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On this day, July 17, 2020, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler demanded that President Donald Trump remove militarized federal agents he deployed to the city after some detained people on streets far from federal property they were sent to protect. Democratic members of Oregon's congressional delegation said they will demand a federal investigation into the deployment of federal officers in Portland, where local leaders say their presence outside federal buildings has inflamed tensions during nightly protests and led to violent confrontations and questionable arrests in recent weeks.




Post an Event


Columbia County Fair
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 8:00 am
columbiacountyfairgrounds.com
July 17-21
Columbia County Fairgrounds



Linn County Fair
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.linncountyfair.com/
July 18-20
Linn County Expo Center



Washington County Fair
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.bigfairfun.com/
July 19-28
Washington County Fairgrounds - Westside Commons



Coos County Fair
Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.cooscountyfair.com
July 23-27
Coos County Fairgrounds



Curry County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.eventcenteronthebeach.com
July 24-27
Curry County Fairgrounds - Event Center on the Beach



Hood River County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.hoodriverfairgrounds.com
July 24-27
Hood River County Fairgrounds



Jefferson County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.jcfair.fun
July 24-27
Jefferson County Fair Complex



Lane County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.atthefair.com
July 24-28
Lane Events Center



TRUMP TRAIN RALLY
Sunday, July 28, 2024 at 12:00 pm
ALL ABOARD THE LINN COUNTY TRUMP TRAIN! Tail gate BBQ / Guest Speakers / Meet and Greet This is a non-partisan event. All Trump Supporters are welcome THE RIDE STARTS approximately 1:30PM ROUTE: to be determined Presented with local sponsorship by Linn County Conservative Alliance Trump, patriot, Americana, caps,flags, t-shirts and other merchandise available on-site. Profits support conservative and traditional values candidates. https://indd.adobe.com/view/902ce3bb-72b5-4f03-9c74-b71fcdbb6aad
Location: Linn County Fair / Expo parking lot. 3700 Knox Butte Road E. Albany, OR 97322



TRUMP TRAIN RALLY
Sunday, July 28, 2024 at 12:00 pm
ALL ABOARD THE LINN COUNTY TRUMP TRAIN! Tail gate BBQ / Guest Speakers / Meet and Greet This is a non-partisan event. All Trump Supporters are welcome THE RIDE STARTS approximately 1:30PM ROUTE: to be determined Presented with local sponsorship by Linn County Conservative Alliance Trump, patriot, Americana, caps,flags, t-shirts and other merchandise available on-site. Profits support conservative and traditional values candidates. https://indd.adobe.com/view/902ce3bb-72b5-4f03-9c74-b71fcdbb6aad
Location: Linn County Fair / Expo parking lot. 3700 Knox Butte Road E. Albany, OR 97322



Clatsop County Fair
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://clatsopcofair.com/
July 30 - August 3
Clatsop County Fair & Expo



Malheur County Fair
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.malheurcountyfair.com
July 30 - August 3
Malheur County Fairgrounds - Desert Sage Event Center



Benton County Fair & Rodeo
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
bceventcentercorvallis.net
July 31 - August 3, 2024
Benton County Event Center & Fairgrounds



Deschutes County Fair
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://expo.deschutes.org/
July 31 - August 4
Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center



Union County Fair
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.unioncountyfair.org
July 31 - August 3
Union County Fairgrounds



Yamhill County Fair
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.co.yamhill.or.us/fair
July 31 - August 3
Yamhill County Fairgrounds



Klamath County Fair
Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.klamathcountyfair.com/
August 1-4
Klamath County Fair



Wallowa County Fair
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://co.wallowa.or.us/community-services/county-fair/
August 2-10
Wallowa County Fairgrounds



Baker County Fair
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.bakerfair.com
August 4-9
Baker County Fairgrounds



Harney County Fair
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.harneyfairgrounds.com
August 4-9
Harney County Fairgrounds



Sherman County Fair
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.shermancountyfairfun.com
August 19-24
Sherman County Fairgrounds



Crook County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.crookcountyfairgrounds.com
August 7-10
Crook County Fairgrounds



Douglas County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.douglasfairgrounds.com
August 7-10
Douglas County Fairgrounds Complex



Grant County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.grantcountyoregon.net
August 7-10
Grant County Fairgrounds



