Several of the recent fires are suspected to be arson and many of our readers may be wondering what steps can legally be taken to prevent an arson. This section of Oregon Law is reprinted for your convenience.

ORS 161.225 Use of physical force in defense of premises. (1) A person in lawful possession or control of premises is justified in using physical force upon another person when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes it necessary to prevent or terminate what the person reasonably believes to be the commission or attempted commission of a criminal trespass by the other person in or upon the premises.

(2) A person may use deadly physical force under the circumstances set forth in subsection (1) of this section only:

(a) In defense of a person as provided in ORS 161.219; or

(b) When the person reasonably believes it necessary to prevent the commission of arson or a felony by force and violence by the trespasser.

(3) As used in subsection (1) and subsection (2)(a) of this section, “premises” includes any building as defined in ORS 164.205 and any real property. As used in subsection (2)(b) of this section, “premises” includes any building.

This is not considered to be legal advice. Emphasis is ours.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-09-10 19:53:20

The Republican Coos County Chair has called out Melissa Cribbins and Cal Mukumoto for election violation, using government offices to push campaign.

Coos Bay, OR. - Republican Coos County Chair, Rod Schilling, calls out Coos County Commissioner and Democrat candidate in Senate District 5, Melissa Cribbins, for violating ORS 244.040, which prohibits the use of public office to further her political campaign.

In the middle of catastrophic wildfire sweeping the state and up and down the coast, Cribbins, along with other government officials and Democrat candidate, Cal Mukumoto, cross-promoted a town hall with other government officials, including Senator Arnie Roblan. The town hall was cross promoted on social media accounts from both official and political accounts.

“Is advancing a political agenda that important to Melissa and Cal that they are using a devastating tragedy to gain influence?” Schilling asked. “Now is the time to focus on working together and building up the communities facing destruction. Instead, it’s plainly clear that Democrats are prioritizing their own political agenda over suffering Oregonians.”

It would be incumbent upon the people of Coos County to look further into what their government officials are doing in their official capacity. Residents of Coos County need clear and concise information during emergencies, not political theater.

“In the meantime, we are the watchdogs to hold Democrats accountable for Oregonians and are pursuing a complaint with the Secretary of State.” Schilling ended.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-10 18:10:13

Last Update: 2020-09-10 19:28:02

Is this the best time to implement restrictive energy policies on Oregonians?

Governor Kate Brown thinks so.

You can apply to be on this rulemaking committee though. Government belongs to those who show up. You can apply to show up for this committee and let the bureaucrats know what you think about carbon taxes.

Oregon’s Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) is expected to initiate rulemaking at its September meeting to implement parts of Governor Brown’s Executive Order 20-04 on reducing greenhouse gas pollution.

That rulemaking will focus on significantly strengthening Oregon’s planning rules about transportation planning and housing, particularly for Oregon's eight urban areas with populations over 50,000 people.

Rulemaking Advisory Committee members and staff will focus on meeting our greenhouse gas reduction goals through rule updates while increasing housing choice and creating more equitable outcomes for community members on the ground. (More background).

We are asking community members and other specialists to help LCDC and staff define these outcomes and goals, and to develop associated strategies for how the state can help increase capacity for coordinated regional and local efforts.

The LCDC are seeking community members and other experts from Oregon’s largest eight urban areas (Albany, Bend, Corvallis, Eugene/Springfield, Grants Pass, Medford/Ashland, Portland Metro, Salem/Keizer) to serve on a Rules Advisory Committee (RAC).

The RAC is expected to meet ten times between fall 2020 and fall 2021. Many if not all of these meetings will be on-line.

Staff and commissioners are looking to create a RAC reflecting Oregon’s current and projected demographics, including race, ethnicity, income, ability and gender. Members of historically marginalized communities may receive contracts to help support their participation.

If you are interested in serving on the RAC, please complete this application, and submit it to Stacey Goldstein: stacey.goldstein@state.or.us by 11:59 PM, Thursday, September 24.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-10 16:28:51

Last Update: 2020-09-10 18:10:13

Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

Candidate for House District 47 Ryan Gardner is challenging incumbent Diego Hernandez, his 3rd run to represent a portion of Multnomah County.

