By now, most Cannon Beach residents know that there will be two competing measures on the May ballot.

Measure 4-235 comes out of frustration for a perceived disconnect between elected officials’ decisions and community desires, i.e., not listening to the will of the people. Measure 4-236 is the city council’s response, pointing out the risks and unintended downsides of the opposing measure.

No matter how you choose to vote, neither of these measures is going to solve Cannon Beach’s problems. In fact, it seems likely this voting cycle will have the opposite effect — more divisiveness and distrust. We are going to continue to treat each other with disrespect, failing to seek to understand or show kindness to one another.

According to experts, consensus is the desired way of making decisions of public policy. Consensus is different from voting. Votes result in winners and losers with hurt feelings and underlying grievances left to grow and fester. Much of the anger we all feel in the community today stems from past instances, where we let a vote make the decision for us.

I hope you’ll vote “no” on Measure 4-235 and “yes” on Measure 4-236. Not because I disagree with community concerns, but because voting is the wrong tool — we need more participation, more conversation and more cooperation.

I offer my comments as a homeowner in Cannon Beach, and not in my roles of Parks and Community Services chairman nor as a Planning Commissioner.

LES SINCLAIR
Cannon Beach