There seems to be some confusion in the State Justice Department about who runs the City Of Astoria. Is it Josh Marquis? or is it the duly elected Mayor and City Council? My money is on the people elected locally to run it and not the State guy making a fuss about it.
For the past year or so the District Attorney has been attempting to interfere with city government and the right of a municipality to hold it's own court and bring matters to trial. Marquis wants all DUII cases sent to Circuit Court and prosecuted by his office. I would say this is because he has proof to substantiate his position that justice will be better served by doing so. His implication is that Astoria Municipal Court is unable to perform this function. The city challenged that assumption and asked for proof. The report supplied by the DA's office, which was apparently prepared by an intern, was full of errors but to their credit the City Council directed changes be made to the municipal court procedures that seemed reasonable. That should have satisfied the DA but it wasn't enough.
So far Mr. Marquis has vilified the City in appearances he has made in the State Capitol, attempted to have legislation passed to force the issue that went absolutely nowhere and has sought and gained the support of the State Attorney General who says that the DA has the right to prosecute any case in his jurisdiction. A statement that falls short of saying Astoria can't handle it's own drunk driving addiction. Of late his pal on the radio Lars Larson has made attempts to discredit our local radio conversations by sticking his nose in it and declaring that I am a liar. All to no avail.
That we have a problem is undeniable, as does every city and town in the United States when it comes to the
person who drinks and drives. That we are unable to properly prosecute in a court of law, or that perhaps the court is incapable of dispensing justice appropriately has not been shown to be true.
It was quite appropriate for the DA to point out issues and critique the system to it's benefit. Taking over
the process is far too extreme.
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