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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2019)
NOVEMBER 1, 2019, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 Opinion Reckoning with our inaction By ERIC A. HOWALD After a student reported seeing a person with a bat and possible rifl e on campus, a swarm of police cars sped past the offi ce on the way to McNary High School Wednesday, Oct. 23,. The offi ce scanner popped and crackled with sporadic updates from offi cers and dispatchers. I pulled out my phone to provide my kid, a sopho- more at the school, with information I was hear- ing and explain what they might be seeing. As I began typing, I wondered to myself whether it was the right thing to do. I wondered whether re- laying information about the poten- tial threat was going to alleviate or ramp up anxiety students would be facing. The fi rst message from Ameya derailed that train of thought. Ameya: Why are we on lock- down? Me: You should be okay. Someone called the police about someone in the parking lot with what looked like weapons. They can’t fi nd anybody. It may have been someone joking around or someone misinterpreted what they saw. I love you with all my heart Ameya: Love you too. I let them know that there were police in the building checking the halls, when offi cers made contact with the student who notifi ed 9-1-1 and when it sounded like the lock- down was going to be lifted. After it was all over, it took me al- most an hour to calm my own nerves and refocus on work. The scare lin- gered with Ameya much longer. As we drove to school the next morn- ing, they told me they’d made it home from the bus stop as quick as they ever had. Getting to a place that felt safe took priority over all else. Earlier this school year, Ameya and I had an two-hour conversation about a violent fi ght that took place as stu- dents headed for buses at the end of the day. The day after that, the paper’s student intern, who also witnessed the altercation, talked to me about the inci- dent and the haunting sound of one student being slammed against a wall. The brief brawl was also captured on video by other stu- dents for all to relive until it no lon- ger hurts. Not long after calm was restored at McNary last week, I crossed paths with another father whose daugh- ter has attended the same schools as mine for 10 years. I asked if he’d heard about the morning’s scare and he said he’d been texting his kids as well. We parted ways agreeing that it’s a different world than the one we grew up in. As an elementary school student in the Midwest, the only drills I ever practiced stemmed from tornadoes and earthquakes. In other words, acts of nature. They felt rote to a point and mostly beyond our control. The same can be said of active shooter drills to an extent. The odds of someone targeting any given school are remote, and we can be moments of lucidity thankful the Keizer Police Depart- ment appeared well-prepared to han- dle a potential threat, but the active shooter drills alone are trauma-in- ducing for students in a way prepar- ing for acts of nature are not. These are a few of the questions I imagine asking myself in the wake of an active shooter drill: Who have I talked to? What did I say? Did my words anger anyone? Am I sure? Who am I cer- tain is a safe person? What happens if I’m wrong? Are we safe at school? Con- certs? Malls? Churches? Home? Where am I safe? Why don’t the adults do some- thing to make us safer? Meanwhile, adults wonder why the kids are spending so much time on their phone. In many ways, it’s a safer way to build connection. The young people we are bring- ing up in the world are not “snow- fl akes,” either. By continuing to show up – despite external threats rang- ing from active shooters to climate change – they are proving themselves more resilient than any generation before them. There are many paths adults might take to make the world safer for our children, but that is not the point of this writing. There needs to be a reckoning with the rippling fallout the modern world extracts from those living in it. Adults need to accept, and begin acting on, the toll our unwise and too-often poisonous decisions are taking on our children. The world is different than the one we grew up in, but that should not be the end of the conversation. We are not powerless to change it for the better. (Eric A. Howald is the managing editor of the Keizertimes.) What’s the solution to homelessness? Via social media, we asked our readers: What is the solution to Oregon’s homelessness situation? These are selected responses: I have a passion for being homeless I am 16 and go to McNary. I have emailed the mayor about this many times. I think we can turn the old Hillcrest youth correction- al facility into a homeless shelter—have counseling, food, drug and alcohol re- hab, and beds and then have a tiny home community af- ter they complete counsel- ing and fi nance training and job training. I would really like to help I just need the funds! —Emily Brogan Lower the cost of living: rent, gro- ceries, etc. People can’t afford to sur- vive on minimum wage, and provide affordable mental health resources to those in the streets due to disabilities. —Kimberly Schott I feel you must fi rst deal with the addiction and or mental illness, before you can address the homeless issue. There are a lot of people that are just not capable of mentally coping and providing for themselves in a normal society. We defi nitely need more af- fordable housing that will help as well. —Michelle Adame