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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2018)
OCTOBER 5, 2018, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3 COUNCIL, continued from Page A1 specifi c aspect of the discussion was Keizer resident Richard Walsh, himself a former city councilor. He contended Mea- sure 105 fell squarely within the narrow parameters in which the council is allowed to take a position. “We have been trying to get the Hispanic community to engage with the city, to re- port when they are victims and when they witness crime. I spend a great deal of time as an attorney trying to help cli- ents understand that they can’t be deported in Oregon if their only violation is being un- documented. 105 will take that protection away and it will set us back decades,” Walsh said. Councilor Laura Reid said the numerous residents who offered testimony supporting the resolution made it clear that 105 would affect the city. “We’ve heard very clearly tonight that this does affect our residents and 105 addresses whether the city’s law enforce- ment offi cers should be in the business of enforcing immigra- tion law,” Reid said. Freeman and Councilor Amy Ryan both opposed tak- ing up the resolution when it came to a vote. “When we assert ourselves as a body it should represent all residents and we need to trust our citizens to vote according to their opinions and values. I don’t think we should move forward because it’s divisive,” Ryan said. A motion to take up the resolution passed in a 5-2 vote, Freeman and Ryan voted no. When it came to delibera- tions, Councilor Marlene Par- sons said she’d spent many of her waking moments ponder- ing her stance even though she was one of the councilors to bring the issue forward. “I was on the bubble, but this will affect all citizens and especially the undocumented residents. We have to protect our residents. Thank you for coming tonight because you helped me fi gure this out,” she told the large audience in at- tendance. Prior to making the change from urging residents to vote “no” to simply opposing Mea- sure 105, Freeman appeared to be leaning against the resolu- tion. “I don’t believe it’s my role to tell people how to vote. I think it’s a bigger conversation and should include more than just the residents here tonight,” Freeman said. Reid said opposing 105 cre- ated a space for a larger conver- sation for all Keizer residents. “I believe that this is the beginning of the conversation, and if we don’t stand up to pro- tect our citizens we can’t have that conversation. This ensures that both sides will have a place in that conversation,” she said. “Over many months, many years, we’ve seen a need to en- gage in this conversation and [this discussion] has opened the fi rst step in affi rming that we want to have it, and to be clear that we value and respect every resident of this city,” Clark added. Ryan suggested that there was a lot of misinformation in the testimony provided to the council, but did not call out specifi cs. “Measure 105 is [on the ballot] because 109,000 Ore- gonians said it should be there. A conversation has two sides and goes both ways, but this is not a balanced conversation,” she said, referencing the lack of testimony opposing the resolu- tion. Only one person spoke against the council taking a stance on the issue. ASK MR. TRASH Q. I heard about China’s ban on recycling. What IS recyclable now? RALLY: ‘Our membership dropped by 30 percent’ (Continued from Page A1) Testimony on the matter lasted almost 90 minutes, with all but one individual urg- ing the council to adopt the resolution. In the end, rather than urging members of the community to vote against the measure, the council adopted a resolution stating only that the council opposes Measure 105 in a 6-1 vote. Councilor Amy Ryan was the only holdout. Rev. Jose Dominguez, of Keizer’s Ingelsia La Luz del Valle, said that his church has had an active role in helping local families that were once undocumented obtain resi- dency and seen others go on to attain citizenship. “I believe [Measure 105] would create fear, mistrust and division creating an ‘us and them’ mentality. I believe this law, if passed, would put a greater strain on our police re- sources,” Dominguez said. Sly Smith said participation in his church, Salem Menno- nite Church in south Keizer, has dropped precipitously since the election of President Donald Trump. “Our membership dropped by 30 percent. What we found was that a lot of those families walked to our church and sud- denly they became afraid to come out period,” Smith said. “There is a continual sense of trying to build and hold together a community that is fractured and I hope you’ll vote ‘no’ on 105.” Dennis Koho, a former Keizer mayor and city coun- cilor, said taking a stand on this issue was