>By Representative David Gomberg, House District 10
8/19/2024
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Several years ago, someone walked into Newport Middle School and offered to pay all of the past-due meal costs for local students.
When a student’s family fell behind on lunch costs, the district still fed them. But instead of a full meal, they provided a “special” meal – usually a salad, slice of pizza, or a cheese sandwich. And of course, any student that carried that special meal into the lunchroom stood out as having money problems, discord, or instability at home. Lincoln County schools looked at the situation and decided to discontinue special meals and instead feed their students.
Not long after, I stood up on the floor of the House and told the story. Special meals aren’t special, I said. Eighty percent of our kids qualify for free or reduced meals. I said more districts should offer full meals. We should not stigmatize children who can’t pay through no fault of their own. I called it the “Scarlet Sandwich”.
After I sat down, the chair of the Education Committee came to my desk with tears in her eyes. “We need to fix this,” she said.
Today about 70% of Oregon schools will offer free breakfasts and lunches to all students during the upcoming school year, up from around 55% a year ago. That includes Lincoln County and Philomath. More schools and districts statewide are likely to join their ranks in the coming weeks as plans are finalized.
Oregon currently spends about $45 million per year subsidizing school lunches.
In schools that aren’t offering universal free school meals, a family of four needs to make under $90,000 annually to qualify their students for free lunches. Every school district sets its own prices, and costs can vary widely.
Universal school meals are having a national moment, after briefly being on the menu coast-to-coast for all students during the pandemic’s immediate aftermath. The federal government discontinued that effort in October 2022.
Anti-hunger advocates have pointed to studies showing that students do better both academically and socially when they have enough food to eat and no worries about where their next meal is coming from.
I spoke with one of our school counselors this week and asked what kept her awake at night. She replied earnestly about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Too many of our children are at the bottom, worried about food, shelter, and safety. Fridays in the classroom are hard because students are worried about eating over the weekend.
| Oregon is revising its Climate Protection Program after the previous version was invalidated by the state appeals court. And there is still time for you to provide feedback.
The updated draft aims to enhance the program by expanding its scope to include high-emission industries beyond just oil and gas companies. The plan, which is open for public comment until August 30, 2024, seeks to achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035 and a 90% reduction by 2050. Key changes include shorter compliance timelines, collaboration with the Oregon Public Utilities Commission, and a carbon credit program that supports environmental justice communities and tribal projects.
The revisions reflect input from a broad advisory committee and previous public comments. However, with most big issues like this, there’s still some concern. Business groups are worried that the increased costs of carbon credits could drive industries away from Oregon, while environmental advocates feel the process is too slow to effectively address climate impacts.
There are two ways to participate:
- Submit public comment by emailing DEQ at CPP.2024@DEQ.Oregon.gov before August 30.
- Attend a public hearing on August 21, at 4:00 p.m. and present your testimony live. Join by clicking this link.
Since the Department of Environmental Quality created the program under an order issued by former Gov. Kate Brown in 2021, Oregon has sought to make the Climate Protection Program one of the strongest climate action programs in the nation. It aims to reduce nearly all carbon emissions from oil and gas companies by 2050. The Oregon Climate Action Commission says launching the Climate Protection Program is necessary to meet the state’s climate goals.
But the program’s debut generated pushback from NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas, and other fossil fuel companies. They sued to block the program entirely, and late last year, an appeals court ruled the program invalid, saying Oregon had not followed Clean Air Act rules when implementing it. |
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Solar panels and wind turbines at Oregon’s Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility. The state’s Climate Protection Program aims to decrease carbon emissions and support the transition to renewable energy sources. Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB photo.
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| The Climate Protection Program (CPP) is a cornerstone of Oregon’s plan to meet the state’s climate goals. The program requires oil and gas companies to cut their pollution – 50% less by 2035, and 90% by 2050. In addition to reducing climate and air pollution, the CPP includes Community Climate Investments (CCI), which can provide funds to address the challenges of climate change head-on in communities that are most impacted.
Read more here. |
| Here is a question I received recently: Why do grocery stores check my ID when buying beer or wine at age 71??
An article in Willamette Week explains. It’s actually not the Legislature’s fault. This time.
Under state law, sellers are required only to check the ID of anyone who looks under 26. If anyone else is being “carded” it is the result of new, stricter policies instituted by the stores themselves. One large grocer reported they did this “to help ensure 100% compliance with state and local requirements.”
Willamette Week suggests a factor may also be the rise of quick, easy-to-use ID scanners. These machines have made it possible to card all comers without slowing down the checkout process.
If you think it is all pretty silly, I agree with you. But the penalties for selling to minors are pretty serious – a $6,250 fine, plus the possibility of losing your license. And the penalty for annoying seniors like me by turning the beer line into a mini-TSA pat down. That’s still $0.
Bottom line: Several people have told me store clerks are blaming the state when asking for ID. And in this case, that simply isn’t true… |
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| Regular readers know that I’ve worked hard to bring infrastructure funding to rural Oregon and have spoken often about our need to find new funding for roads, bridges, and earthquake resilience.
