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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 2021)
4A | WEDNESDAY EDITION CHANTELLE MEYER , EDITOR | OCTOBER 27, 2021 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 | 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) USPS# 497-660 LETTERS Siuslaw News (Editor’s Note: View- point submissions on these and other topics are always welcome as part of our goal to encourage community discussion and exchange of perspectives.) Easy to Repeat a Lie In response to Mr. Den- ton’s letter on Oct. 9, I read on the internet that Hillary Clinton actual- ly won the 2016 election, President #45’s four-year term will be annulled, and every single thing passed during those four years will be rescinded. See how easy it is to re- peat a lie? It doesn’t matter how many times you or others insist that the election was stolen, you know and I know that simply can’t be true — otherwise Presi- dent Joseph Biden would not be in office today. Have you considered the fact that if Trump actual- ly did win in 2020, he is automatically disqualified from running for office again, because a president is limited to two four-year terms? See how complicated it gets when a lie is substi- tuted for the truth? With regard to politi- cally active churches, are you familiar with the con- cept of the separation of church and state? Are you encouraging mosques, synagogues, The Church of Satan and others to be- come politically active or just Christian churches? It is my understanding Copyright 2021 © Siuslaw News Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439. Siuslaw News Front Office For Advertising: ext. 318 For Obituaries: ext. 320 Jenna Bartlett Chantelle Meyer Misty Berg Jeanna Petersen Mark Brennan Zac Burtt 541-997-3441 For Classifieds: ext. 320 For Faxes: 541-997-7979 Publisher, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 314 Office Manager, ext. 320 Advertising, ext. 325 Lead Reporter, ext. 317 Sports Reporter, ext. 324 DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news releases, Monday noon; Classified line ads, Monday 10 a.m.; Legal Notices and Display Ads, Friday noon. Saturday Issue—General news releases, Thursday noon; Classified line ads, Thursday 10 a.m.; Legal Notices and Display Ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. that churches exist to pro- vide spiritual teachings, not for political activism. If churches are to become political organizations perhaps it is time to take a look at reforming some of the tax advantages they currently benefit from. In addition, on Jan. 6, a violent mob composed of radical right wing extrem- ists attacked our Capitol because they believed the “big lie” about the pres- idential election being stolen. Numerous court challenges, recounts, and audits have proven that Jo- seph Biden won the 2020 presidential election and is currently the legitimate- ly elected president of the United States. — Chandra Generis Florence What Happened to Fair & Impartial Reporting? I recently received a re- quest from Siuslaw News to participate in Newspa- pers In Education (NIE). A $30 donation would supply a student with a nine-month subscription to the newspaper. On its face, it is a reasonable re- quest, but in retrospect I am bothered by the single point of view often pro- moted by Siuslaw News. For example: Some time ago, there were a dozen or so people gathered in front of Florence City Hall to express their opinion on climate issues. That group received a front page pic- ture and a nice write-up explaining their views. Fast forward to Sept. 18, when 30 to 35 people expressed their point of view at the intersection of Highways 101 and 126 reference masking of chil- dren. No photographs. No ar- ticle outlining their view. Nothing but crickets from Siuslaw News. Apparently, because the point those folks were making goes against the radical left position, it is generally ignored by the media. I was surprised that the Siuslaw News would fall right in step with most of those other media sources. I have a simple question for the editor and sub- scribers: what happened to the fair and impartial reporting of events occur- ring in our community? There once was a time that the Siuslaw News took pride in the fact it report- ed all local events from a neutral perspective. — Cliff Worley Dunes City (Editor’s Note: Siuslaw News covered one of the unmasking demonstrations in the Aug. 25 edition, giv- ing it front-page placement and several photos. Future events were not submit- ted to us. The communi- ty is welcome to send in news releases and event information to editor@the siuslawnews.com for inclu- sion in the newspaper.) What are you voting for? (Editor’s Note: Viewpoint sub- missions on this and other topics are always welcome as part of our goal to encourage community discussion and exchange of perspectives.) fully burdened cost to the district is over $150,000 per employee. This is what you are considering in this vote: your $42,356 income versus their $150,000 income. Let’s remember that the district The proponents of the two prop- has three line supervisors. Each is erty taxes you each pay every year paid over $122,000 per year. This is to provide a government subsidy to the local ambulance service Guest Viewpoint would have you believe that this By Larry Farnsworth is a proper role for government. They can’t imagine an ambulance Local resident service living within its means. Private ambulance services are more than the chief of police earns efficient and cover all of their own in Florence. Fully burdened, each costs to operate, including their of these three supervisors costs tax- own capital and equipment re- payers over $200,000 per year. Each placement needs, without charging of them earns more than their own taxpayers three times for an ambu- operations chief for supervising a lance ride. Both the government small handful of employees. The and private ambulance services entire operation has an entitlement receive the same identical rates of tax and spend culture. Government patient service revenue reimburse- boondoggle best describes this op- ment from Medicare, Medicaid and eration. insurance, regardless of their stated