A4 BAKER CITY HERALD • THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
BAKER CITY
Opinion
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news@bakercityherald.com
Baker City, Oregon
EDITORIAL
Bracing for
a drought
T
oday, streams and springs in Baker City’s wa-
tershed are producing plenty of water to meet
our needs. But this situation is not likely to
continue through the summer. Michelle Owen, the
city’s public works director, said recently that the city
likely will ask, and possibly require, residents and
businesses to cut back on water use this summer, as
happened in 2021.
Last summer’s restrictions were in effect volun-
tary — the city didn’t issue citations or fines. That
was in part because people heeded the city’s warn-
ings and curbed their consumption.
This year, with ample advance notice that sim-
ilar conditions probably will prevail, it’s worth
considering taking steps to prepare for another
summer of drought. This could include, for in-
stance, revising your garden plans, replacing
thirsty grass with landscaping that requires lit-
tle or no water, or installing drip sprinklers that
use less water and can be programmed to run at
night when there’s less evaporation.
— Jayson Jacoby, Baker City Herald editor
YOUR VIEWS
Baker County United working on both the Senate and House. Yes, that on the alternatives which might give tion of Independence, and the Bill of
is a known fact. It is agreed that the us a just and livable future.
Rights. That federal and state law en-
behalf of all county citizens
I have witnessed Gary Dielman
acting out at County Commissioner
meetings in ways that I would think
an 82-year-old man would not. I
would expect wisdom and fortitude
from a man his age, but that is not
what I have seen.
In December, Mr. Dielman was es-
corted out of the County Commission
Chambers by Sheriff Ash as he would
not stop talking in his outside voice
and out of turn. I am a huge propo-
nent of free speech but that was be-
yond the definition.
What I find funny about that is
that Mr. Dielman, in one of the many,
many emails sent to Baker County
United, asks if Baker County United
will “storm the Courthouse” while in-
deed, he is the only one who has acted
out in aggression.
Why would he think that Baker
County United would do that? The
Commissioners have had them on
the agenda twice and called a spe-
cial meeting outside of the court-
house chambers. There is no need
for such silliness.
During the meeting on March 16,
2022, Mr. Dielman was the only one
who testified against Baker County
United’s proposed resolution, yet he
stated that Baker County United was
a “little, tiny, small group (that) does
not represent the people I know in
this county,” yet his group was not
there, nor did they speak up online.
(Well, in his time speaking he was
supposed to testify against the reso-
lution, but instead he turned to the
group of people behind him, poking
his finger in their direction, verbally
attacking the group. Chairman Har-
vey had to keep directing him to the
front, reminding him that his time
was given to testify against the resolu-
tion and not given to address the peo-
ple in the room.)
I’d like to address and correct Mr.
Dielman. Baker County United DOES
represent YOU and YOUR group of
people because Baker County United
cares for all of the people of this
county, and for their rights as citizens.
“All men are created equal.” Why do
you hate your fellow human beings
so much? You would not make eye
contact with one single person in that
room, except for the commission-
ers. You would not sit in any available
chair with your fellow citizens, but
rather you sat on the floor until Chair-
man Harvey brought you a chair. (You
also had special seating provided to
you at the Jan. 12 meeting at the Com-
munity Center. I found that odd.)
You were specifically greeted by a few
people and you ignored them, staring
straight past them. Why do you show
such disdain?
Mr. Dielman said that the elected
officials are just that. ... elected. And
the Democrats weigh the scales in
power is in the vote.
The vote is coming and I think
Mr. Dielman is scared because Baker
County United is helping to educate
voters, build courage against a gov-
ernment that is not working for the
people and offering a platform for
candidates to meet the public.
The County Commissioner meet-
ing on March 16, 2022, is available
on the Baker County Facebook page.
I highly recommend those who
weren’t there and didn’t watch it on-
line to view it. It was a productive
meeting and I am grateful to our
Commissioners for the time given.
Debbie Henshaw
Baker City
Child tax credit extension vital
to addressing huge wealth gap
in U.S.
I believe that much of today’s ex-
treme social and political unrest is
deeply rooted in widespread poverty.
We’ve endured stagnant wages over
the past 45 years, as computer auto-
mation and offshoring have stymied
wage bargaining, while the rich got
richer, and, now, inflation pushes
prices higher.
The American Dream has faded,
as we work harder and harder, but
still fall below our parents’ gains.
How can we reverse this trend? How
can we increase our purchasing
power? Is a Universal Basic Income
in the cards down the road?
