Good morning…..
Lynne Wilcox got people talking last week.
She writes an occasional column for Salem Reporter, drawing on her experience with the community’s homeless population.
Lynne tackled in a frank manner a truth of life on the street: Why some might poop in doorways.
Her column provoked social media discussions and a few thoughtful emails to our team. A sampling:
That article touched me and actually brought tears to my eyes. I volunteer with an organization that has many homeless persons as our clients. Lynelle’s article reinforced my sense of gratitude for the life I live. – Linda F.
I read the article today about public pooping and thought about all the poop bag stations for dog owners in Salem. Some owners of course don’t pick up their dog’s poop but most of us do. Is there any kind of sanitation station that could meet human needs besides the porta potty? Could bags and wipes help the homeless? – Sharon D.
This is a far greater problem than the need for privacy and help. It’s a public health issue. The waste can enter our water ways and the Willamette River. – Jeff S.
And Marsha F. wants to see the community address the challenge:
With all the monetary cutbacks happening, I suppose it is unreal to make a plea for more public restrooms and shower stations.
Most homeless people can only hope to have such a charitable thing happen for an extremely basic human need, and it would alleviate the problems caused by not having enough facilities available for those in need. Most homeless people want to have a way to be able to step up in society, and show they are wanting to be clean and presentable. Homelessness can happen to anyone.
It seems there is enough dollars available for things that have a lower priority. I would gladly donate to have a facility program in place. I don’t have a lot of money to help this happen, but if enough people would rally, we could get this done. It would be to the benefit of all of us. I would like to see at least a restroom available every few blocks, especially where homeless people tend to congregate, and to have those facilities maintained. All people deserve to have their personal dignity.
Meantime, our squad said goodbye last week to a terrific reporter, Ardeshir Tabrizian.
He’s decided to take his passion for justice and truth in a new direction, as a lawyer.
Ardy heads off to the University of Oregon Law School soon, and we wish him well.
He and I go back a time. He was an intern at the Malheur Enterprise in Vale in the summer of 2020. That was, of course, a remarkable period to be reporting in rural America as the country adapted to the pandemic.
He went on to finish his bachelor’s degree, spent some time at my alma mater, The Oregonian/OregonLive, and then joined Salem Reporter in 2021. In nearly four years, he has mastered the public safety beat and brought you important reports over the years. Most notable: his remarkable award-winning series Bobby’s Choices.
Reporter Madeleine Moore steps in now to cover public safety and we’ll soon begin recruiting to fill Tabrizian’s slot.
Meantime, I hope you’re enjoying the fine work being done by our two summer journalists, Hailey Cook and Mirandah Davis-Powell. They’re learning every day – and contributing mightily to our coverage of Salem. Let me know what you think with a note to [email protected].
In our public safety reporting:
*The man accused of that horrible stabbing spree at Salem’s Union Gospel Mission is going back to the Oregon State Hospital.
*A man charged with assaulting a patient being treated for mental illness is freed of prosecution by a state judge.
*Salem fire officials won’t say what investigators found after examining a recent fire at a shuttered Shari’s Restaurant.
In our community news reporting:
*With $6 million for an expanded building, Marion Polk Food Share faces other funding challenges.
*Supporters of air service to Salem aren’t giving up despite the collapse of the latest airline deal.
*Treating customers like friends marks the service at the area’s Agribusiness of the Year.
*With demand growing, Helping Hands, a Salem nonprofit will put sizable state funding to immediate use. According to the story: “The amount of people using their services has tripled since 2022. Laura Crofoot, its board president, said over 20,000 people visited its free store last year.”
In our local government reporting:
*City Hall is considering what it can do to respond to continuing concerns about safety and cleanliness in downtown.
*City councilors are playing it safe, avoiding some meetings and public comments to avoid getting nailed for ethics violations.
In our event reporting:
*Head to Riverfront Park in coming days to take in a new locally-produced play.
*Photos tell the story better than words when it comes to the recent Ironman 70.3 Oregon held in Salem. Photographers Laura Tesler and Hailey Cook were there from start to finish, chronicling the event and then catching up with local competitors and volunteers.
*Don’t forget to check our Events Calendar to find a complete list of things to do in the mid valley area.
HAVE A COMMENT? SUGGESTION?
Have thoughts about our reporting? A story we should do? A person we should profile? Or do you have questions about how we do our work? You’re welcome to send me an email – I read every one of them. Email: [email protected].
–Les Zaitz, Editor and co-founder
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