Immigration: “Believe me, it’s gonna work. Walls work.”

Within a week and a half of being in office, Trump has already signed multiple executive orders and acts that will change and endanger the lives of immigrants living in the United States. On Jan. 20, his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship, a decision that he had mentioned during his first term in office. However, District Judge John Coughenour blocked the order and called it “blatantly unconstitutional.” It has been in the U.S. Constitution since 1868 that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Getting rid of this constitutional right would require amending the Constitution, which has not happened since 1992. 

A little over a week later Trump signed a memorandum on Jan. 29 to prepare Guantánamo Bay in Cuba to house thousands of immigrants. Trump stated that “We have 30,000 beds in Guantánamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people. This will double our capacity immediately.” The facility is currently used to house Muslim militants and terrorist suspects and is known for torture and injustice. In an article published by Amnesty International last March, a former prisoner, Mansoor Adayfi, who was kidnapped and taken to Guantánamo Bay as a teenager described it as “a crime against humanity. People died there. People were tortured. People were paralyzed. All kinds of torture, abuse, physical, mental, psychological.” 

The president of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel also called Trump’s decision an “act of brutality” and mentioned how the immigrants would be placed next to the torture and illegal detention that the facility is known for. 

Trans rights: “It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”

One of the most glaring changes in the wake of Trump’s inauguration is the rapid and devastating erosion of transgender rights. Trump launched his term by releasing an executive order establishing two sexes and refuting the idea that one’s gender identity can contradict their sex assigned at birth. This order is particularly damaging to the nonbinary community. Those who exist outside the gender binary, and intersex people, whose sex characteristics do not fit the traditional definitions of male and female. The blatant erasure of these groups sends a clear message: they will not be welcome under the Trump administration.

The same clear exclusion can also be seen in an executive order signed Monday, which prevents transgender Americans from serving in the armed forces. This order claims that “radical gender ideology” has weakened our country’s military and that simply existing as a trans person “is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.”

On Tuesday, Trump signed a third executive order preventing transgender teens across the country from receiving gender-affirming care. This blanket ban, which follows a series of state-level attacks on gender-affirming care for trans youth, claims that the treatment is based on “junk science” and likens it to “a stain on our Nation’s history.” U.S. v. Skrmetti, a Supreme Court case deciding the constitutionality of such restrictions, will be decided in June. Until then, Trump’s order will have disastrous impacts on trans youth, many of whom rely on gender-affirming care for their mental health and happiness.

The language of the orders appeals to two of the most polarizing arguments against trans rights: women’s safety and protecting children. However, Trump does not care about women. He does not care about children. These orders have one goal, and that goal is to restrict the rights of trans people. In his less than two weeks in office, the president has clarified his vendetta against the trans community, and we should expect many more harmful regressions to come.

Climate Change: “We will drill, baby, drill!”

January 20, 2025—aka American Doomsday. While the political Doomsday clock may have run out of time, the Climate Clock dwindles by the second. Immediately following his inauguration declaration, Trump declared a national energy emergency, just one of the landside executive orders carried out on Capitol Hill. Trump revoked a ban imposed by President Joe Biden on new offshore oil and gas development along a majority of the country’s coastlines. Oil companies appear to embrace his agenda but don’t align with correlating radical propositions.

This active threat to the American people from high energy prices is exacerbated by our Nation’s diminished capacity to insulate itself from hostile foreign actors. In his executive order, President Trump proclaimed: 

“Energy security is an increasingly crucial theater of global competition. In an effort to harm the American people, hostile state and non-state foreign actors have targeted our domestic energy infrastructure, weaponized our reliance on foreign energy, and abused their ability to cause dramatic swings within international commodity markets.” 

In recent years, the Trump administration’s energy policies have unveiled a striking paradox: an emphasis on national energy independence while simultaneously exacerbating global climate concerns. His declaration is clearly a strategy to justify ramping up fossil fuel production at a time when renewable energy sources are rapidly advancing. The United States should not return to a reliance on oil and gas when innovations in solar, nuclear and other renewable technologies are providing cleaner, more sustainable alternatives.

