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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (June 19, 2020)
JUNE 19, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A7 COUNCIL, continued from Page A1 playground on the site. “Seeing that happen and how they use it, and still use it, for what they do was awesome and I hope it lasts them for a while,” Juran said. If elected, Juran is most ex- cited to continue work that began on growth strategies during his time on the plan- ning commission. Keizer is out of space to grow and Juran was part of the group that oversaw and made recommendations on the potential ways Keizer might grow. “As we were having those discussions, I was frustrated when it moved slowly, but there were times when we brought people into the meet- ings and got to hear perspec- tives from all over the map,” Ju- ran said. “Even if I didn’t agree with someone’s perspective, those conversations helped us fi nd the middle ground.” A new development of River Road North, near Son- ic Drive-In, will be the fi rst to capitalize on some of the changes instituted during Ju- ran’s time on the planning commission. The new space will incorporate both housing and commercial spaces, the fi rst of its kind in Keizer. Juran said he was excited to see it happening, but hopes that Keizer doesn’t change too quickly. He thinks that the city can continue to preserve its small town feel through slow expansion of the city’s Ur- ban Growth Boundary to the north. “My initial thinking is that we grow outward while build- ing little community centers of business and recreation and that is what will preserve the small town feel,” he said. Parsons said her largest ac- complishments on the council were The Big Toy in Keizer Rapids Park, which was her fi rst major assignment as a city councilor, and putting forth a new draft of the city charter to voters. “I wanted to change the charter since I was fi rst elect- ed,” Parsons said, speaking of a section of the city’s found- ing document that marginal- izes LGBTQ+ residents. She hopes that Keizer voters fi nd LET THE RACES BEGIN When elections come around in November, three city councilors positions are up for grabs as well as that of Keizer’s Mayor. Councilors Marlene Parsons and Kim Free- man have already announced they will not be seeking additional terms in offi ce. Councilor Laura Reid is up for re-election. Candidates have until August 25 to fi le. To qualify as a candidate, registrants must be regis- tered voters in the City of Keizer and resided within the city for the 12 months preceding the election. Candidates must also collect 120 signatures of registered Keizer vot- ers before being certifi ed for the ballot. Contact Tracy Davis at 503-856-3412 or via email at davist@keizer.org for additional information or for an election information packet. it in their hearts to support the change when it arrives on bal- lots this November. She said the hardest deci- sions were ones that she was legally required to support even when her heart leaned in other directions. She refer- enced a decision to allow land use changes which will likely lead to the cow pasture in the center of town being redevel- oped as apartments. “That was probably one of the hardest decisions because, at fi rst, it got to voted down and we had good reason for it. Then the owners came back with changes that addressed those concerns. Those deci- sions tear at your heart,” she said. When her fi nal term ends in January, Parsons plans to spend more time traveling and with her grandchildren, but she doesn’t plan on leaving Keizer for good. “I would never move from this town. I have a passion to do everything for this town. Kyle has that same passion and it’s why I’m endorsing him,” she said. Phone & Video Conferencing Available 503-371-9636 Protecting You and the Ones You Love Kathy Belcher Attorney at Law McGinty Belcher & Hamilton, Attorneys 694 High Street NE, Salem • mcginty-belcher.com Estate Planning • Elder Law • Probate Social Security • Wills & Trusts Asset Protection • Medical Directives Guardian & Conservatorships Mrs. America hits all the right notes By TJ REID For the Keizertimes I sincerely believe that social media platforms such as Twit- ter and Facebook are some of the most harmful inventions of the 21st Century. Sure, they let you keep up with family and friends and make it easier to share clips of cats doing stupid things, but the detrimental as- pects are legion as well—disin- formation, depression-causing comparisons and cyberbullying, to name a few. The most in- sidious feature of social media, however, is the minimization of people and complicated issues into bite-sized bits. 280 charac- ters are not enough to contain an entire person, nor can they convey every facet of a com- plicated issue. We are, simply put, reduced to the most ru- dimentary forms of the stances we take. But while social me- dia has certainly exacerbated this practice, it by no means invented it—historians have done this too often as well. Mrs. America, a new FX miniseries and Hulu exclusive, attempts to subvert such oversimplifi ed ap- proaches by exploring one such complex issue, the 1970s strug- Submitted Cate Blanchett stars in the FX/Hulu drama leads the luminous female ensemble of Mrs. America. gle to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, as thoroughly as it can. The resulting nine hours is a superbly acted explosion of style that is not only guaranteed to entertain, but also enlighten. The perpetually incred- ible Cate Blanchett leads the equally wonderful ensemble as Phyllis Schlafl y, famous conser- vative spokeswoman and the ERA’s staunchest opponent in the 1970s. Blanchett presents Schlafl y as much more than her beliefs, however, and gives the real-life historical fi gure the nuance that all real-life peo- ple deserve. When interviewed by People Magazine, Blanchett stated that her “function was not to judge [Schlafl y], it was to place her as well roundly as [she] could, so that she could be a foil for the other people and that you get a sense of what it is to be a female in the 1970s or 2020.” In this, the en- tire cast succeeds, as there is not a single weak link in the acting to be found. Perhaps more im- portantly, the show itself does not pick sides—instead of tak- ing the easy route of casting one group as the heroes and the other group as the villains, it illustrates the good and bad on both sides of the issue and lets the viewer come to their own conclusions. This is im- portant, as the topics explored are some that are still relevant and hotly debated today—gen- der roles, abortion, and the role of family in society, to name a few—and understanding op- posing viewpoints is vital to civilized debate. Schlafl y and Gloria Steinem (here played by Rose Byrne) are presented as more than 280 characters. Accompanying the excel- lent acting is a whole lot of style. Mrs. America pops with vintage visuals and authentic ‘70s tunes, giving the admit- tedly slow-burn story a lot of personality. I would be a liar if I said that I understood all the political speak and ma- neuvering, but I was also nev- er bored. For a mini-series all about politics, this is an impres- sive feat. So log off of Facebook, put down your phone, and pick up your phone again to watch Mrs. America. Empowerment awaits. Mrs. America is now available on Hulu. 503.390.5222 CreeksideVetKeizer.com 113 McNary Estates Dr N, Suite B Next to Don Suklis State Farm Insurance Free Consultation NO FEE UNTIL WE WIN • Personal Injuries • Wrongful Death Richard Walsh • Auto Accidents 503-304-4886 174 Shore Pointe Pl N, Suite 201, Keizer Come in & receive a FREE Light Check & Bulb Replacement 3353 Silverton Road NE Salem ◆ 503-363-1990 See BEFORE & AFTER photos at jacksonsautobody.com Give Us Your Keys, & You’ll be Pleased!
