Posted inSalem-Keizer school district

School superintendent Andrea Castañeda wows at City Club talk

I've listened to a lot of talented speakers at Salem City Club programs. Fewbhave impressed me as much as Andrea Castañeda, the superintendent of the Salem-Keizer school district who said that she's been on the job for 81 days as of last Friday. All I can say is, Salem and Keizer are super fortunate to have her heading up the school district. Castañeda came across as deeply caring, highly competent, and most importantly, genuine. That's a quality that can't be faked. It isn't something that can be taught, or pretended, because it springs from the root of who a person…
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Posted inDonald Trump

Meet the Press shouldn’t have interviewed Trump

I'm a big fan of Meet the Press. It's been a Sunday viewing habit of mine for as long as I can remember. I enjoyed Chuck Todd when he was the host. But he's no longer with Meet the Press. Today was the debut of Todd's replacement, Kristen Welker. The show was devoted to a taped interview Welker did with Donald Trump. A transcript of the interview is here. The best part of the interview for me was seeing how old Trump looks. Either his makeup artist has gone on strike, or the pressures of his four indictments is getting…
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Posted inCity Council City of Salem

Salem city officials playing some games with budget problems

Yeah, I know. The title of this blog post is kind of like a headline saying "Dog seen chasing a squirrel." What's obvious really doesn't need mentioning. But even though we expect government officials to play games when they're talking about their budget, it still makes sense to point out specific instances of this so we don't become overly accustomed to the game-playing. Yesterday the Salem Reporter ran a story about ways officials at the City of Salem want to cut the city general fund budget in light of a potential defeat of a controversial employee payroll tax to be…
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Posted inJoe Biden

Biden impeachment inquiry shows how crazy Republicans are

Hmmmm. The Constitution says that a president can be impeached for "high crimes and misdemeanors." So you'd think that if the House of Representatives embarks on such a serious step, there would be evidence of a high crime or misdemeanor.  But a minor detail like evidence isn't about to stop Biden-hating Republicans from initiating an impeachment inquiry, since they can't say what horrible thing Biden is supposed to have done. So they're going to act like they're in an existentialist novel where the accused is to be convicted without being told what crime they committed. "Biden must have done something,"…
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Posted inPolice reform Public Safety

Why did it take so long to charge DEA agent in death of bicyclist?

Yes, as the Salem Reporter and Statesman Journal have reported, it's good news that a Marion County grand jury has indicted the DEA (federal Drug Enforcement Agency) agent who killed a Salem woman after running through a stop sign. Here's an excerpt from the Salem Reporter story by Ardeshir Tabrizian. An agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has been charged with criminally negligent homicide for his role in a collision in March that killed a Salem cyclist, according to court documents. A Marion County grand jury on Wednesday indicted Samuel T. Landis, 38, a special agent of the DEA,…
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Posted in2024 election

I love the idea of a Whitmer-Warnock Dem presidential ticket

Few Americans are excited about a repeat of Joe Biden versus Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. I'm sure not.  Sure, as a Democrat I hugely prefer Biden over Trump. I think Biden has done a very good job as president, better than expected, absolutely. But Biden doesn't excite me. He doesn't even enthuse me. His appeal for me and many others is more that he's a competent decent person who isn't Trump. That worked to elect Biden in 2020. I'm deeply worried that the same game plan won't work in 2024. And the stakes are too high to…
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Posted inNational politics

Who lost Russia? New Yorker article says U.S. played a part.

This blog post is a partial apology to a couple of progressive friends of mine here in Salem, Oregon who I've argued with via email about the extent to which Putin was justified in viewing NATO's expansion into the former Soviet bloc countries as a provocation that he used as one of his excuses to invade Ukraine. I vociferously said that the NATO expansion was none of Russia's business, since NATO is all about defending member countries from attack, with Russia being the prime potential attacker. My friends, though, said in strong words that the United States and our allies…
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Posted inCity of Salem Police reform

Sleazy behavior by police department after cyclist’s death

Keep this excellent investigative journalism in mind next time City officials want you to lavish more money on the Salem Police Department, which will occur in the November election via a proposed payroll tax.  The Salem Reporter has a great update on the thoroughly sleazy behavior by the department following the death of a cyclist on March 28 at the hands of a federal DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) employee who drove through a stop sign and killed Marganne Allen, who was riding her bicycle on High Street. After the Salem Reporter obtained cell phone call records, email logs and police…
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Posted inEnvironment National politics

Climate change was scariest moment of Republican debate

To preserve my mental health, I've been watching my recording of the first Republican presidential debate in short chunks. So far I'm up to an hour of the two hour debate.  The scariest moment of the debate that I've seen so far -- and I'm pretty sure it will remain on top of my fear factor after I've seen the whole thing -- was the horrendous answers given to a question posed by a young Republican. He said: Polls consistently show that young people's number one issue is climate change. How would you, as both president of the United States…
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Posted inDonald Trump

Trump’s mug shot has an artistic quality to it

I rarely praise Donald Trump. Can't remember the last time I did this, but it could have been his Operation Warp Speed that succeeded in getting Covid vaccines to Americans in record time.  Today was another occasion for Trumpian praise. I couldn't help but think, "Dude, your Fulton County mug shot is a work of art. Great pose, with just the right combination of malevolence and irritation in your look."I suspect Trump is happy with the mug shot also. By leaning forward he appears to have managed to capture the light and dark shading on the opposite sides of his…
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Posted inCity Club

I enjoy the Salem City Club. Consider joining.

