Independent candidate owns a machine gun By HILLARY BORRUD The Oregonian Oregon gun owners number in the hun- dreds of thousands, per- haps more — no one tracks overall fi rearm ownership in the state. But the federal govern- ment does track the sub- set of Oregonians who own machine guns, and Betsy in 2021, they numbered Johnson 6,740. Among their ranks: former longtime Dem- ocratic lawmaker Betsy Johnson, now running as an unaffi liated candidate for governor. Johnson’s steadfast opposition to gun safety regulations is well known, as is her See Plan, Page A6 See Johnson, Page A6 Police start clearing Seaside homeless camp A longtime concern off Necanicum Drive By R.J. MARX The Astorian SEASIDE — Tow trucks and police cars gathered along Necan- icum Drive on Tuesday as the city prepared to clear the homeless camp at a city-owned lot between 10th and 11th avenues. Liaisons from Clatsop Commu- nity Action delivered tents, sleeping bags and referrals for assistance. “This is the fi rst day that we are going to try and clear out a few of the vehicles that are remaining here,” Police Chief Dave Ham said . “We’re going to get it started. Hopefully, that will prompt a few others and they start making their moves on their own.” The lot , previously used as a stag- ing area for construction, became a temporary campsite last year after the city redirected overnight trailers off of the roadway. But as the numbers of RVs and campers continued to grow, so did complaints. Last fall , neighbors presented a petition with more than 100 signa- tures protesting the encampment and seeking its shutdown. With a homeless camping ordi- nance that took eff ect in late May and a new site open for RVs and tents, the city now has enforcement author- ity . Overnight campers and RVs R.J. Marx/The Astorian See Homeless camp, Page A5 Police meet with residents as they prepare to clear a homeless camp off Necanicum Drive.
