Thank you, ACT’s ‘Cell’
The Adult Center Theater production of a Hispanic version of my play, “Cell,” afforded me a totally unexpected opportunity to rediscover my play in a manner I never would have imagined otherwise. Produced since 2012, originally written for an African-American cast, presented in Hood River last year with a white-Anglo cast, and now, in 2019 with a cast of Hispanic-American actors, I have received a bountiful writers’ gift in the process.
Now, thanks to the original vision and concept of Director Gary Young, and Associate Director Kathy Williams, “Cell” has been presented by a wonderful cast of Hispanic actors who are part of the current demographic group that is being specifically targeted in the current U.S.A. detention crisis. It has been a pleasure, a privilege, and an honor to witness the performers infuse their characters by way of utilizing their own directly personal immigration experiences. I will never forget it. My deepest gratitude to the Salvador Fund, the Adult Center Theater; directors: Gary Young, Kathy Williams; cast: Viviana Rafalowski, Sonia Marquez, Leticia Valle, Juan Reyes; and crew: Priya Kendrick and Rosemary and Steve Shepardson.
The feedback that we received from our community audiences has been inspiring, enlightening, and so thoroughly affirming. Thank you, White Salmon, The Dalles and Hood River audiences. New York City itself could never have offered me such a unique experience. I will never forget it.
Cassandra Medley
New York, N.Y.

Yes on 14-67
Megan Saunders’ “Another Voice” suggests that giving people a vote will “undermines the democratic process,” be expensive, and create risky, unintended consequences. Those arguments are nonsense.
Ballot measure 14-67 asks: “Shall Hood River revise its charter to prohibit the disposal of any city parkland without a public vote?” Passage gives voters a vote on future park sales. That’s it.
Megan claims Measure 14-67 “undermines democracy.” Nonsense. If the council decides to sell more parks, then lively debates and community meetings will occur. Voters will weigh the issues and cast their vote. It’s what people in a democracy do best. A “Yes” on 14-67 gives everyone a voice.
Megan writes that a vote on city park sales will be a costly, significant obstacle. How many more parks is the city planning to sell? Sales of parks should be rare events, worthy of public discussion and a vote. When that rare vote happens, it will likely occur with other ballot measures like bond issues, school funding, or candidate elections — the other significant decisions the voters now make.
The higher price is incurred when the council sells irreplaceable community resources without giving everyone a voice. When we lose a park, children lose a safe place to play. We lose green space. A valuable asset vanishes forever. Approving Measure 14-67 lets the people choose whether to sell their parks. Let the people vote on those sales. Our parks, our choice.
Her worry about changing the city charter is fear-mongering. Oregon’s voters amend their charters to reflect local issues, and voters throughout the state do just that. Corvallis and West Linn residents amended their charters to protect parks from sale without the people’s vote. Sandy’s citizens added an amendment so voters could approve annexations. Pendleton’s charter amendment keeps solid waste transfer stations away from homes. Oregon’s voter initiatives show a healthy respect for the will of the people and city charters reflect those values.
Reject fear. Embrace the democratic process. Our initiative process lets you vote to add park protection to our charter on Nov. 5. Vote “Yes” on Measure 14-67.
Tracey Tomashpol
Hood River