Response from Councilor Herman – September 16, 2021 Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2021 15:20:56 +0000 From: Joan Herman <JHerman@astoria.or.us> To: Rick Bowers <rick@speak-peace.com> Hi, Rick. I can certainly understand why you would not want to purchase a property not knowing if you would even be able to use it as you intended. I also would…
Letter to Councilor Herman by Rick Bowers September 14, 2021 A PDF version of this letter is available here. Joan Herman, City Councilor City of Astoria 1095 Duane St. Astoria, OR 97103 I was thinking recently about some of the feedback you received at your prior listening session — a couple of folks expressed frustration…
Put a spare home or two in your backyard: Oregon’s ADU rules allow for more income-producing rentals – September 10, 2021 Oregon neighborhoods with rows of single-family houses may see the addition of smaller homes built to help ease the state’s longstanding housing shortage and high costs. As of Aug. 1, Portland homeowners can legally…
Response to: City Council Work Session – Police Community Survey by Rick Bowers August 26, 2021 A PDF version of this article is available here. Geoff Spalding, Chief of Police City of Astoria 1095 Duane St. Astoria, OR 97103 RE: City Council Work Session — Police Community Survey Dear Chief Spalding: I enjoyed your Police…
Response to Councilor Herman The following is in response to an email conversation I was having with Councilor Herman regarding what to me appears to be slow movement on updating Astoria’s Comprehensive Plan to address very affordable housing. I realize there can be different approaches. However, I wanted to express my frustration with what occurs…
Progress Report – August, 2021 Friends, Here are some updates,news items and resources from our research and outreach since our last progress report. A State That Can’t Even House Its People…. “Widespread homelessness is both a symptom of democratic decline and a harbinger of worse to come. It should never have gotten this bad. Homelessness…
Letter (by Rick Bowers): Systems Approach to Solving Homelessness – August 6, 2021 Dear Commissioners, Mayors, and Councilors: I’ve heard it said that homelessness is such a difficult complex problem to solve. That sentiment can be used to justify throwing up our collective hands in frustration… or it can be a rallying cry to empower…
Progress Report – July, 2021 Friends, Here are some updates,news items and resources from our research and outreach since our last progress report. Denver Providing Campsites to Homeless. “Homelessness surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing cities around the country to find new solutions to address the growing issue. NBC News’ Dasha Burns reports from Denver,…
Homelessness Surged In Denver. So The City Built Campsites. – July 9, 2021 Homelessness surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing cities around the country to find new solutions to address the growing issue. NBC News’ Dasha Burns reports from Denver, Colorado, on how Mayor Michael Hancock is trying a new approach by providing dedicated campsites…
Nonprofit plans drop-in center for homeless in Astoria – July 8, 2021 A daytime drop-in center to serve the homeless will open in downtown Astoria next month. Filling Empty Bellies, a nonprofit that provides meals and other services to people in need, has signed a one-year lease on a building on Commercial Street, the former…