4 A
❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ NOVEMBER 18, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
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L ETTERS
LETTERS
S TATE GOVERNMENT
SHOULDN ’ T BE OFF THE HOOK
FOR EDUCATION
I voted “Yes” on the local school
option levy, so I was happy to read that
it had passed.
I also know people who voted “No”
for good reasons.
I share their view, that good educa-
tion for all Oregon cities should be ade-
quately funded by our state govern-
ment. Florence is fortunate because it is
large enough for a local option levy to
make a difference. There are many
small towns where this is not the case.
However, by supporting option
levies and bond measures we are in
effect disadvantaging the kids in small
towns as the quality of their education
becomes a zip code lottery.
I voted ‘“Yes” because I recognize
that the kids in school need better qual-
ity education today. A year in the life of
a student can make the difference
between getting a good job or becom-
ing reliant on the state’s social pro-
grams.
My vote to subsidize the cost of edu-
cation in the Siuslaw School District in
effect lets our state government off the
hook and creates a situation where there
is no equality in education. I want this
to change, so I will be writing to my
representatives to urge them to make
state funding for education one of their
top priorities, as it is for parents in a
typical household.
I invite everyone who believes in the
value of education to do the same.
—Eva Pinkavova
Florence
R ECOGNIZING AN URGENT
NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY
Having read Siuslaw News editor
Ned Hickson’s editorial (“What will it
take to assure coastal living as a com-
munity?” Nov. 15), he very clearly
illustrated a community need. I remem-
ber being told that, when an urgent
community need was recognized in
Florence some years ago, the citizens of
this area raised $1 million to build a
hospital.
I hope that a similar effort will be
raised to form and fund a nonprofit
organization to construct truly afford-
able housing using the data and guide-
lines being put together by our city gov-
ernment.
—Bill Durst
Florence
T OURIST TAX COULD HELP
WITH LOCAL CHALLENGES
I am reading with interest about the
challenges our region faces (“Is Coastal
Living in Jeopardy?” series, Nov. 15)
and have two thoughts to share.
First, I want to suggest that some-
how, somewhere, some way a commu-
nity kitchen be started. People could
bring their own food to prepare and eat
it and take their leftovers.
Some staff could probably get hired,
especially if the city or county were
involved, to ensure smooth operations.
I’m sure there would be a lot of reg-
ulation and flaming hoops to jump
through to get the kitchen going, yet
elements of human dignity would be
cultivated in this most basic service.
From the launch pad of dignity, there is
no telling where someone might land.
Second, isn’t part of democracy the
notion of tax revenues to help pay for
services like parks and recreation pro-
grams, schools, roads and maybe com-
munity kitchens?
If the state is not ready for sales tax,
perhaps the municipalities are. With
tourism as one of the drivers of the
financial engines in this area, even a
one-percent tax could raise a significant
chunk of revenue, which might
improve many situations, including
peoples’ desperation.
I know Phoenix has what it calls a
“tourist tax.”
Sure, some tourists grumble about it,
yet it doesn’t slow the tourist trade.
Instead, that revenue keeps the home
fires burning in ways that good inten-
tions alone cannot.
—Ivy Medow
Florence
N EVER SEEN MEETINGS LIKE
THOSE AT OCHS
I have just returned home from
another monthly meeting of the
Florence Area Animal Humane Society
(OCHS). I have been a member of
many committees and boards, including
as president of several, and I have never
seen any meeting as disgusting as this
one.
As a member myself, there are sever-
al reasons I classify this meeting as
such — one being that about half the
questions asked by members in atten-
dance were never answered.
No excuse given, no reason given —
just simply no answers.
Equally disgusting was board mem-
ber Ed Gervais, who spent most of the
meeting slouched in his chair playing or
texting with his phone and seemingly
unconcerned with the meeting or what
members were saying.
One of the few answers given was
regarding why the board felt the need to
have a Florence Police officer in atten-
dance. The reply was that they were
advised to have one present.
By whom?
However, when asked how much of
the money donated to the local humane
society for the animals was being
diverted to legal fees, again — no
answer.
I and several members I have spoken
to have the general feeling that the
board president doesn’t care what the
members’ concerns are regarding the
animals.
There are many members of the
Florence area that are sincerely con-
cerned regarding the helping of unfor-
tunate animals in our area. All that is
being asked of the board is for answers
to our questions, and a properly run
board that feels obligated to the ani-
mals, the shelter and the community
that support them.
—Tony Cavarno
Florence
N O ANSWERS BUT INCARCERA -
TION FOR SEXUAL PREDATORS
In today’s culture, we have heard the
words “sexual harassment” applied —
first to Bill Cosby, then to Harvey
Weinstein and now Kevin Spacey, Roy
Moore, Al Franken and others.
The list will go forward from corpo-
rations and, I expect, through the House
of Congress. I think harassment has
softened what has been happening over
the years. It was, and should be called
what it is:
Sexual predation.
Those like Cosby and Weinstein
were predators.
We don’t have to go back in time
very far when the entertainment indus-
try had talent agents who asked favors
from male and females getting into
Vaudeville or the early years of
Broadway.
Then, along came the movie industry
and the Hollywood studio system by
the likes of MGM, Paramount and
Warner Brothers. At that time, the stu-
dios had control over the personal lives
of actors and actresses, and if you want-
ed to become part of the industry you
had to go through a “talent scout.”
There are many hidden stories about
the “casting couch.” So why did not
anyone speak out?
Because that was their livelihood and
everything was covered up by the stu-
dios. Today, women and men are final-
ly coming forward and speaking out
about predators in their workplaces.
I have no answer to the problem —
other than incarceration.
—Win Jolley
Florence
TO THE
P OLICY
E DITOR
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P OLITICAL /E LECTION L ETTERS :
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Send letters to:
nhickson@thesiuslawnews.com
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