Measure 34 — Traditional timber economy vs. fish and tourism By JEFF BARNARD, AP, OregonLive.com
'The great irony is we are spending as a society $600 million a year in the Columbia Basin trying to restore basic salmon runs. Here there is a cluster of wild salmon runs that belong to us in our backyard.'
Tillamook County Commissioner Tim Josi said he wakes up in the middle of the night worrying that if Measure 34 passes, it will wipe out 2,650 timber jobs just when northwestern Oregon was looking forward to an economic boost from the forests after limping along on tourism.
'Anybody who knows anything about economics understands that timber jobs are manufacturing jobs that pay family wages,' said Josi. 'Tourism jobs are low-paying jobs.'