4A
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019
The Observer
OUR VIEW
State sends
mixed
signals
If Gov. Kate Brown is truly committed to gov-
ernment transparency, why is her government so
brazenly designed for delay?
The Oregonian laid out the case recently. Brown
signed a new law in 2017, putting the fi rst real
deadline into the state’s public records laws. Basi-
cally, government bodies have 15 days to turn over
documents or they must cite a legal reason why they
do not.
Brown’s offi ce relies on exceptions to the law, some-
times taking months to comply with requests. Those
exceptions were put into the law to help out small
towns or smaller school districts who may not have
suffi cient staff.
Of course, any offi ce is going to be deluged with work
from time to time. Her offi ce says it received a number
of high volume requests in the last few months, includ-
ing over the resignation of the state’s public records
advocate and the Republican Senate walkout. But pro-
viding public information is one of the core responsibili-
ties of her offi ce. Brown should be expected to provide
staff to meet the responsibility in a timely way, if she is
honestly committed to transparency.
There are public agencies that make every effort to
comply swiftly with the law. For instance, the Bend
Bulletin editorial page staff routinely asks the City
of Bend for public records. Some are more intricate
requests, such as emails or text messages. There
have been exceptions, but, in general, we get the
records back within days.
Last year the Bend Bulletin had its own experi-
ence of a public records request getting the Brown
treatment. A state audit found that the Department
of Human Services had been “slow, indecisive, and
inadequate” in fi xing recurring problems in the
foster care system. It wasn’t a secret. The state had
been paying out millions in settlements for failing to
protect children in its care.
DHS vowed to address the issues. The Bulletin
asked DHS for an update a few months later. DHS
prepared a memo to answer questions. It switched
into delay mode. That was, in part, because Brown’s
offi ce wanted it to hold off releasing anything and
roll it into a media campaign, according to internal
emails we obtained later. Brown’s offi ce was more
interested in how the message would be received
than in providing the public with timely information
about how the state treats some of its most vulner-
able children.
The recent resignation of the state’s public records
advocate was just another symptom of a broader
lack of commitment from Brown to government
transparency.
Your views
Allen: Respect, kindness,
generosity deserves
mentioning
To the Editor:
I’m writing this letter because I had
an incredible experience with Loveland
Funeral Chapel recently.
Not long ago I found out that a neigh-
bor of mine died back in November. He
was a recluse and lived a very unobtru-
sive life. He was a Vietnam veteran and
had been wounded in action and suffered
from the effects of his injury throughout
his life. This man passed away quietly,
and suddenly, in his home. He had no
known family, did not have a will, and
had made no provisions for his death.
I received the information, all these
months later, that Loveland was still
in possession of his ashes. I contacted
them and explained the situation and
said my husband and I would be happy
to pay for his burial. With the informa-
tion that the man was a veteran, Love-
land went into action to see what they
could do to get him buried in a national
cemetery.
They came up with a plan, and it was
one I hadn’t even suggested to them.
They were able to obtain his honorable
discharge papers and arrange for him
to be buried at Willamette National
Cemetery. They would not accept any
payment, not even for transport of his
ashes, but did it as a thank-you to a
man who defended our country.
I think that kind of respect, kindness
and generosity deserves mentioning.
to BLM land, our land, my land, might
be punished. The rationale is that
because the president pardoned them,
we should all forget what those men did
to our land.
OK, I am not going to waste space ex-
plaining to you that BLM land is land
belonging to the citizens of the United
States of America, not just a couple
of guys who abused it. I am drawing
a parallel between lawlessness in the
current U.S. administration and the
disrespect of the law that is espoused in
the editorial.
Is this what this country has come
to? We are no longer a nation governed
by laws, and citizens need not be
hesitant to break the laws of the United
States? After all, the president does not
respect the laws of the country, and it
stands to reason the same disrespect is
available for all of us to employ. And if
lawbreakers happen to be caught, there
is a good chance they will not be called
upon to pay the price. Is this what it
means to “make America great again”?
Yes, The Observer has a right to post
views that contradict my belief and my
understanding of the way my country
stood in the past. And I have a right to
let you know that the environmental
groups trying to protect the laws gov-
erning our national properties have the
interests of all citizens at heart, whether
we believe it or not. I am not affi liated
with any of the groups with which you
disagree, but I am glad that someone
cares about our laws and our land.
Nancy Allen
La Grande
Evelyn Swart
Joseph
Swart: What price are we
paying to ‘make America
great again’?
To the Editor:
I am sitting in my living room watch-
ing television when I see the president
of the United States ignoring laws,
defying the constitution of the United
States and proclaiming that anyone
who disagrees with him is committing
treason. Then I pick up The Observer
and read the Oct. 2 editorial that
decries the fact that men who set fi re
LeBold: Climate change crisis
is not a political issue
To the Editor:
A recent article in The Observer
detailed Oregon State Sen. Herman
Baertschiger Jr.’s position on human-
caused climate change. The inaccurate
statements he posted on social media
seem to be either a deliberate attempt
to confuse voters regarding the urgency
to act on HB 2020 (Oregon’s Clean
Energy Jobs Bill) or a measure of his
inability to separate his personal bias
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from settled science on rapid climate
change at the expense of his constitu-
ents.
HB 2020 will be introduced into the
Oregon Legislative short session in
2020 (just a few months away). This
bill was the subject of much confusion
during the 2019 legislative session,
and voters would benefi t by taking
the time now to inform themselves on
the purpose, need and content of this
important bill.
Unfortunately, Sen. Bill Hansell,
who represents Union County, has
expressed almost identical doubts as.
Baertschiger regarding the infl uence
of humans on rapid climate change. In
light of evidence showing that human
actions are currently the main driver
of rapid climate change, these doubts
should not be part of any debate on HB
2020. In my opinion, these delaying
tactics are elements of the Republican
Party position that no signifi cant action
is needed on climate change. Across the
globe, almost daily, evidence builds in
support of immediate action on rapid
climate change and a contrary position
is untenable and reckless for America
and the planet.
The climate change crisis is not a
political issue, and I expect my repre-
sentatives to avail themselves of the
best available science then use their
individual knowledge and experiences
along with critical thinking skills to
assess the needs of all constituents and
to work within the Legislature to craft
appropriate measures.
What Union County needs at this
time, prior to the 2020 short session,
is information and dialogue from and
with Sen. Hansell. The senator, in the
past, has been asked to conduct town
hall style meetings with focus on cli-
mate change issues, but the request did
not receive any response from his offi ce.
Please join me in contacting Hansell’s
offi ce and asking for information, in the
form of town hall style meetings, re-
garding the purpose, need and content
of HB 2020.
541-963-3161
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