4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ SEPTEMBER 13, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
USPS# 497-660
Copyright 2017 © Siuslaw News
Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the
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L ETTERS
LETTERS
A GAINST DECORATING
THE BRIDGE
I saw in the Aug. 26 issue of the
Siuslaw News that a “Call to Artists”
has gone out to turn the steps leading
between Old Town and the Siuslaw
River Bridge into an art installation
— making them “a canvas” on which
to create art, making them “eye-catch-
ing and interactive while still main-
taining their functionality and safety.”
First of all, I’m against decorating
them.
While they may not be technically a
part of the bridge and not protected
from decoration as the bridge is
through its listing on the National
Register of Historic Places, they are
considered a part of the bridge.
Everyone refers to them as the bridge
steps. I think enhancing them through
landscaping and better lighting is a
much better use of the money.
Right at the top of the steps, within
only a few feet, is fast moving traffic.
The stop sign located right there says
30 mph and traffic usually travels
faster than the signs.
An art installation attracts and
invites usage of all ages. I think safe-
ty is another and possibly more
important reason to be against an
“interactive art installation” located
so close to heavy traffic.
Because of the two books I’ve writ-
ten on the coastal bridges and the fact
that many people refer to me as The
Bridge Lady, I feel I have to speak up.
—Judy Fleagle
Local author and historian
D ISMAYED BY LACK OF
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
How sorry I was to read the news
that the Twilight programs at our
schools are being reduced. I have seen
firsthand the work that educators and
aides do during these programs to
help our community’s children learn
and grow.
The opportunity for some extra
tutoring and assistance for these stu-
dents is invaluable. That they may
receive a nourishing snack of an ener-
gy bar, a piece of fruit or a carton of
milk is a bonus.
So, I was dismayed to see the Letter
to the Editor in the Sept. 9 edition,
praising the end of these programs
because the writer opined, “I don’t
think taxpayers should be expected to
feed and care for children whose par-
ents can’t afford to do so themselves.”
Have we really become so jaded
that offering a hand up is seen in the
same context as a hand out?
I hope not.
As a community, we rely on many
of those parents to provide the servic-
es and work to this heavily weighted
retirement community. I know a num-
ber of young parents who are working
multiple jobs to make ends meet.
These are not living-wage jobs that
afford any luxuries; sometimes these
parents are faced with making choices
between paying bills and putting food
on the table.
Affordable housing is nearly non-
existent here, so a disproportionate
percentage of their paychecks go to
providing a roof over their family’s
heads.
The after school programs provide
a safe, nurturing environment for their
children. They offer stability, purpose,
accountability.
It is not a childcare program, but an
opportunity for students to have an
alternative to the peer pressures that
are very real and hard to avoid. It
offers academic assistance and tutor-
ing to help these kids succeed in
school and, by extension, in life.
And it gives parents the reassurance
that their child is safe and cared for.
I am tired of the conservative mind-
set that turns its back on those who
are less fortunate, who are struggling
to make ends meet. I am saddened by
those in this community who vote
against our schools and thus, by
extension, the future of our communi-
ty that is embodied in these children.
A very disturbing message is sent to
these kids and their parents: “I’ve got
mine, get your own.”
Shameful.
—Becky Goehring
Florence
H ANDLING A CRISIS
BETWEEN TWEETS
After hurricane Sandy, the likes of
Ted Cruz, John Cornyn, Key Bailey
Hutchison and Rick Perry did not
want to fund FEMA. Recently,
President Trump was in favor of dras-
tically cutting funds to FEMA, which
I assume was an effort to get funding
for the “Wall.”
Now the wall will likely never hap-
pen.
For decades man has been in search
for the sunken city to Atlantis without
success. We now have our own
Atlantis and it is called Houston.
I assume that after our government
funds FEMA to do the basic recovery
needed, it will take years and trillions
of dollars for Houston to be whole
once again and arise from the waters.
My concern is how President
Trump will handle the current situa-
tion beyond his tweets.
To paraphrase the Englishman
Edmund Burke:
“All that this necessary for the
trump of evil to succeed is that good
men do nothing.”
—Win Jolley
Florence
TO THE
P OLICY
E DITOR
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor
as part of a community discussion of issues on the
local, state and national level.
Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or
typed letters must be signed. All letters need to
include full name, address and phone number; only
name and city will be printed. Letters should be
limited to about 300 words. Letters are subject to
editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication
of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on
space available and the volume of letters received.
Libelous, argumentative and anonymous letters
or poetry, or letters from outside our readership
area will only be published at the discression of the
editor.
P OLITICAL /E LECTION L ETTERS :
Election-related letters must address pertinent or
timely issues of interest to our readers at-large.
Letters must 1) Not be a part of letter-writing
campaigns on behalf of (or by) candidates; 2)
Ensure any information about a candidate is accu-
rate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge or
hearsay; and 3) explain the reasons to support
candidates based on personal experience and per-
spective rather than partisanship and campaign-
style rhetoric.
Candidates themselves may not use the letters to
the editor column to outline their views and plat-
forms or to ask for votes; this constitutes paid polit-
ical advertising.
As with all letters and advertising content, the
newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publisher,
general manager and editor, reserves the right to
reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above crite-
ria.
Send letters to:
nhickson@thesiuslawnews.com
L EFTIST TACTIC
I want thank Rand Dawson for his
Letter to the Editor “Track Record on
“‘Science’” (Sept. 9).
It is a classic leftist tactic of attack-
ing the messenger when there is noth-
ing to refute facts.
The Guardian is one of the most
leftist, biased newspapers regularly
engaging in the same tactics.
The facts Dr. Spencer stated are
verifiable on the NOAA website.
If science were ever settled, we’d
still be living in caves and chipping
stone tools.
— Ian Eales
Florence
The First
Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law
respecting an establish-
ment of religion or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press, or the
right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the
Government for a redress of
grievances.
WHERE TO WRITE
Pres. Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments:
202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, Ore. 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line:
503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office
Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office
Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-
228-3997
541-465-6750
www.merkley.senate.gov
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio
( 4 th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
541-269-2609
541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan
( Dist. 5 )
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@
state.or.us
State Rep. Caddy
McKeown
( Dist. 9 )
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email: rep.caddymckeown
@state.or.us
West Lane County
Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email:
Jay.Bozievich@
co.lane.or.us