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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (May 31, 2019)
MAY 31, 2019, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 Opinion Celebrate a fl ower or a community? We refuse to believe that Keizer- FEST (born as the Keizer Iris Fes- tival) has run its course. But we do think that its current home at Keiz- er Lions Club and Cherry Avenue is the best place for an event of this size. When the festival moved from Keizer Sta- tion to the Keizer Lions Club a few years ago it solved a problem. Keiz- er Station was building out leaving no space for all the elements of the festival. With no better alternative and a land- lord that was amendable, the event was shoehorned into the yard at the Lions Club. Utilizing that property plus closing down part of Cherry Avenue, the festival had found what some people consider its forever home. When the main tent was erect- ed at previous sites—especially on River Road, the community got excited: they were reminded that it was festival time. The main tent placed at the Keizer Lions Club is not readily visible from important River Road traffi c. Some have said that Keizer Rap- ids Park is the ideal location for KeizerFEST. It is a nice idea but it is too far off the beaten path and as amenities are added at the park, the space for a festival would grow ever smaller. We think the only viable, long- term solution to the future of Keiz- erFEST is to negotiate an arrange- ment with Volcanoes Stadium. The festival is important for the Keizer community—residents and businesses alike. The event was known as the Keizer Iris Festival for the fi rst 30 plus years of its ex- istence. The name was changed to KeizerFEST in 2018. Keizer has billed itself as the iris capital of the world for years, and it still is, thanks to Schreiner’s Iris Gardens north of the city. The festival has always been a celebration of Keizer itself. That’s one good reason to site the festival where the most people can see it, and hopefully, visit. As a city we can celebrate alone by ourselves or we can invite the surrounding areas to see what Keizer has to offer—its businesses, its parks and amenities. By placing KeizerFEST at a site with high visibility—such as the stadium—you make it easy for res- idents and passers-by alike to see it. Out of sight, out of mind; in sight, top of mind. We have been loyal supporters of the Keizer Iris Festival and Keizer- FEST and nothing will change that. We think Keizer has many things to be proud of and celebrate. Keizer is now home to two large parades— KeizerFEST and Holiday Lights in December. The May festival, once the only event on the calendar, is now competing with dozens of oth- er events and activities. That’s why the festival needs to grab any advan- tage it can to be the preferred event for people to attend on the third weekend in May. As volunteers in the community we are ready to roll up sleeves and do what we can to assure Keizer’s premier community event contin- ues far into the future. — LAZ editorial No winners in infrastructure spat By DEBRA J. SAUNDERS Here’s a scary thought about last week’s skirmishes between President Donald Trump and the Democrat- ic leaders formerly known to him as “Chuck and Nancy”: Both sides think they won. When both parties think they’ve won, dear reader, that probably means you lost. Because there always has to be a big loser in Washington. The plot device in last week’s soap opera was a $2 trillion infrastructure package. After last month’s infrastruc- ture meeting with Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emerged from the West Wing to tout an agreement on the big-dollar price tag and the initiative’s scope, which would encompass not only roads, ation for what is being voted on. By REP. BILL POST airports and water but also broad- What are the pros and cons of band, housing and clean energy. As I begin to write each month- ly column, I try to write something these tools? The pros are: the process Glowing, Schumer told reporters with the perspective of “I’ve never is slowed down in hopes of not pass- that, during the session, Trump never been to the Capitol and I don’t un- ing bills that have not been thorough- even mentioned the 11 congressio- derstand what those people do down ly debated in their perspective com- nal investigations into his fi nances, mittees, and the potential opportunity taxes, Russian ties, possible obstruc- there.” Until I was elected, I wondered the for more negotiations. The cons are: tion of justice and more. “He didn’t it slows down the process bring it up,” Schumer offered. same thing. For instance, (again), potentially killing the matter of the recent Pelosi had asked for the meeting legislation and it’s a very —which was supposed to show she walkout by the Senate Re- painful process for each is serious about getting things done. publicans—what did that