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
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2019-2020 President
Oregon Newspaper Publishers
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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.