Reflections on Black History Month
![]() Sen. Jeff Merkley presents Build Lebanon Trails representatives Art Cisneros and Christine Davies with an American flag that flew over the Capitol. At the start of his town hall at LBCC, Merkley spotlighted the work of the Lebanon organization, which has been expanding the area's network of trails since 2005. Merkley continues his town hall tradition
Drinking Liberally now offers three options in mid-valley![]() Drinking Liberally now has three monthly meetings in Linn and Benton Counties. If you miss one, there are nearby options to catch up on all the politics and socializing you enjoy so much. (And drinking is not required.) Here's the schedule: • Corvallis: First Tuesday of the month, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Old World Deli, 341 SW 2nd St. • Lebanon: Second Thursday of the month, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dos Arbolitos, 50 W. Oak St. • Albany Third Wednesday of the month, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Taqueria Alonzo, 240 Broadalbin St. (in Two Rivers Market), 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Neighborhood Leaders to look |
'My economic plan is about investing in places and people that have been forgotten. Amid the economic upheaval of the past four decades, too many people have been left behind or treated like they’re invisible.'
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• Republicans repeatedly heckle Biden during speech (Feb. 8, CNN)
• How Biden successfully baited Congressional Republicans (Feb. 7, The Atlantic)
• Full transcript of Biden's State of the Union address (Feb. 7, Axios)
Petition urges legislators to support moratorium
on industrial-scale animal feeding operations
Black History Month events
Neighborhood Leader Program
to hold Feb. 5 meeting on Zoom
- Stacey Bartholomew, President of Creating Housing Coalition and Albany Planning Commissioner, will help us make sense of the legislative and regulatory frameworks impacting our local and statewide housing crisis, as well as the work underway to address housing needs.
- Susan Heath, 1st Vice Chair of Linn County Dems, and member of the DPO Environmental Caucus, will talk about the Climate Solutions Bill, (SB530), Building Resilience (waiting for a bill #), and related initiatives.
To receive Zoom access for the meeting and for more information about NLP, please contact NLP Leadership Team member Nancy Greenman.
Save the Dates for Upcoming Neighborhood Leader Zooms
- Sunday, Feb.19, 5 p.m. — We'll dive deeper into how to navigate the Oregon State Legislature website, and to connect with organizations advocating for the issues that matter to you. Role-plays on contacting your elected representatives will be included!
- Sunday, March 5, 5 p.m. — As promised, we'll take an in-depth look at the so-called "parent power" movement in public education, as well as why removing books from access is not a good idea. Vince Adams, Corvallis School Board (and Oregon State Bar Association), and School Librarian Dana Zachary will share their expertise with us.
Universal Health Care in Oregon webinar links
Here are links from the Jan. 18 Town Hall webinar on Oregon’s plans for universal health care: • A recording of the webinar. • Dr. Bruce Goldberg’s informational slide set • The full report of the SB 770 Task Force |
Wyden's antidote for
divisiveness: 'The Oregon way'

Like millions of others, Widen said he watched late last Friday night on TV from home in Portland as at least one Republican House member nearly slugged it out with another after the 14th vote for House speaker.
“We all know the country is more divided now. … I want to show something that’s different,” Wyden said, noting that there are two basics he adheres to and that have served him well during his long political career:
• Treat people with respect.
• See if you can find common ground.
“This is the alternative to the politics of personal destruction,” he said.
Wyden complimented the audience for its respectful tone during the hourlong Town Hall.
“What I saw on TV (last Friday), those people (in the House) could take lessons from the good people of Linn County,” he said.
Wyden also praised Cheyanne Rider, president of the LBCC Civil Discourse Program, who asked one of the questions.
LBCC President Lisa Avery said the college’s Civil Discourse Program is the only one of its kind in the country. Its mission is “to promote dialogue that enhances understanding among individuals with diverse viewpoints in an open and respectful environment.”
“It’s about what we value,” Wyden said. “It’s the Oregon way — civil discourse."
— Graham Kislingbury
• This is what was on people's minds at Wyden's Linn County Town Hall (Jan. 11, Albany Democrat-Herald)
News & Updates
Look here for news, commentary and updates from Linn Dems and ally organizations
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