“They have masks on their faces. You can’t tell who they are,” said Innovation Law Lab’s (ILL) Communications Manager Victor Romero Hernandez of ICE agents in recent months. “ICE has become a lot more violent and aggressive, and a lot less transparent,” he told me.
Romero Hernandez says detentions used to be much more reliably tracked than they are currently. On the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, a search engine called “The Online Detainee Locator” (ODLS) is displayed. An individual believed to be in ICE custody can be searched on the system using the individual’s Alien Registration Number or alternately, using first name, last name, and country of birth.
On the website, ICE notes that “[f]or security reasons, ODLS does not provide information about transfers that are planned or in progress.” However, “Once a person is transferred and booked into another ICE detention facility, ODLS will be updated with that information.“
According to Romero Hernandez, the information about detainee location that ICE says it provides is not consistently made available. “It used to be that they [ICE] would detain somebody and then they would appear on the ICE identifier,” he said. “Now, not as often.”
Innovation Law Lab is a Portland based immigrant advocacy organization, with “team members in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Washington, and Mexico,” its website states.
The organization was founded in response to the detention of Central American migrants at covert facilities near Artesia, New Mexico over a decade ago. These were “secret detention facilities in very remote areas,” said Romero Hernandez.
Cell and wifi service were limited or nonexistent in these areas, so Innovation Law Lab “built a software system to support immigration attorneys” where they had previously been hindered in their work for lack of access.
Now, the work of Innovation Law Lab is three-pronged. “[W]e use the law, technology, and organizing to advance the immigration movement,” Romero Hernandez said.
Lately, he says, everyone’s workload at ILL has “gotten a lot heavier.” With an increase in detentions, he says their attorneys have had to respond very quickly to a lot of cases. Meanwhile, those working in advocacy for the organization have been focused on lobbying to maintain free and low-cost immigration services in Oregon through the Equity Corps of Oregon.
“As a formerly undocumented person, I can speak to how hard it is to stay on top of rent and food on top of trying to pay attorneys and legal experts,” Romero Hernandez said.
In recent months, immigration proceedings at courthouses have attracted ICE agents and resulted in detentions, he told me. When ICE teams detain individuals they often “don’t have identification,” he stated.
“We think about these as kidnappings,” Romero Hernandez continued. “It’s […] like kidnapping, where people are snatched off the streets in unmarked vans.”
*Shared with permission from a Yamhill county Substack writer
Federal retrenchments in health, education, and family support are leaving states to fill widening gaps. Cuts to Medicaid, narrowed Title IX protections, stagnant childcare investments, and uncertainty around reproductive rights all raise the stakes for Oregon families.
Women and children often bear the brunt, but fathers, caregivers, and communities as a whole are also affected. Oregon must respond boldly with equitable healthcare, family care, childcare, and educational support that shields every household—especially the nearly 70% of Oregonians earning under $100,000—from destabilization.
Healthcare for all Oregonians: Building Toward Universal Coverage
In 2022, Oregonians approved Measure 111, making health care a constitutional right. In 2023, SB 1089 created the Universal Health Plan Governance Board (UHPGB) to design a comprehensive plan for delivering affordable, equitable care. By 2026, lawmakers will review proposals to unify coverage and financing.
Oregon already operates OHP Bridge, providing premium-free coverage for adults who are at 138–200% of the federal poverty level. Pairing this with federal 1115 Medicaid waivers and 1332 reinsurance mechanisms can channel federal funds into a single, sustainable system. Lessons from Colorado, Washington, and Massachusetts show that expanding coverage is possible, but only if cost growth is disciplined and affordability benchmarks are enforced (Colorado Health Institute, 2024; Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, 2023; Washington Health Benefit Exchange, 2024).
To make this more than an insurance program, Oregon should reward providers for better health outcomes—like improved chronic disease management, widely adopted preventive care, and reduced avoidable hospitalizations—and offer Oregon cities incentives for providing and funding community clinic spaces and support for new medical and nursing graduates in primary care roles.
Family Care: Paid Leave That Works for Everyone
Oregon’s Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) program now guarantees up to 12 weeks of paid leave (14 for pregnancy-related needs). Since launching in 2023, it has delivered over $1 billion in benefits to more than 150,000 people. Yet delays in processing and limited awareness—especially among fathers, self-employed workers, and small business employees—undermine its impact.