party, thus it’s known as Forget that the package was a $2 tril- actually mean? Though the “nuclear option” be- lion pipe dream. you could argue that this cause no one likes it. was a partisan procedure, I still haven’t heard a good answer So, what did the walk- as to why Trump sat back while Pe- when in truth, it is a part out accomplish? Accord- losi and Schumer said he had agreed of the legislative process for any minority party in the Legis- ing to sources I’ve heard, Gov. Kate to present the details of how he lature. It is a drastic procedure and it’s Brown and the Senate Republicans would pay for the massive spending only used when absolutely necessary and Democrats negotiated together to plan, because that never was going and has been utilized in the recent bring the Senate Republicans back to to happen. Even if Trump agreed to past by both parties. The goal is to the building with the Senate Repub- raise the gasoline tax, that wouldn’t get the majority party to come to the licans agreeing to stop using all the pay for the package. And the fact that table and negotiate. In regard to this tools I just described for the remain- year, the minority leaders in both the der of the session. In return, Senate House and Senate chambers felt that Democrats promised they would not they were left out of multiple negoti- bring SB 978 (gun legislation) and Hi kids! How about an opinion ations which included Cap and Trade, HB 3063 (vaccine legislation) to the piece for people your age? Since you Student Success/Gross Receipts Tax, Senate fl oor for a vote, which means gun control, the Paid Family Leave these two bills will not pass this ses- will inherit our planet and hopefully Act and other issues important to Or- sion. They also promised Sen. Cliff help to preserve it for the generations Bentz (R-Ontario) will have a larger to come, it’s important to keep you egon. Another tool the minority party role negotiating HB 2020 (Cap and informed and thinking about some vitals, such as the oxygen we breathe. has is to “read the bills.” The Oregon Trade legislation). Needless to say, it has been a dra- I want to share with you a subject Constitution requires that every bill be read in full before the members of matic few weeks in the Capitol. It’s we take for granted but that we must that chamber vote on it. Traditionally, unclear what legislation will pass be- think about saving to save life on for many years the minority party has fore the mandated Sine Die (adjourn- earth. All of you probably suspended those rules to allow the bill ment) of June 30th. At this point, any- know that when people summary only to be read instead of thing could happen. As always, please take a breathe of air they the entire bill. So, when the rules are feel free to contact my offi ce with should thank the trees, as not suspended by the minority party, questions or concerns. (Bill Post represents House Dis- trees take in carbon diox- it’s within the Constitution, and also trict 25. He can be reached at 503- ide and produce oxygen. allows for slowing down of the pro- 986- 1425 or via email at rep.bill- But the other source may cess so that there is more consider- post@ oregonlegislature.gov.) come as a surprise to you as about half of the oxygen we breathe comes from phytoplank- ton. Phytoplankton are very small creatures that live on the surface of our world’s oceans and lakes. Just one alone is invisible to your eye and Wheatland Publishing Corp. can’t be seen without a microscope. Some look like a bowl with two tails, 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 some have an oval shape and some Phone: 503.390.1051 • www.keizertimes.com even look like a tiny fork. And some have spines while others have crowns. MANAGING EDITOR Eric A. Howald SUBSCRIPTIONS When they’re healthy they give us at editor@keizertimes.com One year: least half of all the oxygen we breathe. $35 in Marion County, ASSOCIATE EDITOR Phytoplankton love sunshine and Matt Rawlings $43 outside Marion County, news@keizertimes.com $55 outside Oregon can turn it into energy and they do so COMMUNITY REPORTER by a means known as photosynthe- PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY Hunter Bomar Publication No: USPS 679-430 sis. The great benefi t to us is that this reporter@keizertimes.com photosynthesis process makes oxygen POSTMASTER ADVERTISING Paula Moseley Send address changes to: through its waste. advertising@keizertimes.com Keizertimes Circulation There are billions upon billions of PRODUCTION MANAGER 142 Chemawa Road N. phytoplankton that, all day long, ev- & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Keizer, OR 97303 EDITOR & PUBLISHER Andrew Jackson ery day, release tiny puffs of oxygen. Lyndon Zaitz graphics@keizertimes.com Periodical postage paid at Of course, as you may know already, publisher@keizertimes.com Salem, Oregon LEGAL NOTICES many animals eat them as their