Three major issues to Oregon voters are the economy, safety and education. Hernandez voted to increase taxes and fees including cap and trade, corporate gross receipts tax (CAT), and reduce the kicker. He also voted to prohibit hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas exploration, and voted against an agriculture necessities exemption from the CAT tax. Hernandez sponsored a bill to eliminate the mortgage interest deduction from taxable income. In the 2020 Special Session he voted to impose a 6% tax on cell phones. Gardner, on the other hand, indicates he would vote no on these issues and says, “there are better more effective methods to reduce greenhouse gasses.”

Hernandez’s safety stance is to signed a letter to US Attorney General William Barr demanding “immediate withdrawal of federal operatives from the City of Portland.” He helped sponsor the bill that nullified Measure 88 passed by voters allowing undocumented driver’s license and he helped sponsor a bill that allows not requiring proof of citizenship to obtain a driver’s license and voted to require employers to notify employees of ICE investigations as well as a bill to prevent courts from asking immigration status and notifying ICE. Gardner would vote no protecting the voters will, and would not vote to reduce the effectiveness of ICE for protection. He supports government’s ability to uphold the constitution, and believes “in upholding federal immigration law.”

In the area of education, Hernandez voted to require mandated vaccination with no exceptions and ban those from schools that don’t comply. Gardner does not agree with mandated vaccinations. He supports an Education Savings Account and says, “school choice would force some much-needed improvement in our current education system.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-09-10 13:19:46

Last Update: 2020-09-30 10:52:06

Governor Kate Brown today issued Executive Order 20-42 , declaring an abnormal market disruption as a result of the statewide wildfire emergency. This order is in response to reports of unusual increases in lodging rates for Oregonians who have evacuated fire areas and concern that the wildfire emergency may prevent ready availability of other essential consumer goods and services.

“During a statewide emergency, it is absolutely unacceptable to price gouge Oregonians who have already been hard hit and are facing devastating loss,” said Governor Brown. “This order empowers the Attorney General and the Oregon Department of Justice to investigate these instances and take appropriate action if businesses are found to be in violation.”

"As wildfires force thousands of Oregonians to abandon their homes, local businesses have stepped up to ensure that families can find essential goods and services at fair prices," said Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. "To any who would take advantage of neighbors in need, the Governor's order on price gouging is a reminder that the Oregon Department of Justice will stop them in their tracks."

Oregonians who believe they have been subjected to excessive prices for essential consumer goods and services due to this disruption can report these instances to the Oregon Department of Justice through their Consumer Protection hotline at 877-877-9392. Oregonians can also visit www.OregonConsumer.gov for more information. The Oregon Department of Justice has the authority to investigate unlawful trade practices.

This Executive Order is in addition to, and does not replace Executive Order 20-06, which the Governor issued in March. EO 20-06 declared an abnormal market disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic regarding essential consumer goods and services like hand sanitizer and toilet paper. It remains in effect.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-10 12:26:13

Last Update: 2020-09-10 14:12:04

The Portland City Council unanimously voted to ban the government and corporate use of facial recognition technology. This is the first ever ban on corporate use of face surveillance in the United States.

Jann Carson, interim executive director of the ACLU of Oregon, had the following comment:

“Portland Police for months have been gassing, beating, and violently attacking the people of Portland to suppress their demands for racial justice. With today’s vote, the community made clear we hold the real power in this city. We will not let Portland turn into a surveillance state where police and corporations alike can track us wherever we go.

“Face surveillance is an invasive threat to our privacy, especially to Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, and women, who frequently are misidentified by the technology. We appreciate Commissioner Hardesty’s leadership and applaud Portland for banning the government and corporate use of facial recognition technology.

“We hope the passage of this landmark legislation in Portland will spur efforts to enact statewide legislation that protects all Oregonians from the broad range of ways that our biometric information is collected, stored, sold, and used without our permission.”

--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-10 11:26:23

Last Update: 2020-09-10 14:09:02

February 28 was Oregon’s first case of COVID-19, and Governor Kate Brown issued a state of emergency on March 8 and a stay-at-home executive order on March 23. Since then, her restrictions and extensions are in lock-step with the left, and she claims they are based on the “best science.”

In the August issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the CDC reports, “There is limited evidence for [masks] effectiveness in preventing influenza virus transmission either when worn by the infected person for source control or when worn by uninfected persons to reduce exposure. Our systematic review found no significant effect of face masks on transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza.”

Still in August Governor Brown expanded mask requirements to all common spaces where six feet distancing can’t be maintained, ignoring the “best science.”

