4A |
SATURDAY EDITION
| OCTOBER 27, 2018
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
| 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
C
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Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon.
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Ned H ickson
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Publisher, ex t. 318
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Pro d u c t i o n Su p e r v i s o r
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Cathy Dietz
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Je re my G e n t r y
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Letters to the Editor policy
LETTERS
Property taxes can’t carry
the load indefinitely
I may be wrong, but it seems like the
only taxes going up in Oregon are prop-
erty taxes. I just got my 2018-19 state-
ment, and now we are being inundated
with new bond measures, which as good
citizens we are asked to support.
But past issues haven't prevented the
closing of libraries or there being many
schools in poor condition around the
state.
There needs to be some serious dis-
cussions in Salem and around Ore-
gon about another way to pay for these
things. Bond measures are not doing the
job.
A general sales tax, say 5 percent,
on everything — which applies to all
residents, nonresidents and tourists —
would be a lot more fair than expect-
ing property owners alone to carry the
school improvement load.
I don’t like paying more in taxes, but
unless the issue of more revenue is ad-
dressed, in the future we may be looking
at a Proposition 13 revolt like they had
in California.
—Charles Lugg
Florence
What is happening to our
beautiful town?
At the risk of getting on the wrong side
of the local newspaper of a small town
I happen to love very much, I'd like to
comment on the recent rise in political
confrontation and ask: If a truly genuine
person wants to run for office and finds
themselves the victim of ongoing harass-
ment, bullying and vicious attacks, how
do we end it?
I, an unregistered, unaffiliated inde-
pendent voter, will take the blame (or
credit) for having encouraged Geraldine
Lucio — my friend and barber — to run
for City Council. I did so because I be-
lieve she is a smart, personable young
woman and small business owner who is
a fair thinker and wants what's best for
our community. She isn't pushing either
a conservative or liberal agenda.
She has many friends across the polit-
ical spectrum in this community. To me,
that is exactly the kind of candidate we
need.
When she announced her candidacy
at an event in her barbershop in early
September, it was attended by friends
who were liberal and conservatve alike,
many of whom made donations.
What a breath of fresh air. And when
Geraldine signs started popping up
around town, they were in all types of
businesses and yards.
What happened next was truly tragic
as attacks began, starting with anony-
mous and false accusations made to the
newspaper. Then she was harrassed by
sitting city council members, one in per-
son and one by email encouraging her
to withdraw from the race. That was fol-
lowed by numerous vile letters, texts and
— just recently — anonymous and de-
rogatory flyers distributed in Old Town
during the night.
She is now afraid that she or her prop-
erty will personally be targeted.
What is happening to our beautiful
town? Where does this viciousness end?
Sadly, I think I need to apologize to
Geraldine for ever encouraging her to
get involved. But I will support her to the
end. Her only “crime” has been having
the audacity to challenge the powers in
charge.
How sad for all of us.
—Terry Tomeny
Florence
I want more from my
city council members
I cannot afford the luxury of such a
crippling emotion as despair. But, after
twice reading the saga of the Siuslaw
News story “Chaos in the Community”
(Oct. 24), I bumped it up a notch to feel-
ing sad that the community leadership
allowed itself to dip so low.
I read the account twice to make cer-
tain that I was not jumping to conclu-
sions. I read the mayor’s words “gifted
speaker” and “attempting to shame” in
what seemed to be a defense for a partic-
ular candidate under scrutiny because of
her own avoidance behaviors.
Also, the mayor’s statement that the
qualifications to run for city government
are to “live in the city for one year, to at-
tend meetings and vote yea or nay.”
I don’t think he believes his own words.
I know I want more from my council-
or. These words gave further substance
to my conclusion, which is that who is
running for councilor is a personal issue
for the mayor.
The job of councilor, like many volun-
teer public service posts, requires a great
deal of skill and dedication both for the
time and the complex issues that come
before them.
Had I not done a good deal of explo-
ration, I would have gone forward on
my application to run for the school
board. I thought I had what it took. But
after speaking to school board mem-
bers, it was pointed out to me that what
I thought I would bring to the school
board would be better addressed at the
state level.
I thanked them for keeping me from
making a bold move that might not have
benefitted our local community.
—Nan Harvey
Florence
Miltenberger is my choice
In the Nov. 6 election, Maureen
Miltenberger is running for city council
and she will be my choice. She is a won-
derful person, a local Oregonian, and
she cares about the people and the en-
vironment.
We sit together in EMAC (Environ-
mental Management Advisor Commit-
tee) and in Siuslaw Climate Alliance, in
which she serves as the chairperson of
both.
I learned to respect and appreciate
her and all she does because her heart
is in the right place and she is fighting
for better education and better environ-
ment for all of us. She is an intelligent
and warm-hearted woman trying to get
involved and improve lives. She is a vol-
unteer at the school helping adults with
basic skills to gain reading skills and
confidence, and she does so with respect
and compassion.
She is also helping EMAC to improve
the rules and make our environment
better and cleaner. We are lucky to have
her and would be a great addition to our
city council.
I will be filling in the oval next to her
name on the Nov. 6 ballot.
—Liat Meller
Florence
Bond measure will hurt
those on fixed income
Measure 20-291 was not addressed in
the voter's pamphlet. This letter reiter-
ates information contained in an article
published in the Siuslaw News earlier
this year.
Measure 20-291 is a 30-year school
bond measure. The present school bond,
which will expire soon, levies a proper-
ty tax of .90 cents per $1,000 of assessed
property value. The new measure will
raise the amount to $2.72 per $1,000
of assessed value. For example, a home
assessed at $200,000 under the current
bond equals $180 per year. If Measure
20-291 passes, that payment will be $544
per year — a number that will increase
as assessed property values increase.
This measure, if passed, will have a
significant impact on the amount of
property tax that homeowners/proper-
ty owners will have to pay in the future
— especially for those of us on a fixed
income.
—Robert Flowerday
Florence
Looks can be deceiving
Drive by Siuslaw High School and you
see a well maintained campus — green,
manicured lawns, well-kept shrubs and
a distant but nice looking large building.
But take a tour of the school as I did
and what do you see? Small, dark, win-
dowless classrooms, inadequate lighting,
a 50-year-old heating system that breaks
down, an electrical system that cannot
accommodate new technology, outdated
plumbing, an antiquated lift system for
students with disabilities, a girls’ locker
room that affords students no privacy,
and no cafeteria.
So why should I care? I’m retired and
don’t have any children or grandchildren
in school.
But, my doctors do; my hair stylist
does; the checker in the grocery store
does. So do many others who provide
invaluable services for retired people
like me.
To keep Florence a growing and vi-
brant community with a good quality
of life for all ages, I’ll vote “Yes” on the
school bond for the future of Florence.
—Pat Allen
Florence
(More LETTERS on 5A)
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Emal letters to:
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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
Oregon 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
(4th 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@
oregonlegislature.gov
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