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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2020)
PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 Public Square KT on vacation Public Square weclomes all points of view. Published submissions do not necessarily refl ect the views of the Keizertimes. Submit a guest opinion, column or letter to the editor to publisher@keizertimes.com. Keizer values The approval by voters of the new Voters overwhelmingly approved changes to the Keizer city charter in city charter is a goodthing and the Tueday’s election. The Charter Re- win with 67% of the vote demon- view Task Force, led by City Council- strates that Keizer is ready for the next or Elizabeth Smith, worked for more step. At the city council meeting on than year, combing over every line of the original document, fi rst approved Monday, Nov. 2, a number of residents spoke passionately about by voters in 1983, to bring it values in Keizer, specifi - up to date. cally demanding the city The biggest change was and its leaders make a the deletion of Section 44, statement de- which prohibited the city editorial declarative nouncing white suprem- from extending minority acy. status to individuals based on The council will hold sexual orientation and ex- a work session next Mon- pending funds that “promote day to discuss a “statement homosexuality or express ap- of values” regarding the city’s stance on proval of homosexual behavior.” The section became moot when diversity, equity and incusion. It is im- the Oregon Legislature rendered the portant the disucssion comes right on changes unenforceable, but it remained the heels of the city charter revision a blemish on the city. Other cities that approval. The proposed Keizer Statement of adopted similar changes found them- selves losing opportunities to host Values states “all people shall be treated events, like conventions, as a result of with dignity and respect.” The state- ment lists the federal defi nition of having the language on the books. protected classes of people as well as the addition of Oregon protect classes. The protected classes include race, col- or, religion, national origin, sex, famil- ial status, disability, source of income, marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity. If approved, the values statement commits the City of Keizer to take ac- tion to be a city that “welcomes every person.” The city would be committed to ensure all members of the commu- nity are free from acts that are rooted in racism, discrimination, intolerance, bigotry and hostility. The sooner the Keizer Statement of Values is fi nalized and approved, the sooner the city can move for- ward. Words are most important when backed up with actions. It is disheart- ening to hear when anyone has a view of Keizer being unwelcoming. Keizer wants to be a place where people want to live and businesses want to locate, —LAZ Submitted photo Thank you for service In the United States there are approximately 17.4 million veter- ans of all the armed forces. Next week, America marks Veterans Day, when we honor and celebrate those who served and sacrifi ced for their country. Regardless of their rank or posi- tion, every military veteran should be proud of their service. Since the draft was abolished in the 1970s, our armed forces have been manned by men and women who have vol- unteered. Americans have served, and con- tinue to serve, in spots around the globe, from Korea to Afghanistan to Bosnia and everywhere in between. Other nations may have more per- sonnel in uniform, but the Ameri- can military is more dedicated to its mission, and the American military is the envy of the world. They are well trained and have the equipment they need. Service prepares one for life after the military; the skills learned are easi- ly transferred to civilian life. However, the issue of homelessness for vet- erans is a dark stain that must be addressed. Also, an alarming num- ber of veterans take their own lives each year. A country that values its vet- erans must assure that those who served and sacrifi ced for all of us have the quality of life they assured for the country. “Thank you for your service” must always been said from the heart. Let us guarantee that our words are supported by programs to alleviate homelessness and suicide. Our veterans gave their all, let’s do the same for them. —LAZ And then there were none rus Task Force that brought energy and By DEBRA J. SAUNDERS In the fi rst months of President new characters to the Trump Show— Donald Trump’s presidency, the brief- with Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah ing room was standing room only. Birx