Video: Community Demands ICE Stay out of Waldport, Lincoln County
Waldport City Council meeting on Wednesday, December 10, and resident Stacey Hall had to wait to enter the building due to the number of enthusiastic attendees eager to speak out. The meeting was called in response to rumors that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency had inquired about renting hotel rooms to possibly house workers at a potential facility in Lincoln County. During the meeting, Waldport City Manager Dann Cutter confirmed that ICE had indeed contacted the Alsi Resort to inquire about renting space at the hotel. After Representative Gomberg addressed the crowd, Stacey was able to enter and record most of the people who spoke. There were no microphones, so the sound quality is not perfect. Stacey reports she was pleased to see that people voted unanimously to protect their community from ICE despite a statement by City Manager Dann Cutter that the city and Council would remain neutral. After the meeting, Mr. Cutter told KLCC that it would be challenging to prevent a lawful business from operating. He went on to say, “We are going to have to be very careful, though (we’re) very doggedly determined to do this.”
Veterans Affairs Officer to Address County Democrats at September 24 meeting
Lincoln County, OR–As the county prepares a funding measure that would improve veterans services for the November ballot, Lincoln County Veterans Affairs Officer Keith Barnes will address the September meeting of Lincoln County Democrats on Wednesday, September 24 at Newport’s Atonement Lutheran Church, 2315 N. Coast Highway. Social time begins at 5:30 pm and the meeting begins at 6 pm. Barnes will discuss services the Lincoln County Veterans Service Office provides to the estimated 5200 veterans residing within Lincoln County and the necessity for raising funds through a public measure at this time. A 2022 survey found that 48% of veterans don’t understand their disability benefit options, and four in 10 veterans felt they didn’t receive adequate guidance on benefits when leaving the military. According to the U.S. Veterans Affairs Administration, only 20% of veterans apply for and use VA services. “We’re a free service for all veterans and their dependents in Lincoln County. We’re here to assist veterans in obtaining services and we want to continue to be able to assist them in the future,” said Barnes, whose office helps veterans to secure the healthcare, stipends, and other benefits to which they are entitled from federal, state and county governments. The office provides outreach services and helps veterans’ families apply for survivor benefits. Barnes said the November ballot measure—which will be listed as Measure 21-235– has become necessary because of uncertainty surrounding the current administration’s support for Oregon state and county government. “A lot of our budget is dependent upon federal grant funding that flows through the state and to the counties and there’s a chance that several of those grants won’t come through,” said Barnes, whose office is currently funded by the County General Fund. In anticipation of changes to the flow of federal support, Measure 21-235 would levy $0.035 per $1,000 of assessed property value. According to the County Registrar, it’s estimated that the average cost to property owners would be approximately $8.60 per year. Also on the September meeting agenda is a talk by CM Hall, executive director of Emerge Oregon, the state’s premier training program for recruiting and training Democratic women as candidates for elected office. Hall, longtime educator who has served on the Newport City Council, became the first rural and coastal Oregonian to lead that organization when she was appointed late last year. Hall will speak to the need for candidates at all levels of government, the process and practicalities of running for office and the candidate training program offered by Emerge. Prior to the meeting, Stacey Hall will conduct a social media training, beginning at 4:40 pm, to help those who would like to learn about various social media platforms, what they do, how to sign up for them and how to effectively use them to help distribute progressive messages. The Lincoln County Democratic Party holds monthly meetings rotating among northern, central, southern and eastern centers of the county with zoom options available for virtual attendance and participation. All are welcome. The purpose of the Lincoln County Democratic Party and its executive committee is to promote the interests of the Democratic Party in Oregon and Lincoln County, to work for the election of Democratic candidates, adopt a party platform and work to ensure its principles are reflected in law, and to provide a link between Democratic voters, the Democratic Party, and the government. The Lincoln County Democratic Party welcomes comments and questions, which can be addressed to: dems@lincolncountydemocratsoregon.com #### media contact: Eliot Sekuler 818-535-9178 eliot.sekuler@gmail.com
Lincoln County’s youngest elected official prepares to grapple with funding cut-backs
Elected to the Board of the Siletz Rural Fire Protection District in May with almost 64% of the vote, Katie Saaty, 29, is believed to be Lincoln County’s youngest elected official and, in her new capacity, is already grappling with funding shortfalls for emergency management resulting from cutbacks in federal assistance to state and local emergency service providers. “Coming into this new role, I’m aware that the actions of the new administration are really having a ripple effect on the financial realities of our fire district in terms of regulations and climate change denial,” said Saaty, who was endorsed by the Lincoln County Democratic Party. She was sworn into her new post on Tuesday, July 15. Earlier this year, federal grant funding was cut for several programs, including training of volunteer firefighters, new equipment and emergency staffing. Some of those cuts were reversed, but Washington’s actions resulted in confusion and an atmosphere of uncertainty among many rural fire districts, especially those, like Siletz, that rely upon volunteers who require free or low-cost training to augment their professional staff. Fire departments, especially in rural areas, already operate on tight budgets, and many rely on federal programs to train personnel. Reductions or cutoffs in federal grants could lead to fewer trained firefighters, longer response times, and higher risks for communities facing fires and other disasters. According to the district’s website, the Siletz fire department responds to an average of 300 emergency calls per year, with the majority entailing emergency medical services. The department also responds to motor vehicle crashes, water rescues and provides for prevention and education services. Siletz firefighters respond to mutual aid requests from other agencies and take part in fighting regional wildfires. Many of those services would be jeopardized by cutbacks in emergency response funding. As a newly elected Fire District board member, Saaty said she’ll be helping to find workarounds for budget shortfalls while making the public aware of the impacts of administration decisions. The potential of those impacts are what drove her to become involved in the political process and to seek public office. Saaty, a Siletz resident, is a first-time office holder. “We all could see what was happening and what was going to be coming (in the wake of the November election) and were keeping an eye out for ways to get involved.” Saaty attended a Newport rally co-sponsored by the Indivisible group and the county’s Democratic Party. The party’s county chairperson, Mary Infante, engaged her in conversation and asked if she would be interested in running for office in May’s special election. Although Saaty had no experience in elected office, her day job as a Water Quality Monitoring Specialist with the U.S. Soil and Water Conservation District imparted a good working knowledge of the interaction between supervisory boards and staff in public agencies. Saaty said she hopes to be using her new position to inform the public about the dangers posed by environmental threats, especially the dangers posed by climate change. “I was living here at the time of the Echo Mountain fire and I know that a lot of people in the area don’t believe in the reality of climate change and what a hazard the changing climate will pose to all of us.” Although she’s enthused about assuming her new role in public office, Saaty doesn’t nurse ambitions toward higher office. “I’m not especially interested in going after positions of authority, but If something came along for which I’d be a good fit, I’d certainly consider it,” said Saaty, who majored in fisheries while studying for her degree from California’s Humboldt State University. “It would be especially interesting if it were something in the environmental sector, aquatic environment or aquatic wildlife. I’d like to be of help in areas I’m well-suited for.”