Pulling out of the Paris Agreement was a significant setback in climate initiatives sought to minimize. It sends a dangerous message at a time when collaborating global efforts produce the only significant progress in the last decade. Historically, the U.S. remains the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the only agreement that will be upheld through 2029. 

A forward-thinking energy policy should embrace the potential of renewables, not sacrifice clean land for top profit. Instead of fostering an era of retrograde drilling and withdrawal from global agreements, the Trump Administration should be funding organizations and foundations focused on efficient, yet renewable energy. The future demands a commitment to sustainability, not a fleeting embrace of fossil fuels.

The World Health Organization: “Ooo, that’s a big one” 

Trump’s longstanding dissatisfaction with the World Health Organization (WHO) culminated on the president’s first day back in office in his executive order to withdraw the United States from the organization. This decision is rooted in criticism of WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and carries momentous implications for both national and international health. 

The WHO provides critical research for fighting diseases, from tuberculosis to maternal mortality. By withdrawing, the U.S. not only loses invaluable information, but WHO loses its biggest funder—something determined by a country’s population and gross domestic product (GDP). 

Although this decision is unlikely to affect us directly, at least in the immediate future, the WHO has played a key role in major health milestones, including eradicating smallpox. Without this resource, another pandemic may be far more deadly. This is particularly concerning in light of the current and rapidly-evolving threat of bird flu, which so far caused 67 confirmed cases and one death in the U.S.

Ending DEI: “Discriminatory diversity, equity and inclusion nonsense” 

On Jan. 20 and Jan. 27, Trump signed into effect two executive orders abolishing DEI programs within the federal government and in the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense. Soon after, he ordered all diversity, equity and inclusion staff within the federal government to be put on paid leave and eventually laid off.

While Trump is unable to require the same from corporations, and therefore these executive orders won’t have a direct effect on Bendites, many are following his lead. The decisions of brands like McDonald’s, Meta and Walmart to dissolve DEI programs may lead to more local changes. McDonald’s, as a common location for youth workers, is leading these effects, as they’ve already planned to disband a program that increased minorities in leadership positions and promoted diversity training.

DEI programs have allowed for the federal government to reflect our diverse nation and set an example for the leaders of corporations to do the same. The abolition of these programs will return our nation’s workplace to something disastrous, and the start of it, as seen in the federal government laying off all DEI employees, is already here. 

Changes in Government: “A Very Common Thing to Do”

Within a week, the federal government has been drastically changed, including the removal of the government watchdogs who keep authorities in check. At least 17 Inspector Generals were fired from 12 major federal agencies, although this action was unlawful in regards to the Inspector General Act that was imposed by Congress in 1978 . Inspector Generals conduct objective audits within their agency and investigate allegations of abuse of power, waste and fraud. These removals are unlawful, as Congress must be informed of the action by the president 30 days before it would be carried out, and Trump did not abide.

Jan. 6: “A Day of Love”

Trump has seemingly turned 180 degrees since the events of Jan. 6, 2021. He has transitioned from his once firm stance that the rioters should be held accountable, to now issuing a proclamation immediately pardoning all those involved in storming the capitol four years ago, keeping one of his driving campaign promises. Of the 1,500 or so pardoned people, the most significant are the leaders of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, two far-right groups who played a major role in the violence that ensued following President Joe Biden’s election in 2020. They are to be released from prison following the executive order. 

This is yet another example of Trump changing his viewpoints purely out of convenience–and perhaps even a blatant attempt to assert his power over the judiciary. To issue pardons on such a large scale diminishes its value, and is an abuse of the pardon power. 

Since Trump has taken office this past month, he’s already shaken things up in the federal government. However, not all of his executive orders have been approved and acted upon. As of today, the White House has responded to Trump’s executive order to freeze federal grants by rescinding the proposal. When proposing this order, he claimed that the freeze would not affect Medicaid, Social Security, food stamp programs and student loans or scholarships. 

