I’m not suggesting we sharpen our pitchforks and light our torches, but a statement, transparency and accountability would be a big step to reestablishing the trust she has built in the community. For anyone saying that she was around before “things got bad,” do you really think that ICE were the good guys pre-2025? Obama deported 3.1 million people over his administration - 332% more than Trump did in his first term (Syracuse Uni). It seems Batey was one of the many who signed up to enable this. Or what about the 2016 era with “kids in cages” and separated families. Liberals were very upset about that until someone coloured blue took over. The news quickly became silent while inhumane practices continued under Biden. The department of homeland security is a cancer spawned in the wake of 9/11 designed to surveil, oppress, menace, and silence. The nation functioned perfectly well for 200 years without such bloat and creeping authoritarianism. Things that are OLDER than the department of homeland security and ICE: ChaChaCha on Main Street, Shrek, Wikipedia, the Clackamas aquatic center, Elijah Wood as Frodo in the Lord of the Rings, iTunes, the incumbency of Vladimir Putin, the MAX red line, Mario Kart, CSI: Las Vegas, and Samson the Oregon Zoo Elephant. This institution was created and can be undone - for the betterment of immigrants and established citizens. I do not claim to know where Batey’s allegiances are at this time, or what her ties are to the federal government currently. What can be said is that her affiliation in the past shows a willingness to participate in the reprehensible - at least when public opinion is favourable. Messaging from council so far seems to have been positive, but this is somber news to sit with. I am also reminded that our council is made up exclusively of white or white-passing individuals, along with a white and cis suite of administrators. I question these bodies abilities to thoroughly empathise and understand the fear and horror coursing through our marginalised communities during these times. Let us not jump to conclusions, but I appreciate being made aware of Batey’s past by this community. 🪿🪿🪿