To strengthen PFML, Oregon should:
Streamline applications and improve processing for faster benefit delivery.
Expand outreach to fathers and caregivers in non-traditional roles.
Integrate PFML with universal health coverage so families’ wages and health needs are jointly protected.
Childcare: Affordability as an Economic Imperative
Oregon has the highest infant care costs in the nation—nearly $18,000–$19,000 annually. Public investments have reduced “childcare deserts” from 27 counties in 2018 to just 9 in 2025. But demand still far outpaces supply.
Legislation such as SB 5514 ($225M for subsidies), passed in July, 2025, and HB 2593 (still in Committee; goal of bill is to reduce waitlists) should be implemented. State leaders can also expand support for childcare businesses and explore municipal childcare grants for cities that invest in facilities, or workforce training.
Education: Schools as the Core of Family Safety Nets
Schools are more than a place to learn—they are frontlines for child safety, mental health, and family resources. Narrowed federal Title IX protections risk undermining these roles. Oregon should maintain strong state-level Title IX standards that protect all students, including boys who underreport harassment and girls who face systemic barriers (Oregon Department of Education, Title IX Guidance, 2024).
Education funding should also be coupled with child wellness services in each community:
Expand SafeOregon tip lines and mental health counselors in schools.
Fund afterschool and early-learning programs as child-protection tools.
Encourage partnerships between schools, healthcare providers, and social services so families can access multiple supports under one roof.
A Unified Vision for all Oregon Families
Oregon has a historic opportunity to weave together universal healthcare, strong family leave, affordable childcare, and robust educational supports into a cohesive safety net. Doing so will not only protect low to average income households from federal shortfalls, but also improve long-term community resilience.
The path forward is clear:
Guarantee healthcare as a right—and make it affordable.
Strengthen PFML so all parents and caregivers can use it.
Cut childcare costs and expand supply statewide.
Keep schools as safe, equitable anchors for every child.
When the federal government falters, Oregon must stand tall. By building systems that value health, caregiving, and education for everyone in our communities, Oregon can ensure her families have the stability to thrive.
Newberg City Council recently approved a large amount of grant money from their construction excise tax fundsto a new organization. A Newberg resident is asking the council to reconsider. This is the letter she sent to the mayor and the council.
Dear Newberg City Mayor & Council Members,
I am writing to ask the council to reconsider its recent decision to fund the SPARK housing program with $742,934.52 from the CET fund. I am extremely disappointed that the council decided to ignore:
the Affordable Housing Committee’s recommendation,
the fact that the SPARK program didn’t even meet the criteria to be eligible for the funds,
the underlying classism and patronizing assumptions of the whole SPARK program,
some very basic money facts, and
the fact that the SPARK program won’t help the families in our community that most need housing assistance.
The Affordable Housing Committee took seriously their duty to review applications objectively and plainly laid out its reasons for rejecting SPARK. The committee’s decision was, quite simply, based on SPARK not meeting the objective criteria that ALL applicants were judged by. (I am sorry that Mayor Rosacker feels that those criteria favor 501(c)3 organizations, but perhaps there’s a reason for that: other organizations have some legitimacy AND more than just the “concept of a plan.”) I question whether other organizations would have received funding if they, too, had not even met the basic criteria. While the mayor publicly recused himself from the discussion/decision of the council at the meeting, the whole thing just smells wrong.
Furthermore, in the same meeting, City Manager Will Worthey recommended recognizing Newsberg as a media outlet based on the established criteria and scoring system. Yet when it came to spending a great deal of money, the council ignored the established criteria. WHY would the council accept the current scoring criteria for something far less significant, but shrug off the affordable housing committee’s recommendation, which was based on established objective criteria?
Being a retired nurse, former City of Newberg firefighter/paramedic and a college graduate, I have nothing against the teachers, nurses, and firefighters that SPARK identified as their target demographic. I understand the challenges of commuting to work as I commuted to work at Providence St. Vincent and Kaiser Westside for years. However, what the council fails to recognize is that the aforementioned demographic generally HAS housing stability. It may not be in Newberg, but these professionals are housed.
You know who generally doesn’t have stable or affordable housing? Minimum wage earners, hospitality workers, grocery store clerks, caregivers, seasonal workers, or disabled folks. These folks also work in Newberg and would probably like to be able to live in Newberg. Living where they work is especially important when transportation is often an expense they struggle with as well. Unfortunately, it appears that this is a demographic that Mayor Rosacker and the rest of the SPARK board find less desirable or worthy to help. This is classism, hidden in plain sight.
