By Representative David Gomberg, House District 10
More than 200 people turned out for the Oregon Coast Economic Summit, organized by your legislative Coastal Caucus.
We covered a range of topics that our Coastal Communities can work together to solve.
• Sustainable Coastal Development
• Renewable Energy and Environmental Stewardship
• Workforce Development
• Coastal Economic Growth Opportunities
• Disaster Preparedness
• Infrastructure and Connectivity
• Sustainable Fisheries and Seafood Industry
• Affordable Housing and Community Revitalization
As discussions unfolded, I was struck by evidence that we suffer the same challenges here that all Oregonians face. Across the state, we have concerns for housing, daycare, healthcare, and aging infrastructure. And in each part of the state, those challenges manifest themselves differently.
With a third of our residents over the age of 65, the number of people in the workforce relative to retirees depending on the workforce shrinks. That causes shortages of people to provide everything from healthcare to hair care and lawn care. We wait longer for plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. Restaurants serve fewer shifts or fewer tables which means they cannot achieve maximum profitability.
Similarly, our housing shortage is distinct. A third of our homes are vacation properties or nightly rentals. On one hand, that is good for the economy. On the other hand, teachers, healthcare workers, and coffeehouse baristas can’t find a place to live.
I asked an economist about this and his response was that mechanization was our best tool to ease workforce issues. That means order stations rather than order takers in restaurants, auto check-in for hotels on your smartphone, remote learning and telecommuting, and even virtual doctor appointments.
And childcare for two kids costs more than lower-wage workers earn in a month. It is more economical for parents to stay home with their own children than to work full-time. And that too affects our workforce. But there is also an opportunity for that parent to help other families by caring for their kids and starting a small childcare enterprise.
People moving here in their retirement years have changed the coast. Transfer payments – retirement income, pensions, and investments – now outpace wages in forestry, farming, or even tourism. It has changed our natural resource-based economy and arguably, has changed our politics as well.
One provocative suggestion I heard at the summit is that we need more affordable, attractive, and engaging senior communities. Many “empty nesters” are struggling to maintain larger family homes because there is nowhere they want or can move to. Better options would free up larger homes for working families or multi-family residences.
Coastal legislators shared thoughts and answered questions. |
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| The Summit was a wonderful opportunity for civic leaders, policy influencers, the business community, and interested citizens to engage, inform, and network. I was pleased that both US Senators and our coastal congresswomen all sent video messages.
By late Monday, all videos, power points, speaker contact information and photos will be online at www.OregonCoastEconomicSummit.com.
In the next few weeks, the Southern Oregon Economic Summit in Roseburg and the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit in Hermiston will attempt to emulate our success. I’ll be surprised if they draw as many attendees as we did. |
| Across Oregon, investments and transfers comprise 42% of total income. Here at the Coast, that number is 55%. Earnings as a portion of total income is 13% below the statewide average. |
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| The Oregon Coast Visitors Association sponsored an economic study that investigated what drives coastal counties’ economies. The Coast study area is Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Coos, and Curry counties and the coastal portions of Lane and Douglas counties.
“Not enough is known about these retirees’ spending patterns, effects on an area’s infrastructure and public services, and living needs.” For example, one thing this report does not address is how transfer income may affect support for and contributions to local non-profits.
You can access the full report by clicking here and Coastal County Social and Economic Characteristics here. |
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| Tuesday I joined nearly 200 people inside the Newport Performing Arts Center to celebrate National Treatment Court Month.
The first Lincoln County drug court was established in 2006 as an alternative to jail to help offenders tackle substance abuse and mental health issues. Today, the county has six specialty courts, which along with the number of participants and graduates, is more than any other county in Oregon with comparable populations.
Our six specialty courts are drug, hope, mental health and wellness, family support, domestic violence, and aid and assist. The four main courts – drug, hope, mental health and wellness, and family support – range from 12 to 18 months in duration, although they can run longer if a participant is struggling.
There are currently 65 participants and there have been 28 graduates since last May. Of the more than 540 who have entered the program since 2006, 288 have graduated.
Seventy-eight percent of this year’s participants were headed to jail or prison had they not been given a chance at redemption by participating in the program. The courts are designed to give people in the criminal justice or child welfare system who suffer from substance abuse or mental health disorders an opportunity to achieve sobriety and make positive life changes.
The specialty court programs are optional for certain criminal offenses.
Someone already incarcerated or facing charges must apply via their defense attorney and then be vetted by the district attorney, the court’s program manager, treatment providers, probation officers, and a judge. The scrutiny is to determine whether someone is motivated to embrace recovery or just motivated to get out of jail.
The Oregon Legislature passed HB 4002 earlier this year, which recriminalized the possession of small amounts of certain drugs that were decriminalized when voters passed Measure 110 four years ago. The new law emphasizes treatment with several “off ramps” that will not result in a criminal conviction.
