Clearcutting

I just learned about this issue by reading Alex Baumhardt's excellent article ("State forestry officials face backlash over Astoria timber sales, board member resigns in wake") published this morning in the Oregon Capital Chronicle. You can find it here: https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/05/15/state-forestry-officials-face-backlash-over-astoria-timber-sales-board-member-resigns-in-wake/

Alex's article is both compelling and extraordinarily revealing. She has exposed how the timber industry and their cronies in the Oregon Department of Forestry, on the Oregon Board of Forestry, and the Oregon Governor are all perpetuating the destruction of our forests. We must all work together to change this "good ol' boy" corruption for the sake of future generations and our planet!

Another "must-read" is Rob Davis' expose, "Polluted by Money". His research showed that the Oregon timber industry has given more to state politicians than in any other state in the nation. There are no legal limits on campaign contributions. This financial influence has played a significant role in shaping state policy for the worse.

Our forest practices act and state agencies are antiquated, in conflict with the best science, and perpetuate the destruction of our forests, the pollution of our watersheds, and the worsening of the climate crisis. It is a truly shameful situation! Oregonians expect and deserve far better!

My maternal grandparents are buried in this cemetery. I think the city could easily find another place to put a solar farm. One that doesn't require cutting down mature trees (which help to cool the planet)!

I have 6 family members buried near the north end of the cemetery. Their burial locations are beautiful and it’s very peaceful when we visit. It’s true the past owner let the cemetery fall into disrepair and that it could use some road upgrades, but to allow this to move forward is ridiculous. The land is a cemetery and should be respected as such. Does anyone have any idea of the amount of construction traffic required to fully develop a 20 acre solar farm? Bulldozers, backhoes, cement trucks, equipment deliveries, construction workers. You can forget about having a peaceful setting for your loved ones for well over a year. Solar farms belong in industrial or rural areas, not in a cemetery.

I have family buried at Mount Hope. The old trees surrounding the area are beautiful. The cemetery has been poorly maintained. It would be further insult to chop down the trees and put in an ugly Solar farm.

Don't run heavy equipment over my father Edward C Hotz's grave. He was a fighter pilot and flew 118 missions in Korea.