Beyond the classism, though, is the patronizing assumption that the reason people can’t afford housing in Newberg is because they are bad with money and need financial education (48 months of financial education, for crying out loud!) People can’t afford houses in Newberg because all that is being built is $400,000+ homes and because everyday things cost more, thanks to tariffs, corporate greed, and food rotting in the fields with no one to pick it.
More concerning is the fact that the program is not fully fleshed out, and while the SPARK website recently deleted references to “relational, emotional, and spiritual development”, we have no idea exactly what ideological education program participants would have to agree to participate in for 48 months in order to have a chance at a grant for a down payment. If the program proves to be too patronizing or onerous, the participants would be forced to leave and then have to find new housing. The program’s stated desire to avoid the tenant/landlord relationship would further expose participants to unfair risk from waiving important tenant rights they would have had in a traditional housing situation.
Lastly, by doing some basic calculations, I found that this program will NOT be nearly as helpful as it claims to be. Using a basic mortgage calculator, I calculated that the average Newberg home priced at $426,600 would require a down payment of $85,320 (20%). The SPARK program would allow the participant to apply for a grant that averages around $38,400 (figuring a program contribution of $800/month for 48 months.) This is not quite half of the necessary down payment.
Additionally, the monthly mortgage payment for the sample home would be $2215.52.
Households making 80% of median income make $72,800 a year or $6066.67/month before taxes or likely around $4,000/month take home pay.
Households making 50% of median income make $45,500 a year or $3791.67/month before taxes or likely around $2900/month take home pay.
A person working 40 hours per week at $17/hour makes $35,360/year or $2946.67/month before taxes or likely around $2300/month take home pay
This means that SPARK’s stated target demographic (who usually already have housing stability before entering the program) would be looking at purchasing a home whose mortgage payment is more than half of their monthly income. Poorer households (that struggle with housing stability and may be unhoused) will find that a mortgage payment would be most, if not all, of their monthly take-home pay. The poorer folks would also struggle to afford even the “market rate” rent that the SPARK program would require. On top of all of this, none of these income levels would qualify for a mortgage for a $426,600 home, unless they get a really questionable and predatory lender.
Bottom line, the decision to award the CET money to SPARK does not bear up under further examination. The program won’t help the Newberg residents and workers that need help the most and it has all the appearance of being a classist, patronizing, ideologically based way to help a “more deserving” group of people. The math doesn’t add up. Finally, there isn’t even a solid program to evaluate. The affordable housing committee had it right. The city council needs to reverse this decision.
Over the past few years, our Newberg community has faced significant challenges—from disruptions in our schools to growing division and distrust among neighbors due to political polarity. Despite these hardships, we’ve also seen the incredible resilience of our community: people coming together to support one another, advocate for children and families, and rebuild trust through dialogue and shared action.
Now, we face a variety of new challenges. Recent federal funding cuts are creating real gaps in essential services—especially in areas like health care, education, and community support. These will create gaps in services that will have a direct impact on our neighbors, our schools, and the most vulnerable among us.
Rather than give in to discouragement, we believe this is a moment to come together with renewed purpose. We are committed to working across differences to ensure that our community continues to thrive. That means listening to one another, identifying where needs are greatest, and finding creative, compassionate solutions—together.
Our values are rooted in our faith and in the belief that every person deserves dignity, care, and opportunity. We are inspired by the legacy of Newberg’s Quaker founders and the many people who have worked tirelessly to make this a place of welcome and hope. We believe in the power of community to rise above division and meet challenges with courage and grace.
When we launched this group in 2023, our goal was focused on overcoming challenges that had befallen our schools and our children’s education. We told the stories of our town—stories that reflect the humanity, strength, and spirit of our neighbors and helped drive the changes to support the values of the majority of our community. Today, a mission that supports unity and the stories of our community feels more important than ever. By lifting up the voices of those affected by change, we hope to inspire action rooted in empathy and shared responsibility.
Let’s continue building a Newberg where everyone belongs, where every child is supported, and where we face the future not with fear, but with faith in one another.
Our Mission Statement
We are a collective of local writers dedicated to fostering unity and compassion in our community. Through thoughtful storytelling and clear communication, we shine a light on the events, challenges, and needs that shape our shared lives. By informing our neighbors and amplifying local voices, we aim to inspire connection, encourage action, and build a stronger, more caring community—together.
