A4 THE BULLETIN • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2022
Drazan
Christine Drazan,
center, Republican
candidate for
governor, hosted a
discussion in Bend
on homelessness
Thursday at the
Veterans Village, a
low-barrier shelter
for unhoused
veterans.
Continued from A1
Drazan said Thursday, and pre-
viously, that it is not a crime to be
homeless, but she said she’d encour-
age the enforcement of local ordi-
nances for people who live unshel-
tered.
“I don’t hand anyone anything on
a silver platter,” Drazan said Thurs-
day.
Included in the discussion were
Cheri Helt, candidate for Commis-
sioner of the Bureau of Labor and
Industries, Deschutes County Com-
missioner Patti Adair and Erik To-
biason, the executive director of the
Bend Heroes Foundation, the orga-
nization that helped build the Veter-
ans Village. Also in attendance were
David Nieradka, a coordinator at
Central Oregon Veterans Outreach,
Slavery
Continued from A1
“The idea that you could ever
finish the sentence ‘slavery’s OK
when ... ’ has to rip out your
soul, and I think it’s what makes
this a fight that ignores politi-
cal lines and brings us together,
because it feels so clear,” said
Bianca Tylek, executive director
of Worth Rises, a criminal jus-
tice advocacy group pushing to
remove the amendment’s con-
vict labor clause.
Nearly 20 states have consti-
tutions that include language
permitting slavery and invol-
untary servitude as criminal
punishments. In 2018, Colo-
rado was the first to remove
the language from its found-
ing frameworks by ballot mea-
sure, followed by Nebraska
and Utah two years later.
This November, versions of
the question go before voters
in Alabama, Louisiana, Ore-
gon, Tennessee and Vermont.
In Oregon, the Legislature
referred Measure 112 address-
ing slavery and servitude to
the November ballot. The
measure would eliminate lan-
guage in the state Constitution
that allows slavery and invol-
untary servitude as criminal
punishment.
In Tennessee, Sen. Raumesh
Akbari, a Democrat from
Memphis, was shocked when
a fellow lawmaker told her
about the slavery exception in
the Tennessee Constitution
and immediately began work-
ing to replace the language.
“When I found out that this
exception existed, I thought,
‘We have got to fix this and
we’ve got to fix this right
away,’” she said. “Our constitu-
tion should reflect the values
and the beliefs of our state.”
Akbari had to work with
the state Department of Cor-
rection to ensure that inmate
labor wouldn’t be prohibited
under her proposal.
The proposed language go-
ing before Tennessee voters
more clearly distinguishes be-
tween the two: “Slavery and
involuntary servitude are for-
ever prohibited. Nothing in
this section shall prohibit an
inmate from working when
the inmate has been duly con-
victed of a crime.”
“We understand that those
who are incarcerated cannot
be forced to work without pay,
but we should not create a situ-
ation where they won’t be able
to work at all,” Akbari said.
Concerns over the financial
impact of prison labor also
led California’s Democrat-
ic-led Legislature to reject an
amendment eliminating in-
dentured servitude as a possi-
ble punishment for crime after
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s admin-
istration predicted it could re-
quire the state to pay billions
of dollars at minimum wage to
prison inmates.
Scrutiny over prison labor
has existed for decades, but
the 13th Amendment’s loop-
hole in particular encouraged
former Confederate states
after the Civil War to devise
new ways to maintain the dy-
namics of slavery. They used
restrictive measures, known as
the “Black codes” because they
nearly always targeted Black
people, to criminalize benign
interactions such as talking
too loudly or not yielding on
the sidewalk. Those targeted
would end up in custody for
minor actions, effectively en-
slaving them again.
Fast-forward to today:
Many incarcerated workers
make pennies on the dollar,
which isn’t expected to change
if the proposals succeed. In-
mates who refuse to work may
be denied phone calls or vis-
its with family, punished with
Anna Kaminski/
The Bulletin
Megan Martin of nonprofit Furnish
Hope and Randy Fenimore, a land-
owner near China Hat Road where
a substantial portion of Bend’s un-
housed population live.
Local leaders talked about the
prevalence of fentanyl, inadequate
mental health and substance use
services and an overall lack of hous-
solitary confinement and even
be denied parole.
Alabama is asking voters to
delete all racist language from
its constitution and to remove
and replace a section on con-
vict labor that’s similar to what
Tennessee has had in its con-
stitution.
