Where money was spent

In Janet Steele’s letter regarding the chamber endorsements of candidates, she stated “Chamber member businesses are committed to helping the Albany area prosper and grow, providing a multitude of jobs and a strong, stable economy and tax base for the community.” My question is, if this is true, then why did the Albany Chamber of Commerce, under the Good Government Council, send almost $12,000 of business to a company in Lake Oswego for printing “their” candidates’ signs, literature, buttons, etc. when there is a print shop across the street from the chamber, in their community, that could have done the work?

I think if the chamber and candidates want the community support they should support their community.

Pam VanSchoiack, Albany

Bill O’Bryan, head of the Chamber’s PAC, responded: “In checking our financial records for the last 12 months we found that the Chamber spent over $22,000 with local printers and over $17,000 with the printer referred to in the letter. This included our voters’ guide. The business referred to in the letter is a Chamber member in good standing. The owner was born and raised in Albany and assisted the Good Government Council with campaign consulting, design work and mailings. All candidates purchased their own signs, buttons, etc. As always, the Chamber stands by its goals of supporting and working with area businesses to help Albany prosper.”

Commerce and community

My office has been located in the Chamber of Commerce office for over 22 years where I help citizens starting businesses and help local businesses expand. I do not work for the Chamber, but over that period of time have developed an admiration for its members and volunteers. They are our friends and neighbors who, through their business endeavors and hard work, have become community leaders and community supporters.

The Chamber started life as the Commercial Club in 1908 and was formed to help Albany “become a better, bigger and busier community.” The Chamber has always promoted local businesses and the community together. Without commerce and jobs we would have nothing, no goods, no services and no community.

Calvin Coolidge once said, “The business of America is business,” and that is as true today as it was in the 1920s.

Back in the early days of Albany, the Monteith brothers were businessmen who set out to create a center of commerce in the Willamette Valley. The Monteith House, now our wonderful historic museum, was the first general store.

We can thank the chamber manager who was instrumental in attracting the Bureau of Mines research center to the former Albany College campus after WWII. That one action alone led to our important metals industry. Businesses such as Wah Chang, Oremet and others have enriched our community ever since.

I have never heard or seen any actions or initiatives in all of my years in the chamber that was not honest and above-board and did not have the best interest of the community and a healthy economy in mind.

Our former mayor Doug Killin is probably turning over in his grave at the business and chamber bashing taking place during this election. After his election one of Doug’s first actions was to visit the chamber and meet with the president. His visit was his way of building a stronger bridge between the city and the business community.

Let’s hope that our newly elected officials follow Doug’s lead and build their own bridges to our important business community and stop the bashing. We all have our own agendas; let’s respect that basic American right, to differ, but still care for our economy and our great communities.

John Pascone, Albany

Look at our diversity

The letter in today’s paper from Dave Henderson (Mailbag, Nov. 4) contains incorrect information: “Through my dealings, I found no diversity in supervisory positions. Researching a little further, I found all supervisors throughout the city to be of Caucasian descent.”

The city of Albany’s public works director, information technology director, one fire department battalion chief and a recreation programs supervisor in the Parks & Recreation Department are all people of color.

Marilyn Smith, Albany