PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, NOVEMBER 6, 2020
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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)
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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.