Opinion
A4
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
OUR VIEW
Helping
bridge state’s
urban-rural
divide
L
ocal voters, if they get the chance, should
listen in to the Union County Board
of Commissioners special meeting
Wednesday, Feb. 9, regarding the idea of moving
several Oregon counties into Idaho.
In 2020, local voters passed a measure that
compels the commissioners to hold public meet-
ings to discuss the proposal. While residents
can’t attend the meeting in person because of
the COVID-19 pandemic, they can participate
via phone by dialing 669-900-6833 or 253-215-
8782. The meeting ID number is 814 2000 6863.
To access the Zoom link, go to www.union-
county.org/commissioners/agendaminutes and
click on the meeting’s agenda.
The concept of moving Idaho’s border to
include at least a dozen Oregon counties is
the work of Citizens for Greater Idaho, a non-
profi t that began its campaign several years ago.
The eff ort refl ects in a real way the urban-rural
divide in Oregon and the resulting frustration
with Salem regarding a range of regulations
and policies. Many in Eastern Oregon don’t
feel their values are represented in the Oregon
Legislature.
The meeting Feb. 9 won’t deliver any
earth-shattering new concepts. The meeting is
simply a session for local lawmakers to discuss
the idea and gather input.
That’s where area residents come in. If they
have the opportunity, they should give reasoned
input during the session that refl ects the will of
the people.
The idea to move Idaho’s border deserves to
be discussed and evaluated. While its merits
may be self-evident to some, the fact is the idea
has a long, long way to go before it could even
get off the ground.
That’s because any kind of border move
would not only take the approval of the Idaho
and Oregon legislatures but also the U.S. Con-
gress. That’s a heavy lift.
The idea, though, is benefi cial in one way. It
has the potential to create some buzz and force
many urban lawmakers to start paying atten-
tion to the massive gap that has been created
between certain sections of the state and Salem.
This divide has been growing for decades.
It is unnecessary. We are all one state, and all
geared to the same broad goals.
There is no getting around the fact that
there are two very diff erent ideologies at work
in Oregon, and we need to work together to
narrow the philosophical gap.
The Feb. 9 meeting will be a good time for
lawmakers and voters to discuss and maybe
come up with solutions that don’t require
moving the border.
YOUR VIEWS
Mask mandates and
social distancing are
costing us our future
Oregon leaders have put schools
in diffi cult positions at the expense
of our children. As an educator in
Northeastern Oregon I have watched
my students and own children suff er
as a result of mask mandates and
social distancing rules for two years.
Students are demonstrating
defi cits in social/emotional skills,
speech and language and in aca-
demics. There are increased mental
health concerns among both stu-
dents and school staff . School boards
are tasked with enforcing the man-
dates or risk losing funding. Admin-
istrators “threaten” students with
the loss of extracurricular activities
and more online school due to school
closures if they don’t comply. The
teacher’s union continues to con-
spire with Oregon leaders as they
control public schools. All while
masked students and staff continue
to fall ill with COVID, the fl u and
other normal illnesses that circulate
through schools.
Mask mandates and social dis-
tancing rules are costing us our
future. It’s time schools, staff , par-
ents and students demand local con-
trol and that mask wearing becomes
an individual choice.
Allie Scott
Union
Oregon’s urban/rural
divide grows daily
I am a small-but-essential busi-
ness owner in a small town in
Eastern Oregon. I write this letter
to address the urban/rural divide
in Oregon. Dissatisfaction among
the residents living in Eastern and
Southern Oregon is growing daily.
Currently, eight counties have
voted to support Greater Idaho ini-
tiatives that explore incorporating
the rural areas of Oregon into the
state of Idaho. Additional counties
will be voting on this initiative in
2022.
Additional evidence of support
was collected by SurveyUSA during
a survey of Northwestern Oregon
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
U.S. SENATORS
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Offi ce Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande offi ce: 541-962-7691
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
Cliff Bentz
2185 Rayburn House Offi ce Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
Medford offi ce: 541-776-4646
SENATOR
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
STAFF
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U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Offi ce Building
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202-224-3753
Pendleton offi ce: 541-278-1129
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voters. Of the voters surveyed, 81%
indicated that the Oregon govern-
ment needs to investigate the con-
cerns of rural Oregon communities.
Furthermore, 68% of the surveyed
participants indicated affi rmative
support for hearings on Eastern and
Southern Oregon becoming a part of
the state of Idaho.
Ultimately, I am surprised that
the political leaders acting as rep-
resentatives for the state of Oregon
— including those representing
areas that have already voted in sup-
port of these measures— continue
to look the other way when it comes
to the issues driving the disconnect
between urban and rural areas of our
state. Even though the Greater Idaho
movement’s success would ben-
efi t the needs of rural Oregon, some
call into question our values. But
then those leaders are still actively
neglecting the true values of our
community.
I urge the readers of this letter to
really think about the urban/rural
divide in Oregon.
Sandie Gilson
Mount Vernon
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