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OPINION
East Oregonian
Friday, October 28, 2016
Founded October 16, 1875
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Publisher
DANIEL WATTENBURGER
Managing Editor
TIM TRAINOR
Opinion Page Editor
MARISSA WILLIAMS
Regional Advertising Director
MARCY ROSENBERG
Circulation Manager
JANNA HEIMGARTNER
Business Office Manager
MIKE JENSEN
Production Manager
OUR VIEW
Tip of the hat,
kick in the pants
A tip of the hat to the 10 people who applied for an open spot left by
Bob Roselle on the Pendleton School Board.
That’s 10 everyday folks willing to serve on a
volunteer board where each decision sets the course
for thousands of children and millions of taxpayer
dollars. It takes lots of guts, and there is very little
glory. But it’s important work, and the foundation of
our government.
The current board will select one of the 10 after
interviewing them all, and the seat will be up for
election next year. We hope interest remains strong
and voters will also get a chance to pick from a wide and qualified field.
A kick in the pants to Pendleton’s marijuana odor ordinance that, in
its 16 months of existence, hasn’t accomplished anything except giving an
extra tool for one business owner to harass a neighbor.
And we’re still waiting on a clear explanation
of why marijuana is such a unique scent that it
must have a nuisance ordinance all of its own.
We’re all in agreement here that concentrated
odor of marijuana plants and smoke is
disagreeable, and can be downright nauseating.
Homes and businesses should have some
recourse if a neighbor refuses, after human-to-
human interaction, to take care of an observable
problem such as barking dogs, loud late-night parties, dilapidated properties
or overbearing stenches. The fact that an unverified report of a “strong
marijuana scent” can send a business owner to court to defend itself against
a $500 fine is unfair.
This may go down as one of those strange laws that stays on the books
for decades until some future council decides to clean up the rulebook and
tosses it out. Or the current council could clean up its own mess and get rid
of the ordinance sooner.
A tip of the hat to the Buckaroo/Bulldog football rivalry game, which
takes the field tonight at 7 p.m. in Hermiston
The football field is exactly the place where
Hermiston and Pendleton should compete, along
with the court, pitch, track and course. When done
right, it brings the towns together. Acquaintances
from across the county can place friendly bets on the
outcome and reminisce about their high school days
from the stands.
When done wrong, it creates an artificial divide
between the cities. The amount of lingering
animosity between many residents of the towns is hard to believe
sometimes, especially from two towns that could accomplish much more by
working in tandem.
So head down to Kennison Field tonight, see some old friends, root, root,
root for your home team and enjoy the game.
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board of Publisher
Kathryn Brown, Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, and Opinion Page Editor Tim Trainor.
Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not
necessarily that of the East Oregonian.
OTHER VIEWS
Lost veterans could be
helped with lottery funds
The (Salem) Statesman Journal, Oct. 22
Thousands of military veterans in
Oregon do not get the medical care
and other benefits they deserve. Why?
Because the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs does not know they
exist.
That seems incomprehensible. But it
is true for as many as 250,000 Oregon
veterans. They have not navigated the
complex, time-consuming process of
registering for potential VA benefits.
Measure 96 on the Nov. 8 ballot
would gradually change that. The
measure would take about $9.3 million
a year from Oregon Lottery receipts
and direct that money to state and
local veterans services. Two-thirds of
the money would go toward helping
veterans sign up for VA benefits.
One-third would go for direct services,
such as getting homeless veterans into
housing and helping them find work.
This ballot measure should not be
necessary.
But it is because the federal
government shirks its responsibility
to veterans. Problems at the VA have
been well-documented, including an
average wait of more than three years to
obtain services. And if the VA errs when
determining a veteran’s eligibility for
federal benefits, the appeals process can
take four or five years, according to state
Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth.
That is why the Legislature wrote
the measure and unanimously sent it
to voters. Evans and state Sen. Brian
Boquist, R-Dallas, were key to that
effort.
The funding would come by taking
1.5 percent of Oregon Lottery proceeds.
To guarantee that, voters must amend the
Oregon Constitution, which is why the
measure is before them.