When it comes to education, the effects would be detrimental. Cuts to federal funding would mean fewer resources for students, including textbooks, technology and free school lunches, and would also reduce school programs, such as arts, theatre, music and other extracurricular activities. With these factors in play, students’ opportunities and resources are in harm’s way, making it harder for students to further their education and plan for their future. This carries even greater significance for students who go to lower income schools, because they’re especially reliant on the federal government’s funding and this would make almost all their opportunities nonexistent. 

Another important executive order implemented Jan. 29 is “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schools,” which revolves around the specific issues in the U.S. education system that “erode critical thinking.” The “indoctrinations” Trump plans on ending regards things such as allowing students to get surgical or chemical changes regarding their gender without parental consent or involvement, and the implementation of critical race theory into classroom lessons. Trump’s reasoning for such ideas are his protection of laws and amendments such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), which give parents control over their students health records and allow them to be involved when making decisions about their mental and physical health. By implementing more control over students in schools, he is preventing many students from being able to freely express themselves and is taking away freedoms which students believe they should have.

Renaming American Landmarks: “Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness”

During his first day in office, Trump officially ordered the Secretary of the Interior to rename Denali and the Gulf of Mexico to Mt. McKinley and the Gulf of America respectively. Following the deluge of orders over the past week, surrounding everything from immigration to environmental policy, name changes first appear of minimal concern. However, it is important to emphasize the immense weight titles carry, recognizing who has power and where they assign value. Through this order, Trump makes one thing clear: a commitment to a dominant America.

However, this appeal to patriotism and tradition comes at the cost of honoring international unity and traditions which predate our founding, as Alaska State Senator Lisa Murkowski emphasized in her condemnation of the Denali name change. 

“Our nation’s tallest mountain, which has been called Denali for thousands of years, must continue to be known by the rightful name bestowed by Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascans, who have stewarded the land since time immemorial,” said Murkowski.

Moving south, it is important to note that the name change of the Gulf of Mexico will not be recognized abroad. This order makes no substantive change, acting as a political tool to place the US above all else and appealing to easily abused nationalistic tendencies. Through this action, Trump only emphasizes the immense power of the presidency, sending a clear message of U.S. dominance at the cost of delegitimizing others’ history and tradition, ideals he is purported to hold dear.

Final Thoughts

In an earlier editorial, we predicted that Trump’s election would rock the foundations upon which our country is built. In the past week and a half, we have been proven correct, and as Trump’s term unfolds, there is no doubt that the president will continue to bring drastic changes to the United States. Trump’s actions are an indicator of egoism and an overinflated sense of his own power, but he is not our king. Our only hope is that citizens and authorities alike will band together and prevent him from destroying the rights and values we hold dear.

The post As Future Journalists of America, We Are Scared appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

What if you didn’t have the opportunity to vote?

Waking up the morning after and seeing the results, along with the many reposts of people around the nation, I realized that many of the thoughts I was seeing were from teenagers unable to vote. Teens who wanted Harris to win were strongly opinionated about the loss and wrote things on social media about how they “lost their human rights” or “can’t believe that he won” and even went as far as telling people who voted for Trump to “go ahead and unfollow”. On the other hand, those who were leaning more Republican were thrilled by the new president’s election and posted things telling people to not let politics change their friendships. 

The news and opinions were shared in schools, with people talking during lunch about their thoughts and what they think will happen now. Some argued that it would be over in four years and “it is what it is,” while others strongly disagreed and said that he will now have the power to change even more laws for the worse of the people. Many students have fears of how his election will affect them personally, along with women and those in the latino community. These teenagers don’t have the ability to vote yet, but it is important for the country that many of them care about the outcome and will vote when they have the chance.

Will Trump keep his campaign promises?