The 2024 Report Card for Oregon’s Infrastructure, released by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), shows that while Oregon has made some progress, the state’s infrastructure still “requires attention.” The report, which assesses 12 key categories, highlights concerns such as deteriorating roads and bridges, aging dams, and vulnerabilities in energy infrastructure, particularly in the face of potential earthquakes and climate change. Despite some improvements, such as a slight increase in the drinking water grade and reductions in the percentage of bridges in poor condition, the report stresses the need for sustained, long-term funding and comprehensive resiliency measures. |
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| Overall, Oregon received a C-, indicating the state’s infrastructure is in fair condition but “requires attention,” according to ASCE. The organization noted this score is also in line with the nation’s 2021 report card.
According to the 2024 report, Oregon’s energy and wastewater grades were the same as the national report, while bridges and ports were below the national grades.
Grades for Oregon roads and bridges – which were graded C and C- respectively – received a one-step grade decrease since the state’s last report card in 2019. Additionally, the percentage of state highways in poor condition increased from 10% to 12% since the 2019 report.
In that same time, the number of roads in good condition also decreased from 65% to 58%, according to ASCE.
When it comes to drinking water, Oregon’s grade increased from a C- to a C. While more than 99% of Oregon’s drinking water systems meet safety standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 400,000 Oregonians use private water sources, such as wells, which are largely unregulated, ASCE said. The report card also stressed the need for seismic upgrades.
ASCE said Oregon’s dams received a D+ grade because almost two-thirds of the state’s dams are more than 50 years old and were not built to endure a strong earthquake or strong, frequent flooding.
This report is particularly relevant to ongoing discussions among Oregonians about the importance of infrastructure investment in ensuring public safety and economic stability. With the Oregon Department of Transportation forecasting a significant budget shortfall by 2027, the call for dedicated funding solutions is urgent. As state leaders continue to navigate challenges like natural disasters and funding gaps, the report serves as a critical reminder of the need for proactive measures to secure Oregon’s infrastructure for the future.
Transportation is poised to be a vitally important discussion in next year’s legislative session. |
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| Earlier this year, I co-sponsored HB 4082 ensuring Oregon kids and teachers will have the resources they need to continue to learn and grow through the summer months this year and beyond.
Summer Learning programs at schools in every corner of the state provide safe, healthy, and enriching resources for Oregon students between school years. These programs also ensure kids who need extra help to reach their full potential don’t get left behind.
HB 4082 also invested $30 million in school districts for summer learning programming in partnership with community-based organizations and tribal nations that provide academic enrichment, by aligning with academic content standards in math, science, language arts, life skills, school readiness, or credit recovery.
Friday afternoon I joined Lincoln County Schools Superintendent Majalise Tolan and Board Chair Peter Vince at a Summer Learning Open House at Toledo Jr/Sr High School. Highlights included native cultural arts, design and merchandising, ceramics creation, and culinary arts.
It was great to see our kids and grandkids enjoying the summer and making good use of time between the normal class schedule. But more gratifying to me was to see the dollars I voted for in Salem reflected in the enthusiastic faces of local students. |
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Superintendent Tolan, LCSD Chair Peter Vince, and Rep Gomberg at the Summer Learning Open House in Toledo. Commissioner Claire Hall, Councilor Judy Casper, and Mayor Susan Wahlke at the Wecoma Place grand opening.
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| Friday I also dropped in on the grand opening of Wecoma Place, a 44-unit, affordable housing complex serving people displaced because of the Echo Mountain fires in Otis, seniors, and families in Lincoln City. About 150 new affordable housing units are scheduled to open this month in North County and that is transformative to our ongoing housing shortage. And again, it was good to see the dollars I voted for in Salem making a difference here at home.
Earlier in the week I joined a breakfast meeting of Lincoln County Mayors and County Commissioners.
These informal monthly gatherings are always a good opportunity to catch up on common concerns and local problems as well as the latest news on projects we helped fund that are breaking ground all over the district. |
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Clockwise from the top, Commissioner Casy Miller, myself, Mayor Hall of Depoe Bay, Mayor Holland of Waldport, Mayor Wahlke of Lincoln City, Mayor Berdie of Yachats, and Mayor Cross of Toledo. (Not pictured, Mayor Hall of Newport and Mayor Worman of Siletz.)
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| And finally, Susie and I had a ball at the Porsche Club of America Cascades Region car show Saturday. We were asked to be judges. But how do you pick a winner from 20 perfect cars? |
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Checking out cool cars, and taking the traditional carpet photo at PDX.
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| As you read this on Monday, I’m in Scotland with a full business schedule as we review floating offshore wind programs near Aberdeen. The group includes renewable energy advocates, organized labor, representatives of the fishing fleet, and legislators. Offshore wind remains one of the most consequential and controversial issues here on the Coast and I decided to take this opportunity to see and learn more. I’ll have a full report next week. |
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