Friday, April 2, 2021 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A5
Mortgage industry policy creates barriers for homeowners
TUNNEL ECHOES
LIANNE THOMPSON
After one of the hardest years many
of us will ever experience, help is on the
way for Oregon businesses and families.
Gov. Kate Brown just unveiled a 10-point
Economic Recovery Plan and the state is
slated to receive $6.4 billion in federal
stimulus funds.
This is good news — but is it enough to
dig out from the very deep hole so many
have ended up in? Or is there more we can
do to pave the way to full economic and
social recovery?
It’s no secret that Oregon had among
the strictest COVID-19 restrictions and
safety measures in the United States, and
it didn’t take long before Oregonians far
and wide were experiencing profound
fi nancial struggles.
Look around and you can see the impact
of these struggles in my own Clatsop County
and across the state.
According to reports, 30% of businesses
and 50% of leisure and hospitality fi rms
have closed throughout the state.
As a result, we are seeing a spike in long-
term unemployment: in December, 60,000
Oregonians had been looking for work for
at least six months. The longer this goes on,
the harder it is for job seekers to return to the
workforce and the harder it is for our econ-
omy to reach its full potential.
What’s worse, Oregon had a housing cri-
sis even before the pandemic. The Census
Bureau’s Housing Vacancy Survey shows
that since 2000, Oregon’s homeownership
rate has typically been below the national
average. As of 2017, Oregon has the ninth
lowest homeownership rate in the U.S.
Now, according to reports, more Orego-
nians are struggling to pay for their hous-
ing with minority families that are already
less likely to own homes being dispropor-
tionately impacted. Further, more than 4,000
homes were destroyed in the 2020 wildfi res,
displacing families across the state. This
deeply concerns me for a number of reasons.
If we’re going to achieve a full economic
and social recovery, the 10-point plan and
stimulus dollars will go a long way. We also
need to reject any barriers to that recovery.
Chief to this, we need to make sure nothing
stands in the way of getting into — and back
into — aff ordable homes.
For example, United Wholesale Mort-
gage recently issued an ultimatum to mort-
gage brokers in that ultimately limits choices
for consumers — homebuyers and existing
homeowners looking to refi nance.
Mortgage brokers serve as a bridge
between borrowers and lenders, shop-
ping the marketplace to fi nd the best rates
and fi nancing options. By making brokers
choose between working with Rocket Mort-
gage and Fairway Independent or working
with UWM, the company is undermining
the whole mission of brokers and limiting
their ability to eff ectively serve their clients.
While this policy could impact all con-
sumers in the mortgage industry, it will cer-
tainly be felt by low-income, minority, and
credit-challenged borrowers. Using their
expertise, experience, and relationships,
brokers are able to uniquely serve these loan
applicants by identifying which lenders will
most likely be able to work with their situa-
tion and provide the best rates. But UWM’s
ultimatum puts growing their market share
ahead of the best interest of consumers.
I wouldn’t support this anti-competitive
approach to business in the best of times —
but feel it is especially egregious now, as our
economy is struggling and access to aff ord-
able housing is arguably more important
than ever.
As an elected offi cial, I feel it’s my duty
to protect consumers and their access to
aff ordable housing. UWM’s ban puts that
at risk and threatens to derail overall recov-
ery eff orts. Therefore, I strongly reject this
eff ort.
Lianne Thompson is Clatsop County
Commissioner, District 5.
Library: ‘It’s a beautiful building and great collection’
Continued from Page A1
were fortunate enough to
both be off ered positions.
We’re living with family in
Washington County right
now, so that was our decid-
ing factor.”
Newsome’s
home-
town of Harlem, Georgia,
is famed as the birthplace
of Oliver Hardy, the more
rotund half of the clas-
sic comedians Laurel and
Hardy.
His parents were teach-
ers and Newsome can’t
remember a time before he
went to the library.
He nursed his passions
for science fi ction and sur-
vival tales before he dis-
covered J.R.R. Tolkien’s
“Lord of the Rings” in high
school. “I tend to read fan-
tasy to this day,” he said.
Inspired by his sister and
brother, who both worked
in libraries, Newsome stud-
ied library science at Valdo-
sta State University. Since
graduation, he’s worked as
a young adult librarian and
later as head of reference
in charge of adult services
for the Middle Georgia
Regional Library System.
After Newsome and his
girlfriend, also a librarian,
both received job off ers,
the couple settled in Wash-
ington County to live with
family.
He started work in Sea-
side seven months ago with
COVID-19 precautions in
place, limited library hours
and, in November, addi-
tional closures.