*Please contact us if you have a story you’d like to share or a topic you’d like us to explore. This is our old email, being used for a new, broader purpose: betternsdschoolboard@gmail.com
“However, after an extensive investigation, I found that systems to monitor the district’s finances were either non-existent or were unsophisticated and ineffective in achieving the desired outcome.” Independent Investigator Dave Novotney, Ph.D.
A damning 56-page investigation report was obtained by Newberg Neighbors and reveals that former Newberg School District Superintendent Dr. Steve Phillips failed to monitor the budget, resulting in an $8 million deficit. He also used racist language and misrepresented the district’s compliance with state standards. The report, prepared by independent investigator Dave Novotney, Ph.D., substantiates four of seven allegations against Phillips during his tenure leading a district beset by years of controversy.
Dr. Novotney was also briefly the interim superintendent prior to Dr. Phillips, when then-board chair Dave Brown and three other board members fired Dr. Joe Morelock with no plan for a replacement. At the time, Novotney provided his services for free as the superintendent of the Willamette Educational School District, of which Newberg is a part. Upon his retirement, he became an independent investigator.
The investigation, which included interviews with 27 district employees and administrators, paints a picture of a superintendent who held informal “pop-in” meetings instead of implementing proper financial oversight, referred to students and staff using racist terms in private conversations, and told staff to report compliance with state standards even when programs fell short – because “nobody actually reports out of compliance.”
We are expecting further information from our records request. This report, which is redacted to protect the identities of those who were interviewed over the course of the investigation, is the first.
Newberg Neighbors has taken the liberty of creating a Cliff’s Notes version for public consumption.
Allegation 1: Did Dr. Phillips fail to provide adequate oversight of the budget?
The allegation was substantiated, with 4 specific duties contained within school board policies CB and CBA were cited that demonstrated Dr. Phillips’ culpability for the devastating budget fiasco. Furthermore, as Dr. Novotney is a former superintendent himself, he had specific knowledge of the responsibilities of a superintendent and the budgeting process and found Phillips to be lacking in his fiduciary responsibilities.
Specifically, the district lacked basic systems with which to monitor the budget, did not implement a practice known as “budget blocking” in the district’s finance software that would have prevented the overspending responsible for the budget deficit, and did not grant administrators access to monitor or view their departments’ budgets. Despite Dr. Phillips’ claims that he isn’t responsible for the mess made of the district’s budget, Board Policy very clearly states that, while the superintendent can delegate tasks to others, they are not relieved from the responsibility of actions taken under delegation.
Allegation 2: Did Dr. Phillips use racist and discriminatory language during private meetings?
The allegation was substantiated, with two standards in the employee handbook and two standards in NDPS board policy CBA cited to have been violated. Dr. Phillips referred to Caucasian kids as “whities,” Hispanic students as “brownies” and LGBTQ students as “gays and weirdos” in multiple instances with two separate people, one of whom Dr. Phillips assumed would be friendly to his views. In Dr. Phillips’ interview, he expressed frustration at a perceived lack of loyalty among administration ranks, seemingly expecting to be protected at all costs by the principals who worked beneath him. Dr. Phillips also claimed ODE wanted students to be referred to as white kids and brown kids. This item is potentially reportable to TSPC.
Allegation 3: Did Dr. Phillips mislead ODE, the NDPS Board of Directors, and the community at large about the district’s full compliance with Division 22 standards in fall of 2023?
The allegation was substantiated. NDPS board policies CM and CBA were cited to have been violated, as well as two standards in the employee handbook. This item is potentially reportable to TSPC.
Allegation 4: Did Dr. Phillips fail to adhere to board policy regarding Reductions in Force (RIFs) in June of 2024?
This allegation was unsubstantiated, with specific board policy cited that demonstrated why this was an unfounded claim. Specifically, the June RIFs were for classified and non-represented staff, two populations who don’t require Board of Directors action before the RIF process can begin.
Allegation 5: Did Dr. Phillips fail to properly implement administrator evaluations consistent with TSPC standards and Board Policy CCG?
This allegation was substantiated and was fairly cut-and-dried. However, Dr. Phillips claimed administrators in Newberg had never been evaluated by TSPC standards, which was easily found to be untrue as TSPC standards were used in the 2021-22 school year by Karen Pugsley, who was Admin on Special Assignment at the time. The evaluation created by Dr. Phillips was merely a self-reflection.
