VOLUME 42, NO. 4
NOVEMBER 13, 2020
SECTION A
$1.00
A bold
new direction
Doutt to
South
Virginia
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
City values draft to include
condemnation of white supremacy
Keizer resident Mathew Poteet of-
fered emotional testimony at a city
council work session.
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
A new draft of a Keizer values
statement includes a statement con-
demning white supremacy, a massive
shift in the wake of backlash by res-
idents who wanted the statement to
go further.
The statement could also include
recognition of the Kalapuya Tribe
members that once inhabited the
land the city now occupies. The val-
ues statement and its contents were
the only topic at a city council work
session Monday, Nov. 9.
Even without public input to lead
off the meeting, tension was palpa-
ble from all corners, but the entire
council was commended by multi-
ple residents who offered comment
later in the night. Council members
appeared swayed to discuss condemn-
ing white supremacy, if not totally
convinced, by testimony provided by
Benny Williams, the president of the
Salem-Keizer NAACP (See related
story NAACP below).
The statement included by con-
sent of the council was found by
Councilor Elizabeth Smith in a res-
olution from the City of Philomath:
“Keizer condemns racism and
those who display racism, discrimina-
tion, intolerance, bigotry, and hostili-
ty; and does not tolerate expressions
or acts of hostility, intimidation, or
harassment, and, instead, is committed
to elimination of all forms of racism
everywhere it exists; and denounces
violence against people of color.”
A statement acknowledging the
Kalapuya, or American Native popu-
lations, was left to be further devel-
oped.
Including a defi nition of white su-
premacy proved to be a sticking point.
Please see DRAFT, Page A6
NAACP president tells council it can aim higher Residents
By ERIC A. HOWALD
take softer
Of the Keizertimes
Benny Williams, presi-
“ If we make it known,
dent of the Salem-Keizer
tone after
NAACP, urged members of
and stand behind it,
the Keizer City Council to
changes
that is the start.”
be bolder than the existing
draft of a values statement at
a meeting Monday, Nov. 9.
“It’s not that diffi cult,”
said Williams referring to
the more than two years it’s
taken to move the city to
the point of a draft resolu-
tion. “We are going to have
those that disagree, but we
have to stand up and stand
out and lead. We’ve had
progress, now is the time for
us to make greater progress.”
It was the third time in
two months that the council
dedicated signifi cant time
to drafting a statement of
values for adoption by the
city. Residents turned out
en masse to watch the pro-
ceedings and offer feedback.
Williams led off the night
offering the perspective of
local Black leadership.
The pressing issue of
the night was whether the
statement should include a
condemnation of white su-
premacy. Councilor Roland
Herrera was the only one
to support such a statement
in previous meetings. Oth-
er councilors, either vocally
— Benny Williams,
President, Salem-Keizer NAACP
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
Salem-Keizer NAACP president Benny Williams offered testimony that appeared to sway
several member of the Keizer City Council to revise a planned statement of values.
or by their silence, balked at
the suggestion.
“When a student is
condemned for ignorance,
nothing happens from that
point forward. And that is
not ideal,” said Council-
or Laura Reid, a teacher
at McNary High School. is a matter of the tools at
“While I’m in agreement hand, but denouncing white
that there is no room for supremacy wasn’t a high bar
hate, I think we need to to clear, Williams said.
“Some things require de-
be able to focus on the en-
lightenment and productive bate, others enlightenment,
communications.”
Please see HIGHER, Page A7
Meeting any challenge
Pandemic pause in effect until Nov. 25
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
Parts of Oregon, includ-
ing Marion County, entered a
two-week pause in its phased
reopening Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Gov. Kate Brown announced
the changes in nine counties
where community transmission
of COVID-19 is on the rise.
The pause in Marion County
extends through Wednesday,
Nov. 25, the day before Thanks-
giving.
“We are seeing in real time
how this virus can quickly
snowball out of control. This
Two-Week Pause is a series of
measures and recommendations
intended to curb human con-
tact — both through reducing
the amount of people we inter-
act with, and the frequency of
those encounters. We must stop
this virus from spreading. We
must preserve our hospital ca-
pacity. And we must save lives,”
said Brown.
Pause measures include:
• Urging all businesses to
mandate work from home to
the greatest extent possible.
• Pausing long-term care
facility visits that take place in-
doors to protect staff and res-
idents.
• Reducing maximum
restaurant capacity to 50 people
(including customers and staff)
for indoor dining, with a max-
imum party size of six. Con-
tinuing to encourage outdoor
dining and take out.
• Limiting social gatherings
Please see PAUSE, Page A6
PAGE A10
By LAUREN MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
Tensions were running high
going into the City Coun-
cil work session on Monday,
Nov. 9. More than one Keizer
resident in attendance started
off their testimony by saying
they came in with a different
prepared statement, which was
revised by the progress made
in the work session.
Most in attendance echoed
previous calls for condemning
white supremacy, which the
council added to the value
statement during the time be-
fore public comment.
“I came here tonight with
a heavy heart after hearing
some of the comments and
some of the concerns that
were made, but I want to
thank you for taking the time
to assert that my life matters as
a citizen of Keizer,” said resi-
dent Claire Snyder. Snyder is a
Black and Latina woman who
has lived in Keizer since she
was 6 years old.
‘You guys
have
chicken,
I have a
waffle, let’s
put them
together.’
PAGE A2
Man accused
of armed
robbery
PAGE A6
Please see TONE, Page A7
K. Juran wins council seat
Keizer businessman Kyle the lead the following day
Juran will be fi lling the Keiz- and expanded on it.
Keizertimes reached out to
er City Council seat being
Juran for comment,
vacated by Marlene
but he did not re-
Parsons in January.
turn the message.
Juran defeated
On a message
candidate Michele
posted to his can-
Roland-Schwartz
didate
Facebook
with 51% of the
page, Juran wrote,
vote, according to
“ I am honored to
the latest num-
K. Juran
be elected by the
bers from Marion
community to the
County. After the
fi rst round of vote tallying, Keizer City Council. My
Roland-Schwartz led by goal as a city councilor is
three votes, but Juran took Please see COUNCIL, Page A7
Library
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