“He Divides and Conquers” – U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum visit LB for Town Hall

ALBANY – U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum alongside Albany Mayor Alex Johnson II gave local constituents a chance to voice their opinions about local and federal issues during a town hall event at Linn-Benton Community College.

    On Sunday, Jan. 18, Merkley and Bynum spoke in front of a crowd of 100-plus people at the Russell Tripp Theater at LBCC’s Albany campus.

    Of the attendees, most are a part of the older generation. Top discussed issues were the current political turmoil with the Trump administration, affordable housing, the cost of education, federal grants, reproductive rights, mental health, climate change, and protecting illegal and legal citizens against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    Linn-Benton President Lisa Avery welcomed and introduced Merkley, Bynum, and Mayor Johson in the theatre. Later handing the microphone to Mayor Johnson to explain his plans for Albany and affordable housing.



    During the Q&A session, one attendee from Sweet Home said, “My big concern is the Trump administration, they are destroying my country!”

    Merkley, Bynum and Mayor Johnson also stood and listened to one attendee give a heartbreaking – yet, powerful – statement of her unease with ICE being around Albany. At one point, she said, “He divides and conquers.”

    She went on to say that mental health needs to be a top priority. She used her son as an example. She lost him to suicide last year, noting that he was gay. “He felt like he didn’t fit and our country was not a safe place.”

    She went on to say, “We’re not melting together,” to which she ended her speech with, “We have our own individualities and we can’t become one, as that makes America so special.”

    “Our country is not perfect,” Bynum responded, “but we [along with Merkley] strive to have a more perfect union. That’s the goal.”

    Merkley and Bynum highlighted a plan they called “K-30,” which they are working on. The plan would combat the cost of education for kindergarten to age 30, giving a person a “fair shot” in education cost.



    As the night wrapped up, Merkley spoke to the audience about homes being built that are not affordable and the importance of their constituents voicing their concerns in not only town meetings like this one but locally as well.

    Before handing the microphone to Mayor Johnson, Merkley thanked the audience for their participation. The audience applauded Merkley and Bynum as they exited the theatre and began to disperse.