Throughout Trump’s campaigning, he has made multiple promises on what he’s going to do to “Make America Great Again.” The question now with him winning over 72,170,356 votes is, will he follow through? 

Human rights are a key issue many people are concerned over after hearing news of Trump’s endorsement. The fear for what’s to come for women’s rights is specifically concerning all women of America. Trump has said he will not be banning abortion on a national level, as the overturn of Roe v. Wade is federal enough. Rather he is keeping it up to the state governments to decide their views on an abortion ban. Still, Trump also has not made clear whether, if the issue were to arise, if he would veto national abortion restrictions. 

Along with women’s rights, many people are concerned for LGBT rights. The most concerning being that Trump has promised to end “boys in girls sports” and vice versa. Considering Kamala Harris was very supportive of LGBT rights, even promising to give transgender people in prison access to gender-affirming care, this switch in perspective is very prominent between the two. 

Trump’s impact on the economy provokes immense fear, as well as excitement for citizens. He promises to make the economy the best it has ever been during these coming four years. Two of his most prominent points include his No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime Wages. This is especially appealing to those who work in the service industry because, without a tax on tips, the lower classes and middle/upper classes are able to establish savings that would have otherwise been spent on decent service. The idea of no tax on overtime wages is also appealing to those who take on extra hours or shifts to work are now able to take home whole funds rather than just a fraction. 

The turnout for the past election has left many people unweary of the future of America, however, it’s clear that Trump’s policies are potent in theory, yet some pose drastically unrealistic given the length of his term. 

What will become of women’s and reproductive rights?

When we heard about Trump’s win in the presidential election, it brought forth a grave realization that as women, we no longer have a say in our bodies and our future. This instilled a fear that greatly exceeded the fear from the overturn of Roe V. Wade in 2022. Now it is legally and physically dangerous to access abortion. Trump’s opinion and plans regarding reproductive rights are very much directive and leave little room for persuasion. 

From a purely societal standpoint, there is worry as well, for we now know that sexism is still very prevalent, even with how far we’ve come. From picketing to unions to rallies in the streets, women have been fighting for years just to be treated and considered equal to men. It turns out that we still have a long way to go. Someone’s mother, someone’s daughter, someone’s sister; women are half of the population and still are treated as if they do not create the entire population. 

We are not only women, we are women striving to make change within the community and beyond it. Our rightful purpose cannot happen if there is no passion behind our efforts, and it seems that no matter how much there is, we still cannot overthrow this supreme patriarchy. This was proven the night of Nov. 6, when we watched as the blue washed away like yet another temporarily bothersome occurrence. As journalists, we bring these situations to light for those unable to speak up and access what should be rightfully theirs. 

Will Trump further damage religious freedom and the separation of church and state?

Despite the Bill of Rights’’ protection of freedom of religion, there are many examples of the ever-eroding wall between church and state. From the call of Oklahoma … Ryan Walters to mandate bible lessons in grades five through twelve to Trump’s recent advocacy for Christian nationalism, our supposed protections continue to falter. 

As students whose religious affiliations drastically differ, we find that the separation of church and state is necessary for an education system without prejudice. To have a government promote one set of views over another would subjugate the freedom of young people.

How will Trump change the U.S. healthcare system?

Throughout Trump’s former presidency, he promised, and failed, to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare) which makes health insurance more affordable to low-income households and holds health insurance companies accountable. Although Trump has pivoted from this stance, promising to replace the act instead of removing it, as said in posts on a Trump-owned social media site (Truth Social) and the presidential debate, his plans remain dangerously vague. 

Additionally, Trump promised to appoint Ronald F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal anti-vaccine advocate, in charge of health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As teens whose childhoods have been marked by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the possibility of reduced vaccine access, and resulting outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease, is terrifying. 

Will Trump dumb down American education?

