For any adult in the position to help protect children—parents, teachers, childcare and health care workers—there are many lessons to be learned from the Jerry Sandusky case. First and foremost, we must work to create a culture where the safety of children is our top priority.

It is very rare that a child will disclose a story of abuse for personal gain. Children suffering from sexual abuse need caring and responsible adults in their lives who believe them and take action to help them escape and recover from the trauma of abuse. In the Sandusky case, adults failed to fulfill mandatory reporting laws that require adults who work in settings where they have frequent contact with youth to report suspected cases of abuse.

Children of all ages need to know that it is okay to speak up when something has happened to them. Girls, and boys, who are often less likely to disclose, should be told the abuse is not their fault and that there are people and systems in place to help them. We can help break down the barriers that prevent children from revealing abuse by encouraging our kids to speak to a trusted adult when they are hurting. Because often the perpetrator is within the family, children need to know there are other adults who will listen and respond when something has happened (teachers, counselors, doctors or other trusted adults in their lives).

Every adult should know and be alert to signs of child abuse, including sudden or unexpected behavioral changes such as anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and any developmental regression especially in younger children. Furthermore, every adult should also know to be a supportive listener to a child who discloses abuse. In Clackamas County, the Children’s Center is the sole agency devoted to medically assessing and conducting forensic interviews with children who are suspected victims of child abuse. Local, hurting children will find adults at the Children’s Center who are ready to listen and help.

For every reported case of childhood sexual abuse, we know there are many more children suffering in silence. To learn more about how you can be part of a community that puts children’s safety first, contact the Children’s Center at 503-655-7725 or visit childrenscenter.cc.

Dr. Michael Chen

The Children’s Center medical director

Positively a local idea

I was puzzled to read the information in last week’s edition entitled “Positively Clackamas is NOT.”

I had been told about Positively Clackamas by a neighbor. I understand it is a PAC, “Political Action Committee” made up of people in Clackamas County opposed to the anti-light rail initiative (#3-401) that will appear on the September ballot.

After reading the article I went to the Sec. of State Web Site, as suggested, in an attempt to understand the allegation that this “PAC is not a local idea”, but rather “is positively a Multnomah County PAC.” I found that the name of the person on the registration is the owner of C&E Systems. I also noted (with two more clicks of my mouse) that the Directors named in the registration were Eleanor Hunter and Fred Nelligan both listed as residents of Oak Grove (Clackamas County), along with their addresses.

I also researched C&E Systems. This company provides “full service financial, banking, payroll services and disclosure reporting for local, state, or federal candidates and committees.” Positively Clackamas is such a committee and apparently uses C&E Systems only for financial and administrative services.

I concluded that the letter by Libby Wentz was an example of “scratch the surface” research likely to mislead the voters of Clackamas County as to the makeup, purpose, backing and location of Positively Clackamas regarding this very important ballot issue.

Chuck Berglund

Oak Grove

History lesson needed

The recent Community Soapbox by Terry Dolan (“Neighbors support light-rail extension to county,” July 11) raised my hackles because he failed to address the glaring concerns expressed by Les Poole in an earlier submission.

Mr. Poole has devoted countless hours to informing the county citizens about the ill fated extension to Oak Grove that will destroy parklands including the Trolley Trail and Willamette Greenway.

Mr. Dolan claims ending the line at a bad location will provide access and freedom over a wide area for generations. He obviously is unaware how much time and public money was spent by former Milwaukie Councilor Carlotta Collette, former Mayor Jim Bernard, and a handful of others in their behind the scenes effort to move the parking mess from Southgate to Kronberg Park. After that failure they made sure the problem was dumped in Oak Grove. The cost added $140 million to the project.

I wonder if Mr. Dolan believes that the environmental impacts of an overpass cutting through Island Station is going to make Oak Grove flourish. A streetcar would save about $160 million per mile, and not wipe out the neighborhood. Express buses would save even more.

