Clatsop County’s capacity to house inmates has experienced critical shortages for decades. This has negatively impacted your public safety and suppressed the effectiveness of every law enforcement agency in our area. Whether you live in one of the county’s five cities or in the unincorporated areas, you equally share the resulting risk as there is only one County Jail.

When the State of Oregon built the Oregon Youth Authority Youth Detention Center, considerable investment was made by local taxpayers to prepare and build the supporting roads and infrastructure necessary to site this facility. It has now been mothballed and dormant for several years. The plan to re-purpose the facility into a county jail/corrections center is the most sensible and best possible use for the existing buildings and our local investment. The proposal will greatly increase the jail capacity, provide for inmate reform program areas and alternative sanction programs. The redevelopment of this site will meet Clatsop County’s needs for many decades to come.

I would strongly encourage you to would “yes” on Ballot Measure 4-195.

John P. Raichl

Sheriff retired

Astoria