A second Trump administration will likely escalate scrutiny towards colleges and universities, empowering students and faculty to advocate for reform during a time of insecurity for American higher education. As student debt and tuition deter enrollment and the aftermath of negative coverage of campus protesters and international policies, Trump voices transformative implications toward the future of secondary education. Rather than improving education systems through gradual adaptation and revision, Trump established hostile policies concerning federal student financial aid.  

According to Trump’s Republican Platform, the Republican Party will support the creation of “more affordable alternatives to a traditional four-year college degree” and pledges to prioritize affordability and “reduce” the cost of higher education. His agenda suggests the Department of Education (ED) work with Congress to amend the Home Equity Agreement (HEA) to eliminate negotiated rulemaking, and at a minimum, Congress allowing the ED to officiate public hearings over rulemaking negotiations. He aims to return to a financing where private lenders, backed by federal guarantees, would compete to offer student loans.

Yet this only tackles vague economic concerns and proposes unreliable patronage.

Trump also pledges to “deport pro-Hamas radicals” and increase college campus safety, making the majorly independent institutions “patriotic again.” To Trump, separation of church and state and the First Amendment are unpatriotic. He promises to cultivate “great” K-12 education leading to “great” jobs and “great” lives for young people. While he’s making America great again, the “great” young people will be moving to university out of Republican-dominant states and even out-of-country. 

To high school seniors and even current college students, attending foreign schools thousands of miles away from friends and family is a far better option than remaining in the U.S. and distancing themselves from fundamental rights.

With Trump’s outlook on higher education, he won’t simply be deporting “illegal” immigrants, he’s deporting the future of America.

Will the trend of political violence continue?

Political violence is something that has devastated America before, although the 2024 election showed a new perspective on political violence. 

The last assassination attempt in American history was 61 years ago when John F. Kennedy was killed. Typically, America has been associated with having little to no political violence within our borders. America has been a country based on democracy, freedom of speech and the pursuit of happiness.

This election has been an abnormality of uncertain proportions. 

The first attempt on Trump’s life during this election cycle was attempted by a registered Republican at a rally for his campaign. There was also an attempt during his leisure time at a golf course. Considering that Trump is a very controversial man even among proud Republicans, this isn’t too surprising. 

Not only that, but multiple ballot boxes have been destroyed this election season. Of course, ballot box concerns were already on concerned citizen’s radars amidst the hurricanes threatening the South. People’s doctor appointments had to be moved to different locations due to security fears with nearby ballot boxes. This concern is particularly Relevant around our area, as ballot box burnings only happened in the Pacific Northwest and Arizona. 

Considering these legitimate fears, it makes sense that overall America is unsteady right now. Between America handling foreign affairs poorly, the economy being disarray for most Americans and the topic of rights coming into play, this will be a new chapter in America’s history. Only time will tell where this political turmoil will lead us in the future as a democracy. 

Will political bias in local Central Oregon classrooms impede education?

While diversity is a key component in Madras’s success, the clashing opinions can be confusing for everyone. When recently finding out that President Trump won the election while living in a predominantly republican area and having to go to school, I knew that it would be tough. Some people will let their political views get in the way of not just theirs but others’ education, and my first day of school after the election proved just that.

As soon as school starts, one can hear a teacher ask their class if they saw who won the election. And in my next period, I overheard a white student stating “I don’t like Mexicans” in a group of Hispanic students. As they had been showing how the person they were talking to was pro-Trump and how they have been posting to vote for him. Just after the student had stated that an argument broke out and you can hear the teacher say just remember the last four years 

After hearing controversial and harmful opinions in an educational space, it creates a sense of hostility that is concerning not just for local students but for those threatened across the country.

Our final statement

For many of us, the moment Kamala Harris lost the election was a moment of grief and unbridled terror. What will happen to our country? How will we continue moving forward with a president so determined to drag us back? When Trump takes office in January, the state of our society will change. Our First Amendment freedoms are at risk, as well as our rights to control our own bodies. For girls and women, journalists and members of many minority groups, the prospect of four years under Trump is unimaginable. 

