Editor:
An open letter to Gov. Kotek:
I love your goal of increased housing of Oregonians; it is so very needed. There are, however, two snags observable on the way to that wonderful goal.
First, new housing must be available for all Oregonians. Without this, your statewide support will quickly vanish. Chip truck drivers in Garibaldi, single moms working in care facilities in Unity, and 72- year-old donut sales ladies in Talent must have the same opportunity for housing as a bricklaying contractor in St. Johns.
Realistically, affordable housing means on the street where you live, whatever town that street is in. When the rent or lease or mortgage is paid, everyone needs to have money for food and gas and, once in a while, a pizza.
Governor, your second major snag is getting that housing built. Before construction can take place, siting must be approved by a county siting body. Sometimes this takes weeks. Then, after each stage of construction, trained certified inspectors are rare, hard to hire, and construction sites can be delayed for weeks waiting for these inspections.
Governor, a prudent first move for you would be to enlist high school and community college construction instructors from all (emphasis) parts of the state and assign them these problems to solve. Without their solution your great goals will wither, waiting for sitting approvals and building inspections.
Dave Strom
Sweet Home