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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 2021)
PAGE A2, KEIZERTIMES, DECEMBER 31, 2021 New Year's goals for Keizer We asked some local leaders to share their goals for the city going into 2022. Here were their responses: KEIZER CITY COUNCILOR ROLAND HERERRA “I am optimistic about 2022. The past year has renewed my faith that good things can come at what seem like the worst of times. So as another pandemic year nears its end, I am look- ing forward to 2022. I’m hopeful that this great little city will continue to be what it already is: A fun place to raise a family. A place KEIZER MAYOR CATHY CLARK “Events of 2021 continued to test us as a community. From ice storms and wind storms to turbulence within our city, the council and staff , we have fi gured out how to navigate through together and land on our feet. What we have as a community is worth the hard work to take care of. Who we have as our neighbors in our community are worth the time and eff ort to care about in an increasingly loving, meaningful and respectful way. There is nothing magical about a 'new year' but there is something very special about recommitting ourselves to attitudes of grace, gratitude and grit. My prayer for Keizer is that there may be peace on earth, a peace that abides and grows within the hearts, minds and spirits of each of us.” Follow THE LEADER in Keizer news Facebook Twitter Instagram @keizertimes where folks care and help each other. In general, my hope is that we treat one another with kindness, compas- sion and empathy. No matter who you are, where you come from or how you identify. My hopes for the coming year: I want Keizer to be known as the most welcoming city in Oregon. For my family, continued love and support. For my friends, health and happiness. For my country, peace and democracy. For me, like David Bowie said, “I don’t know where I’m going, but I promise you it won’t be boring.” KEIZER CITY COUNCILOR ELIZABETH SMITH As we come to the end of 2021, I am grateful for the lessons I have learned this year. Both professionally and per- sonally. When I took offi ce in 2019, I had no idea what the next few years would bring. I have joked with my husband that in 2022, I hope the city of Keizer doesn’t make the news. If we do, I hope it is for all the right things. I hope that the lessons we have learned, as a commu- nity and individuals, lead to a renewed desire for respect, honor, kindness, and patience. I hope for the citizens of Keizer to make a commitment to being a good neighbor. Not everyone sees the world the same way, and that is OK. We can infl uence change by being kind and compassionate much more quickly than demanding our way. We should be working to engage as many citizens with their community as possi- ble, from every walk of life, to celebrate and experience the many diverse back- grounds and histories that we all have. I have been lucky to sit down with people from diff erent viewpoints in the last several months, and really see what their concerns have been. I hope that in 2022 I can continue to have those opportunities and build bridges of communication for the good of all. People will never see things the same way, but if we can just focus on being kind as a person, a community, a state and a country, I believe we can start to overcome the division of the last two years. It is past time to recommit to that. KEIZER CITY COUNCILOR LAURA REID “What we need most in 2022 is a whole lot more peace on earth, goodwill towards men (and all other genders). As a city councilor, my biggest goal is to get the Community Diversity Engagement Committee up and run- ning so we can hear more voices as we consider policy and identify the places we can improve. We have some excel- lent people in place to start that work, and I’m excited to be a part of it. Another goal I have as a councilor is to hire the best city manager we can. We have such an excellent staff , and it is critical that we have a leader in place that will continue to coordinate our eff orts to provide the best possible ser- vices for the people of Keizer. Also, we need to make the most of Keizer’s 40th birthday. I want to work with our com- munity partners to make this a special milestone. In general, our society is sadly lack- ing in civil discourse. As a teacher, I have always tried to teach critical thinking, but there are some subjects that just can’t be brought up in a public setting, and that limits understanding severely. I have always valued unity, but I have also come to understand that unity is only a positive value if we are reaching consensus, rather than merely having the dominant voice pre- vail; lack of diversity is not unity. My hope for Keizer is that we can see and respect each other as neigh- bors and that we will value people and our humanity more than anything else. Yes, we must stand up for what is right, but we also need to help each other understand our perspectives on what is right. I love Keizer, and it’s so exciting to see what we can accomplish together.”