Several past participants shared their stories Tuesday – stories of struggle and recovery and stories of inspiration. Read those stories and more details at YachatsNews.com. |
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| Senate Bill 1530 provides a total of $278 million in funding for housing development, emergency shelters, homelessness prevention, land acquisition for affordable housing, and more. Senate Bill 1537 is designed to encourage more housing production across Oregon with the creation of the Housing Accountability and Production Office, Housing Project Revolving Loan Fund, and Housing Infrastructure Support Fund. It also has a provision allowing certain cities to make a one-time expansion of their urban growth boundary for the purposes of building affordable housing. |
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| Senate Bill 1564 orders the Land Conservation and Development Commission to adopt ordinances that cities can use to implement housing-related land planning goals. Finally, House Bill 4134 will provide $21.3 million in grants for certain cities to use for infrastructure projects that support new housing developments where at least 30 percent of the units are affordable to households earning 130% or less than the county median income. |
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| Across Oregon, our water and wastewater systems are at capacity, aging out, or falling apart, I said. But small towns can’t afford big projects. And without clean water, we can’t build the housing we desperately need.
These measures will also provide more than $100 million in needed infrastructure investments to support nearly 50 communities across that state and tens of thousands of new home opportunities. This is transformative news. But the challenge that lies ahead is that there are hundreds more water and sewer projects still waiting for our help. This is a big start. But it is just a start. |
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This was the view from my side of the signing table as media maneuvered for their photo. And yes, that is my chief of staff, Luke, just below the red arm…
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| May is Wildfire Awareness Month. As Oregonians, we know the importance of being prepared for wildfire season. Every year, wildfires threaten our homes, communities, and the beauty of our state. That’s why each year we dedicate May to raising awareness and promoting actions to reduce the risk of wildfires.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal is encouraging all Oregonians to get prepared for the upcoming wildfire season. Creating defensible space is one of the most important things you can do to protect your home and increase the chances it will survive a wildfire. |
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| The OSFM offers free defensible space assessments to Oregonians who want to start creating defensible space or those who want to optimize their current plan. For a limited time, people living in select areas of the state may be eligible for a $250 payment after receiving an assessment. Request an assessment and read more details at www.oregondefensiblespace.org.
A few projects you can consider this month include:
- Space and prune trees.
- Remove leaves, needles, wood, bark mulch, and other debris from within 100 feet of buildings or to the property line.
- Remove leaves, needles, and other debris from roofs and gutters.
- Move flammable material away from the outside of your home, including mulch, flammable plants, leaves, and needles.
- Prevent plants from growing directly under the eaves; a minimum of five feet away is recommended.
- Keep firewood piles and lumber at least 30 feet from any structure.
- Maintain the plants in your yard. Clean out old leaves or pine needles from your plants and prune away dead parts.
“Creating defensible space might feel overwhelming but taking it one project at a time can go a long way in protecting your home,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “May is a great time to tackle these projects before the heat of summer arrives.”
For a detailed guide on how to create defensible space at your home, click here. |
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| Judging from the volume of mail in my inbox, the quality and safety of our roads and how we pay for them in the future is on your mind.
The Joint Committee on Transportation (JCT) will be holding 12 meetings and local tours around the state for the purpose of discussing the need for stable and sufficient transportation funding in anticipation of the 2025 legislative session. There are no locations in our district but you can attend hearings in Tillamook or Coos Bay.
Additionally, the Joint Committee on Transportation will hold an opportunity for virtual testimony during September legislative days, with a focus on statewide transportation needs. For more information about the transportation tour from the JCT go here. |
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| Today I meet with Dr. Debbie Colbert, the new director of The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).
Tuesday and Wednesday I’m attending the Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake exercise featuring the second Emergency Assemble Point (EAP) to be deployed on the Oregon coast. This drill is being conducted at the Newport Municipal Airport by the Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM).
Wednesday night, I’ll be at the Oregon Coast SBDC Shark Tank to promote youth entrepreneurship.
Thursday I’m the guest speaker at the Philomath Chamber of Commerce. Later that day I’ll join the Newport Chamber for a Business After Hours at the Rogue Sunset Bar. Friday I’ll be introducing my dear friend, Governor Barbara Roberts at the Sheridan Spring Dessert. Readers will recall I helped secure funds for a Sheridan CTE Center named for her when Yamhill County was part of our district.
Saturday involves a lot of driving. I judge the Monroe BBQ competition in the morning, stop by the Newport Bloom arts celebration, and finish the day at the Neighbors for Kids Celebration in Depoe Bay.
Sunday, Susan is leading a tour of the Yakona Reserve south of Newport and I’ll be hiking along. And Monday I’ll be at the Oregon Winegrowers Annual Reception in my capacity as co-chair of the Legislative Wine Caucus. |
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Yakona Nature Preserve & Learning Center offers a protected Sitka spruce forest with hiking trails and viewpoints onto Yaquina Bay. This unique site provides opportunities for education about resident wildlife, exploration of Yaqo’n Indian history, and the chance for people of all abilities to experience nature as it once was on the central Oregon coast.
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