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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 29, 2017 3A
Monmouth council
considers inclusivity
Resolution to be discussed at
April 4 city council meeting
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — Mon-
mouth City Council took a
step toward declaring the
city an “inclusive” one at its
March 21 meeting.
The decision came in a
work session after hearing
from citizens and Western
Oregon University students
in support of an inclusivity
resolution.
Comments came during
the regular meeting until
Mayor Steve Milligan asked
the public to refrain from
commenting so that the reg-
ular meeting could move
forward.
“Unless you have some-
thing to contribute to this
conversation, we will take
comments in the work ses-
sion,” Milligan said. General-
ly, the council does not take
public comments during a
work session. “We’ll have
some discussion. If you feel
we’re going off track, we’ll let
you help us stay on track.”
Co u n c i l o r Jo n Ca re y
thanked the mayor for mov-
ing the meeting along,
adding that it is important
for citizens to speak their
mind.
“While some of it is re-
dundant, it is an important
comment for that person to
make,” he said. “I’m happy
to sit here as long as it takes
for all of those who wish. I
understand we have an
agenda to get through, but
participatory democracy is a
slow deal.”
The council had heard
twice before from students
and residents about becom-
ing a sanctuary city, but a
motion to move forward
with that failed twice for a
lack of second.
Councilor Byron Shinkle
said he likes the spirit of the
inclusivity model.
“Part of the reason I like it
is, one issue I have had with
this is the word ‘sanctuary’
has become a political state-
ment,” he said. “I’m not sure
that my role is to make polit-
ical statements for people
who live in Monmouth.”
Shinkle said that the state-
ment is for people who don’t
April 5
Y
E VALLE
H
T
F
O
WINES
feel security right now.
“It’s tough for me to walk
in their shoes, admittedly,
but if it provides that extra
level of calm and comfort
that they’re not going to get
harassed for immigration
status, gender identity or
whatever it might be, than
perhaps it should stay,” he
said.
Councilor Tom Steinke
said a sanctuary statement
would be insulting to the
city’s police officers, who al-
ready uphold the state laws.
“I think it would be insult-
ing to the employees of
Monmouth, especially our
police officers who have
sworn oaths to uphold the
laws, to say, ‘Hey fellas and
gals, we need you to not vio-
late people’s rights. We need
you to uphold the state law,’”
he said. “… It’s insulting to
have to say it because we’re
such a nice town as it is.”
Steinke suggested the city
put an inclusivity resolution
or statement on the ballot in
May and let the residents of
Monmouth decide.
Carey said he doesn’t care
if anyone gets mad over the
council approving an inclu-
sivity resolution.
“Having read it again, I
don’t care what they think,”
he said. “I’m happy to argue
against anybody on this.
Anybody who wants to
argue about this, let’s go.
There’s nothing here that I
think any of us have to apol-
ogize for.”
During the discussion, an
audience member raised his
hand to contribute, but was
not allowed to speak.
Milligan said he didn’t
take audience comments
because the council was able
to deliberate and come to a
decision on its own.
“When you came and told
your stories, you changed
the minds of some coun-
cilors,” he said. “Everything
you’ve input so far has been
valuable.”
Councilor Laurel Sharmer
invited the audience to at-
tend the April 4 council
meeting at 7 p.m. to see
whether or not the council
will approve an inclusivity
resolution.
April 5
AL DIRE
CTORY
MEDIC
Courtcare gets closer
Legislature to consider paying for child care for
those using Polk County Courthouse services
By Emily Mentzer
Find out more
The Itemizer-Observer
POLK COUNTY — A mom who had to
attend a no-contact waiver hearing
brought her 3-year-old and 7-year-old kids
with her to the Polk County Courthouse.
“She brought them all prepared,” said
Lisa DeMoe, Polk County Victim Assistance
coordinator. “They had these games and
headsets. They were going to be prepared
to sit still for anywhere up to 45 minutes or
an hour.”
