|
217 Main Street
PO Box 168 Molalla, OR 97038 Phone:
503.829.2301 |
| |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Is the park problem gone if we don’t see it? |
|---|
|
|---|
The good news is that Long Park seems to have fewer problems.
Complaints in the area ranged from loitering to drug use, to public nuisance to drug deals.
The Molalla Police have hit the place hard, and there has been a noticeable difference over the last two weeks. But one question must be asked: Are we just sweeping the problem under the carpet?
The “problem people” may have left the area, but just because they aren’t doing the alleged actions in a visible place doesn’t mean they have stopped doing them.
If anything, it has sent the actions underground further. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t make the problem any better.
Addressing where a problem occurs is one part of the solution, but it’s addressing the symptom, and not the disease. We need to take the next step.
To tell someone you can’t do this here, and then provide him or her with no alternatives to the behavior is not going to solve the problem. It will send it under ground, allow it to grow faster, and when it finally sees the light of day, it will be worse than before.
We need to find alternatives to the behavior in plan. We have some of them in place with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Communities That Care, Police Activity League, and others, but are they reaching the late teens and young adults that seemed to be the problem at the park?
Doing drugs and/or drinking alcohol at a young age may be done out of boredom, as some teens have said, but it is also a cry for help. Whether that cry is for more to do or for deeper issues, we don’t know. But if we don’t heed that cry, we will deal with it later.
Political season policy change
With the political season rapidly approaching, the Pioneer will be making some changes to its editorial page policy.
Due to the volume of letters that we receive, people who write multiple letters to the editor may be limited to one letter per issue, candidate or initiative per month pending space.
By doing this, the Pioneer can best get out a multitude of opinions, and give a voice to all citizens in a timely manner.
Politicians — state and local — writing on their campaigns will not be allowed to put in letters to the editor section (As Jim Gilbert has already had one letter run, the Pioneer will allow one letter from Mac Sumner within the next few weeks).
Politicians may appear in point of views, but it will be at the Pioneer’s discretion. |
| Go to top. |
|
|