I've been a member of the Salem City Club for a bit over ten years. I was invited to join by Russ Beaton, a retired Willamette University economics professor. He and his wife, Delana, are active volunteers in the City Club. Me, I just go to the programs. They're from noon to 1 pm on selected Fridays at the Willamette Heritage Center, which used to be called Mission Mill. A box lunch can be ordered, but it isn't necessary to buy one. I bring some food with me and eat it after the program, when I head off to exercise…
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Posted inCitizen involvement City Council City of Salem

Councilor Nordyke says city officials have lost public trust

Way to go, City Councilor Vanessa Nordyke. Vanessa Nordyke and furry friend Your responses to questions asked by the Salem Reporter about the payroll tax approved by the City Council on a narrow 5-4 margin without a vote of the people are a great example of speaking truth to power. The Salem Reporter sent questions to the four councilors who wanted Salem citizens to vote on the payroll tax. Only Vanessa Nordyke and Jose Gonzalez responded in time for publication.  Here's two of the questions, along with Nordyke's responses. I've highlighted in red her comments about the City of Salem…
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Posted inDonald Trump National politics

Georgia indictment of Trump should be wakeup call for GOP voters

A little while ago a Georgia grand jury indictment was unsealed, revealing that Donald Trump and 18 other people have been charged with criminal conspiracy for their efforts to overturn the legitimate 2020 election victory of Joe Biden in Georgia. Aug 14 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump was hit with a sweeping fourth set of criminal charges on Monday when a Georgia grand jury issued an indictment accusing him of efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. The charges, brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, add to the legal woes facing Trump,…
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Posted inCity Council City of Salem

Salem payroll tax faces likely defeat in November vote

Nothing is certain when it comes to voting. So even though the controversial payroll tax passed by the Salem City Council on a narrow 5-4 margin will be on the November ballot, since a referendum petition has gotten more (probably way more) than the required 4,000 signatures, this doesn't mean that the tax will be defeated. It just seems likely, given that conservatives hate new taxes, progressives don't like regressive taxes that hit lower income workers at the same rate as higher income workers, and everybody dislikes it when politicians refuse to allow a vote of the people on an…
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Posted inNational politics Oregon politics

In Oregon and Ohio, a good day for democracy

Fans of democracy -- and it's a sad commentary on our politics that this doesn't include everybody -- are heartened by what happened here in Oregon and there in Ohio today. On the home front, I was thrilled when a notification from the Oregonian popped up on my iPhone saying that our Secretary of State had issued the correct ruling on whether ten state senators who took part in a lengthy walkout during the 2023 legislative session could run for office again. Here's an excerpt from "Republican senators who boycotted work can't run for reelection, secretary of state rules." Ten…
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Posted in2020 election Donald Trump National politics

Trump’s defenses against Jan. 6 indictment make no sense

Yesterday it filled my progressive heart with joy when I heard that Donald Trump had been indicted by the Justice Department on four counts related to his attempt to steal the 2020 election after Joe Biden was lawfully elected: three of conspiracy and one of obstruction. You can read the eminently readable 45 page indictment via this PDF file.Download Trump Indictment file Today it was amusing to hear the laughable defenses trotted out by Trump's attorneys for why their client is innocent of the charges. Those defenses are so weak, Trump might as well plead guilty tomorrow at his arraignment,…
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Posted inChris Hoy City Council City of Salem

Payroll tax debacle could hurt progressives on City Council

It looks likely that the effort to gather 4,000 signatures of Salem registered voters in order to force a referendum vote on the employee payroll tax approved by the City Council on a narrow 5-4 vote is going to succeed. A Salem Reporter story says that Let Salem Vote has already gotten 4,000 signatures and is seeking 6,000 since some signatures will be invalid. Throughout Salem, in front of grocery stores and at popular events, people with clipboards have been collecting signatures in an attempt to bring the issue of a Salem payroll tax to a public vote. As of…
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Posted inCitizen involvement City Council City of Salem

Salem mayor and city councilors explain position on allowing payroll tax vote

The Salem Reporter (which I consider a subscription bargain for local news) had a great idea: ask Mayor Hoy and the other eight members of the City Council why they voted the way they did on the employee-paid payroll tax that ended up being approved on a contentious 5-4 vote this month. Journalist Abbey McDonald did a great job with "Salem councilors explain their votes for and against the payroll tax." I was particular interested in a question about why the City Council members either supported or opposed having Salem citizens vote on the payroll tax in the November election,…
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Posted inChris Hoy City Council City of Salem

Let Salem Vote seeking signatures for referendum petition on payroll tax

I believe in the value of voting. Most people do. That's why so many were upset when the Salem City Council approved an employee payroll tax on everyone who works in Salem, resident or not, without putting it on the November ballot, as virtually everybody who testified about the tax urged. Predictably, given the intense widespread outrage over this action, a group was formed to challenge the council's decision. Let Salem Vote has filed a petition for a referendum that would put the payroll tax on the November ballot -- where it should have been from the start. Here's how…
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Posted inCity of Salem

Avelo Airlines coming to Salem airport. Hopefully it will stay.

Big news today for fans of commercial air service returning to the Salem airport: Avelo Airlines was revealed as the mystery company that the City of Salem has been negotiating with -- which included using $2.4 million in taxpayer dollars to get the airport ready for the airline. Avelo is advertising Salem as the newest addition to the cities they serve. However, initially Avelo will only offer twice-weekly flights to Las Vegas and Burbank in southern California, as described in a Salem Reporter story. Flights would begin Oct. 5 to Las Vegas, with twice-weekly flights on Thursdays and Sundays, according…
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