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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2017)
Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Wednesday, March 1, 2017 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 EOTEC on edge A few months from hosting a rodeo not be perfect the first year, but it must and county fair, the decades-long plan be done. The long-term goal is where for an event center in Hermiston still big shifts may be worth exploring. has plenty of unanswered questions. Hermiston city council asked some EOTEC is a complex project with two of those questions at a meeting earlier owners/directors (Umatilla County and the city of Hermiston) who this week. Disappointed with a lack rightfully want different things out of of forward momentum and nervous the center. Having equal say and equal about oncoming deadlines, councilor buy-in at EOTEC is both key to its John Kirwan raised the possibility of success and the cause of consternation. replacing the entire Eastern Oregon Lately, the consternation seems to Trade and Event Center board. be winning. Hermiston city manager From our perspective, that’s a Byron Smith has massive shift in forced to spend responsibility too Having equal been more than a quarter close to opening day. However, we share say and equal of his work week on surely to the the concern of Kirwan buy-in is both EOTEC, detriment of other and other Hermiston councilors. key to its success city business. At the As many readers time, county and the cause same commissioners have know, we have long the EOTEC urged the EOTEC of consternation. taken board approach that board, the city of nothing is amiss and Hermiston and no pressing, extra work is needed Umatilla County to take a more — even as the clock ticks toward engaged approach to planning for the center. We believe that some important spring. “The other half of the team decisions — still on the drawing board — should have been made years needs to show up,” said Hermiston councilor Jackie Myers, and she is ago. We have been troubled about sure right about that. a lack of operations and financial The board will have a plans. We are puzzled by the EOTEC neighborhood meeting March board’s continuous brushing off of 7 at 5:30 p.m. where fair and concerns that these big issues remain rodeo representatives will discuss unresolved. logistics for the big summer events. Now, knowing how close the construction schedule is to not getting Discussion will include parking, traffic and noise issues. finished in time for the Umatilla But residents and taxpayers of County Fair, each snowstorm Hermiston and Umatilla County causes more heartburn. Everyone should make the board expand is up against it, and it’s no wonder that discussion. The center’s future it is causing stress and some finger- ownership and management remains pointing. a looming question even as the barns The short-term goal must be and arena go vertical, and the only finishing construction on time, so the way to get an answer may be to keep fair and Farm-City Pro Rodeo can be asking. hosted without a hitch. It will likely 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 Hermiston School District committed to all students I want to take this to ensuring all students have opportunity to reaffirm our every opportunity to reach their commitment to providing all of potential. Our staff works hard to our students and families with support our diverse students a safe, caring and inclusive and families. Hermiston staff learning environment that is free daily teach our students to from all forms of harassment, appreciate our differences, bullying and discrimination. how to listen, disagree and We will not tolerate any form of Fred discrimination and we will take Maiocco resolve conflicts respectfully. Building caring relationships swift action to address concerns. Comment School board policy is fundamental to relieving the specifically addresses fear and apprehension many are nondiscrimination and reaffirms our experiencing in our community. commitment to serve all students and Please talk with your children families, regardless of national origin or about our expectations. If your child citizenship status. experiences or sees harassment, Further, you should be aware that bullying, or discrimination, please the federal courts have upheld the encourage them to tell an adult at school. expectation for public schools to serve Additionally, Hermiston is part of the all children, regardless of citizenship Safe Oregon program where students status while enrolled in the public school can report such matters anonymously at system. www.safeoregon.com. We take all such In Hermiston, we embrace diversity. reports seriously and appropriate action We recognize and value the worth of will follow. each and every student, regardless of ■ race, creed, citizenship status or other Fred Maiocco Jr. is superintendent of protected class. We are committed Hermiston schools. OTHER VIEWS Optimism in Trump’s America resident Trump’s job approval no doubt Democrats are bummed rating, 44 percent with a 48 — 37 percent optimistic versus 63 percent disapproval rating in a percent pessimistic. Republicans are new Wall Street Journal-NBC News happy — 87 percent optimistic to 12 poll, makes him “the first president of percent pessimistic. And independents the post-World War II era with a net are leaning toward the positive side negative approval rating in his first — 56 percent optimistic to 41 percent gauge of public opinion,” according to pessimistic. the Journal. Getting to those Trump voters, 89 Byron Trump’s most strident supporters percent say they are hopeful, versus just York will no doubt call the polls fake, but 30 percent of Hillary Clinton voters. Comment the fact is, Trump’s numbers are low, However, among the relatively small and they’re more evidence — as if group of Americans who voted for any more were needed — that there is no some other candidate for president, 55 percent honeymoon for the 45th president. are hopeful. And among the much larger group But at the same time, there are signs of of Americans who didn’t vote at all, 68 percent optimism — not for