President Trump tweets September 8, 2020 that the D’s will end their COVID-19 state lock downs the day after election day. “The shutdowns are ridiculous and only being done to hurt the economy prior to the most important election perhaps in our history.”

Did President Trump foresee Governor Brown’s decision to extend her COVID-19 state of emergency through election day November 3rd? She stated, “Now, six months after this crisis began, we have made progress. Together, we have slowed the spread of this disease. Oregon has one of the lowest mortality rates in the country. But, as students across Oregon begin a school year far different than any other before, it is clear that, at current COVID-19 levels, it will not be safe in much of the state for children to return to in-classroom instruction for months to come.” Is this really necessary? COVID-19 may not be the worse consequences of not opening schools. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released guidelines emphasizing that students get back to the classroom for the sake of their own emotional well-being.

In May the governor said. “Make no mistake, physical distancing will remain part of our daily lives until we have security of a vaccine or a treatment for the disease.” But, now that nine bio-pharmaceutical companies have announced a vaccine by the end of October, and treatments with HCQ and steroids are showing good results, the governor is silent on the need for a vaccine.

How will Governor Brown respond to the New York Times reporting that 90% of the COVID-19 PCR tests that come back positive are clinically insignificant because the people who report positive are not likely to be contagious. Because of the number of amplification cycles during testing will eventually detect such minute specks that it isn’t active or significant.

Governor Brown has followed the game plan of the left each step of the way. Now that they are back-tracking, why isn’t she? Where will she go from here?


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-09-10 09:00:53

Portland Police have arrested the Legislative Director for House Speaker Tina Kotek during riots this weekend. Kristina Narayan (D-Portland), 29 was arrested this weekend for interfering with a peace officer -- a class A misdemeanor, along with 58 other rioters. She was released the same day on her own recognizance.

Narayan, who has worked for Speaker Kotek for over four years, according to her Linkedin Profile, describes her position thus: "I synthesize complex ideas into clear work products, policies, and build consensus to help pass legislation."

Narayan may have been lucky to have been arrested by the Portland Police. Since it was the Portland Police, Narayan will likely benefit from the "catch-and-rlease" policy of Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt who has specifically said he would "presumptively decline to charge cases," including interfering with a police officer. If Narayan were to have been arrested by deputized State Police, or federal officers, she could have been subject to federal charges.

Democrats in the legislature have been more focused on putting restrictions on police than bringing the months-old riots to an end.

The story made national headlines on Fox News in the Washington Free Beacon, again making Oregon famous in an infamous way.

Oddly, to our knowledge, the Northwest Observer is the only local or regional news organization that has covered this story.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-09-09 18:11:03

Last Update: 2020-09-09 19:01:10

Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

Candidate for U.S. Senate Jo Rae Perkins is running against incumbent Jeff Merkley. When you look at what is happening in Portland spreading to other parts of the state, change is what voters are looking for. Perkins’ view of the Portland scene is she is incensed over the weeks of nightly protests that have turned violent. She livestreamed praising law enforcement and thinks little of Merkley’s decrying of federal officer’s actions.

Senator Merkley accuses Trump of fueling chaos in Portland and proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act bill to limit the use of federal law enforcement against violent protesters in cities like Portland. It would restrict federal agents’ jurisdiction to federal property and streets surrounding Federal buildings or property, require wearing identification clearly visible when working crowd control, and prohibit unmarked vehicles. President Trump repeatedly says, “Democrats are sticking up for the violence. These are anarchists in Portland that have moved into the state. Any time they’re ready I’ll send in help.”

Perkins’ longtime belief is that the federal government needs to be dramatically reduced in scope. She’s insistent that both the state and federal governments have been overreaching during the current pandemic. She opposes the use of masks saying she has done lots of research and distrust experts and official death statistics. Rightfully so since this week CDC reduced the death count for deaths solely due to COVID-19 from 161,392 to 9,683.

Merkley was one of nine Democrats that signed a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper over the Pentagon's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. They wrote their concerned citing news reports about COVID-19 cases among U.S. troops “the Department is still not properly prioritizing the health and well-being of our service members." Then accused them of insufficient response. The assistant secretary responded accusing the Democrat senators of using "inaccurate media reports that have been discredited, to unfairly portray the Department while we are in the middle of the COVID-19 fight." Merkley also said he wanted to ban middle seats on airlines, “these airlines are only flying because we’re subsidizing them.”