Court started late that day. No-contact
waivers are always last on the docket,
DeMoe said.
“We were there easily an hour and a half
before she was called,” she said. “The kids
started getting restless, going under the
seats. They’d already been there an hour
and a half sitting still.”
When it was the mom’s turn to speak to
the judge, the 7-year-old stopped in his
tracks, watching his mom as she cried, ex-
plaining why she wanted the no-contact
lifted, DeMoe recalled.
“All I could think was there was no rea-
son why these kids should be standing
there watching this,” DeMoe said. “This is
the type of thing that happens on a regular
basis in our courtroom. It was heartbreak-
ing to know that that 7-year-old was taking
in everything his mom was saying.”
It’s not unusual, said District Attorney
Aaron Felton.
“Everyone I work with has seen situa-
tions like Lisa describes,” he said. “Kids
perceive everything. Courtrooms are not a
place for children.”
To help parents who need child care
while they are in court or taking care of
court business, efforts are underway to es-
tablish Mid-Valley Courtcare, a service run
three days a week by Family Building
Blocks — licensed, trained child care
providers.
The program is already in Multnomah
County. House Bill 3067 will go to a Legisla-
tive hearing on April 6, which would pay for
a two-year pilot program in Marion and
Polk counties. Marion County’s child care
will be provided by the Salem YMCA.
Child care and transportation are the
two things that can create barriers to suc-
cess when it comes to probation, Felton
said.
Mid-Valley Courtcare efforts are un-
derway. To write a letter of support, or
to attend the hearing in front of the
Legislature, midvalleycourtcare.org.
If you go to the hearing, wear navy
blue as a sign of support. The color blue
is also used to symbolize National Child
Abuse Prevention month, which is April.
“Since I started this work, people had to
bring their children to court, and they had
no choice,” Felton said. “Child care is ex-
pensive. If you don’t have a friend or family
member, if you’re the only one — but you
have to be there for a court appearance, an
arraignment, meet with your probation of-
ficer, any number of things. You have to
choose your child or your court obligation.”
It’s something people who have means
often take for granted, Felton said.
“If we had a resource we could tell mom
or dad, we have a place for you to leave
your kid that’s safe, that’s licensed and
trained — it would solve so many problems
with just making it easier for them to make
their grand jury appearance,” Felton said.
Mid-Valley Courtcare, if funding is ap-
proved by the Legislature, would allow wit-
nesses, victims, jurors, defendants, or anyone
required to be at court access to free child
care for as long as they needed it, whether
that turns out to be an hour or many hours.
“Once people have been brought to jus-
tice, we put them on probation and require
them to do A, B and C,” Felton said. “I want
to make sure they succeed. I don’t want
lack of child care to stop them from going
to treatment, going to classes, whatever
their PO requires of them. I don’t want this
to be a barrier.”
Felton said Mid-Valley Courtcare will
benefit all who work in the courthouse,
from judges, defense attorneys, prosecu-
tors, witnesses, court clerks and staff.
If it’s successful, the service will be ex-
panded to include all who use county serv-
ices, such as someone who needs to meet
with his or her therapist or councilor.
To get involved, go online to midvalley-
courtcare.org and write a letter of support
to the Legislature. Attend the hearing at 1
p.m. on April 6 at the Capitol — and wear
navy blue to show your support.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT YOUR SPECTRUM CHANNEL LINEUP
Communities Served: Independence & Monmouth, OR
Effective on or after May 2, 2017, the following changes will be made to your channel lineup:
HSN on Basic channel 7 will relocate to channel 121.
QVC on Basic channel 3 will relocate to channel 113.
Jewelry TV on Expanded Service/Spectrum Select channel 74 will relocate to channel 174.
Evine LIVE on Basic channel 77 will relocate to channel 117.
For a complete channel lineup, visit spectrum.com/ channels.
To view this notice online, visit Spectrum.net/ProgrammingNotices.
(Mar. 29, 2017)
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