The Garden of Roses: Stories of Abuse and Healing

It can be lonely being a little not-for-profit.  Not even big not-for-profits gain all the media attention they would like to have to support their mission, but being a little not-for-profit, I have to work even harder for recognition.  I submitted what I considered an important Op-Ed piece to The Oregonian.  I can't say that I was overly surprised that they did not publish it.  So I am sending the same piece to another weekly paper that can be cheeky and naughty.  Since they are cheeky and naughty, I wrote a slightly cheeky cover letter which I am sharing here along with a longer version of the Op-Ed. Dear Sirs Portland Mercury I submitted my Op-Ed piece, Will We Let Domestic Violence Services Disappear?, attached below to The Oregonian a few weeks ago as they carry one or two Op-Ed pieces by members of the general public in their online edition every day.  The piece highlights the problems faced in Southern Josephine County by domestic...

Last summer I sat down in the office of the Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance in Cave Junction, Oregon, to speak with Chris Mallette, the Executive Director, about how budget cuts were affecting Domestic Violence cases in her area. Chris said, “Survivors don’t report Domestic Violence because there are too few sheriff’s deputies.  The response time is too slow.” The last few years have seen significant cuts in government and foundation funding for Domestic Violence services as poor economic conditions have reduced resources and politicians have emphasized tax cuts and spending cuts, believing that these actions will revive the economy.  Domestic Violence services across the state have halved their staffs as they struggle to stay open.  Some counties, such as Josephine County where the Illinois Valley is located, have experienced major cutbacks in their law enforcement due to declining support from timber revenue the last 25 years as well as federal support pa...