Chief Michael Schick wrote in charges. Each operates on the same Western Lane Ambulance District’s income but have vastly different 2020-21 Budget, “We believe that expectations or experience about the district’s financial future to be expenses. questionable. Expenses over the According to the U.S. Cen- last few years have been increas- sus, Florence households average ing annually at a much higher rate $42,356 in income. We have our se- than our revenues. It is essential niors being nickeled and dimed to that the district take a multi-facet- provide a starting salary of $62,000 ed approach to solve these financial per year to first year paramedics. issues by decreasing costs and in- In just five years, this increases to creasing revenue.” over $82,000 per year. Including all He also stated, “It is the position their benefits — expensive health of the district that the current con- plans, a $3,000 cash bonus to pick tracted wages and benefits are not up their co-pays and deductibles, a sustainable when used in long-term full month of vacation upon hire, financial projections.” free gym club memberships, cell This chief and this district have phone stipends and picking up the failed to implement the necessary 6 percent employee contribution fiscal cost reductions to turn this responsibility for the underfunded operation around. PERS retirement program — the Our local COVID-stressed busi- nesses know how hard you have to work to provide a service, provide a competitive and decent wage for your employees and, hopefully, re- main viable and profitable despite every economic challenge. This government-run ambulance service increased compensation costs over $210,000 this very year, knowing full well that “taxpayers will just pick up the tab.” Most every business in Flor- ence would love to have that kind of deep taxpayer wallet to dig into and to be able to offer their own staff that kind of compensa- tion. Just a reminder about PERS. The proponents of the ambulance tax suggest that the $3.4 million dol- lars that the ambulance district owes to the State of Oregon PERS retirement program for unfunded actuarial liabilities is small com- pared with the $200 million owed by Lane County taxpayers, the $5 million owed by the City of Flor- ence taxpayers, or the $10 million owed by the Siuslaw School District taxpayers. That gives us no comfort at all that we are being driven into a fis- cal ditch by the PERS program. Taxpayers are being fleeced and the ambulance district continues to al- low employees to supercharge their benefits with the use of vacation pay and unused sick leave redemp- tion. Vote No on the $5.4 million prop- erty tax levy. This district needs to either live within reasonable finan- cial means or let us switch to one of the great private ambulance ser- vices widely used around our state and up and down the coast. Vote no. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year, $84; 6-month , $61; 3-month subscription, $37.50; Out of Lane County — 1-year, $107; 6-month, $74; -month subscrip- tion, $50; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year, $65; 6-month, $35; 3-month, $15. Ask about our senior discounts. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: TheSiuslawNews.com Submit press releases to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com. Siuslaw News Office: 148 Maple St./PO Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 Office Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. to noon Letters to the Editor Policy The Siuslaw News welcomes Letters to the Editor and Guest Viewpoints as part of a community discussion of issues on the local, state and national level. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Pub- lication of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Email letters to cmeyer@thesiuslawnews.com To be considered for publication: Letters must address pertinent or timely issues of in- terest to our readers at-large. In addition: • Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Siuslaw News cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Authors should ensure any information is ac- curate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge or hearsay, and include sources where possible. • Letters have a suggested 300-word limit and may be edited for grammar and clarity. • Authors must sign their full name and include their street address (only city will be printed), as well as a day- time phone number and/or email address for verifica- tion. The person who signs the letter must be the actual author. Siuslaw News does not accept anonymous Letters to the Editor. • Siuslaw News will not print form letters, libelous let- ters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters also may not be part of letter-writing cam- paigns. • Writers are limited to one published letter every two weeks. To submit to the Siuslaw News: Emailed submissions are preferred. All letters need to include full name, address and phone number; only name and city will be printed. Handwritten or typed let- ters must be signed. The newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publish- er and editor, reserves the right to reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above criteria. 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-303 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, H-476 Salem, Ore. 97301-4047 Salem, OR 97301 Message Line: PO Box 39000 Florence, OR 503-378-4582 97439 www.oregon.gov/gov 503-986-1409 Email: Rep.BoomerWright@ U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden oregonlegislature.gov 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 Lane County Dist. 1 202-224-5244 | 541-431-0229 Commissioner www.wyden.senate.gov Jay Bozievich U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753 | 541-465-6750 www.merkley.senate.gov U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.) 125 E. Eighth St. Eugene, OR 97401 541-682-4203 Email: Jay.Bozievich@ co.lane.or.us Florence City Council & Mayor Joe Henry Florence City Hall, 250 2134 Rayburn HOB Highway 101, Florence, 97439 Washington, DC 20515 541-997-3437 202-225-6416 ci.florence.or.us 541-269-2609 | 541-465-6732 www.defazio.house.gov