informing the public about a pan- Around the room’s 49 assigned seats for demic that required Americans to do the press, with the front rows reserved things—socially distance, stop working for big media, reporters with small- and stay home —that went against er news outfi ts jostled for space and a their instincts. They had a different ap- chance to pose a question of proach than Trump, which then-White House Press Sec- added dramatic tension. retary Sean Spicer. other Partisans fault Trump for Playboy’s Brian Karem not taking extreme shut- named those of us standing in voicesl down measures in January the sidelines “the aisle people.” or February. They forget Trump was a full employ- how skeptical many Amer- ment act for political journal- ists. Networks and newspapers couldn’t icans were, that many blue state gov- get enough of a story that sold itself ernors hesitated to close nonessential to news consumers. Trump himself has businesses and that local offi cials gen- been more accessible to the press corps erally had a better sense of what they than predecessors who had nicer things needed to do and could accomplish. After taking the job in April, McE- to say about the Fifth Estate. Three press secretaries later, the nany brought back the back-and-forth, briefi ngs have come to a standstill. but also COVID-19 changed how the What used to be a must-see specta- administration communicated with the cle has evaporated. Blame it on the people. The briefi ngs got smaller because coronavirus and Trump’s idiosyncratic the White House Correspondents’ As- mandates. Trump and Kayleigh McEnany, his sociation, more concerned about the fourth press secretary, both tested pos- health and safety of its members than itive in early October, which made the White House was about its staff, briefi ngs untenable. After McEnany worked out a plan that strictly limited was able to return to work, she was who should work in the press area and focused on the campaign trail. There when. The WHCA set up a rotation hasn’t been a press briefi ng in about a schedule for 14 seats, banned reporters standing in the aisles and discouraged month. Not a fi rst. Trump’s third press sec- members from working at 1600 Penn- retary, Stephanie Grisham, did not pre- sylvania Ave. unless they were in the side over a regular briefi ng where she press pool or had their turn in one of took questions during the nine months the 14 seats. The new order worked well for she held the prestigious post. Enter the White House Coronavi- folks such as me. To her credit, McE- nany tried to call on everyone in the room—not just the front rows—and that provided chances to ask questions about Las Vegas and an administration decision to deny Paycheck Protection Program funds to small casinos, which the administration revoked. At the same time, The Washington Post and The New York Times stopped sending reporters to briefi ngs—de- spite journalists’ designation as essential workers. Not a coincidence: The left wing had begun to call for journalists to boycott White House events during an election. Where does it go from here? If Joe Biden wins this week, the briefi ng room will be back in business and big media likely will fl ock to the center of power to lob softballs at the new president and his new press sec- retary. But given Biden’s limited press availability during the campaign, the often fawning questions directed at the Democratic nominee and his team’s quickness to shut down any reportage on Hunter Biden’s cashing in on his fa- ther’s connections, the result could be more civility but less information. If Trump wins, he will be governing in a shrinking bubble. The 45th president doesn’t talk to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He be- rates former stars in his White House team. Then he retreats to the warm embrace of his rallies rather than fi nd a way to bridge divides. Is the now emp- ty briefi ng room a metaphor for the Trump presidency? Figure it wouldn’t happen to any other president. (Creators Syndicate) Keizertimes Wheatland Publishing Corp. 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 • Phone: 503.390.1051 www.keizertimes.com SUBSCRIPTIONS One year: $35 in Marion County, $43 outside Marion County, $55 outside Oregon MANAGING EDITOR Eric A. Howald editor@keizertimes.