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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
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