Trump’s political fortunes are hopeful. That’s a pretty big number. but for the country. If the Journal numbers are There are other indicators in the correct, more Americans say they are hopeful Journal-NBC poll that suggest good feelings and optimistic about the among Americans in the future than have said so wake of Trump’s victory. in several years. And, at The pollsters asked, least specifically where “During the next twelve the economy is concerned, months, do you think that many attribute their the nation’s economy will optimism to the presence of get better, get worse, or stay Trump in the Oval Office. about the same?” Forty-one The Journal-NBC percent said they expect pollsters asked 1,000 adults, the economy to get better, “When you think about versus just 21 percent who the future of the country, expect it to get worse and would you say that you are mainly hopeful and 36 percent who expect the economy to stay optimistic or mainly worried and pessimistic?” the same. That 41 percent, plus 42 percent Sixty percent said they feel hopeful and who expected better times in the Journal’s optimistic, while 40 percent said they feel poll last month, are the highest expectation worried and pessimistic. That hopeful number numbers in the Journal’s polling since is higher than when the Journal last asked the October 2012, right before Barack Obama question in December 2016 (when it was 56 was re-elected. percent), and in August 2016 (54 percent), and The Journal then asked those who believe September 2005 (53 percent). the economy will get better whether they “This is a strong number being driven by believe that will be the case mostly because very high numbers among Trump voters who of new Trump economic policies, or mostly express optimism across a number of measures because of what Obama set in motion, or on the poll, including higher economic mostly because the normal business cycle confidence,” pollster Bill McInturff told me via is simply improving. Seventy-three percent email. credited Trump policies, while just five As McInturff said, Trump voters are the percent credited Obama and 20 percent cited most optimistic. On the other hand, if 60 the business cycle. percent of Americans think something, the Finally, the Journal pollsters asked the number includes a significant number of classic right track-wrong track question, “All people who didn’t vote for Trump. in all, do you think things in the nation are Looking inside the poll, men (66 percent) generally headed in the right direction, or do and more hopeful than women (54 percent). you feel things are off on the wrong track?” People earning between $30,000 and $50,000 Forty percent said they think the country is (63 percent) and between $50,000 and $75,000 going in the right direction, versus 51 percent (64 percent) are more hopeful than those who who said it’s on the wrong track. That is by no make more than $75,000 (59 percent) and means great — but that 40 percent right-track under $30,000 (55 percent). On the other hand, number is higher than any in Journal polling all age and income groups are over 50 percent since December 2012, again immediately on the hopeful scale. after Obama was re-elected. Looking at other groups, 52 percent of None of that adds up to Trump popularity. Hispanics are hopeful, versus 47 percent But Americans’ sense of hope, especially worried — that’s got to be a more positive about the economy, is a hugely important number than many would have guessed. factor in presidential support. And where that Among African-Americans, though, just 36 is concerned, there is, for Trump, a little light percent are hopeful, versus 63 percent worried. for the future. Among whites, 65 percent are hopeful, versus ■ 35 percent worried. Byron York is chief political correspondent Looking at political identification, there’s for The Washington Examiner. P There are signs of optimism — not for Trump’s political fortunes but for the country. YOUR VIEWS Nothing recreational about using marijuana I am opposed to the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. I support marijuana for medical use as I believe the evidence is conclusive as to its benefits in that arena. Our neighbor to the north (Washington), after legalizing marijuana has experienced a increase in the presences of marijuana in fatal traffic crashes. As other states legalize (and it’s only at the state level) recreational marijuana and publish studies of the impact of the drug on traffic safety, I predict the outcome will support the dangers of its use. Nationally we lose 38,300 people a year (2015) to auto accidents. I believe the acceptance of this drug into our society will absolutely increase the scaling up of drug use, particularly among our youth. My belief is a growing segment of our people have lost their moral compass. The concept of right and wrong, of what works and what doesn’t work, has been replaced by the selfish concept of “me.” Our village is suffering from that moral loss. I am disappointed that so many of our elected, and appointed, government people are willing to trade the good of the village for the revenue collected from the taxed sales. It takes a village to raise our children. And there are time-honored guidelines in the management of our village: stray from that proven heading and it is a long way back. It is easier to avoid a mistake than to correct one. Ron Linn Stanfield Press is waging war against an American dictator Donald Trump is a dictator. He wants the press to write and report only positive stories about him. In other words, he doesn’t want the truth to be told. Trump is the most corrupt president in history, and it has only been a month. Americans, wake up. He doesn’t care about us. I wonder how much money he and his family have pocketed? I consider Trump not only a traitor, but a homegrown terrorist. Look who he surrounds himself with: Reince Preibus, Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller and Kellyanne Conway. Thank God for freedom of the press. Mary Casteel Pendleton 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 phone number. Send letters to 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.