Josephine County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.josephinecountyfairgrounds.com/
August 7-11
Josephine County Fairgrounds & Events Center



Polk County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.co.polk.or.us/fair
August 7-10
Polk County Fairgrounds



Tillamook County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.tillamookfair.com
August 7-10
Tillamook County Fairgrounds



Umatilla County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.umatillacountyfair.net
August 7-10
Umatilla County Fairgrounds



Wheeler County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.wheelercountyoregon.com/fair-board
August 7-10
Wheeler County Fairgrounds



Clackamas County Fair
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 8:00 am
clackamascountyfair.com
August 13-17
Clackamas County Event Center



Morrow County Fair
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.co.morrow.or.us/fair
August 14-17
Morrow County Fairgrounds



Wasco County Fair
Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.wascocountyfair.com
August 15-17
Wasco County Fairgrounds



Gilliam County Fair
Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 8:00 am
http://www.co.gilliam.or.us/government/fairgrounds
August 29-31
Gilliam County Fairgrounds



Lake County Fair
Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.lakecountyor.org/government/fair_grounds.php
August 29 - September 1
Lake County Fairgrounds



Oregon State Fair
Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.oregonstateexpo.org
August 31 - September 9
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center



Linn Laughs LIVE with Adam Corolla
Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Linn Laughs LIVE with Adam Corolla 5pm-9pm
Albany, OR


View All Calendar Events


Inflation and Higher Taxes Loom
There is simply no bar to a variety of tax increases

The Consumer Price Index experienced its largest 12-month increase in 30 years, evidence of rising inflation.

In the face of record revenue, the Oregon Legislature raised or created several taxes during the 2021 session, led by House Speaker Tina Kotek. With a Democrat supermajority in both chambers and a Democratic governor, there is simply no bar to a variety of tax increases. This was on the heels of the crushing Corporate Activities Tax, which raises over $1 billion annually.

Ahead of the upcoming 2022 Legislative Session, House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) is warning against policies that will increase the cost of living in Oregon.

“Rising inflation will hurt Oregonians,” said Leader Drazan. “Our state budget is a runaway train, doubling in 10 years while raising the cost of living. With the shocking rise in inflation, I will oppose any bills that increase costs for Oregon families. Fiscal policies that dig into their pocketbooks to fill state coffers are going to push people out of their homes and out of our state. We should do everything we can to eliminate regulations that raise costs so families can keep their homes and jobs.”

In its September Economic Forecast the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis indicated that persistent inflation is a risk, and looks for help from federal monetary policy:

"In recent months inflation is running hot. Much of this can be explicitly tied to reopening sectors of the economy, or shortages in the automobile industry. However, even stripping away these likely temporary issues, the risk remains that underlying inflationary pressures will remain above the Federal Reserve’s target moving forward. Therefore the risks are not whether inflation will be above target or not – it already is – but what exactly the Fed is going to do about it."


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-11-12 10:30:04Last Update: 2021-11-12 10:32:37



Portland to Force Volunteers, Vendors to Vaccinate
Also, wear a mask

Beginning Jan. 3, 2022, the City of Portland will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all vendors, consultants, contractors, volunteers and grantees who perform in-person work for at least 15 minutes at the City’s indoor facilities. Between Nov. 8 and Jan. 3, all who perform in-person work for at least 15 minutes at the City’s indoor facilities will be required to wear a KN95 face covering.

Allegedly to protect community and employee health and safety, this new policy follows the City’s recent vaccination requirement for employees. Recommendations were developed by a city workgroup.

“We’re committed to helping Portland recover from this pandemic by making City worksites as safe as possible,” said Biko Taylor, the City’s chief procurement officer. “We’re also committed to making this policy as simple as possible for local businesses and volunteers, who are essential to our city’s economic health and vitality.”

The new policy was issued by the City's Chief Administrative Officer in coordination with the City's Procurement Services team.

Vendors, consultants and contractors with active contracts must complete the “Attestation Questions” in their profile on the City’s BuySpeed vendor portal by Jan. 3, 2022. The questions document if a vendor, consultant or contractor has workers or subcontractors subject to this requirement; and if so, that they comply or have a medical or religious exception verified by their employer.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Workers with medical or religious exceptions approved by their employers will be required to comply with following regulations when performing work inside a City worksite for more than 15 minutes: Approximately 2,500 vendors, contractors and consultants will be impacted by the City’s policy. They perform a wide range of jobs, from construction projects to custodial services to equipment and product supply.