The
pandemic
has
altered the way people use
libraries.
“E-books have gone
from something barely on
anyone’s mind to some-
thing really common,” he
said.
E-books bring more
readers, he added, but can
create financial pressures
for public libraries. It costs
libraries more to subscribe
to an e-book service than
if they purchased the phys-
ical book. Libraries must
renew the service or pay
additional fees depending
on the times the e-book is
requested.
“It can circulate 52
times, and you can have it
for two years,” he said. “If
you cross either of those
thresholds in two years,
you lose access and you
have to buy it again.”
Newspapers have gone
off a little bit, but the big-
gest change he’s seen in is
magazines, which he said
are not being sent out as
much. “Books are continu-
ing to circulate,” he said,
“but it isn’t growing like it
used to.”
In
Georgia,
New-
some said, everyone has
access to the joint collec-
tion for the entire state. “If
you have a library card in
Georgia you can use it in
any library,” he said. “For
smaller libraries to be able
to have that is really nice.”
Seaside’s
collection,
which he says is really good
for the size of the library,
will benefi t from new inter-
library services with Asto-
ria and Warrenton. “Sea-
side, Warrenton and Astoria
are basically doing what
Georgia is doing, just on a
smaller scale,” he said.
Newsome said he is nav-
igating Oregon’s roads and
mountains with snow tires
and careful driving. “I actu-
ally prefer cold weather to
hot weather,” he said. “In
Georgia, summer starts
now. It goes into the early
90s in May and doesn’t stop
until the end of September.”
He enjoys brewing beer,
although he has yet to cul-
tivate a taste for most India
pale ales. “My favorite is
Belgian abbey ales,” he
said. “I love the malty char-
acter, depth of fl avor and
complexity.”
For his reading enjoy-
ment, he favors science fi c-
tion and cookbooks, but
explores a variety of genres
— mysteries, literary fi c-
tion and bestsellers — to
help guide readers.
He’s looking forward to
meeting patrons and res-
idents, many of whom he
has met only remotely or
masked.
“With everything being
virtual at the moment it’s
really hard to fi gure out
what can we add that only
we can provide that’s really
adding that ‘library touch,’”
he said.
Newsome hopes to
reopen community spaces
in the library and fi nd
things that are of local
interest, including mak-
erspace opportunities that
focus on both high- and
low-tech projects.
“I really want to get in
touch with people in the
community and spend some
time talking and fi nd out
what people are looking for.
There’s a really thriving set
of programming going on
here,” Newsome said. “I’d
like to fi nd out what do peo-
ple really want back most
and what new things they
would like to see.
“It’s a beautiful build-
ing and great collection and
it’s well utilized,” he added.
“I’m really impressed with
the community and the sup-
port for the library. It’s an
amazing library for a city
of this size. I’m really
looking forward to get-
ting to the other side of
some of these pandemic
restrictions.”
BRIEFS
Easter bunny back
for photos, egg hunt
The Seaside Signal and the Ameri-
can Association of University Women
Seaside Chapter present a board of
directors candidate forum on Thurs-
day, April 29, at 7 p.m. Candidates
will participate with social distancing
from the Bob Chisholm Community
Center. The event will be broadcast
via live stream; link to be published
at sunsetempire.com and seasidesig-
nal.com.
Families can join the Sunset
Empire Park and Recreation District
on Saturday, April 3, from 10 a.m. to
noon at Broadway Field for the dis-
trict’s community egg hunt. The event
is free.
An in-person egg hunt will be
off ered on Broadway Field from 10
to 11 a.m. for children ages up to age
3 and ages 4-6. For older children, a
drive-thru will be off ered on the west
side of the Sunset Recreation Center
from 11 a.m. to noon. Older children
will be given bags with candy-stuff ed
eggs to do an egg hunt at home. Those
who fi nd an egg with a prize ticket
Find an egg with a prize ticket inside
could win an Easter basket.
Masks are required for this event
and social distancing in place. For
in-person attendance at the egg hunt,
call 503-738-3311 to preregister.
The Easter bunny will be avail-
able throughout the event for photo
opportunities.
This event is sponsored by TLC
Fibre Credit Union, Providence Sea-
side Hospital, Rascals, and Bruce’s
Candy Kitchen.
Art in the Park
celebrates city parks
Art in the Park, Naturally + Virtu-
ally, takes place Saturday, April 17,
from 1 to 4 p.m. The celebration of
the city’s parks include educational
activities and a tree giveaway. The
program is a partnership with the city
of Seaside, North Coast Land Conser-
vancy, Sunset Empire Park and Rec-
reation District and the Necanicum
Watershed Council. Learn about the
Watershed Council, the kayak launch
and the osprey that nest in the park.
