4A |
SATURDAY EDITION
| AUGUST 21, 2021
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
CHANTELLE MEYER , EDITOR
| 541-902-3520 | CMEYER @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
The First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion or prohibit-
ing the free exercise thereof; or abridg-
ing the freedom of speech, or of the
press, or the right of the people peace-
ably to assemble, and to petition the
Government for a redress of grievances.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” — Thomas Jefferson (1800)
else’s day and having to pay for
damages just so you can go fast?
It would be nice if boaters
showed some respect and consid-
eration for those of us using or
living on the river. Slow down in
front of private docks and other
boats and just enjoy the river like
Boating on the
we are trying to do.
Siuslaw River
A big thank you to those boaters
Summer is upon us and salmon
who do slow down.
season is around the corner.
— M.S.
Using the Siuslaw River is a
Mapleton
privilege and should be enjoyed
by ALL, whether you are boating,
No Facts on Western
hanging out on a dock or enjoying
Lane Ambulance
it from your home. It should not
In response to Clara Kuhn’s
ruined by a few boaters that think
that just because there is no speed Guest Viewpoint (Aug. 14, “Know
limit they can behave recklessly the Facts about Western Lane
Ambulance”), she unfortunately
and do whatever they want.
Based on an incident by one shared no facts. Her meeting with
boater, he thought he could do three WLAD employees served her
whatever he felt like while operat- and their built-in bias, not the con-
ing his boat and we had no right cerns of the taxpaying public and
to ask him to slow down. We do business entrepreneurs.
Though Clara was an elected of-
have that right and the right to en-
ficial in Florence in the 1990s, we
joy ourselves just like you.
I enjoy relaxing on my dock now, two decades later, face a very
while watching the wildlife and different set of circumstances in all
watching boats go by. It is not phases of government, not just the
enjoyable when boats go by full WLAD.
I wonder if she read in the two-
throttle and rock the dock so vi-
olently that I can’t even stand up. page privately paid advertisement
Some fishing charters are a huge that, “This special ambulance dis-
problem during salmon season. trict is $3.4 million in debt to the
They are out there to make mon- State of Oregon. Western Lane
ey, and I understand that, but by Ambulance District charges us two
observation, most don’t care who extra property taxes on top of the
or what is around them. I have normal charges for a single ambu-
personally witnessed some of lance ride.”
To these points, I have heard no
these boats zig-zagging in and out
of boats so they can get to where refutation and this was not men-
they are going faster. I know of tioned in the piece praising the
several dock owners that have district.
Also, there is a part that says,
had damage done to their docks,
i.e.: piling snapped in two, bolts “The reason why the government
sheared off, cleats ripped out of a officials want this merger so badly
dock while attached to a boat, etc. is pretty clear: it’s the money. Am-
I understand, especially during bulance and fire district adminis-
salmon season, some of the boat- trators and government employee
ers are out on the river making a unions who want this merger are
living. I hope you catch a lot of banking on higher pay and bene-
fits — and taxpayers will foot the
fish.
However, that doesn’t give you bill.”
Welcome to reality for the busi-
the right to disrupt others. It’s
fun to sit on the dock or deck and ness community and Joe Sixpack.
Did you know that a 93-year-
watch boaters catching fish.
While technically there is no old Florence great-grandmother
speed limit on the river except named Marion Patton took a four-
for in front of marinas and boat mile ambulance ride and had to
ramps, these speeding boats can pay $250, even though taxpayers
damage docks, erode the embank- are charged twice on their prop-
ment and can also capsize other erty taxes for ambulance service?
watercraft. I’ve seen all of these Not fair, but that’s the way today’s
WLAD seems to be operating.
happen.
Maybe for the good of the Flor-
Also, for general information,
boaters can be held financially ence community and elsewhere,
responsible for the damage they we all need to reevaluate whether
cause. Keep that in mind when in many cases the private sector is
you go speeding by private docks equipped to deliver service much
more efficiently than government.
and other boats.
All we are asking is that you It seems to me that Clara took the
please slow down! We would like line of the WLAD staff instead of
to enjoy the same river as you. Is investigating the other side of the
it really worth ruining someone issue.
(Editor’s Note: Viewpoint sub-
missions on these and other topics
are always welcome as part of our
goal to encourage community dis-
cussion and exchange of perspec-
tives.)
USPS# 497-660
LETTERS
It is my hope that the public and
the business community will join
hearts and hands to reverse course
when it comes to the WLAD.
— Joel Marks
WLAD Budget Committee Member
(Editor’s Note: This Letter to the
Editor is a continuation of a Siuslaw
News Opinion Page discussion dat-
ing back to March. Marks was one
of three original authors prompting
Kuhn to respond with her Guest
Viewpoint.)
To ‘Heart’ Democracy
I ask myself tonight, after spend-
ing another hour on another Sat-
urday afternoon standing at the
corner of Highways 101 and 126
in Florence, Ore., a sign in my
hand, this one saying “heart” vot-
ing rights—my red heart takes up
half the sign — What the hell am
I doing?
How did this girl, from Bur-
bank, Calif., in advanced but still
fully competent age by more than
my own estimation, find herself
spending Saturday upon Saturday
at a busy intersection waving at
drivers who either 1) do not see
her or the dozen or so standing
with her, 2) see her smile and re-
turn it with a friendly wave or give
thumps up, mouth a “thank you”
or otherwise react positively, or 3)
turn pent up and visceral rage her
way? Over a heart sign that values
everyone’s right to vote and be par-
ticipants in this democracy?
Well now, we appear to have split
into factions.
As I see it, some believe they are
one with everyone and everything
else in this survival game. Some
think they are special and enti-
tled to do as they please, including
dominating everyone else.
I fall into the first category. I
want to invite everyone to at least
consider joining me there.
I regret all pain. I feel it and want
to relieve it. It is no wonder we are
distracted. I appear to be unable
to love you enough this way! I am
joyful and full of hope for us all.
Hey people! My brothers and
sisters in this life. Did you notice
we have a climate problem? How
about a coordinated attack on our
democracy involving violence, dis-
information and lies, by enemies
of the people, against this nation?
Russia. China. Others who do not
wish to be seen and do not wish
us well? Are you sure you want to
be part of an all-out democracy
collapse involving everything you
might hold dear?
Give it a good think. I grieve the
loss of folks I love over this!
— Darlene Norwood
Florence
Copyright 2021 © Siuslaw News
Siuslaw News
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WHERE TO WRITE
President Joseph Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
TTY/TDD: 202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
Email: Sen.DickAnderson@
oregonlegislature.gov
Oregon Gov.
Kate Brown
State Rep.
Boomer Wright (Dist. 9)
State Sen. Dick
Anderson (Dist. 5)
160 State Capitol 900 Court St.
900 Court St. NE
Salem, Ore. 97301-4047
Salem, OR 97301
Message Line:
503-986-1409
503-378-4582
Email: Rep.BoomerWright@
www.oregon.gov/gov
oregonlegislature.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
Lane County Dist. 1
Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
Email: Jay.Bozievich@
co.lane.or.us
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753 | 541-465-6750
Florence City Council
www.merkley.senate.gov
& Mayor Joe Henry
Florence City Hall, 250
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio Highway 101, Florence, 97439
(4th Dist.)
541-997-3437
2134 Rayburn HOB
ci.florence.or.us
Washington, DC 20515
Email comments to Florence
202-225-6416
City Recorder Kelli Weese at
541-269-2609 | 541-465-6732 kelli.weese@ci.florence.or.us
www.defazio.house.gov