The process will be slightly different for the City’s volunteers and grant recipients, a group that includes everybody from advisory committee members, to volunteers with Portland Parks & Recreation's No Ivy League and the Bureau of Emergency Management's Neighborhood Emergency Teams, to Civic Life grantees. Adults spending more than 15 minutes inside a City worksite will be asked to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to the activity, working directly with their City of Portland liaison. Volunteer and grantee information will be reviewed for verification only.

Out of respect for privacy, no copies will be taken.

Without satisfying one of these two requirements, volunteers and grant recipients will not be able to participate in their scheduled in-person activity.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-11-11 18:23:15Last Update: 2021-11-11 18:37:25



Congressional Republicans Recognize Oregon Candidate
“The most impressive and diverse group of rising stars we’ve ever seen”

5th Congressional District Candidate Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Happy Valley) is celebrating being named to the 2021-2022 E-PAC “Women to Watch” list.

House Republican Caucus Chair Elise Stefanik says this group is “the most impressive and diverse group of rising stars we’ve ever seen,” and that we “will be Majority Makers!”

Chavez-DeRemer reacted to the news:

"I feel incredibly honored to have been included on this list of spectacular candidates, but none of this would be possible without your support. Chair Stefanik is working hard to make sure Republicans take back the House next fall and restore our economy and our freedom in America.

"Our campaign cannot slow down. We must move full steam ahead and keep speaking out against the Biden Administration and it’s unconstitutional and harmful policies that are hurting Oregonian’s ability to fill their gas tanks, heat their homes, and put food on their table."


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-11-11 10:24:12Last Update: 2021-11-11 10:54:14



YamCo Commissioner Recall Fails
Berschauer will continue to lead the county

Progressive Yamhill, Save Yamhill County, AFSCME, The Yamhill County Democratic Party, lame duck Commissioner Casey Kulla and the Recall PAC were all disappointed when the County Clerk declared their petition to recall County Commissioner Lindsay Berschauer short of the required amount of verified signatures after 5 pm. on Wednesday. Over 8,000 signatures were turned in but enough were disqualified leaving the petition short of the required 6875 signatures.

Volunteers from the groups list above, with a dozen Yamhill Republican Party members representing Berschauer’s interest, observed the signature verification process over six days. Normally petitions with over 4000 signatures are sampled rather than having each signature inspected. The sampling method quickly threw out over 1500 signatures bringing loud protests from the petitioners. In this instance the County Clerk decided that due to the presence of attorneys for both sides and the high profile nature of the recall attempt, each signature would be verified.

The signature gathering process involved numerous $18 an hour individuals from the Metro area who may have lacked familiarity with proper procedure. Some signatures contained a happy face, unlike the signature as it appears on a drivers license. Few signers read the charges against Berschauer that were listed. Those charges included false statements. False statements are allowed on recall petitions due to the political nature of the initiative. Several refused to sign stating that disagreements on policy choices of elected officials should be decided when they run for re-election.

The disgruntled vowed to make another attempt at recall. The names and addresses of all who signed the petition are now public record. Because recalls are rare in Yamhill County the Secretary of State’s office was asked to offer guidance. Even with full oversight, Save Yamhill County questioned The County Clerk’s integrity in spite of his impeccable record of fair and impartial public service spanning more than a decade. Numerous complaints against Save Yamhill County involving improper reporting of expenditures starting in August are outstanding. A recall election would have cost the County $90,000.


--Tom Hammer

Post Date: 2021-11-11 09:44:25Last Update: 2021-11-11 09:54:03



Multnomah County to Spend $30 Million Surplus
Hazard pay for County employees, because Covid

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 9, approved immediately investing more than $30.4 million in homelessness services, behavioral health and public safety, using a mid-year surplus to address the community's most pressing issues.

The county says this is in response to community needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdowns and sets aside hazard pay for eligible County employees who continued to serve the public during the lockdowns.

Highlights from the budget include additional shelter beds and street outreach teams, new investments in behavioral health supports, increased capacity for vector control, and additional measures to address criminal justice reform and prevent gun violence.