Informed citizens know that the end of the line at Clackamas Town Center is now a crime hub. The same thing will happen in this case. Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts recently endorsed the citizen’s measure 3-401 to require a vote before diverting $25 million to pay for “the wrong end of the horse.”

We keep hearing justifications for the project that has little to with it. Light rail doesn’t move freight or materials, and is not a high capacity system, regardless of what Mr. Dolan claims. I think he should invite Mr. Poole for an enlightening cup of coffee or beverage of his choice. The conversation would challenge his attempt at forward thinking.

Yvonne Lazarus

Oak Grove

We voted for BCC

Last week a letter from Jeff Molinari claimed that light-rail construction should be stopped immediately since citizens “have already voted this measure down twice...” (“Stop light-rail construction” July 25). I have voted for candidates and measures for over 40 years. I appreciate that each vote is a discrete vote. It’s for a specific candidate or proposal at a specific time.

Conditions in metropolitan areas are always changing - population density and demography, local centers of growth and deterioration, infrastructure viability, competitive forces, neighborhood values. Successful metropolitan areas, like successful corporations, anticipate and plan ahead as well as they can. I would bet there were a lot of citizens in 19th-century Portland, accustomed to the conditions at the time, who opposed construction of the first bridge across the Willamette or the first electric streetcar line in downtown Portland.

In 1994, Metro and TriMet developed a proposal for a 33-mile South/North line from Vancouver to Milwaukie at a cost of $2.4 billion. At that time, we voted for a specific proposal - to build or not build the entire 33-mile line at once. Many citizens who voted against funding that specific project had good reason to vote against the cost of such a massive project or elements of its route. They did not vote against the concept of rail transit service and they certainly did not intend to prevent future generations from responding to conditions as they saw fit.

Another proposal was advanced in 1998 for light rail from North Portland to Clackamas County. Again, it proved to be too large and too expensive a project to gain acceptance from every jurisdiction it would serve. Then a last minute effort by business leaders, particularly the CEO of Northwest Natural Gas, was developed to design a less expensive route along Interstate Avenue.

When I vote “No” on a project, such as a bond measure to support schools or libraries, my vote does not mean that I am forever opposed to schools or libraries. It means “back to the drawing board.” Whenever I vote, or when I empower commissioners by my vote to work for our commonwealth, I have no intention of limiting the ability of future generations to respond to conditions as they must.

Terry Dolan

Oak Grove

Boycott Walmart

In response to Tom Weaver’s Walmart letter published July 26, Mr. Weaver makes a false assumption about the people who are against the Walmart coming into Oak Grove. They are not a “select group” as he says, implying snobbery or elitism. It’s just the opposite. Those opposed to the Walmart do so because they care about our community.

What appears as new employment is countered by increased unemployment in nearby competing businesses. If Walmart comes in, Safeway may go out, along with Grocery Outlet and some smaller local businesses. That is their history. The low wage jobs they do provide just replace better paying jobs nearby. Any savings we get from groceries are paid by us taxpayers for their employees’ social safety net expenses - food stamps, emergency room medical, and various social welfare services. Clever Walmart outsources their employee expenses to us taxpayers. Good for their bottom line, but not for yours. And the profits they collect from local citizens are sent to Arkansas, draining our local economy.

Mr. Weaver is correct in stating that those opposed to Walmart have the option to shop somewhere else. I encourage everyone to do just that. Vote with your dollar. Sign the Pledge at nogwal.org to not shop there. Support local businesses.

Ed Riddle

Oak Grove

We welcome submissions from readers on local issues for our Editorial and Opinion page. Please send your thoughts by Friday at noon to Raymond Rendleman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Try to keep Letter to the Editor submissions under 400 words, but longer submissions will be considered for Community Soapboxes. Submissions may be edited for length, grammar, libel and appropriate taste. Letters must be accompanied by a full name, a telephone number and street address for verification purposes.