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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 2020)
8A | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS DIRECTION from page 1A Just as we began to ques- tion our own work and con- template dropping the whole inquiry, we received a tip to ask the city a very specific question: “Have city com- mittees been infiltrated by partisan actors?” Once we posed that ques- tion, all further response from the city regarding that subject began requiring pub- lic records requests. At first, we believed it was because of the questions we were asking. But as we began fil- ing official requests for this information, so did threats against the newspaper. Lo- cal political leaders and their groups began cancelling subscriptions, claiming that we were actively siding with “the minority voice” within the community and not rep- resenting the majority. Inter- view requests were refused and social media posts be- came increasingly negative about the paper on certain social media pages — some created specifically for that reason. As our investiga- tion continued through the months ahead, the threats became more hostile and more specific to members of the news staff. It took more than a year, but we finally came to un- derstand why. “... political control of everything from dog catch- er to governor” Since 2016, different par- tisan groups have been jock- eying for total control over the Siuslaw regions’ various governmental institutions. “Getting grassroots orga- nization into our local gov- ernment is a must,” one com- mentator wrote on Facebook in January 2017. “This was the big plan. Start putting people into any type of govt (sic) position and work it until you have political con- trol of everything from dog catcher to governor. That’s been something the tea party folks just took advantage of. While we were discussing policy they were quietly tak- ing over local govt.” While a social media com- ment could in no way be construed as an official state- ment, it was later confirmed to us on the record that local liberal groups were looking to stack local committees to undo policies anticipated from the Trump administra- tion. A few weeks later, local Republican leaders released the following email to a pri- vate political group: “At our last meeting Wayne Lemler (County Re- pub. chairman), emphasized how important it is for con- servatives to start replacing liberals on local boards, etc. There are lots of open slots in the Florence area for you to do this. Although the po- sitions do not declare a par- ty, if you want to move the needle in local politics from liberal to more conservative, you need to get involved (or involved in supporting our candidates). Below is a list of open positions and the can- precinct in the region, with officials. didates who have declared so Democrats winning by wide The person who said this far. I want you to know that margins in some races by up- has launched a crusade to if you apply, we’ve got your wards of 400 votes. bring the city’s attention back!” to climate Given change. How- “It doesn’t matter how we decide. The final decision the na- ever, it was does matter, but we’re never going to get everybody ture of difficult for on board. It’s not going to happen. We’re going to have some elect- national p a r t i - people disappointed who don’t like the direction we’re ed officials to sanship, going. And they’ll be vocal about it. That’s fine, that’s reach com- it’s in- their right. There will be people that agree and think mon ground evitable we’re doing a great job. We hear it all.” on a statement that na- motivated by tional ideals will seep into However, in other regions anger. There were protests, local politics. It’s important — particularly the unincor- there were insults against the to remember that those in- porated precinct — the mar- officials. The actions of this volved on both sides are not gins are much tighter, with individual, along with other evil. They are teachers, doc- some races favoring Repub- like-minded groups in the tors, philanthropists, busi- licans, such as in the gover- community, helped shape ness owners, local artisans, nor’s race. the views of elected officials community leaders. In terms of the Siuslaw re- on climate change as a whole. They’re our neighbors. gion, there is no dominant And when that occurred, There can be positive political majority. In speak- the entire climate change outcomes to having polit- ing with citizens — both con- argument became a partisan ical parties participate. All servative and liberal — most issue. forms of government strug- say they value cooperation On the conservative side, gle in getting community over ideological purity. Most the primary local group is volunteers to serve on com- feel uncomfortable with headed by a couple who cut mittee seats, from budget to what they consider extremes their political teeth in Wash- planning. Truth be told, the influencing decisions, par- ington state by creating a majority of area residents ticularly during a time of political action organization don’t get involved with city crisis like the COVID-19 against a school bond within government, except in times pandemic. Yet from a parti- the city, and it appears the ef- of controversy. At the very san political perspective, the forts were successful. least, political parties can be precinct map is a godsend. What they found unsuc- a factor in motivating indi- Flip just a couple hundred cessful, however, was an viduals to become involved votes, and you have control attempt to block Catholic in their local government. of everything. Charities from building In addition, political