“A surplus that comes at this size is rare,” Chair Deborah Kafoury said. “A surplus that arrives at such a critical, trying time in our community’s story is even more rare. And with the help of staff who have dedicated their careers to serving our community, we readily identify multiple areas where a surge of funding could help us to meaningfully improve the lives of the people who have been disproportionately harmed by this pandemic.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The surplus was the result of the Board both increasing the business income tax rate in 2020 and extending the tax filing deadline to May 2021, and a stronger than expected economic recovery. Final tax collections — which came in after the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Budget was adopted — were more than $30.4 million above what was forecasted in May 2021.

Typically, the County would incorporate such revenue into its next budget, for FY 2023. But, the county says that because of the magnitude of the issues facing the community, the Board decided to spend it immediately.

“We want to make sure we’re responding to the most urgent needs in our community, specifically those that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Budget Director Christian Elkin. “We want to center our investments on the County’s role as the safety net government and Local Public and Mental Health Authority.”


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-11-10 18:28:08Last Update: 2021-11-10 18:50:35



Oregon Increasing Vehicle Fees
Vehicle tags, trip permits and titles

Oregonians will see fees rise about 3% when they renew their vehicle tags, get a trip permit or apply for a vehicle title next year.

The fee increase will take effect Jan. 1, 2022, and is the third of four scheduled fee changes under Oregon’s historic House Bill 2017 transportation investment package. The final fee increase will start in January 2024.

Supposedly, these improvements are to include hundreds of millions in improved city streets, updated sidewalks and bicycle routes in school neighborhoods, reinforced bridges and roadways to withstand earthquakes.

DMV is starting to mail vehicle registration renewal reminders with the updated fees for tags expiring after the first of the year. If your tags expire in January or later, you will need to pay the new fee even if you renew before the end of 2021 – whether online, by mail or in person.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The vehicle fees most Oregonians are familiar with are passenger car registration and titles.

Under Keep Oregon Moving, passenger car tags and title fees are based on a vehicle’s fuel efficiency rating. Drivers of electric vehicles or vehicles that are rated at more than 40 mpg can pay the full fee for two or four years up front, or they can pay a lower fee and a monthly per-mile charge for miles driven in Oregon if they join OReGO.

Passenger vehicle registration fees cover two-year periods, except for new vehicles, which begin with a four-year registration.

The registration fee for electric passenger vehicles enrolled in OReGO remains unchanged at $172 every two years.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2021-11-09 17:46:16Last Update: 2021-11-09 21:23:26



Kaiser Nurses Set to Strike
“The challenge we are trying to address is the increasingly unaffordable cost of health care”

As if dealing with government regulations regarding COVID-19 and continual upward pressure on healthcare costs weren't bad enough, Health Maintenance Organization Kaiser Permanente in Oregon and Southwest Washington is engaged in labor negotiations with its nurses union -- which may result in a strike if a resolution is not reached by November 15.

According to the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, "[n]early 3,400 workers from Kaiser Permanente in Oregon have voted to authorize a strike. With a staggering 90% participation rate, the vote count was to strike by 96%, meaning of those who voted, 96% voted Yes. This is an unprecedented strike authorization vote, showing total unity amongst Kaiser workers to stage a strike over issues like safe staffing, patient care, and a fair contract."

The dispute seems centered over wages. Arlene Peasnall, senior vice president of human resources at Kaiser Permanente says that "On November 2, Kaiser Permanente offered Alliance leaders an updated economic proposal that provides Alliance-represented employees as much as 4% a year in pay increases, with no takeaways to the market-leading benefits and retirement programs. The proposed wage increases are on top of the already market-leading pay and benefits our employees receive, as confirmed by independent wage surveys and the government’s own data compiled by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services." According to the union, "Kaiser has made inaccurate claims that its workers are paid above market rate, but in reality their current offers amount to a pay cut that would pull them below the market average."

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Kaiser calls out wages in a statement on the current negotiations. "The challenge we are trying to address in partnership with our unions is the increasingly unaffordable cost of health care. And the fact is wages and benefits account for half of Kaiser Permanente’s operational costs.

"We remain committed to working together with labor for the benefit of our workforce, members, and the communities that rely on us. We believe we can reach an agreement with the Alliance that meets our shared interests and avoids an unnecessary and harmful strike, especially as we continue to battle this pandemic.