Whether or not we can imagine it, we will soon be forced to live it. However, we must not lose hope. There is always light, and if America has proved one thing throughout its history, it is that this country is capable of great change but also the conservation of democracy. And after all, the 22nd Amendment guarantees that Trump will be out of office before most of us are old enough to drink.

The post Looking to the Future appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

Re-addressing Homelessness

One of the top priorities for Oregonians was the focus for her first-year legislative session, which included housing production and, in turn, serving those who are unsheltered. Bill 1527, meant to support housing production, has been in action since the start of her term. 

“[The bill] is a comprehensive proposal to bring a set of tools that we need in the state to really improve our housing production across the state and in all communities,” said Gov. Kotek.

Regularly noted throughout the conference, Gov. Kotek mentioned the legislature’s progressive action towards housing production and a tri-set of “packaged bills” and money to support the commitment concerning statewide infrastructure. She claimed to have updated her emergency order on homelessness which is still in full effect as a statewide emergency. 

“We met the goals as it related to preventing homelessness, creating new shelter capacity and rehousing individuals,” said Gov. Kotek. “We exceeded all [of] those goals.” 

She emphasized the significance of resolving Bill 1527, stressing that housing problems are universal. Kotek frequently proposed legislative focus on housing and homelessness as her only solution and the Oregonian’s top priority.

“We are [now] focusing again on prevention, rent assistance, keeping people housed, and then focusing on rehousing,” said Gov. Kotek. “So, we have a lot of work to do.”

Measure 110 and Drug Usage

While summarizing key focuses during her first year spent in office, Gov. Kotek was quick to address concerns about drug abuse, (especially that stemming from adolescence), and immediately expressed willingness to discuss movement in the legislature with this regard. Though the time constraint left little time for discussion, it became apparent that she hoped to solve this issue bottom up, starting with funding for education. 

“There’s a lot of work we need to do there on behavioral health, and we’re also looking to see what the legislature is doing on the next phase of the Measure 110 conversation, so I’m happy to talk about that,” Gov. Kotek said, prior to receiving any questions from the journalists.

Focusing on the educational aspect of behavioral health, Kotek stated that she plans to address the social-emotional health of students, acknowledging that “there are still a lot of behaviors that got worse during the pandemic that are still showing up in classrooms.” Her goal is to create “safer classrooms for everyone.”  

Kotek has maintained a focus on a systems approach to the holistic view of Oregonian matters, operating under the belief that one issue likely stems from another.  

“We’re gonna solve this by getting every part of the system together,” she said, acknowledging a La Grande hospital’s efforts to get high school students involved in the construction of housing units badly needed in the area. 

Oftentimes, her pursuits have been rooted in the idea that improving our education system and specialized education accessibility will create a ripple effect. She has emphasized attaining more funding for our education system that has previously been deemed necessary, the ambition being that improved education will lead to a decrease in critical workforce shortages, which will in turn attack the issue of homelessness from all angles. 

Kotek also referenced behavioral health treatment capacity, saying, “the approach we’re taking there is by…trauma region,” meaning that she intends to address the individual needs of communities experiencing particular insufficiencies in these care facilities. She stated that she plans to address housing in a similar manner. 

She left off on a hopeful note, though acknowledging that there is lots of work to be done.

Education and Reading Literacy

Education has been an integral portion of Gov. Kotek’s initiatives while in office; last August, she signed into law a budget allocating over $10 million to education, which is the largest amount of funding that education has received in any state’s history. The funds are meant to improve childcare access, create equitable environments for students, and, most importantly, improve state literacy rates.

“We are, right now, working with the programs that train teachers for the future to make sure that what they have in their curriculum is actually teaching the science of reading in an [effective] way,” said Gov. Kotek. “I am continuing to focus on literacy, making sure that every school district is doing the instruction that will actually have the best outcomes.”

“Our reading numbers are abysmal,” emphasized Gov. Kotek. She’s not wrong—in 2019, less than half of Oregon third-graders were at a proficient reading level, according to the state Department of Education.

