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State representative urges action on poor cellphone coverage, offers help with lodging-tax debate
Summary
Oregon state representative Uma Wright told Dune City leaders she has contacted state regulators about cellphone gaps that can block 911 calls and said she will help the city pursue legislative aid and capital-improvement funding. She also flagged a statewide debate about loosening lodging-tax restrictions.
Representative Uma Wright visited a Dune City council meeting to raise concerns about cellphone coverage and to offer legislative help. "If you're driving down Clear Lake Boulevard and you can't dial 911, that's a problem," Wright said, and told the council she has already contacted the state Public Utility Commission and is awaiting follow-up within a week.
Wright also raised a separate statewide conversation about lodging taxes, saying some municipalities want more flexibility to use lodging-tax revenue for local needs beyond tourism. "There's gonna be a fight over that," she said, and offered to work with Mayor McGuire and city staff to identify capital-improvement projects that the legislature could help fund. Council members thanked Wright and asked staff to follow up on the PUC contact and possible funding requests.
Why it matters: poor cellphone coverage that blocks emergency calls poses a direct public-safety risk in a community where many residents said they rely on Wi-Fi or must climb hills to get service. Wright's offer to assist with funding requests gives the city a concrete avenue to seek state support and to weigh lodging-tax flexibility at future meetings.