I would say instead of forming task forces over and over again...how about our elected offi cials step out of the pocket of those for profi t organi- zations such as the Salem and Keiz- er Chamber’s of Com- merce and actually make the tough decisions that need to be made. Just my opinion that our current elected offi cials at both the local and state levels rely too heavily on the Chamber of Commerce for support. We need candidates and elected offi cials to act independently of them. —Dakota Saunders Figure out why they are homeless. Is it drug/alcohol use caused? Finan- cial issues? Is it due to the outrageous rent/mortgage, is it because they want too much?. We need to start fi xing the why instead of putting bandages on. A lot of the time it is fi nancial issues, rent is crazy, medical bills are crazy and there is no way to live off of min- imum wage. —Paul Aichlmayr what’s your view? It’s proof of how impossible it is for some to make a home for themselves with rent prices vs. minimum wage. —Krislynn Retz I would say that we need to work harder at getting people off drugs and alcohol. It’s downright inhumane to continue to let people live the way they do. It’s not safe for them and it’s not safe for citizens who partake in society. Sure, not every homeless per- son is on drugs or alcohol. That is just ignorant. But a huge population of them defi nitely are and I’ve encoun- tered it over and over. Start giving people two options: you go to jail or you go to rehab. What you don’t do is puke and crap on the streets. You par- ticipate in this life.We’re taking care of these people already so let’s put our money into things that help and mat- ter. Forget giving them clean needles. Let’s get them off drugs instead of say- ing you matter a little so here’s a clean needle. Let’s say, you matter a lot so we’re going to get you off drugs and help you. And if you don’t want help then you can go to jail until you do. Also, resources for our mentally ill. We need more services! —April Rains Defending the vote Last month, a bipartisan panel of U.S. senators called for decisive ac- tion by Congress, the White House and Silicon Val- ley to ensure so- cial media sites are not used to interfere in the coming presi- dential election. We know about the weaknesses Russian agents used in the 2016 elec- tion, resulting in suspicious and taint- ed outcomes. In consideration of all that’s going on in our nation’s capital at present, likelihood of voter protec- tions are in doubt. Generally considered a pillar of our democracy, there are states in the country that’ve passed comprehensive voter-restriction laws. An example is North Carolina. Recently, its Re- publican-led legislature enacted laws that cut back on early voting, restricts private groups from conducting vot- er-registration drives, eliminates elec- tion-day voter registration and im- pose the strictest voter ID rules in the country. gene h. mcintyre The American people and our court system would not tolerate re- strictions of this sort if they were im- posed on free speech, free assembly, freedom of religion or freedom to petition government for redress of grievances. The right to vote is mentioned in the Constitution fi ve times while the highest court in the land has brushed it aside as a privilege that states may observe at their convenience. Even an overwhelming majority of members of Congress— given the power to enforce the right in no fewer than four different plac- es in the Constitution—cannot pro- tect this right more strongly than the Court feels is appropriate. What about the right to vote? The vote appears for the fi rst time in the Fourteenth Amendment reading that states shall lose congressional repre- sentation “when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for president, members of Congress, legislative body members is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the U.SA.” Bottom Keizertimes Wheatland Publishing Corp. • 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 phone: 503.390.1051 • web: www.keizertimes.com • email: kt@keizertimes.com EDITOR & PUBLISHER Lyndon Zaitz publisher@keizertimes.com 2019-2020 President Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Keizertimes Circulation 142 Chemawa Road N. Keizer, OR 97303 Periodical postage paid at Salem, Oregon SUBSCRIPTIONS One year: $35 in Marion County, $43 outside Marion County, $55 outside Oregon PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY Publication No: USPS 679-430 line, however, is that while all must be allowed to vote and states penal- ized when the ballot is withheld, the Court does not require states to grant the vote or sleight of hand for voter manipulations. In the Fifteenth Amendment, the right to vote is not to be “denied or abridged on account of race, col- or, or previous condition of servi- tude.” However, in amateur lawyer talk, many things might “abridge” a right without “denying” it com- pletely. Whatever the status of the right as a right, the limits are found through racial restrictions on voting by racial barriers to the right to vote. That prejudice has been addressed although too frequently pops up to deprive certain Americans their right to vote. The U.S. Election Project reports that on average 59 percent of eligi- ble American voters cast their ballots. My parents were regulars at voting. There’s no recollection they bragged or complained about it. And when voters who took their citizenship se- riously had to travel to a voting sta- tion to vote and did so on their own time. Being a regular at voting