food, legals@keizertimes.com including whales, jelly fi sh, shrimp BUSINESS MANAGER Leah Stevens and small fi sh. As a result, phyto- billing@keizertimes.com plankton, you might say, are at the RECEPTION beginning or bottom of the food Lori Beyeler facebook.com/keizertimes twitter.com/keizertimes chain. Of further interest to you may INTERN Lauren Murphy be that some of them can glow and The politics of the legislature from the capitol the Democrats pushed for Trump to agree to take back parts of his signa- ture 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act— which would never happen—shows they weren’t remotely serious. With absolutely no plan to bank- roll this big boondoggle, Trump sent Pelosi and Schumer a letter telling them he wouldn’t talk infrastructure until Con- gress passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. After meeting with impeachment-focused members of her caucus Wednesday morning, Pelosi told reporters, “We believe the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up.” Pelosi has said she believes Trump is trying to “goad” Democrats to- ward impeachment. Former Trump surrogate Jeffrey Lord agrees. “He thinks he wins because the public will hate impeachers,” Lord told the Review-Journal. But just before heading across town to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave- nue to meet Trump, Pelosi charged Trump with engaging in a “cov- er-up.” It’s as if she was goading Trump to goad her caucus to im- peach him. Pelosi’s provocative accusation gave Trump an excuse to wave a transparently false rationale for call- ing off the infrastructure talk. As Schumer later noted, Trump didn’t see the House probes as deal-kill- ers in April. And the night before, Trump gave a different reason for not talking bridges and water. Some readers tell me they are fi ne with Trump saying one thing one day and another the next, because messing with Democrats’ heads debra j. saunders shows he’s a fi ghter. OK. But in this case, the head fake got him nothing —or nothing but a lousy “No Col- lusion” T-shirt from his trip to the Rose Garden. Trump may have wanted to sig- nal that Democrats can’t handle the Mueller report’s failure to establish his campaign’s collusion with Russia. But he also broadcast that he won’t work with Democrats on an issue he supposedly champions. To show his displeasure, Trump switched from calling the Califor- nia Democrat his usual “Nancy” to “Speaker Pelosi” and demoted Schumer to “Sen. Schumer”—with no reference to the New Yorker’s leadership role. On escalation, Trump was back to a fi rst-name basis, as the nickname pugilist called the speaker “crazy Nancy.” Pelosi engages in the same game with a different demeanor. Like Don Corleone’s long-suffering wife, she offered that she prays for Trump’s soul “ardently.” My theory: Pelosi accepts im- peachment as inevitable, but she wants to make everyone think she tried to stop her House’s nuclear op- tion. Like a lot of folks in my profes- sion, I once bought that act. But it’s hard to believe Pelosi wants to cool down the temperature as she calmly and effi ciently needles Trump. On escalation Thursday, Pelosi told reporters, “I wish that his family or his staff would have an interven- tion for the good of the country.” Crazy Nancy. Intervention-wor- thy Donald. What’s the difference? Syllables. (Creators Syndicate) The very air that we breathe when millions of them glow at night they can light up the water they are in like small scale fi reworks. Now, phytoplankton can also do harm to the environment. For ex- ample, when too much fertilizer gets washed into bodies of water, the tiny creatures multiply quickly, becoming algal bloom that occur in both fresh- water and the oceans. Algal blooms then can cause what’s known as a chain re- action when there are so many of them that they themselves use up the oxygen to cause a “dead zone” where no creature can live. By the way, when we throw garbage into our streams, lakes, rivers and oceans the tiny creatures that make the oxygen in our atmosphere, and keep us hu- mans alive, die and stop making ox- gene h. mcintyre Keizertimes ygen. As a writer who wants each and every young person to enjoy a long life, I want you to know that it is go- ing to be up to you and your friends to know about the importance of phytoplankton, how they make ox- ygen and what stops and even de- stroys them. Without every person on our planet doing his and her part to save phytoplankton there could come a day when there is no oxy- gen. If that happens, all people will perish. There’s still time but you must look after phytoplankton as your re- sponsibility as it is your part in saving the health of our planet for humans and all things great and small. And please don’t forget our important ox- ygen-producing trees as you can do your part to save them too. (Gene H. McIntyre shares his opin- ion regularly in the Keizertimes.)