Government arrogance or overreach? Who has their focus on We The People?


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-09-09 13:52:25

Last Update: 2020-09-07 13:19:46

The Oregon Department of Corrections has evacuated all employees and adults in custody (AICs) from Oregon State Correctional Institution, Santiam Correctional Institution and Mill Creek Correctional Institution in response to the Beachie Creek and Lionshead fires. The department notified the public shortly after the decision was being implemented.

In order to maintain safety and security during the evacuations, we were not able to officially notify you earlier in the process. These three Salem institutions are in the path of the fire and the Department of Corrections (DOC) worked closely with the Oregon State Police and State Fire Marshall to carry out the evacuations. With little notice, DOC’s organized labor bargaining units fully cooperated with management and each other to secure the safety of our AICs. We are grateful for their honorable dedication to our unique public safety mission.

To be clear, inmatess from these institutions are not being released from custody—rather, they have been moved to other DOC institutions. At this point, we don’t know how long these moves will remain in place. OSCI has 774 inmatess, SCI has 363, and MCCF has 257.

In addition to our institutions, many DOC employees and their families are evacuating from their homes, and their focus needs to be on the safety of loved ones.

--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-08 13:01:00

Last Update: 2020-09-08 18:46:50

This a developing story.

Evacuations across Oregon are prompted after an late summer weather event has brought high winds into the mix, complicating fire fighting efforts in multiple regions of Oregon.

Marion, Lincoln, and Lane County have issued evacuation orders to many residents.

Significant fires include:

Star Mountain

French Creek Fire

Mt. Hood Meadows

Mosier Creek

Santiam Canyon

Grizzly Creek

White River

Lionshead

Beachie Creek

Many other wild fires are not listed here as of yet.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-08 12:08:02

Last Update: 2020-09-08 13:01:00

Black Lives Matter (BLM) sets out national demands for education in a new racial justice curriculum using the 1619 Project in their “guiding principles.” The National Education Association has endorsed including the principles. However, President Trump is attempting to stop the 1619 Project by denying funds to schools teaching it. The revisionist history plan was created by Pulitzer Prize winner for Commentary, Nicole Hannah Jones. It was promoted by the NY Times Magazine drawing the attention of activist educators, even though it isn’t history. The project claims America was founded in 1619 when the first slaves arrived in Virginia, and the colonies were established to preserve slavery.

In 2019 Oregon Legislature passed HB 2023 requiring curricula for history, geography, economics, and civics include contributions from every minority group by 2024. Did they foresee the social agenda and violence we see today?

Four bullet points head the BLM Week of Action National Demands flyer that should concern us all:



Each year since the initiation in Seattle in 2016, they have added more schools, more states, thousands of educators, and lesson plans about structural racism, black history, and anti-racist movements for a national organization. Now they are adding:

• Transgender Affirming by encouraging leadership and recognizing trans-antagonistic violence.
• Queer Affirming a network where heteronormative thinking no longer exists.
• Collective Value that continues a long legacy of social movements fighting for the advancement of the rights of black folks through electoral strategy.
• Zero Tolerance that implements restorative justice, empathy and loving engagement according to the BLM curriculum.
• Funding counselors and not cops shifting enforcement from the prison system to school counselors.

“The over-policing, out of control suspensions, and expulsions must be brought to an immediate end. To rebuild our structures, we will focus our resources on restorative justice-the organic appointment of

community leaders; mediation and processing; and equitable perspectives on rehabilitation. Ending zero tolerance and focusing our schools around restorative justice will honor an autonomous voice and vision for students, staff and faculty.”

Encouraging people to condemn racism is not what is being taught. By bringing BLM into the classroom, educators are actively allowing the most radically divisive movement in modern American history to warp the minds of students.

The plan of the 1619 Project is to first teach this false history. Then they incite young people to destroy history. Through the COVID-19 shutdown, young people were encouraged to participate in taking down statutes and remove them from history so history can be rewritten. If they can do that enough across the country, they can infiltrate from within and introduce a new constitution.

If we look at what is happening in Portland and around the state, it doesn’t say much for BLM’s ability to control themselves and a lot about their agenda. We are getting a glimpse into the kind of students that schools will release on society with no sense of consequences or accountability.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-09-08 09:42:00