Meet at Sunset Recreation Center
(formerly Broadway Middle School)
1120 Broadway St., or visit the Sea-
side Mill Ponds at the north entrance
Avenue S and Alder Mill Road or the
south entrance at U.S. Highway 101
and Avenue U.
The Necanicum Watershed Coun-
cil will have an information table set
up at Broadway Park.
A map of each site with walking
and parking information will be avail-
able for participants.
Neal Maine/Pacifi c Light Images
Harbor seal pupping
season is here
Oregon and Washington typically
see harbor seals born throughout
spring and into late Harbor seal pup-
ping season is here. summer, while
California may see pups early as Feb-
ruary. These young animals use time
on land to regulate body tempera-
ture and rest while their mothers hunt
nearby. However, the mother may not
return if humans are too close. Wild-
life experts suggest giving seal pups
plenty of space, observe them from a
distance and while they are absolutely
adorable, do not touch.
Female seals birth annually after an
11-month gestation and utilize famil-
iar coastal shores or estuary areas
with easy access to water to have
their pups. New seals can immedi-
ately swim but stay close and ride on
their mothers back while they mature.
Marine mammals are protected
under the Marine Mammal Protection
Act. Under this federal law it is illegal
to move, touch, harass, feed, or kill
marine mammals including seal pups.
Harbor seals live on land for nearly
half their lives breeding, molting, rest-
ing, and raising their off spring. Molt-
ing occurs after pups are weaned and
to retain warmth and energy molting
seals often stay on land for extended
periods of time. Human encroach-
DINING
on the
NORTH COAST
Great Restaurants in:
GEARHART • SEASIDE
CANNON BEACH
Tiff any Boothe/Seaside Aquarium
Human and domestic dog interactions
are obstacles for the health and well-
being of both young and mature seals.
ment and domestic dog interaction
are big challenges for the health and
well-being of both young and mature
seals.
The Marine Mammal Stranding
Network responds to sightings of seal
pups and other injured or dead marine
mammals, including whales or dol-
phins. Responders will act as quickly
as possible to assess the situation and
obtain information and observations
about the animal in question.
For the northern Oregon and
southern Washington coast the Sea-
side Aquarium is the local responder
for the Marine Mammal Stranding
Network and can be contacted at 503-
738-6211. If a stranded marine mam-
mal is found elsewhere the Marine
Mammal Hotline at 800-452-7888
and they will contact the appropriate
stranding network responder for the
area.
Survey for sexual
violence survivors
The Harbor has been awarded two
competitive grants to improve its sex-
ual violence prevention and response
services, which will primarily focus on
youth, LGBTQ and Latinx survivors.
As a result, Clatsop County survi-
vors of sexual violence are being asked
to take a survey about their experi-
ences following an assault. The anon-
ymous online survey can be found at
bit.ly/39cOGLi
At the end of the survey, there is
an opportunity to be entered in a raf-
fl e for one of six $50 Visa gift cards;
the entry is not tied to survey answers
and is optional.
Those needing support can call the
National Sexual Assault Hotline at
800-656-4673 or The Harbor at 503-
325-5735 at any time.
WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE LOCALS GO?
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Junior Menu
RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
• Lighter appetite menu
E
RIL Y’
S
Park district election
forum ahead
BEST
BREAKFAST
IN TOWN!
Fish ‘n Chips • Burgers • Seafood & Steak
Friday & Saturday - Prime Rib
Lounge Open Daily 9-Midnight
All Oregon Lottery products available
1104 S Holladay • 503-738-9701 • Open Daily at 8am
Excellence in family dining found
from a family that has been serving
the North Coast for the past 52 years
Great
Breakfast,
but that’s
not all...
•
Great
lunch and
dinner
menu,too!
•
Great
pasta,
steaks &
seafood!
•
Homemade
Clam
Chowder,
Salads!
Seaside • 323 Broadway • 738-7234 (Open 7 Days)
Cannon Beach • 223 S. Hemlock 436-2851 (7am-3pm Daily)
Astoria • 146 W. Bond • 325-3144
Cannon Beach
Chocolate Cafe
CHOCOLATE BUNNIES AND
PREFILLED BASKETS! GET
YOUR EASTER TREATS HERE!
232 N. Spruce • Cannon Beach, Oregon
Open 10 am-5 pm Daily! • 503.436.4331
Call Sarah Silver
503.325.3211
ext 1222
YOUR RESTAURANT
AD HERE.
Find Your Next Regular
Customers!