The proposal has its critics. Their
concerns are legitimate. When Lottery
proceeds are constitutionally dedicated
for one specific purpose, such as
veterans services, that money no longer
is available for other worthwhile
programs, such as schools. Already,
48 percent of the Lottery funds are
locked up that way. Meanwhile, there
is no guarantee of how much Measure
96 will expand veterans services. The
Legislature could reduce or eliminate
the existing veterans budget and instead
only use the Measure 96 monies.
But those criticisms cancel each
other. If the Legislature cuts the current
allocation for veterans services, that
money then can be spent elsewhere. And
the estimated $9.3 million a year from
Measure 96 is more than the Legislature
currently provides for veterans services
offices.
The Oregon Lottery originally was
dedicated to economic development.
Measure 96 is a fitting use of that money.
It is estimated that for every dollar the
state spends on helping veterans sign up
with the VA, Oregon veterans receive
$257 in VA benefits.
That means some may no longer
require state-funded health care or social
services. Over time, that saves money
for Oregon taxpayers. Most important,
life improves for Oregon veterans.
LETTERS POLICY
The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public
issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website.
The newspaper reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns
about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights of
private citizens. Submitted letters must be signed by the author and include
the city of residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not
be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to Managing
Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email
editor@eastoregonian.com.
YOUR VIEWS
‘Yes’ on Umatilla school bond
I am writing in support of the Umatilla
School District bond measure on the
November ballot. This bond will allow the
district to make needed improvements at
all three schools in Umatilla — McNary
Elementary, Clara Brownell Middle School
and Umatilla High School.
As a parent of two children at McNary,
I would like to highlight the needs at the
school. This school was built in the 1970s.
It has been well maintained by district
staff, but at this point needs to have the
roof replaced and to have new heating
and cooling controls installed in order to
be more efficient and to save the district
money long term. However, the biggest
challenge at McNary is the cafeteria. The
school currently runs just under 700 students
through the single cafeteria for breakfast
and again at lunchtime. A snack and dinner
are also provided to those students who
participate in the district after-school
program. The kitchen is small and outdated.
If the bond is approved by voters, an entire
new cafeteria would be built at McNary
— this is the most important project at this
school that bond funds would address.
The Umatilla school bond will NOT
increase taxes for Umatilla citizens, the new
bonds are estimated to continue the same tax
rate of the current bonds, just longer. Also,
if voters approve the bond, the Umatilla
School District will receive an additional $4
million from the state of Oregon for district
projects.
I encourage the Umatilla Community to
vote YES on this school bond — to protect
our students, to protect our educational
investments and send a clear message that
the Umatilla community is dedicated to
quality education.
Toby Cranson
Umatilla School Board
The Umatilla School District is a small,
rural district, but there are really great things
going on. We have an amazing after school
program which focuses on STEM — Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math — where
students are learning all types of hands-on
skills in these areas. The Umatilla School
District also has a renowned robotics program,
with teams consistently competing and
winning across our region and across the
nation. Students who graduate from Umatilla
are also doing great things. One of our 2015
graduates won the coveted Gates Millennium
Scholarship and is currently attending
Dartmouth College.
The Umatilla School District has dedicated
teachers and staff who are doing a wonderful
job of educating our students, but our students
and their educators deserve school facilities
that are functioning properly and updated.
Our district staff have done a wonderful job
of maintaining our buildings, but there comes
a time when funds are needed for capital
improvements. Now is the time for voters in
our community to approve the school bond
and make these investments possible.
Lesly Claustro-Sanguino
Umatilla School Board
Trump has a better plan
Why do I believe Donald Trump is the best
choice for President of the United States of
America? Here’s a couple of reasons:
Let’s talk about taxes. As a middle class
entrepreneur, I know all too well we must
live within our means. And we must have a
budget to do that. We can’t do as Democrats
have always done — just print more money,
raise taxes and now raise the ceiling on debt,
then spend more money. A balanced budget
has two parts: 1. How much money we bring
in, and 2. How is that money being spent and
why. Trump will do this better than anyone
because of his good business sense.