"If a strike actually occurs, our facilities will be staffed by our trained and experienced managers and the contingency staff we will bring in as needed, and our physicians will continue to be available to care for patients."


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-11-09 09:23:09Last Update: 2021-11-09 10:02:59



Exposed – Power Hungry Public School District Superintendents
Little Known Associations Move to Take Away the Power of Elected Board Members

Former elected Portland Public School Board member Steve Buel's advice to parents and other concerned community members is “pressure…. only pressure works”. Even sitting on the board as an elected member, the former member had to employ that strategy. He said, “…a school board is only interested in themselves and how it affects them.”

One year in, and failing to get the board to make a move about protecting a single child in one school, he finally enacted change when the agenda included “evaluating the superintendent”. He remarked once with a comment of “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a superintendent who doesn’t want to kill children?” A solution to the problem was quickly developed and implemented after.

The Clackamas County Commissioners’ Facilities Director made a statement to NW Observer that ‘the commissioners can make any order they want as a government building is now “like your private home.”’ The Portland Public School District did not employ that tactic, did not call the police to arrest mask free citizens, and just 29 seconds into the open public meeting, Chair DePass “adjourned” the October 26th meeting. Once a government meeting is “adjourned” that’s it. The government entity cannot then meet somewhere else and start a new meeting.

The latest strategy to further expose the real power dynamic on public school boards is elected representatives to the board do not hold power over superintendents, but inversely, superintendents hold power over the board. Some school boards recently fired their superintendents who wanted children masked up. Now some superintendents have made a move to consolidate their power. Jim Green, director, Coalition of Oregon School Administrators made a statement, “No one thought you’d be fired for following the law…”. Oregon has no mask or vaccination law. Countless requests for such a law has only produced silence from a number of administrative state government agencies as well as county government agencies. Thus, the Portland Public School District Board had no one arrested for not wearing a mask at the board meeting on October 26, 2021.

Krista Parent, the coalition’s Director of Executive Leadership said, “The board is their boss, and their board directs them to violate the law, and if they knowingly violate the law, they’ll lose their license,” she said. Both leaders did not cite law.

The Oregon School Boards Association plans to introduce a superintendents’ contract rights bill in the legislative session in January that would stop school boards from firing superintendents “…for following the law.” Some including former school board members see it as superintendents consolidating their power over school boards elected by the parents of children who are in those public schools. Spencer Gordon with the North Bend School District said, “Before, we couldn’t get 200 people to show up to a meeting if we tried.” Rather than being happy about increased parental interest and involvement it looks like to many, that superintendents have had free wheeling reign to implement whatever they wanted with no regard to parents’ rights and concerns.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Many Oregon citizens are speaking up about the unintended consequences, the wake-up call that Governor Kate Brown’s endless, erratic, chaotic, confusing, gaslighting edicts produced, including parents self-educating on law as they watched seemingly endless numbers of state administrative agencies, associations and government contracted groups, who seem to be going about Willy Nilly, putting into place a myriad of personal wants and desires, onto the entire population of Oregon children without regard to the children themselves and their parents.

Parents with no political leanings, Constitutional conservative groups and patriots suddenly find themselves motivated, active, and unknowingly they now use the tried-and-true tactics of Martin Luther King, Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sal Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals. Or as General George S. Patton said on the battlefield as he defeated German Field Marshall Rommel’s battalion, “Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I READ YOUR BOOK!!”

Oregonians are self-educating.


--Margo Logan

Post Date: 2021-11-08 16:23:34Last Update: 2021-11-08 19:24:21



Pharma Giant Juices House Candidates
Three get $1,000 from "the world’s largest and most broadly based healthcare company"

Vaccine Manufacturer Johnson & Johnson has quietly made $1,000 donations to three Oregon House members. The company has not made any donations to Oregon Legislators since immediately prior to the the 2020 elections, in October of that year.

House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby), Representatives Raquel Moore-Green (R-Salem) and Rob Nosse (D-Portland) all reported receiving contributions of $1,000 from "the world’s largest and most broadly based healthcare company" as it describes itself on its website

Representative Moore-Green is a member of the House Interim Committee On Health Care and the House Interim Special Committee On COVID-19 Response. Friends of Raquel Moore-Green reported a contribution from Johnson & Johnson of $1,000 on November 3.