Vermont often boasts of be-
ing the first state in the nation
to ban slavery in 1777, but its
constitution still allows invol-
untary servitude in a handful
of circumstances. Its proposed
change would replace the cur-
rent exception clause with lan-
guage saying “slavery and in-
voluntary servitude are forever
prohibited in this State.”
Oregon’s proposed change
repeals its exception clause
while adding language allow-
ing a court or probation or
parole agency to order alterna-
tives to incarceration as part of
sentencing.
While Oregon State Sher-
iffs’ Association makes clear it
does not condone slavery or
involuntary servitude in any
form, the organization op-
poses Measure 112, according
to the state Voters’ Pamphlet.
The association says the mea-
sure would eliminate reform
programs in Oregon jails and
increase costs for jail opera-
tions.
Louisiana has had its pro-
posed amendment draw or-
ing as major barriers to moving to-
ward solutions for homelessness.
“It’s a sad situation,” said Nieradka,
who is a veteran. “I don’t see an end
in sight.”
People have been living in Bend’s
Veterans’ Village for almost a year.
Twelve of its 15 units are currently
occupied, and since it opened its
ganized opposition, over con-
cerns that the replacement
language may make matters
worse. Even one of its original
sponsors has second thoughts
— Democratic Rep. Edmond
Jordan told The Times-Pica-
yune/The New Orleans Advo-
cate last week that he’s urging
voters to reject it.
The nonprofit Council for a
Better Louisiana warned that
the wording could technically
permit slavery again, as well
as continue involuntary ser-
vitude.
Louisiana’s Constitution
now says: “Slavery and invol-
untary servitude are prohib-
ited, except in the latter case as
punishment for a crime.” The
amendment would change
that to: “Slavery and involun-
tary servitude are prohibited,
(but this) does not apply to the
otherwise lawful administra-
tion of criminal justice.”
“This amendment is an ex-
ample of why it is so import-
ant to get the language right
when presenting constitu-
tional amendments to voters,”
the nonprofit group said in
a statement urging voters to
choose “No” and lawmakers to
try again, pointing to Tennes-
see’s ballot language as a possi-
ble template.
Supporters of the amend-
ment say such criticisms are
part of a campaign to keep ex-
OBITUARY
doors last November, seven peo-
ple have graduated to permanent
housing. Those involved in building
Veterans Village say it was — and
still is — the epitome of community
collaboration when little help from
state and federal government was
available.
“One of the things that makes
homelessness so hard to approach is
that you need an entire community
to fix it,” Helt said.
Helt, of Bend, worked with Dra-
zan in the Legislature when she was
the Republican representative from
the 54th District and Drazan was
minority leader from the 39th Dis-
trict. Helt said less rhetoric and more
results are needed when it comes to
homelessness, and she thinks Drazan
can do that.
█
Reporter: 541-633-2160
akaminski@bendbulletin.com
ception clauses in place.
“If this doesn’t pass, it will
be used as a weapon against
us,” said Max Parthas, state
operations director for the
Abolish Slavery National Net-
Snow
Continued from A1
Sereni said the Mt. Bachelor of-
ficials receive regular weather fore-
casts, and they expect about 13
inches on the summit by the end of
Sunday, and perhaps about a foot
of snow down on the base of the
mountain.
“Time to wax up the skis and
boards, get them ready,” Sereni
said. “It is a little ways off yet when
we fully open up the lifts. It’s a good
reminder: Let’s get our gear ready.”
The ski season on Mt. Bachelor is
expected to begin on Nov. 25, which
is plenty of time for even more snow
to fall. Last season, Mt. Bachelor
opened for the ski season on Dec.
13.
█
work.
The question stands as a
reminder of how slavery con-
tinues to bedevil Americans,
and Parthas says that’s reason
enough to vote yes.
Reporter: 541-617-7820
jsiess@bendbulletin.com
“We’ve never seen a single
day in the United States where
slavery was not legal,” he said.
“We want to see what that
looks like, and I think that’s
worth it.”
OBITUARY
Joan Louise Peterson
September 3, 1930 - October 7, 2022
Joan (Joanne) Peterson, née Medford, a longtime
resident of Sunriver and Bend, passed away,
peacefully and with family at her side, at Partners
in Care Hospice House on Friday, October 7. The
cause of death was complications of Leukemia.