Another thing about taxes: the more tax
burden you put on businesses, the fewer
people are hired. Fair trade agreements across
the globe is better for everyone. Trump would
make sure America is getting its fair share of
all trade and let America be last on every trade
agreement. We need fair trade in America!
The Democrats have simply given our jobs
away to all others.
When it comes to protecting our borders,
racism has no part of this. It has to do with
keeping all who live here safe. There are
laws in America and we expect everyone in
America to abide by those laws, and if not
than there are consequences. Protecting our
borders also means keeping a close eye on
those places and people who want to bring us
harm. If you ever heard the expression “wolf
in sheep’s clothing” then you would know this
means just because someone dresses, talks and
acts like every other American, doesn’t mean
they are — as 9/11 has proven.
Understand something here: If we open
our borders even to refugees, wolves in
sheep’s clothing will flood in past our
borders. An example is what happened in
France and Germany. I simply feel safer with
Trump, a military academy graduate, than
I do with a woman who would not protect
her own in Libya. Another way we protect
our freedoms in America is spelled out for
us in our Constitution, namely the Second
Amendment.
When it comes to health care in this
country, nothing is free; someone has to pay.
When our insurance rates tripled at the end of
this year I realized who was paying, and I also
realized there has to be a better plan. I believe
Trump will have a better plan.
Richard Neighbors
Hermiston
Walden’s support for
Trump is wrong
I write this letter to encourage you to
join me in refusing to vote for either John
Huffman or Greg Walden in the upcoming
and future elections. I have had recent email
exchanges with John Huffman, who said he
will be voting for Trump and certainly one can
deduce from Greg Walden’s interview in The
Dalles Chronicle of Oct. 13th that he is doing
the same. They are choosing a candidate that
demeans women and certainly will not take
women’s issues seriously.
The demeaning behavior toward women by
their choice for President of the United States
cannot be brushed aside as just a single issue
among many issues, therefore justifying their
vote. Respect for one another and respect for
women underlies who we are as a community,
a state, a country and a global society at large.
This issue is bigger than support for a specific
political agenda; it is a moral issue of right vs.
wrong.
As a woman, I want to know that I have
the respect and support of my locally elected
officials as it enhances my confidence to speak
against inequalities in our local community
and elsewhere. Walden and Huffman’s
public support of Donald Trump erodes
this confidence and they should be held
accountable.
Kathy Schwartz
The Dalles
Lehnert not qualified
to be sheriff
As I sit here reading a postcard I received
in the mail on Ryan Lehnert, I did not see any
reason why I should vote for him.
Ryan Lehnert lacks experience! The
number of years spent in the Pendleton Police
Department do not automatically give you the
needed experience. Mr. Lehnert was a sergeant
for a few years, in charge of three people,
before he was demoted and never promoted
back to that position.
When Mr. Lehnert was in the National
Guard he was in charge of 8-12 subordinate
enlisted people. I also am a military
veteran and I appreciate his service. I
know the military ranking system and the
responsibilities of the various ranks. At his
rank, Mr. Lehnert was not responsible for
making critical decisions, implementing
plans, or large scale budget and personnel
assignments, all required for the office of
sheriff.
When you look into the ranks that Mr.
Lehnert held in the two positions that he uses
as his qualifications, it is clear that Mr. Lehnert
does not have the experience or qualifications
to be sheriff.
Richard Ross
Hermiston
State rep endorses Rowan
Sheriff Terry Rowan has demonstrated a
proven professional leadership that Umatilla
County can be proud of in their sheriff’s
department. Since Sheriff Rowan has taken
the helm a few years ago, he has held
offenders accountable and has reduced “catch
and release” in our communities, doubled
the number of patrol positions, increased
accountability within the department,
advocated against the raising of CHL fees, and
increased collaboration with other agencies
to enhance patrol, jail, and dispatch services.
Within the department, he has earned the
endorsement of his staff.
I am proud to support Sheriff Terry Rowan
for re-election.
Rep. Greg Smith (R-House District 57)
Heppner