Representative Nosse is the Co-Chair of the Joint Interim Committee On Ways and Means Interim Subcommittee on Human Services, which oversees the performance and budget of many agencies, including the Oregon Health Authority. In addition to his legislative duties, Representative Nosse works at the Oregon Nurses Association. Friends of Rob Nosse reported a contribution from Johnson & Johnson of $1,000 on November 1.

Representative Drazan has served in the past on the House Committee on Health Care, but no longer serves on that committee. She is rumored to be mulling a run for Governor. Friends of Christine Drazan reported a contribution from Johnson & Johnson of $1,000 on November 3.

Many insiders regard Johnson & Johnson's early entry into the political race as a hedge on possible legislation having to do with vaccines in the upcoming short session, scheduled to begin February 1.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-11-08 09:32:28Last Update: 2021-11-08 10:23:09



Students and Parents Yearn for Accountablity
“Engaging anti-racist literature and consultants to inform our thinking and policies”

In less than two years what started as a protest against police brutality in the case of George Floyd and racism has touched every aspect of our lives. First, it was to defund the police and remove them from schools. The Legislature responded with a special session that severely limited enforcement responses.

Since then, Governor Brown has helped drive agenda on equity transforming the constitutional language of equality to equity. A reversal of the constitution from an opportunity-based approach to a results or outcome requirement. We all want equal freedoms under the law. But equity actually takes away freedoms. Anyone that is “more advantaged” is suppressed under equity. Equity showed up in some form in many bills in the 2021 session.

Since the Governor is the Superintendent of Public Instruction and an agency director, Colt Gill, administers the Oregon Department of Education, the equity agenda quickly translated into Critical Race Theory in schools. The ODE education equity stance reads: “Education equity is the equitable implementation of policy, practices, procedures, and legislation that translates into resource allocation, education rigor, and opportunities for historically and currently marginalized youth, students, and families including civil rights protected classes. This means the restructuring and dismantling of systems and institutions that create the dichotomy of beneficiaries and the oppressed and marginalized.”

On September 7, ODE State Board held a Workgroup on Equitable and Racially Responsive Balanced Assessment in order to begin the process of evaluating current Oregon assessments and strategizing a path forward to achieve “equitable and racially responsive balanced assessments.”

The presentation included a slide on "Anti-racist Efforts in Oregon’s State Assessment System" which included such points as The Oregon Department of Education’s Vision and Values for Assessment align to Critical Race Theory, as seen in the Workgroup’s Core Values: (1) Rehumanizing assessment, (2) balanced and coherent assessments and (3) infusing anti-racist assessment practices.

The Oregon State Board Assessment Workgroup is comprised of the Oregon Department of Education Assessment Director Dan Farley, ODE State Board Members and ODE Curriculum Specialists. Where is input from stakeholders, those at the receiving end? What these bureaucrats decide and adopt are distributed as law to school districts and then boards are expected to adopt at the bottom level. Parents are left out of the conversation until it surfaces at the board level creating a conflict between boards and parents.

In the past the Superintendent was elected for a term of four years. However, this changed in 2011 by a Constitutional amendment as part of Gov. John Kitzhaber's reorganization of the entire state education system. It now reads:

Article VIII, Section 1. Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Governor shall be superintendent of public instruction, and his powers, and duties in that capacity shall be such as may be prescribed by law; but after the term of five years from the adoption of this Constitution, it shall be competent for the Legislative Assembly to provide by law for the election of a superintendent, to provide for his compensation, and prescribe his powers and duties.

It appears since 2016, the legislature has been derelict in providing for the election of a Superintendent of Public Instruction. In 2021, SJR 2 was proposed to remove Article VIII, Section 1, but never received a hearing. Senator Lew Frederick (D-Portland) also realized the neglect and introduced SB 601 to provide for the election of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

As an elected position, the superintendent is accountable to the public that elects them. Accountability has disappeared. Voters were unhappy with Oregon’s rating at 36th in the nation in 2010. Convinced that a governor led department would perform better, voters passed a constitutional change. They never envisioned a Governor eliminating essential skills test in reading and math proficiency to obtain a high school diploma.

