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East Oregonian
Thursday, June 20, 2019
CHRISTOPHER RUSH
Publisher
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
ANDREW CUTLER
Editor
WYATT HAUPT JR.
News Editor
JADE McDOWELL
Hermiston Editor
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
Reviewing goal-setting process a good idea
T
he formation of a special
workgroup of Pendleton
city councilors to develop
better methods to execute goals is a
good idea and deserves more than a
passing glance by city voters.
Recently, city councilor Scott
Fairley briefed the city council on
the work of the committee and
outlined some possible methods
elected leaders can use to stream-
line its goal-setting system.
Changing the content of the
council’s’ goals, adding more time-
lines and reforming the overall pro-
cess were key points made by Fair-
ley and we couldn’t agree more.
Fairley also said an important
part of the overall goals process
is to ensure revenue streams are
attached to each goal.
Fairly and his workgroup have
it right, but the real question in the
future will be whether or not such a
plan can be followed.
The crucial element to the work
by the committee — and, in turn,
the council — will be public input.
While the council is doing the right
thing by researching a better way
to set and implement goals, none of
that will matter unless voters sign
off on the venture.
That means the council must be
very specific with residents about
what it is doing and why. That
also means elected leaders need to
engage with voters. Simply labeling
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Dale Primmer, right, and his fellow Pendleton City Councilors listen to a report Tuesday night at a meeting of the Pendleton De-
velopment Commission.
a public council meeting as good
enough in terms of providing a
public forum won’t do. Voters, res-
idents, are busy. Not everyone can
attend a city council meeting. The
ideal, of course, would be that each
council session is routinely filled
with voters observing and interact-
ing with elected leaders. That’s not
reality, though.
On the other side of the coin,
residents need to remember that
members of the city council are not
professional politicians. They are
neighbors and friends and gener-
ally seek what they believe is the
best for Pendleton. In the American
political process, residents have a
responsibility and an obligation to
be as involved as much as they pos-
sibly can. An elected council needs
feedback from voters on a fairly
consistent basis, otherwise it will
make decisions in a vacuum.
We think the council’s motives
are sincere and aimed at simplify-
ing the decision-making process for
long-term goals. That shows fore-
sight and a willingness to think out
of the box.
Now, it will be up to the council
to develop key concepts and pres-
ent them to the public for review.
OTHER VIEWS
HB 3063 would have
preserved health, safety of
many Oregonians
A
s an organization invested
In Oregon, there is no “access
in the health of every per-
to care issue” regarding the abil-
son in our communities,
ity of low-income individuals to
we were extremely disappointed
vaccinate their children thanks
to hear that the Oregon Legisla-
to the Vaccines for Children
ture abandoned House Bill 3063,
(VFC) program. VFC is a fed-
a bill that would have eliminated
erally funded program that pro-
parents’ ability to opt out of vac-
vides vaccines at no cost to chil-
cinating their children prior to
dren who might not otherwise be
school attendance without a
vaccinated because of inability
medical exemption.
to pay, including those enrolled
We are especially concerned
in Medicaid and Oregon Health
that the health of our commu-
Plan. Children whose
nities became a political
health insurance policies
bargaining chip follow-
do not cover some type
ing the worst outbreak of
of vaccines may receive
measles in 25 years.
no-cost immunizations
We believe strongly
at public sites, such as
that the health of one per-
county health department
son is indeed the health
clinics and clinics that are
of humanity. This means
designated as a Federally
one person’s health can
Qualified Health Center
J aun C arlos
affect the lives of others;
o livares
(FQHC) or a Rural Health
COMMENT
in this case, we are frus-
Clinic (RHC). Immuniza-
trated to hear that our
tions significantly reduce
elected officials discarded
the incidence of vac-
a bill so vital to Oregon’s health.
cine-preventable diseases and
HB 3063 would have pre-
represent a cost-effective way to
served the health and safety of
foster health equity.
the many Oregonians who do
Furthermore, because our
not have the option of vacci-
community health centers have
nation; including children and
extremely high vaccination rates
adults with cancer, rheumato-
among our patient population,
logic diseases requiring high-
Oregon’s low vaccination rate is
dose steroids or other immune
not due to an access issue.
suppression, those with HIV,
———
and children born with immune
Juan Carlos Olivares is the
deficiencies.
chief executive officer of Yakima
What is even more unsettling
Valley Farm Workers Clinic,
is that those opposed to the leg-
which operates health centers in
islation pointed to non-vaccina-
Portland, Hermiston, Woodburn,
tion as an “access to care issue.”
Salem, Astoria and Clatskanie.
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of
the East Oregonian editorial board. Other
columns, letters and cartoons on this page
express the opinions of the authors and not
necessarily that of the East Oregonian.
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
GOVERNOR
Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
whitehouse.gov/contact/
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court Street
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. SENATORS
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande office: 541-962-7691
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton office: 541-278-1129
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Greg Walden
185 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
La Grande office: 541-624-2400
REPRESENTATIVES
Greg Barreto, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-38
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.GregBarreto@state.or.us
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
SENATOR
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-423
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues and public policies
for publication in the newspaper and on our website. The newspaper reserves the right to withhold
letters that address concerns about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights
of private citizens. Letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime
phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published.
Send letters to the editor to
editor@eastoregonian.com,
or via mail to Andrew Cutler,
211 S.E. Byers Ave.
Pendleton, OR 97801