MAY 7, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
Herrera admonishment tabled, supporters sound off
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
Fallout from the resignation of the
former city manager and possible inves-
tigation of Councilor Roland Herrera con-
tinues to rain down in the chambers of the
Keizer City Council.
On Monday, May 3, the council tabled
action of a potential memo of corrective
action for Herrera. Herrera was placed
under increased scrutiny for forwarding
city emails to his personal computer and
posting to social media during council
meetings.
During public testimony, members of
the public took issue with the council’s
treatment of Herrera by the council in the
wake of Keizer’s former city manager dis-
charging a gun in his civic center office in
early March.
The incident with a firearm, and sub-
sequent treatment of the council’s only
racial minority member, made Claire
Snyder feel unsafe in the building and
standing in front of the city councilors to
offer testimony.
“You are demonstrating bias, racism,
intolerance, bigotry and allowing those
sounds louder than those and indignity to
be heard louder than the people who are
asking you to make this a safe and equi-
table space,” Snyder said. She later added
that the only reason she felt brave enough
to be in the room was the presence of
supporters who stood behind her as she
offered testimony.
She suggested that the city’s recent-
ly-adopted statement of values be re-writ-
ten to state: The city of Keizer has affirmed
its commitment to protecting its own
regardless of their negligence or whether
it causes members of the community to
be further exposed to hostility and double
standards.
“I beg of you to do better,” Snyder said.
Mayor Cathy Clark offered “acknowl-
edgment and appreciation” of Snyder’s
feelings, and said she was sorry Snyder
felt fearful of appearing in the council
chambers.
A letter from Levi Herrera-Lopez,
executive director of Mano a Mano and
a McNary High School alum, made a
pointed critique of the council addressing
WALKOUT,
against the U.S. or Oregon Constitutions.
These are meant to protect the city
from the emergency order whims of the
governor.”
Like-minded residents, Herb said,
were encouraged to get involved at
restoreoregonnow.org.
Another Keizer resident, Davis Dyer,
wrote to the council supporting actions
to defy COVID rules in the way other
recent Oregon cities have chosen.
“It is far beyond time for leaders
to lead resistance against the tyranny
exercised by the governor,” Davis wrote.
“[Brown] may find it easy to ignore a
small-ish, backwater town like Baker City
… but she will find it harder to ignore citi-
zens nearly on her front porch."
Continued from page A1
tired to fight,” Smith said.
A fellow speaker echoed portions of
Smith’s contentions a few minutes later.
“As the governor continues to issue
mandates and lockdowns, hundreds of
thousands are activated to do something,
anything to get out from under this gov-
ernor’s unilateral and authoritarian con-
trol,” said Jane Herb.
Herb encouraged the council to adopt
ordinances that would prevent enforce-
ment of laws or ordinances that “go
harassment of Herrera on social media
and in email. His letter was also read aloud
by someone in attendance during public
testimony.
At a prior meeting, Clark asked if
Herrera had reported the incidents, but
that question is indicative of requiring
members of a minority to raise concerns
about their treatment adds to the stigma,
Herrera-Lopez wrote, but was clear that he
was not accusing the council of racism.
“What I witnessed is a textbook
example of the experiences of systemic
harassment familiar to so many people
of color, LGBTQ+ persons and others,”
Herrera-Lopez wrote.
A former Keizer resident Paige Hook
suggested that councilors were holding
Herrera to a double standard when it came
to social media interactions and provided
screenshots of Councilor Dan Kohler
interacting with Hook using his councilor
Facebook account.
“I’d ask that you cease what appears to
be petty attacks on Councilor Herrera,”
Hook wrote.
brainfood
crossword
answers pg A20