“I want better for our students, and I’m going to work really hard to make that happen,” Gov. Kotek concluded, emphasizing how the coming two years of her gubernatorial term will ensure that Oregon’s literacy rates see a considerable increase.

Portland Teacher Strike

The Portland Teacher Strike, resolved last December, was a result of inadequate pay, planning time and resources for teachers in the district. After reaching a tentative agreement, the union is set to receive a 6.25% pay increase within the next year. 

“I am committed to working on the formula of how schools are funded, making sure that we can modernize it and address the core functional needs of our districts,” said Gov. Kotek. “And that includes compensation for our educators.”

Following the 11-day strike, Gov. Kotek stated that, going forward, her sole focus will be budget transparency for school districts across Oregon.  

“We have a proposal [in the] legislature right now on a transparency office in the Department of Education that will put all these things online,” said Gov. Kotek. This proposal will make funding records more accessible, allowing citizens to hold the Department accountable to their promises of a better environment for educators.

Gov. Kotek also recognized the falling attendance rates across the state. Post-pandemic, over one-third of Portland students became consistently absent throughout the last school year.

In order for Portland schools to become a positive environment for both students and teachers, teachers need to be supported with the correct resources. 

“I’m not one of those people who believes it’s just about money—we always need to make sure the resources are adequate—but how is that money being spent, how is it resulting in the outcomes we need? That is where I’m going to be focusing as we go into 2025,” said Gov. Kotek.

Greater Idaho

When asked about fair resource allocation, Gov. Kotek brought up a recently commissioned study on behavioral health treatment capacity. This study showed that some communities were lacking infrastructure. In response to this lacking infrastructure, Gov. Kotek is taking a regional approach.

“Not every community can have every service… but you should be able to, within your region, go to the different types of care that you need,” she said. 

Gov. Kotek is taking a similar approach to housing. Housing has, in some part, a focus on the geographical distribution of services. The governor’s office has recently implemented a practice to merge the funding streams together, so individuals only need to contact a single agency, streamlining the process of applying for housing subsidies.

Gov. Kotek understands that eastern Oregonians don’t feel heard, and they need to see something actually happening.

“That is why I visited every county last year,” she said.

Nonetheless, Kotek feels that the idea of a collective, unified Oregon will “take time for people to have renewed confidence in.”

Funding for Journalism

The Bulletin Editor Gerry O’Brien posed the final question of the meeting, echoing a concern from many small publications struggling to provide unbiased journalism in places with no other source for news. The question was about where Gov. Kotek stood on state funding for local, independent journalism. 

She agreed that it was important, and said that she was “beside herself” when she heard that The Bulletin was considering closing years ago, and was happy that this was not the outcome. Kotek then noted the difficulties of organizing funding, and that there would need to be a “firewall” between the state and the publications being funded. Doing so would be difficult to assure truly independent journalism. Nonetheless, Kotek’s remarks emphasized her commitment to furthering journalism, especially in rural areas, statewide.

“I think we undermine our democracy if we do not have local journalism,” said Kotek.

There haven’t been any proposals to support local journalism coming across her desk right now, but O’Brien promised that in the next legislative session, The Bulletin and other newspapers would bring such issues to her attention. 

Summary

Although an hour was only enough to entertain a select handful of topics, Gov. Kotek was direct and to-the-point about what needed to be done within Oregon politics to achieve the goals she started out with in her campaign. One of the most common statements of the evening was a refreshing sentiment about politics, acknowledging the progress, and reflecting about what can be done better for the future. 

“No, we’re not doing a good enough job,” Gov. Kotek said, in response to a question about caregiver safety. 

In a time when sugarcoating reality seems to be the new norm of campaigns, Gov. Kotek’s honesty is both troubling and comforting, the beginning of a long battle for a new Oregon.

The post Recent Roundtable With Gov. Tina Kotek Brings Promising Outlook for Remaining Term appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.