The Columbia Press
June 3, 2022
Editor’s note: Emma Edwards is taking some much-needed
time off this week. Her column will return next week.
7
Mayor’s Message
by Henry Balensifer III
Without Limits
by Bryan Golden
Road trip allows plenty of land-use observations
Don’t be taken in by the crowd
Many problems could be
avoided or minimized if more
people refused to follow the
crowd.
Group behavior can instill
fear and panic as it becomes
a self-fulfilling prophecy. Re-
gardless of reality, the crowd
is led with false premises. Fol-
lowers then behave as if what
they are being told is true.
As a result, their actions
transform the alleged circum-
stances into reality.
For example, there are re-
ports that a specific bank might
be having financial problems.
In fact, there is no truth to the
rumor. Nevertheless, its cus-
tomers panic, causing a run on
the bank. Now the bank does
have monetary difficulties.
Crowd or mob mentality is a
powerful force that sweeps up
many as it builds momentum.
However, this dynamic is
rarely grounded in logic or
reason. Group think assim-
ilates individuals who, by
themselves, normally aren’t
governed by fear.
A negative group mindset is
as contagious as an epidem-
ic. Individuals are subject-
ed to peer pressure. They’re
chastised for any contrarian
views. Mob psychology has
impacted us throughout his-
tory.
People caught up in crowd
mentality accept what they
are told without questioning
its validity. The result is a few
controlling many. Just watch
how a few sheepdogs can di-
rect a heard of hundreds of
sheep.
People will behave as part of
the crowd in ways they would
never imagine were they act-
ing independently.
Although it’s tempting to go
along with the flow, resistance
is worth the effort. Giving up
your individuality carries too
high a price. There are some
simple steps you can take to
avoid getting caught up with
the crowd.
Think for yourself. Ask ques-
tions. What’s the source of the
information and what is the
bias? Is there a hidden agen-
da?
Consider the economy.
Historically, its fluctuations
are cyclic. Perhaps there is a
downturn and the crowd is
yelling the sky is falling. How-
ever, you have an income and
are OK financially. Why should
you change your behavior and
go along with the crowd?
What about the opposite sit-
uation? The crowd is gushing
about a surging economy, yet
you’ve lost your job and are
struggling. In this case, you
must tailor your actions to ac-
commodate your situation.
What others say or think
about you doesn’t matter. Your
life shouldn’t be structured to
seek approval. You are respon-
sible for your actions along
with the results. You can’t
blame anyone else for what
you do.
Your behavior may exacer-
bate your own situation, mak-
ing problems worse.
Crowd behavior and attitude
is often negative.
By getting caught up in it,
you get pulled down. Stay
independent, remain pos-
itive, and follow your own
path. You will be happier and
accomplish more.
Golden is the author of
“Dare to Live Without Lim-
its.” Contact him at bryan@
columnist.com or visit dare-
tolivewithoutlimits.com.
Greetings from Austria!
I am on a bit of a whirlwind
trip through Europe and the
Middle East for my day job
at LEKTRO (I am not travel-
ing as mayor).
I enjoy travel particularly
because I am continually fas-
cinated by the design of all
sorts of villages, towns, and
cities across the world.
How bicycles and pedestri-
ans safely traverse narrow
roads. How urban planning
works melding the rural
with developed lands. What
makes a good, a safe street.
How do people park their
cars and build their homes.
How streetscapes, down-
towns and waterfronts deal
with the issue of trash, bath-
rooms, and tourism. How
housing and commercial
properties are developed.
Not everything translates
well from Europe to Ameri-
ca. Culture has a part to play
with that.
However, I never stop con-
sidering any good idea that
could be adapted for our city.
Often it is little things that
stand out -- things like trail
and parks wayfinding (di-
rectional signs), or allowing
sandwich signs on sidewalks
without obstructing wheel-
chair accessibility, or how
cities enable the commer-
cialization and more public
enjoyment of waterfronts.
So many things can be hard
to imagine if you don’t see
them yourself.
Warrenton has developed
differently from our sister
cities in the county. There
are aspects that are unique
to our land and street lay-
outs. It poses a challenge to
the average land-use plan-
ner, but I view it as a posi-
tive.
We have a developed com-
mercial district on Highway
101, and we have two small-
town and relatively undevel-
oped downtowns on Pacific
Drive and South Main Ave-
Virtual school names honor students
Connections Academy, an
online public school, recog-
nized the following students
for outstanding academic
achievement.
Warrenton: Jacob Be-
dard, kindergarten; Magnus
Moran, fourth grade.
Astoria: Sophia Smith and
Owen Deane, both first-grad-
ers; and Trevor Alward, sixth
grade.
Gearhart: Blue Young,
fifth grade.
Seaside: Blair Wood, third
grade.
The students were named
to the honor roll for first se-
mester 2021-22.
The tuition-free full-time
virtual public school based
within the Scio School Dis-
trict serves students in kin-
dergarten through 12th grade
throughout the state.
nue and a lot of potential.
Due to Oregon’s rather
complex land-use laws, it
will take some herculean ef-
forts by staff to ensure we
don’t waste the opportunity
we now have to plan the fu-
ture of the aforementioned
downtowns.
Recently, the budget com-
mittee recommended to the
city commission a budget
that allows for the city of
Warrenton to finally have
both a city planner and a
planning technician. The in-
tent is to free up resources,
giving us the capacity to do
more than just process per-
mits.
We can do more public
engagement on zoning and
land-use planning. This is
good for both developers
and residents.
While it is a positive, land
use is and remains the most
contentious issue in our
city. But with continually
improved communications
from us -- and your partic-
ipation -- we can build a
brighter future.
Warrenton Mayor Henry
Balensifer can be reached
at hbalensifer@ci.warren-
ton.or.us or by leaving a
message for him at City
Hall, 503-861-2233.
Special columns in The Columbia Press
Every week: Senior Moments with Emma Edwards
Week 1: Mayor’s Message by Henry Balensifer
Week 2: Financial Focus with Adam Miller
Week 3: Spotlight on the City
Week 4: Here’s to Your Health from CMH