Big stink needed

To the editor,

Gearhart, or what some out-of-town homeowners call “our little Mayberry.” We love our Gearhart community. Our quaint little town and the locally owned family businesses have sustained Gearhart for over a century. Their contributions to our economic growth are what keeps our town alive.

They are the heartbeat of the community, and Gearhart’s city government needs to support these businesses. Gearhart’s city government needs to ask, “What can we do for you?” and, “How can we support you?” Members of our Gearhart city government should not involve themselves in gossip and innuendos designed to intimidate or control business owners and/or residents.

We love our weekend coffee and pastries from the local bakery, lunch or dinner with friends and family. The convenience of shopping for gifts, groceries, home decor and flowers for our garden, ice cream with the grandkids and haircuts from the local barber, all of which create lasting memories that are important to a healthy community. Keeping Gearhart special is our goal.

Unnecessary, poorly written ordinances undermine the livability of what we all hold dear. We now have a burn ordinance and a fence ordinance, all of which require a permit — but we do not have to pay for said permit. What, exactly, are these ordinances designed to do?

A noise ordinance, complete with the local police using a decibel meter to measure a backyard barbecue party, your children’s laughter or your dog’s bark. The silencing of Gearhart’s residents is an act of bureaucratic vandalism that deeply upsets and offends the vast majority of the Gearhart population.

In 20 years of local government involvement, Dianne Widdop has learned very little about the community she lives in. What we have so far from Dianne Widdop’s reign as mayor is to button up the community to fit her agenda. When public servants are acting anti-democratically, a big stink needs to be made.

Make a big stink. Vote yes to recall Mayor Dianne Widdop.

Jae Young

Gearhart