Douglas “Uno” York
March 15, 1958 - October 5, 2022
Douglas “Uno” York of Redmond, passed away
peacefully on October 5, 2022. He was surrounded
by his loved ones. Douglas courageously fought
cancer for eleven months. He was 64 years young.
He had a passion for Harley Davidsons. He enjoyed
snow skiing, RV camping and watching ice hockey.
Born in Stayton on March 15, 1958, he and his
family resided in Milwaukie until he was 4 years
old. The family then moved to Lakeview. Douglas
reached the age of 9 years old after which the
family moved to Portland until Douglas graduated
from David Douglas High School in 1976. After
high school, he held various jobs and landed his
dream job working for Tidewater Barge Line out
of Vancouver, Washington. He would talk nonstop
about the Tugboat “stories” for hours with his
brother Danny, his Tugboat buddies as well as close
friends.
Douglas is preceded in death by his parents David
and Joann York and son Jason York. He is survived
by his wife, Mindy of Redmond; sister Debbie
Yusiatalo of West Lynn; brother Danny and sister-
in-law Renee York of Vancouver, Washington; and
sister Diane Ross and brother-in-law Dave Ross of
Vancouver, Washington. Additionally, nieces Tracy
York; Jamie York; Hilary and husband Jonathan
Greene; Kelly Ross and fiancé Victor So; and great
nephews Harrison and Shepard Greene.
Services were held on October 14, 2022. Final
resting place, Evergreen Memorial Gardens,
Vancouver, Washington.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in
memory of Douglas to Partners in Care or at
www.partnersbend.org.
Born to Louise Jacobs Medford and Kenneth Medford
in Coquille on September 3, 1930, Joan was raised
primarily in Idaho and graduated from high school in Twin
Falls in 1947. She attended college briefly until meeting the love of her life, Jim
Peterson with whom she shared 61 years of marriage and a life of purpose,
grace and adventure. Soon after their marriage in 1948, Jim and Joan moved
from Idaho to Salem where Jim attended Willamette University.
Joan and Jim went on to be business partners in the grocery industry. They
began their career in the Eugene area where they lived from 1951 until they
moved to Bend in 1970, and established an innovative discount grocery store
they operated until 1976. Subsequently, the Petersons owned and operated
Grocery Outlet Stores in Medford and Fresno, California.
Hard work was always balanced with play and after the Petersons retired in
1986 until Jim's passing in 2010, they embraced 23 years of adventure-filled
retirement with one another, often including family and countless friends.
They traveled extensively in pursuit of the best golf and fishing the world could
offer, from Mexico to Alaska to Australia and all across the U.S. Jim always
referred to Joan as " the best catch of his life," but as devoted as she was to
Jim, Joan was a fierce competitor and it was often all about the sport!
Joan was a consummate hostess and her Roquefort dressing and signature
clam dip may be two of the most-requested and shared recipes in history. The
great food, her easy laugh, warm spirit, open door and open heart, made her
home one of the most welcoming. Peterson parties were legendary, as was Jim
and Joan's evident love for one another.
Joan's love of life was very often informed by her love of animals. Of course,
there was always a pet dog, often a cat and once a mynah bird with a vocabulary
so extensive it surpassed some humans. Pets as unique as Joan herself were a
must in the Peterson family home. Factor in deer, raccoons, pigeons and rainy
night shifts as a Sunriver Toad Crossing Guard and you assume Joan had a trace
of St. Francis in her. There were even wisely thwarted attempts to domesticate
a baby panther and an orphaned Alaskan moose. Mostly, Joan fiercely believed
that each person and each creature was deserving of care and love.
Joan Peterson is survived by her daughter Connie Peterson and Connie's
partner Dave Calvert of Bend, and her daughter Diane Max of New York City.
She is also survived by six grandchildren: Alythea Davidson, Mackenzie Mathis,
(Alexander Mathis) Garrett Weygandt, Hannah (Jessie Jacobson), Jonah and
Ezra Max; two great grandsons, Kyle and Ryan Davidson, plus her longtime
family friend and companion John Ducich. She is predeceased by Jim, a
beloved third daughter Pamela and Diane's late husband Adam Max.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to any Planned Parenthood or Mary's
Place-Saving Grace in Bend.