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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 14, 2018)
SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 39, NO. 50 SECTION A SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Keizer is now one of more than two dozen Oregon cities classifi ed as severely rent burdened by the Department of Housing and Community Services. The news came in the form of a letter from the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services to city leaders as part of a new legislative requirement. The designation as a severely rent burdened city means that more than a quarter of renter households are paying more than 50 percent of the household gross income on rent. In Keizer, 27 percent of renters, about 1,400 households, fall into the severely rent burdened category. In the overall picture, Keizer is just over the line that triggered the designation, but the city is required to address the issue. City offi cials must convene a public meeting to discuss the causes and consequences of rent burdens, the barriers to reducing rent and possible solutions. The effect of rent burden is striking current city residents in a variety of ways, and at different stages of life. Christine Braning Reed felt a sense of sticker shock as she began looking for an apartment when the rent on the home she was living in increased beyond her means. Most apartment complexes required an income of at least three times the monthly rent on the applications. Reed’s household income, which includes a disabled $1.00 RENT BURDEN$ draw eye of state Grant may make RR crossing quieter By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes The City of Keizer is apply- ing for a federal grant that, if successful, could mean a quieter railroad crossing on Chemawa R o a d North- east near Keizer Station. T h e city coun- cil approved moving forward with the Consolidated Rail In- frastructure and Safety Im- provements grant application at its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 4. A 2016 estimate from Bur- lington Northern to retrofi t the space as a quiet crossing came in at $123,000. Those costs are likely to have in- creased and Keizer would be required to provide a 50 per- cent match, but city’s street fund is fl ush enough to cover the expense. “The grant focused on safety, so we have an uphill battle, but this has been an is- sue in our community,” said Community Development Director Nate Brown. The crossing was updated about a decade ago and meets ac- ceptable safety standards, which could contribute to the uphill battle. The current stationary horn at the crossing rever- berates through nearby resi- dence most hours of the day Please see CROSS, Page A10 daughter, is roughly $2,800 a month between PERS and Social Security benefi ts. The rent on a two-bedroom apartment is roughly $1,000 in Keizer. “I had to downsize so much it was unreal. We had two weekends of garage sales and then I just junked the rest. I saved what I wanted for my kids and put it in storage so I have the bill ($160). I have had to really curb the grocery shopping because I can’t buy in the bulk because there is no storage here in the apartment,” Reed said. While each act of culling her possessions was diffi cult, she’s had the most trouble adjusting to the little things, now gone, that made her house feel like a home. “I had to give up all my potted plants that I love because we can’t have that much on the porch or grounds. I was told we don’t rent the outside. I loved having fushia plants hanging on my porch and I can no longer do that. I had to give up my rose gardens and some of the roses I had planted at the house were from my husband’s funeral,” she said. Reed’s husband died of a terminal illness in 2006, between that and the housing crisis, her brother purchased her home and allowed her to pay below-market rent for the past decade. Adding to Reed’s current hardships, she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer that, between co-pays and surgeries, will only add to the budget crunch she was already feeling. “I am only hoping that God continues to provide for me. I thought this move I would be able to save some money but now with the cancer I don’t know what I am going to do. I might have to go get a part time job. I don’t know,” she said. When Keizertimes asked Facebook readers about their experiences with rent burdens, multiple commenters noted their rent has climbed by leaps and bounds in recent years often with little or no renovation to the facilities themselves. Some reported their rents had increased by $500 or more in the past six years and several had taken on MHS football fields female kicker PAGE B1 9/11 Memorial PAGE A3 Please see RENT, Page A10 Council candidates focused on growth Smith runs to follow Ryan DeBlasi competes to secede Anderson By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes When Michael DeBlasi moved to Keizer from the Medford area six years ago, he didn’t waste any time before getting involved. DeBlasi, a resource coordinator with the Department of State Lands, was appointed to Keizer’s Planning Commission in September 2013 and has maintained the role ever since. More recently, he joined the Keizer Traffi c Safety, Bikeways and Pedestrian Committee and now he’s set his sights on replacing outgoing City Councilor Bruce Anderson in the November election. Anderson is stepping aside, but DeBlasi will face Dan Kohler in the election. “I felt this would be the next logical step,” DeBlasi said. “At the time, I didn’t know that Bruce and Amy (Ryan) weren’t running, but I felt there were some differences in how they viewed growth and how I do.” DeBlasi views the city as an ecosystem all its own, and that development should take place in such a way as to By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Elizabeth Smith’s crash course in how Keizer grows began 23 years ago when she moved to the city working in the banking industry. Smith was often one of the fi rst people new residents met when they came in to open accounts, but changes at home added other dimen- sions. “Before Weddle Elemen- tary School happened, my kids went to three different elementary schools and we never moved,” Smith said. Smith is running to re- place Keizer City Councilor Amy Ryan who is stepping aside. Her opponent in the contested election will be Shawn Lapof. Smith, who is now a home loan sales manager with Cali- ber Home Loans, said the close attention she’s paid to Keizer growth throughout her career make her a good fi t for the council, particu- larly as some of the biggest conversations happening at City Hall are turning toward the city’s future. “I’m very detail-oriented because the person I have to convince in my job is an un- derwriter dealing with data Michael DeBlasi support other elements. “I don’t want River Road to turn into a Lancaster or streets like that where people are whizzing by giant parking lots and big signs. I want to see development that is fi nancially benefi cial and improves the quality of life,” he said. “It’s not a traditional downtown street and any development should move in a direction away from [Lancaster’s design].” In somewhat recent discussions about a Safeway fueling center at planning commission meetings, DeBlasi frequently voiced concerns over allowing it to go forward. Allowing the gas station near the center of the city would likely mean it would be a fueling center for the foreseeable future with little alternative other than someday tearing it down and replacing it. Please see DEBLASI, Page A7 Salem-Keizer football round-up PAGE B4 Elizabeth Smith and rules,” said Smith. How- ever, as wife to a disabled vet- eran and mother to a child who struggled with addic- tion in the past, she’s gained appreciation for the social as- pects of fi scal decisions. “We often think a system is working, but then hear that it is not working from the people using that system. When people get emotional it's because there’s something behind it,” Smith said. Aside from her work in the fi nancial sectors, Keizer’s current growth trajectory has had a direct effect on her business. She recently had to relocate her offi ce to Salem because Keizer simply didn’t have the type of offi ce space required by Caliber Home Loans’ corporate offi ce. “It was still diffi cult to fi nd in Salem, but we don’t have that here at all,” Smith said. Lady Celts fall to West Salem PAGE B1 Please see SMITH, Page A7 INTERNET PRICING on all 2018 Ecosports and Explorers Keizer 2018 ECOSPORT Starting at $ 18,297 * 2018 EXPLORER Starting at $ ** 28,929 *MSRP $22,581 Sale price $21,547 after Skyline Discount $1,034. Final Price $18,297 after $2,250 Rebate, $1,000 in certifi cates (while supplies last). Plus license, title & documentation fee $413 and applicable taxes. Vin#196826, Stk#183127. On approved credit. Art is for illustration only. **MSRP $35,855 Sale price $33,929 after Skyline Discount $1,926. Final Price $28,929 after $4,000 Rebate, $1,000 in certifi cates (while supplies last). Plus license, title & documentation fee $413 and applicable taxes. Vin#44994, Stk#183124. 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