One hopeful sign has been the
Child Tax Credit that temporarily
lifted tens of millions of American
families out of poverty as part of
President Biden’s coronavirus re-
lief package. But these payments
came to an end in December, after
the evenly-divided U.S. Senate, with
zero Republican support, failed to
pass the Democrats’ Build Back Bet-
ter Act, which would have extended
the policy.
Perversely, if the policy is not rein-
stated, it could deal another blow to
Democrats’ already fading prospects
in November’s midterm elections.
Republicans are currently favored to
retake control of the U.S. House, and
the failure to pass the Build Back
Better Act — and specifically its ex-
tension of the expanded Child Tax
Credit — may make voters even less
inclined to reelect Democrats.
The bitter irony is clear: If Repub-
licans win the House, we will almost
certainly lose all chance of a na-
tional response to poverty, and the
dysfunction and the suffering will
likely continue.
I urge all my fellow readers to
push for a comprehensive fact-find-
ing about the huge wealth gap in the
United States of America, and to get
behind a vigorous national debate
Marshall McComb forcement agencies are encouraged to
Baker City continue to consult and work closely
with local law enforcement and the
Constitution resolution is a
District Attorney to assure that the
people’s rights guaranteed under the
safety net to protect against
United States Constitution are pro-
government overreach
tected and preserved from any un-
lawful encroachments. There is no
I am thrilled that the country com- greater obligation or responsibility of
missioners voted to send the Consti- any government officer than to pro-
tution resolution “as is” to the legal
tect the rights of the people. Thus, any
counsel for review.
conduct contrary to the United States
The Constitution resolution is
Constitution, Declaration of Inde-
meant to fill in any gaps to protect
pendence, or the Bill of Rights will be
Baker County citizens from an over-
dealt with as criminal activity.”
reaching government. Does the Baker
Nanci Klein
County charter affirm its basic and sole
Baker City
duty to its people? Has the government
Baker City needs to make a
actually been representative? Are we
happy with the direction government decision about police
is going and the excessive burdens that
have been put on our own bodies, our detective’s future
children, and on our families?
I read the letter from a fellow retired
The very first paragraph of the
Constitution resolution expresses how police chief, Wyn Lohner, and I concur
important and necessary this protec- totally with his comments. Except for
tion is for the people of Baker County. an overly cautious personnel director
and/or city manager and/or chief of
“Pursuant to the powers and du-
ties bestowed upon it by our citizens, police there is no reason for this matter
the Baker County Commissioners do to have drug on for seven months. If
hereby resolve that any federal officer, the potential criminal issues regarding
agent, or employee, regardless of sup- the detective raised in court have any
substance then there would also have
posed congressional authorization,
been serious violations of department
is required to obey and observe lim-
itations consisting of the enumerated policy. An administrative investigation
regarding that should have been con-
powers as detailed within Article 1
Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution and ducted long ago. If violations were sus-
tained then appropriate disciplinary
the Bill Of Rights.“
action should have already been taken.
We do not need to feel helpless in
the face of our government. There are That could include termination. If not,
bring the employee back to work in a
things we can do and this resolution
restricted (nonenforcement) capacity
is a good start. I am puzzled by the
until the results of the state investi-
repeated excuse of county commis-
sioners to reject the Constitution res- gation are known. If the employee is
charged with a criminal offense then
olution because it is insulting them.
Somehow, requesting a resolution that put her back on leave until a trial is
concluded. At least, in the interim,
puts in an extra encouragement for
Baker City taxpayers will be getting
the Baker County commissioners to
some, at least limited, service for the
follow the Constitution in their offi-
cial duties is insulting? This thinking $6,000 a month that employee is paid.
This is not the only police officer
doesn’t make any sense.
case in the state where a state inves-
Unless they are like Rep. Nancy
tigative agency — typical of them, I
Pelosi serving for nearly 33 years,
Sen. Patrick Leahy 47 years, and Sen. might add — is dragging its wheels.
Chuck Grassley 47 years, this resolu- A several month old officer-involved
tion is not about any particular county shooting in Central Oregon is likewise
commissioner. The resolution is about in limbo because of the state’s incom-
petence. I concur with Chief Lohner.
the people of Baker County. It is not
personal in any way, shape, or form to It is time for the BCPD chief and city
any county commissioner. It is a safety manager to take action. Their failure
net for the people of Baker County. It to do so is an injustice to ALL involved
and is a gross misuse of tax dollars.
is about the people of Baker County,
Jerry Boyd
no matter who is in office.
Prineville
We would never have found our-
Formerly of Baker City
selves in the mess we are in if our gov-
ernment stayed with the original idea
of “We the people for the people.” The Why are commissioners
last paragraph of the resolution is as
delaying decision on
important as the first. It reads:
reaffirming Constitution?
