Letters to the Editor for June 5, 2009

City mishandled man’s appeal

To the editor:

After reading last week’s article about the Ron Calder property maintenance hearing, it occurred to me that readers may not understand what actually happened. Here are but a few examples:

Mr. Calder was not given written notice and did not know about the hearing until the night prior. Ron asked me to help him with the appeal. Because of some personal issues, including difficulty reading and writing, he had me help him write the original appeal to the Council, and he wanted me there to help explain questions. He also asked that I read what an attorney had just that afternoon written for him to tell the Council. I was prepared to do that and assist him with his appeal in front of the Council. Council and staff had been informed of the personal issues and should have understood he needed assistance.

After Ron approached the Council, I said “Excuse me, may I say something?” The Mayor, without hesitation, loudly said “No!” I felt that it was my duty to tell them then that “Ron needs help with his statement.” When the Mayor asked him if he needed someone to assist him with his statement, he answered “OK” and looked at me for that assistance. Then the City Manager interrupted and diverted attention from that fact. He did so by offering to read the earlier appeal. Instead of the Mayor acknowledging that Ron had indicated he wanted my help, the Mayor allowed the City Manager to prevent assistance to Ron and had the appeal read.

After more protests, the Mayor followed up on his earlier threat to have me removed. He justified his behavior by saying “Mr. Calder had . . . an offer to have someone come forward and he chose to read the appeal instead.” Well, no, what actually happened was that he allowed them to read the appeal after they ignored and interrupted his indication that he did want my assistance.

There is so much more to be said about the way the City has railroaded Mr. Calder in this case. Look for worse if the new ordinance passes. 

Christopher Christie

Baker City

Striving to save SMART

To the editor:

Thank you for the editorial concerning the state of Oregon dropping funding for the SMART reading program.

Baker School District has participated in the program for the past seven years, and it has been a very positive experience for those who have participated. Locally we serve about 80 students in Haines and Baker City’s elementary schools.

We have a very dedicated group of about 80 volunteers who take time out of their schedules weekly to read with children who are at risk for low literacy development. It is so rewarding to see children who lack confidence in their reading abilities realize that they can indeed read and that reading can be fun.

We provide each child with two books each month to take home and keep. Sometimes, these are the very first books that they “didn’t have to give back.”

Unexpected budget cuts at several different levels have left SMART in Baker with financial needs. In order to continue providing SMART for Baker’s children, we are hoping to raise enough money ($8,000) to cover the shortfall in funding. We are headquartered at the Baker County Library.

Monica Bailey

SMART coordinator

and volunteer

Jim Tomlinson

Baker Literacy Coalition chair

Perry Stokes

Baker County Library director

Diana Pearson

Baker Literacy Coalition secretary

Aletha Bonebrake

Baker County Library retired director