par- low-income housing for lo- ties have done good things “This anger drove millions cal migrant workers who for the local community. …” were living in unsanitary Thousands of dollars have While arguments for po- conditions due to a lack of been raised for area nonprof- litical parties in local gov- housing opportunities. At its by these organizations, ernment have certainly been a council meeting of Pross- some of which have actually made, it is often with the er City, one of the pair “… found common ground on caveat that “politics does not presented 160 signed protest controversial issues such as influence a vote” in nonpar- cards for the council to re- climate change and gun con- tisan elections such as city view, then turned to Catho- trol. council and local board po- lic Charities’ representatives Most people don’t believe sitions. and blurted out: ‘You folks that the issues they advocate However, there are local are not welcome here,’” ac- for are partisan issues, i.e., political groups which have cording to reporting in the climate change is a human openly stated their inten- Tri-City Herald. issue; immigration enforce- tions to insert politics into That individual now sits ment is about the law; gun local government — and on the City of Florence rights are about constitu- their views are far from mod- Community and Economic tional rights. erate. On the liberal side, the Development Committee However, it is the unique “resist” movement heavily (CEDC) and has worked on political makeup of the Siu- influences their outlook. A updating city housing codes slaw region that makes the driving factor in their tactics in an effort to foster afford- strongest argument against is to both replace and locally able housing in the region. what has become a political counteract Trump’s policies As for statements from polarization of the commu- through local ordinanc- some conservative support- nity. es. While Siuslaw News has ers, they range from “Trump “According to Lane Coun- found no evidence to sup- was elected fair and square ty Elections, the three pre- port accusations that they by citizens of the United cincts making up our Flor- are affiliated with “terrorist” States. Insurrection will be ence and Dunes City areas organizations, they are often dealt with because the will of cast their majority of votes aligned with groups that ad- the people through the ballot for a Republican president, vocate confronting local of- box will stand,” to an individ- Republican Secretary of ficials over national policies, ual who stated that if there State, Republican State Trea- as well as through protests was ever a civil war, there surer and for Kate Brown’s and filling local seats with were people “just chomping opponent, Republican Bud Democrats. at the bits to unleash maxi- Pierce,” one local political While many individual mum destruction on all an- leader wrote about a public members make attempts at ti-American, Anti-fa-loving talk by the governor. “Since bipartisan solutions in pub- anarchists.” the meeting topics leaned to lic comments, prominent When an elected Florence her agenda, it did not repre- leaders within the group of- official posted the com- sent, nor ‘tally’ the views, of ten do not. ments, people suggested he the Florence majority.” “This anger drove millions contact the police, as some It’s an argument that both of people to march here in construed it as a direct threat sides have made to justify a Florence and throughout the to the official — so he did. mandate, but the actual 2016 country and the world,” one “My job is to represent the numbers tell a different sto- resident wrote in a letter to voice of the city, the voice ry. the editor. “It is anger that of my constituents,” another While Trump may have brought these people togeth- councilor stated in a private won the majority in Dunes er. Now we are at the stage of interview with Siuslaw News. City with 51 percent of the channeling this anger into “I represent anybody, both vote, in every other pre- a meaningful resistance. … sides, every side, of whatever cinct he was below 50 per- It may take a few years, but cent. And the claim about through our sustained anger Brown is incorrect; she won we will take back America.” in the Florence district by It is this kind of rhetoric more than 100 votes. In fact, that has painted the group as Florence is the most liberal “dangerous” by some elected the conversation might be. I get advice from council and staff. And I will move for- ward with that information in what I feel is the best rep- resentation for the city and the public.” They were talking about attempts to bridge the gaps between disparate groups. As an elected official, it’s vital to let the facts lead de- cisions. But when there is so much division surrounding the facts, and each faction using their own version of facts, it can be difficult to make a sound decision. In a zero-sum partisan game, there will always be a winner and a loser. “I think it goes back to, ‘Don’t confuse me with the facts, I’ve already made up my mind,’” they said. “It doesn’t matter how we de- cide. The final decision does matter, but we’re never going to get everybody on board. It’s not going to happen. We’re going to have people disappointed who don’t like the direction we’re going. And they’ll be vocal about it. That’s fine, that’s their right. There will be people that agree and think we’re doing a great job. We hear it all.” In the next Siuslaw News edition on Aug. 15, we will provide a summary of these effects, beginning in 2016, as part of the overview heading into our investigative series. 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