National Postal Workers Day
Today is National Postal Workers Day, a celebration of the job they do to deliver the mail. Postal workers provide a vital service, especially during big election years like 2024 and in states like Oregon where elections are conducted completely by mail. Daniel Cortez is the Oregon legislative and political director for the American Postal Workers Union.
“Whether it be America’s election mail or letters from grandparents, care packages to our service members overseas, vital prescriptions for our seniors and veterans – it’s important to remember that all of that happens because of the dedication of the postal workers day in and day out.”
The United States Postal Service began with Benjamin Franklin on July 26, 1775. The postal service is currently experiencing a shakeup. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is implementing his ten-year Delivering for America plan to modernize the postal service’s network. It’s meant job eliminations and sorting center cuts that Cortez says have hurt mail delivery. For instance, he notes that sorting in Oregon has been consolidated to one center in Portland.
Razor Clamming Remains Closed
Despite the rest of the Oregon coast opening to razor clamming over the weekend, the section from Yachats to Coos Bay North Jetty remains closed according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Results of their most recent testing, levels of PSP toxin are still too high for the central coastal area. PSP or paralytic Shellfish Poison can cause severe illness when ingested. Including in some cases paralysis, but symptoms commonly are tingling or numbness, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing or nausea or vomiting. ODA also continues the ban in harvesting Mussels. Crab harvesting is still safe along the entire coastline of Oregon.
Fireworks
The Fourth of July is this Thursday and the Florence Area Chambe of Commerce and its partners will be organizing the fireworks display along the Siuslaw river on Thursday night. The event is the culmination of special activities planned for the day and will set off at 10:10 pm. Coast Radio on KCST will be broadcasting a special set of music to go along with the fireworks and can be heard on 106.9 and on the mobile ap at KCST Coast Radio. A reminder that no fireworks are allowed in the old town area of Florence whether public or private property and that includes the port properties.
Supreme Court Rules in Oregon Case
A Supreme Court ruling on Friday afternoon in response to a Grants Pass vs Johnson case will allow cities to ban outdoor sleeping. The ruling comes as the city of Florence finalizes their rules regarding outdoor camping and use of camping in vehicles on Florence city Streets. A move by the office of the governor, the Oregon legislature and numerous state agencies in 2023 prevented 9000 households from becoming homeless by creating more than 1,000 new shelter beds and helping some 2,000 people move from homeless to housed. The new ruling, however, now allows for law enforcement to ticket individuals who sleep on the streets. Some respondents have said that the ruling amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) Executive Director Andrea Bell issued the following statement. She says: “For many, we knew this day was coming, and yet it is still devastating. This is a wake-up call for all of us – cities in particular. We cannot succumb to cynicism or confuse this ruling as a mandate.
