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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2020)
VOLUME 42, NO. 4 NOVEMBER 13, 2020 SECTION A $1.00 A bold new direction Doutt to South Virginia KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald City values draft to include condemnation of white supremacy Keizer resident Mathew Poteet of- fered emotional testimony at a city council work session. By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes A new draft of a Keizer values statement includes a statement con- demning white supremacy, a massive shift in the wake of backlash by res- idents who wanted the statement to go further. The statement could also include recognition of the Kalapuya Tribe members that once inhabited the land the city now occupies. The val- ues statement and its contents were the only topic at a city council work session Monday, Nov. 9. Even without public input to lead off the meeting, tension was palpa- ble from all corners, but the entire council was commended by multi- ple residents who offered comment later in the night. Council members appeared swayed to discuss condemn- ing white supremacy, if not totally convinced, by testimony provided by Benny Williams, the president of the Salem-Keizer NAACP (See related story NAACP below). The statement included by con- sent of the council was found by Councilor Elizabeth Smith in a res- olution from the City of Philomath: “Keizer condemns racism and those who display racism, discrimina- tion, intolerance, bigotry, and hostili- ty; and does not tolerate expressions or acts of hostility, intimidation, or harassment, and, instead, is committed to elimination of all forms of racism everywhere it exists; and denounces violence against people of color.” A statement acknowledging the Kalapuya, or American Native popu- lations, was left to be further devel- oped. Including a defi nition of white su- premacy proved to be a sticking point. Please see DRAFT, Page A6 NAACP president tells council it can aim higher Residents By ERIC A. HOWALD take softer Of the Keizertimes Benny Williams, presi- “ If we make it known, dent of the Salem-Keizer tone after NAACP, urged members of and stand behind it, the Keizer City Council to changes that is the start.” be bolder than the existing draft of a values statement at a meeting Monday, Nov. 9. “It’s not that diffi cult,” said Williams referring to the more than two years it’s taken to move the city to the point of a draft resolu- tion. “We are going to have those that disagree, but we have to stand up and stand out and lead. We’ve had progress, now is the time for us to make greater progress.” It was the third time in two months that the council dedicated signifi cant time to drafting a statement of values for adoption by the city. Residents turned out en masse to watch the pro- ceedings and offer feedback. Williams led off the night offering the perspective of local Black leadership. The pressing issue of the night was whether the statement should include a condemnation of white su- premacy. Councilor Roland Herrera was the only one to support such a statement in previous meetings. Oth- er councilors, either vocally — Benny Williams, President, Salem-Keizer NAACP KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Salem-Keizer NAACP president Benny Williams offered testimony that appeared to sway several member of the Keizer City Council to revise a planned statement of values. or by their silence, balked at the suggestion. “When a student is condemned for ignorance, nothing happens from that point forward. And that is not ideal,” said Council- or Laura Reid, a teacher at McNary High School. is a matter of the tools at “While I’m in agreement hand, but denouncing white that there is no room for supremacy wasn’t a high bar hate, I think we need to to clear, Williams said. “Some things require de- be able to focus on the en- lightenment and productive bate, others enlightenment, communications.” Please see HIGHER, Page A7 Meeting any challenge Pandemic pause in effect until Nov. 25 By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Parts of Oregon, includ- ing Marion County, entered a two-week pause in its phased reopening Wednesday, Nov. 11. Gov. Kate Brown announced the changes in nine counties where community transmission of COVID-19 is on the rise. The pause in Marion County extends through Wednesday, Nov. 25, the day before Thanks- giving. “We are seeing in real time how this virus can quickly snowball out of control. This Two-Week Pause is a series of measures and recommendations intended to curb human con- tact — both through reducing the amount of people we inter- act with, and the frequency of those encounters. We must stop this virus from spreading. We must preserve our hospital ca- pacity. And we must save lives,” said Brown. Pause measures include: • Urging all businesses to mandate work from home to the greatest extent possible. • Pausing long-term care facility visits that take place in- doors to protect staff and res- idents. • Reducing maximum restaurant capacity to 50 people (including customers and staff) for indoor dining, with a max- imum party size of six. Con- tinuing to encourage outdoor dining and take out. • Limiting social gatherings Please see PAUSE, Page A6 PAGE A10 By LAUREN MURPHY Of the Keizertimes Tensions were running high going into the City Coun- cil work session on Monday, Nov. 9. More than one Keizer resident in attendance started off their testimony by saying they came in with a different prepared statement, which was revised by the progress made in the work session. Most in attendance echoed previous calls for condemning white supremacy, which the council added to the value statement during the time be- fore public comment. “I came here tonight with a heavy heart after hearing some of the comments and some of the concerns that were made, but I want to thank you for taking the time to assert that my life matters as a citizen of Keizer,” said resi- dent Claire Snyder. Snyder is a Black and Latina woman who has lived in Keizer since she was 6 years old. ‘You guys have chicken, I have a waffle, let’s put them together.’ PAGE A2 Man accused of armed robbery PAGE A6 Please see TONE, Page A7 K. Juran wins council seat Keizer businessman Kyle the lead the following day Juran will be fi lling the Keiz- and expanded on it. Keizertimes reached out to er City Council seat being Juran for comment, vacated by Marlene but he did not re- Parsons in January. turn the message. Juran defeated On a message candidate Michele posted to his can- Roland-Schwartz didate Facebook with 51% of the page, Juran wrote, vote, according to “ I am honored to the latest num- K. Juran be elected by the bers from Marion community to the County. After the fi rst round of vote tallying, Keizer City Council. My Roland-Schwartz led by goal as a city councilor is three votes, but Juran took Please see COUNCIL, Page A7 Library books on the move PAGE A5 BUILT 2020 EDGE, ESCAPE, EXPLORER, EXPLORER HYBRID, FOR THE EXPEDITION, F-150, FUSION , and RANGER! HOLIDAYS mo. 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