a way to begin making amends for actions by previous city councils that added anti-LGBTQ language to Keizer’s city charter. “This is a chance to fi x it. Good people have done good work to help people comply with law and adopting this resolution is another step for- ward to help them do that,” Koho said. Alex Sosa, a Keizer eighth grader, asked the council whether he seemed less im- portant to them because of his brown skin. “I hope not. I hope you see me and my family as impor- tant as any other other lives in Keizer. Help students stay focused in school and help us stay safe in our city and house,” Alex said. Another McNary gradu- ate who offered testimony, Levi Herrera-Lopez, now runs Mano e Mano, a Salem-based organization offering a vari- ety of local services to Latino families. More than 115 fami- lies assisted by Mano e Mano are located in Keizer. “I feel that local law en- A. Be very careful to only recycle the things on your hauler’s approved list. ©1986 PLASTIC BAGS, STYROFOAM, AND WAXY CARTONS WERE NEVER RECYCLABLE! PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLOWING GOOD RECYCLABLES EMPTY, CLEAN AND DRY: • Cardboard and uncoated greyboard boxes (Shipping & cereal type) • Print-quality paper - newspaper, junk & office paper, and magazines; • Tin & Aluminum Cans Only - NO foil, trays, or scrap metal; • Plastic Bottles and Jugs Only - NO bags, tubs, clamshells, bubble Pak, or other plastics. forcement is committed to keeping us safe, but the only way to avoid racial profi ling [if Measure 105 is successful] is if 100 percent of the people po- lice run into are asked for their papers,” Herrera-Lopez said. Passage of Measure 105 would put its supporters one step closer “removing people like me and my family mem- bers,” he added. The city also received a handful of letters weighing in on the issue, including one from state Sen. Kim Thatch- er, whose district includes Keizer. “The attitudes of our law enforcement have changed dramatically from … when the [original] law was passed. The statute that would be overturned … has morphed into something well beyond its original intent and has become an excuse for state, county and local law enforce- ment to refuse to cooperate with federal immigration of- fi cials,” Thatcher wrote. When asked what would happen at the Keizer Police Department if the Measure 105 is successful, Keizer Police Chief John Teague said, not much. “It won’t change what we do as a matter of policy and practice. We work with ICE within the parameters es- tablished by statute. We have great relationships with our community and, whether it passes or not, it’s not going to change,” Teague said. While that might reas- sure residents while Teague remains chief, departmental policies could change under different leadership. Wagon Wheel Doller's 16th Fall Serving Keizer for Nearly 50 years! LOREN'S VA L L E Y SANITATION & RECYCLING SERVICE, INC. RECYCLING & DISPOSAL, INC. 503.393.2262 503.585.4300 Doll Show Willamette Humane Society ’s Annual Halloween Celebration & Costume Party Saturday, Oct. 27 Doors at 5 pm, Dinner at 7 p.m. Sat, Oct. 13 10am – 4pm LOCATION: Salem Convention Center 200 Commercial Street Polk County Fairgrounds in Rickreall TICKETS: $70 each; $80 after Saturday, Oct. 20. Tickets and sponsorships available! Email us at events@whs4pets.org. 100 Vendor Tables Live & Silent Auction Gourmet Dinner & Drinks Admission is just $5 Entertainment Costumes Kids 10 and Under Free Preview the full menu and more at whs4pets.org/bbb Pre-Sale - $8 9am–10am FOLLOW THE KEIZERTIMES ON: PRESENTED BY puzzle answers WorshipDirectory These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051 KEIZER CLEAR LAKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH a member of Open Door Churches of Salem-Keizer REV. ALYSSA BAKER, Lead Pastor Services are Sunday at 10 am (Nursery & Sunday School for Children) 7920 Wheatland Rd N • 503-393-2402 • www.kclumc.org PEOPLESCHURCH 4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM 503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m. Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES 4505 River Road N, Keizer • 503-393-4507 www.FLCkeizer.org Sunday School - 9:00 am Worship Service -10:00 am 452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404 8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm Faith Lutheran Church , ELCA Pastor Linda Matz Easterling John Knox Presbyterian Church JOIN US FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP 9:00 am Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries 1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer 503-390-3900 www.dayspringfellowship.com and 10:45 am www.KeizerChristian.org Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor Worship - 10:30 a.m. Education Hour - 9:15 a.m. Nursery Care Available www.keizerjkpres.org