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The point: high housing costs, low wages, few full-time jobs, few jobs with insurance or benefits.  The Wilder group spoke of "affordable" as $200,000 homes . . . but more than half of the workers in Lincoln County make $10 an hour or less.  I know several people working for less than minimum wage, as working "off the books" is one way local employers get around a higher minimum wage.  The few living wage jobs are being slashed, either eliminated or cut to become part-time, non-benefitted jobs.  As for entrepreneurs, just drive down Highway 101 and tally up the businesses that have closed in the past 12 months.  There are many hardworking folk who have tried very hard to make new businesses work, but there is simply not a local economy that can sustain them.   I am a professional with a long career before moving back to  Oregon, and to the coast.  I spent 2 years without employment, and for the past 4 years have worked 3 jobs, none full-time, averaging 70 hours a week.  I got insurance last year, but spent several years without.  I pay 70% of my income for my modest housing.  My standard of living has never been lower in my adult life.  Yes, it's beautiful and yes I enjoy what the coast has to offer, but I often think my decision to live in Newport was starry-eyed and overly-optimistic.

posted 2 years, 1 month ago
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