was simply following my parent’s good example. We’ll have another elec- tion for president in about a year. We’ve got leadership that appears uncommitted to democratic prin- ciples and practices, rule by law, and the checks and balances for- mulated by our Constitution. All eligible voters will want to take the 2020 contest seriously as its out- come will drive the U.S. future and their lives. (Gene McIntyre shares his opin- ion frequently in the Keizertimes.) hometown news U.S. Air Force Airman Antonio A. Garibay graduated from basic mili- tary training at Joint Base San Anto- nio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an inten- sive, eight-week program that in- cluded training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fi tness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Garibay is the son of Serafi n Gari- bay of Keizer, Ore. He is a 2018 graduate of McNary High School. cuffed in Keizer Fidel Angel Estrada Arrested Oct. 23 for: Assault Previous charges: Menacing, strangluation (trial still pending) Michael Lee McArthur Arrested Oct. 24 for: Parole violation. Previous convictions: Drug possession, theft, forgery, recklessly endangering another person Michael Wallace Johnson Arrested Oct. 25 for: Criminal mistreatment (felony) Previous convictions: None Brent William Vale Arrested Oct. 24 for: Interfering with an offi cer Previous convictions: Drug possession, assault, aggravated harassment, theft Lyle Lester Ray Arrested Oct. 26 for: On warrant – failure to register as a sex offender Previous convictions: Sodomy, attempt to commit a felony police scanner MONDAY, OCTOBER 21 12:01 a.m. - Theft from motor vehicle and criminal damage in the 4000 block of Kerstin Way NE. 7:38 a.m. - Criminal trespassing in the 1000 block of Modoc Drive NE. 11 a.m. - Mail theft in the 3000 block of Willamette Drive N. 2 p.m. - Motor vehicle theft in the 6000 block of Keizer Station Boulevard NE. 4:31 p.m. - Computer crime in the 6000 block of Hidden Creek Loop NE. 6:16 p.m. - Theft in the 5000 block of River Road N. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22 12:01 a.m. - Restraining order violation in the 200 block of McNary Heights Drive N. 2:30 a.m. - Arrest for warrant served, in- terference with police offi cer and false information at the intersection of River Road N. and Delmar Drive N. 6:45 a.m. - Theft in the 4000 block of River Road N. 10:16 a.m. - Criminal trespassing and ha- rassment in the 3000 block of Partridge Lane N. 11:07 a.m. - Disorderly conduct and menacing use of weapons at the inter- section of Newberg Drive N. and Max Court N. 11:50 a.m. - Arrest for criminal damage in the 1000 block of Alder Drive NE. 1:30 p.m. - Arrest for burglary and theft in the 4000 block of Clark Avenue NE. 9 p.m. - Motor vehicle theft in the 400 block of Evans Avenue N. 10:20 p.m. - Arrest for strangulation in the 600 block of Rose Park Lane NE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23 7:30 a.m. - Burglary and criminal dam- age in the 6000 block of Jacobe Street NE. 1:54 p.m. - Burglary in the 1000 block of Springtime Court NE. 3:03 p.m. - Arrest for disorderly conduct in the 3000 block of River Road N. 8:34 p.m. - Burglary in the 6000 block of Trail Avenue NE. 9 p.m. - Motor vehicle theft in the 500 block of Dietz Avenue NE. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24 12:17 a.m. - Arrest for shoplifting in the 4000 block of River Road N. 1:06 a.m. - Possession of stolen vehicle, unlawful possession of methamphet- amine, parole violation and unauthorized use of motor vehicle at the intersection of Lucinda Avenue NE. and Chemawa Road NE. 7 a.m. - Arrest for aggravated assault in the 800 block of Foothill Court NE. 1:56 p.m. - Carry concealed weapon in the 500 block of Chemawa Road N. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 12:01 a.m. - Motor vehicle theft in the 3000 block of Hart Drive N. 6:49 a.m. - Traffi c accident at the inter- section of River Road N. and Cummings Lane N. 7 a.m. - Physical harassment in the 1000 block of McGee Court NE. 8:11 a.m. - Traffi c accident at the inter- section of Chemawa Road NE. and 7th Avenue NE. 11:43 a.m. - Arrest for warrant served in the 900 block of Chemawa Road NE. 1:39 p.m. - Assault in the 1000 block of Alder Drive NE. 2:43 p.m. - Arrest for unlawful possession of methamphetamine and shoplifting in the 4000 block of River Road N. 3:47 p.m. - Physical harassment in the 1000 block of Alder Drive NE. 9:08 p.m. - Arrest for warrant served at the intersection of River Road N. and Bever Drive NE. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 2:51 a.m. - Arrest for driving under the infl uence of intoxicants in the 5000 block of River Road N. 5:17 p.m. - Arrest for probation violation and warrant served in the 200 block of Lakepoint Place N. 5:41 p.m. - Arrest for bench warrant in the 200 block of Lakepoint Place N. 10 p.m. - Assault in the 600 block of Chemawa Road NE. 11:04 p.m. - Motor vehicle theft in the 5000 block of River Road N. 11:46 p.m. - Arrest for warrant served at the intersection of River Road N. and Triple Tree Circle N. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 10:06 a.m. - Arrest for probation viola- tion and bench warrant in the 100 block of Dearborn Avenue N. 12:41 p.m. - Failure to perform duties of driver when property was damaged in the 7000 block of Meadowglen Street NE. MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 12:53 a.m. - Arrest for warrant served in the 4000 block of River Road N. 9:55 a.m. - Assault in the 1000 block of Alder Drive NE.
