The Way: Mayor Beaty on affordable housing, Cribbins and Tymchuk on the Elliott, and Frazier on the Big Lie
PLUS: Chris Smith outlines some important questions regarding the I-5 @ Rose Quarter expansion project.
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Editor’s Note:
The idea that Mr. Biden didn't win the election is a big lie. It's a big lie because you have to disbelieve all kinds of evidence to believe in it. It's a big lie because you have to believe in a huge conspiracy in order to believe it. And it's a big lie because, if you believe it, it demands you take radical action. So this is one way we have really moved forwards towards authoritarianism and away from democracy. It's coming to a peak right now.
Timothy Snyder, author of “On Tyranny,” provided that explanation of “the Big Lie” in the wake of January 6, 2021. It’s stuck with me because it conveyed the seriousness of the perpetuation of this Big Lie.
I typically refrain from talking about national issues on this blog but the Big Lie has recently made its way into the mainstream political discourse here in Oregon. That’s why I have to make it clear that as long as I’m editor of the Way, this will reject any post that contains even a hint of skepticism related to the 2020 election results. Of the 25 million votes cast in that election, just 475 instances of potential fraud have been detected after an exhaustive and independent search.
That’s 0.0019 percent of all votes.
I started the Way because I sensed that our civic culture was being torn to shreds as national debates seemed to infiltrate every issue.
School board debate? Someone’s going to bring up Biden’s economic policies.
Town hall with the mayor? Get ready for someone to rebuke Trump.
Local article about new park? Here come the rants about the evils of Pelosi or McConnell.
Whether I agree with the political motives behind these sorts of questions generally doesn’t matter…at all.
Our local, regional, and state-level questions are complex enough that they merit our full attention. We cannot let national discord distract us from working collaboratively here in Oregon. This blog is meant to remind people of the issues and opportunities in their neck of the woods. It’s also meant to nudge people to remember the fact that their neighbors, regardless of party, just want to solve those issues as well.
The people that form the editorial team of the Way all share a desire to help Oregonians stay informed of local issues, to connect with community leaders, and to act on solutions. We edit pieces not to advance any Red or Blue priorities, but to discuss solutions in a deliberative, thoughtful manner.
We do this imperfectly. We’re volunteers. Most of us are not journalists. All of us have biases, but we have recruited a cross-partisan team to try to provide views from every perspective. Some perspectives, though, do not align with our fundamental goal to improve Oregon’s civic culture.
We will not tolerate the perpetuation of unsubstantiated claims of election fraud in the 2020 election. Sowing doubt in our federal election system will not solve Oregon’s problems. These false claims serve only to exacerbate the nationalization of Oregon’s politics and to pollute our own elections, debates, and town halls.
For as long as I serve as editor of the Way, we will not publish pieces that undermine faith in an election that has been reviewed hundreds of times by independent analysts. This isn't about partisan priorities and preferences. This isn’t about preventing the exchange of ideas — just the exchange of falsehoods.
The Way will continue to be a platform for Oregonians focused on creating broad coalitions to solve problems, rather than amplifying national discourse destined to divide us.
Here’s to a better Oregon,
Kevin
To look forward to:
Our #GovernorGoals series. Learn more about how you can help shape the future of our state here.
Mark Hester dives into the debate around school choice
Jessica Gomez shares her #GovernorGoals post related to affordable housing
Rob Harris on the public defender shortage and its impacts to our criminal justice system
To interpret:
To read:
Jenn Stephens shares her perspective as a working mom dealing with childcare closures and inconsistencies among different levels of government.
Read more here.
Mayor Lacey Beaty offers her #GovernorGoals piece on affordable housing.
Read more here.
Melissa Cribbins and Keith Tymchuk share an important update on the Elliott State Forest.
Read more here.
Chris Smith has some questions for the folks at ODOT regarding the I-5 @ Rose Quarter expansion project.
Read more here.
Melissa Cribbins points out the great work going on in Coos County related to affordable housing.
Read more here.
To do:
Read the latest version of the Liftoff
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Join our editorial team or nominate someone to join
Tell us how we can improve!
Photo credit: "Eugene Oregon Fall Colors at King Estate Winery" by Don Hankins is licensed under CC BY 2.0