Allegation 6: Did Dr. Phillips attempt to negatively impact the employment of Gregg Koskela?
This allegation was unsubstantiated, as the other superintendent in this equation seemed to understand the communication from Dr. Phillips to be a concern about whether Mr. Koskela was writing and posting on his blog during company time. It should be noted, however, that Dr. Novotney believes Dr. Phillips did make a significant error in judgment in contacting Mr. Koskela’s new boss.
Allegation 7 was specific to Dr. Phillips’ time in Jewell and the civil rights lawsuit filed last spring.
As the litigation is ongoing, a proper investigation was unable to be completed. However, Dr. Novotney noted in his report that Dr. Phillips promptly reported an inappropriate letter discovered in the classroom of the sex offender to the proper authorities.
We recommend reading the full report in its entirety. In early 2022, we had a superintendent candidate with the knowledge, experience, and reputation to lead a district of this size; yet the conservative school board majority chose a superintendent on administrative leave and under investigation at his then-current job, who was also forced out of his previous job due to the expression of racist views via the reposting of anti-undocumented immigrant sentiment on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Thus, none of what’s contained within the pages of the report should be a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention to school district business over the last four years.
It is clear Dr. Phillips was not hired because he was the best man for the job; rather, he was hired despite being unqualified for the job. His sole qualification was his political views, which closely matched those of the conservative board majority. Don’t take our word for it: one of the people interviewed stated Dr. Phillips referred to people unaligned with his political views as “commies.” This cronyism directly led to chaos, destruction, and heartbreak for our district and community which will take years to fully recover from.
It is our hope the community will remember this saga when it’s time for school board elections in May. Our next school board will be responsible for hiring a permanent superintendent for our district. It is imperative we continue the healing process by electing people with integrity who are committed to the non-partisan nature of the school board, so that a superintendent of good character who will lead this district with competence, professionalism, virtue, and accountability may be hired.
Like the rest of the country, Newberg and Yamhill County have a unique opportunity to turn the page on controlling, grievance-filled politics by rejecting politicians who have refused to work with any “outsiders,” taking their positions as a mandate to do as they please.
Since Linsday Berschauer burst upon the scene to run for county commissioner, Yamhill County has seen the rise of partisan dominated politics for community-based issues. With the election of Berschuaer came the rise of two far-right political groups seeking to control all politics in Yamhill County: Newberg Dundee Strong and Mac We Are.
These groups are both affiliates of Strong Town, USA, an organization that advocates “for cities of all sizes to be safe, livable and inviting.”
Sounds good, but despite being affiliates, the agenda of Strong Town, USA, is not really the goal of Newberg Dundee Strong and Mac We Are. Instead, the local organizations are fueled by the identity politics of MAGA.
Thus, voters in our county are faced with low-knowledge candidates who exhibit a lot of confident wrongness.
We see it in the giant signs that liter our beautiful country roads.
We saw it with a “100% MAGA” Newberg-Dundee School Board that made national news for its racist policies, then fired a popular and competent superintendent in the Newberg-Dundee School District superintendent and hired their candidate, Dr. Phillips.
We saw it with the lavish praise poured on the new superintendent and chief financial officers by the 7-person board, all members of Newberg Dundee Strong. Their hand-picked leaders for our district repeatedly lied to the community, hiding the fact that they bankrupted the school district, then sued the district for their own incompetence.
We see it with the aggressive smearing of any outsider by Carey Martell, whose “Yamhill Advocate” operated in conspiracy theories that made his targets in Newberg feel unsafe.
We see it with the exclusionary, biased and prejudiced reporting of Becky Wallis, member of NDS, conflict resolution officer for Yamhill County Republicans, and editor of Yamhill County News
We want to take a moment to point out the end result of Wallis’ multiple complaints to the Newberg School Board. Confident wrongness that cost the district (and therefore the taxpayers) time and money. Board member Nancy Woodward and Finance Committee chair Kat McNeil spent countless hours responding to the complaints. One of the board lawyers also gave hours of time. Becky herself seemed to take pleasure in the time and money she caused the district to waste.