“All actions by the federal and
state government and its agents will
Why is it so easy for our elected
conform strictly and implicitly with
commissioners to pass a resolution
the principles expressed within the
regarding denouncing the Russian
United States Constitution, Declara-
invasion of Ukraine, but they can’t
pass a simple resolution reaffirming
our Constitution? They need Kim
Mosier’s legal opinion about the
Constitutional resolution? What are
their priorities?
Jason Bland
Baker City
Baker County United
represents the basic values of
Westerners
In the wee hours of the night I
found myself thinking about a ques-
tion raised in the “Letters To The
Editor” pages of our local paper. The
question was, “Who are the BCU?”
Looking back on our convivial
meeting March 17, I concluded that
was like asking, “Who are the West-
erners?” I made that connection as
I reflected upon the Founding Fa-
thers, our local patriots and the peo-
ple I knew while growing up in the
Rocky Mountain West.
Let me explain just what I mean.
If you ever had to rise in the night
to tend stock when the weather was
not too kindly, you might be a West-
erner. If you know firsthand where
your food comes from, felt the touch
of a wide open sky or looked in
wonder at a mountain range from
atop an adjoining peak you might
have the soul of a Westerner. Sitting
atop a horse and realizing God’s nat-
ural air freshener carries the scent of
sagebrush, jimson weed and a bit of
horse manure, you could consider
yourself a Westerner.
A Westerner gives a firm hand
shake with a friendly twinkle in his
eye, speaks basic truth and knows
the value of hard work. A person
that can sit a horse or a corral fence
in equal comfort, buck bales, shovel
out a corral, knows to brush down
their horse, can split firewood, may
have delivered a baby or two, human
or otherwise, is likely a Westerner.
Now let’s take a look at the
Founding Fathers. They had dif-
ferent stories, different ideas and
a strong respect and love for their
fellow man. That is what brought
them together. They created a so-
cial framework that became our na-
tional model, firmly enshrined in
our Constitution and Bill Of Rights.
If you love and trust your fellow
man, believe in guidance from God,
if you live with mutual respect and
freedom for all and accept that good
comes from civility and coopera-
tion, if you feel the strength of the
mountains in your bones, if your
heart is as wide as the sweeping
plains and your love of God as vast
as the magnificent Universe we have
the privilege to contemplate, you
might be a Westerner. You might be
Baker County United.
Rick Rienks
Baker City
CONTACT YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS
President Joe Biden: The White House, 1600
Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 20500;
202-456-1111; to send comments, go to www.
whitehouse.gov.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden: D.C. office: 221 Dirksen
Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510;
202-224-5244; fax 202-228-2717. La Grande
office: 105 Fir St., No. 210, La Grande, OR 97850;
541-962-7691; fax, 541-963-0885; wyden.senate.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley: D.C. office: 313 Hart Senate gov.
Office Building, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.,
U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (2nd District): D.C.
20510; 202-224-3753; fax 202-228-3997. Portland
office: 1239 Longworth House Office Building,
office: One World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon
Washington, D.C., 20515, 202-225-6730; fax 202-
St. Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; 503-326-3386;
225-5774. Medford office: 14 N. Central Avenue
fax 503-326-2900. Baker City office, 1705 Main St.,
Suite 112, Medford, OR 97850; Phone: 541-776-
Suite 504, 541-278-1129; merkley.senate.gov.
4646; fax: 541-779-0204; Ontario office: 2430 S.W.
Fourth Ave., No. 2, Ontario, OR 97914; Phone: 541-
709-2040. bentz.house.gov.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: 254 State Capitol,
Salem, OR 97310; 503-378-3111; www.governor.
oregon.gov.
Justice Building, Salem, OR 97301-4096; 503-
378-4400.
Oregon Legislature: Legislative documents
and information are available online at www.leg.
state.or.us.
Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read: oregon.
treasurer@ost.state.or.us; 350 Winter St. NE, Suite
100, Salem OR 97301-3896; 503-378-4000.
State Sen. Lynn Findley (R-Ontario): Salem
office: 900 Court St. N.E., S-403, Salem, OR
97301; 503-986-1730. Email: Sen.LynnFindley@
oregonlegislature.gov
Oregon Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum:
State Rep. Mark Owens (R-Crane): Salem
office: 900 Court St. N.E., H-475, Salem, OR
97301; 503-986-1460. Email: Rep.MarkOwens@
oregonlegislature.gov
Baker City Hall: 1655 First Street, P.O. Box 650,
Baker City, OR 97814; 541-523-6541; fax 541-
524-2049. City Council meets the second and
fourth Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Councilors Jason Spriet, Kerry McQuisten, Shane
Alderson, Joanna Dixon, Johnny Waggoner Sr.
and Dean Guyer.