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY Matt Rawlings news@keizertimes.com Publication No: USPS 679-430 COMMUNITY REPORTER POSTMASTER Lauren Murphy reporter@keizertimes.com Send address changes to: ADVERTISING advertising@keizertimes.com PRODUCTION MANAGER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrew Jackson graphics@keizertimes.com EDITOR & PUBLISHER Lyndon Zaitz publisher@keizertimes.com 2019-2021 President Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Keizertimes Circulation 142 Chemawa Road N. Keizer, OR 97303 Periodical postage paid at Salem, Oregon LEGAL NOTICES legals@keizertimes.com facebook.com/keizertimes twitter.com/keizertimes Gayle Bachik took her Keizertimes with her when she visited Idaho recently. You too can have your photo in the Keizertimes. Simply take the paper to your destination, snap a picture with you and your group holding it, and send the photo along with everyone’s fi rst and last names to kt@keizertimes. com. PARADE, continued from Page A1 public will be asked to watch from home or online. The council approved use of funds that would traditionally be used to televise the parade to televise the tree lighting instead. GIVING BASKET TREES GO UP Beginning Monday, Nov. 9, trees for the Keizer Network of Women’s Giving Basket program will be on display at a number of local retailers. Tags on the trees include the holiday wish lists of local children, identifi ed through their schools. Those who take a tag are asked to return the items listed, unwrapped, to the location the tag was taken from. Trees will be located at: the Human WARMING, continued from Page A1 Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to volunteer with no prior experience necessary. Volunteer applications can be found at www. arches.volunteerhub.com. After applying potential volunteers must read the volunteer manual and attend a volunteer training. When training is completed volunteers can sign up for shifts on www.arches.volunteerhub.com with the password they used to send in their application. Each volunteer will be assigned a role for the shift they choose to work. Shift one is 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., shift two is 10:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. and shift three is 3 a.m. to 7:30 Bean, St. Edward Catholic Church, Columbia Bank, Los Dos Hermanos, Willamette Valley Bank, Courthouse Club Fitness, Physiq Fitness, Keizer Liquor Store, Copy Cats Keizer, NW Dental Arts, Carlisle & Smith, Bolt, Celtic Storage, The Chicken Shack, Keizer Church of Christ, Mommy & Maddi’s, Luepitz Contractors and Grove, Mueller and Swank. Volunteers will assemble to sort through donated food items on Wednesday, Dec. 9, and wrap the gift on Thursday, Dec. 10. Instead of an annual gala to support the event, the Keizer Chamber held an online auction to benefi t the giving basket program. It raised $48,000 to help cover the costs of the expected additional need this year. “We are expecting to support about 250 families this year,” Bethell said. a.m., the centers ask that volunteers come 30 minutes early to their fi rst shift and come prepared to go outside if necessary. Guests and volunteers can receive free transportation through Cherriots Monday-Saturday after 6 a.m. and before 11 p.m. When boarding a bus ask the driver to take you to the nearest warming center. Warming centers are located at South Salem Friends Church, 1140 Baxter Rd SE, Salem, Capital Park Wesleyan Church, 410 19th St SE, Salem, and Salem First Presbyterian, 770 Chemeketa St NE, Salem. For questions or more information contact Salem Warming Network at salemwarming@mwvcaa.com or by phone at 503-399-9080. New volunteers appointed to city committees The Keizer City Council approved several appointments to city advisory committees Monday, Nov. 2. • Hersch Sangster was appointed to the Keizer Budget Committee. • Dustin Karschstetter and Mathew Poteet are new appointees to the Keizer Parks Advisory Board. Clay Rushton and David Louden were re- appointed to the committee. • Bob Busch and David Louden were appointed to the Keizer Points of Interest Committee. • Natalie Janney was appointed to Stormwater Advisory Committee. • Isabella Biondi will serve the re- mainder of a term as youth liaison to the Keizer Public Arts Commission. Local veterinary clinic switching to urgent care only A veterinary clinic in Keizer has changed its mission and taken a new name. VCA Iris Animal Hospital will re- open as an urgent care only facility and will operate under a new name: VCA River Road Animal Clinic. In an email to their current clients, VCA Iris Animal Hospital said they listened to the community and rec- ognizes the current heavy burden on veterinary emergency hospitals. The animal hosptial will help pet owners transition care to other vet- erinary clinics. VCA has three other clinics in the Salem area—VCA Sa- lem Animal Hospital, VCA Vitality Animal Hospital and VCA Keizer Veterinary Hospital. VCA Iris Animal Hospital is locat- ed at 4975 River Road N.