On Friday, November 1, all three complaints that made it to the Oregon Ethics Commission were dismissed. All of Wallis’s complaints were protective of Dr. Phillips, insisting that the board and the chair of the finance committee were breaking the law by hiring an interim superintendent and pointing out financial issues, respectively. Confident wrongness at work.
We have the opportunity to put this kind of partisan politics behind us. We need politicians that are knowledgeable and skilled, not blinded by purity partisan politics. We need politicians willing to work with ALL citizens of Yamhill County for the common good.
The city of Newberg is fortunate to have three amazing, highly qualified candidates running for city council: Dr. Jeri Turgesen, Tyson Butler, and the only incumbent, Elise Yarnell.
The city of Newberg is fortunate to have three amazing, highly qualified candidates running for city council: Dr. Jeri Turgesen, Tyson Butler, and the only incumbent, Elise Yarnell.
Yarnell has served six years as a councilor from District 1. She is an amazing communicator and a proven collaborator with extensive experience getting things done! Besides holding a lot of institutional knowledge as our longest-serving city councilor, she is currently the only council member who is not a member of the ideologically rigid and uncompromising Newberg Dundee Strong.
The monopoly Newberg Dundee Strong had on the school board has caused the Newberg Dundee School district to suffer greatly. The last thing we need is our most senior member of the council replaced with yet another member of Newberg Dundee Strong. We are concerned the city councilors will follow the example of the former Newberg Dundee school board members and not engage with or listen to constituents outside of their group.
Why is Newberg Dundee Strong running a candidate for this position in the first place? Britta Mansfield announced her candidacy with a picture of her and Lindsay Berschauer at a local festival. On her website, Britta says, “I believe the community should still be involved in regularly choosing who they want to represent them and lead.”
Sounds good, but there is absolutely no indication of how Mansfield would represent or lead better, let alone different, from Yarnell. In fact, Britta’s entire campaign, from the language used right down to the branding, seems to be copied from Elise. This raises a good deal of concern about why she is running under the guise of “let(ting) the citizens choose who represents them.”
If Mansfied wins Yarnell’s seat with no other changes to the council, then EVERY council position will be represented by members of Newberg Dundee Strong. This concern about a Newberg Dundee Strong monopoly was shared with Mansfield on her Facebook page, along with a question about if she would represent all her constituents. Instead of attempting to quell the concerns about representation, Britta just ignored the question altogether.
Thankfully, in addition to Elise, there are two other highly qualified citizens running for city councilor positions: Dr. Jeri Turgesen and Tyson Butler.
Turgesen was raised in rural Yamhill and brings her rural sensibilities and years of experience as a psychologist in Newberg to the table. She oversees all behavioral health for the Newberg Dundee School District. She is passionate about Newberg being a safe and nurturing community, especially for our children.
This passion about youth mental health led her and Elise to create and implement a system to identify and help students experiencing suicidal ideation. Their combined efforts stopped the rash of youth suicides that rocked our community several years ago and it is crucial that this work continue.
Like Yarnell, Turgesen is a clear and effective communicator. They both recently gave testimony to the Board of Commissioners about youth mental health, successfully getting funding released that had been held. Berschauer had held the funding because of her concerns about parents’ rights. Jeri explained the collaborative approach the health center uses and showed its effectiveness with data. There is 100% parental/guardian participation for youth in crisis. Her kindness, coupled with an ability to address serious issues, is much appreciated.
Butler is a working professional who chose Newberg to raise his children, largely because it is a tight-knit community. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and has 10 years of experience in community development and conflict resolution. There are skills that will be put to good use here in Newberg! Jeri and Tyson will bring much needed diversity, skill and experience to our community. They will foster a strong, collaborative city.
Please vote for Elise Yarnell, Dr. Jeri Turgesen, and Tyson Butler for Newberg City Council!
It’s political sign season in my home community, as it is everywhere. In the county where I live, political signs proliferate almost every spring and fall, mostly for candidates in local races, less often for those at the national level, perhaps because Oregon is not a swing state, and because national races are pretty much decided before our polls close.
There are several notable exceptions in my hometown, though, of signs supporting a national candidate and which show that we are an uncivil people, and also uncivilized. The first, on a flagpole blocks from my home, has been proudly proclaiming “F*** Joe Biden!” for several years now. Except, of course, the asterisks are letters. Even the “Let’s Go Brandon!” bumper sticker on a car parked near that house shows a bit more taste, by the smallest of margins.
Newberg Neighbors for a Better Community 
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