Depending on the source, Oregon education now ranks 40 to 50 among states. In 2010 Oregon ranked 36, and 41 for per student funding. That statistic helped to pass Measures 66 and 67 to tax businesses during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression up to that time. The added funding has had the opposite effect, but the lower the rating the more the legislature tries to buy their way out. They again hit businesses with the worst tax ever in a corporate excise tax in 2019. It appears money will not buy accountable leadership.

Parents are again in a quandary seeing education decline while having more money than ever that is funding a curriculum many find questionable. How do we bring accountability back to our education system?


--Donna Bleler

Post Date: 2021-11-08 08:53:38Last Update: 2021-11-08 09:32:28



Portland Police Association Gets a New President
The police bureau has 99 vacancies

Sgt. Aaron Schmautz was sworn in as president of the Portland Police Association on November 5.

“Our officers have faced something that no other police agency has faced,” new Portland Police Association President Aaron Schmautz said. “I don’t know that people truly understand the amount of trauma that has come from really just being in that daily crush of violence for over 180 days.”

The police bureau has 99 vacancies. 57 are in training. Training takes 18 months, thus only 21 have been hired in 2021.

“Sgt. Schmautz is a second-generation Portland Police officer and a 17-year veteran of the Police Bureau. He began his career as a uniform patrol officer and was promoted to Sergeant in 2015.

In 2009, he was elected to the PPA Executive Board and has served continuously in the role of Vice President, making him one of the longest-serving Board members. He has been a member of two collective bargaining teams, including the current contract negation mediation, and worked with the Oregon Coalition of Police & Sheriffs at the state level representing law enforcement in Oregon.

“Effective leadership requires commitment and dedication to the safety of our officers and our community members,” said Daryl Turner, Portland Police Association Executive Director. “I’ve worked alongside Sgt. Schmautz closely for the past 12 years as he’s served on the PPA Executive Board. He is uniquely qualified to represent and advocate for PPA members. and I’m confident that he is the right person for the job.”

Turner was involved in the successful transition of the Wapato Facility to the Bybee Lakes Hope Center which opened in October 2020 and to-date 500 formerly homeless citizens have successfully gone through the center’s program described as “Creating access to trauma-informed, data-driven, person-centered homeless services for the Portland Metro Area.”

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From the Hope Center website: “Helping Hands provides services to those experiencing homelessness who are ready to make sustainable changes to achieve self-sufficiency. Referrals to the Hope Center are accepted from registered community partners, listed below. Referrals are welcome 7 days a week between 8am to 8pm, for same-day placement to the shelter when capacity allows.

The Hope Center serves homeless men, women, and families with children. Participants must be ready to be clean and sober (even if today is day one!) and must not be registered sex offenders of any class since we serve children.”

Many Portlanders are grateful for this type of partnering between the police and the community.


--Margo Logan

Post Date: 2021-11-08 08:15:16Last Update: 2021-11-08 10:21:06



Managed Camps for Homeless in Bend
24/7 services to be provided

At their meeting on November 3rd, Bend City Councilors supported a scope of work to design and operate outdoor shelters (also referred to as “managed camps”) that are intended to provide safe places for people to reside and services to assist residents with transitioning to permanent housing.

The scope of work will be part of a formal request for proposals for service providers interested in operating outdoor shelters in Bend. The request for proposals is expected to be released in mid-November.

“We have community members who need a safe place to call home,” said Bend City Councilor Megan Perkins. “They need a place where they can be treated with respect and dignity as they access the services and support they need to transition into stable housing. Outdoor shelters will help us provide that for our community.”

As potential sites are identified, the City will work with the highest scoring proposers to match their proposals with the site or sites throughout the City that best fit their proposals.

A map of City-owned properties that was shared with Council Wednesday is available online. Before being considered as a potential outdoor shelter site, any of the City-owned properties on the map would need to be reviewed to consider: existing uses on those sites, additional criteria for outdoor shelters and compatibility with submitted proposals. In addition to City-owned properties on the map, there may be other publicly- or privately-owned properties that are geographically dispersed throughout Bend that could be considered.

The scope of work reviewed by Councilors says that outdoor shelters will provide individual shelters and 24-hour on-site management seven days a week. They would also have full fencing with gate access, trash enclosures, a pet relief area, and office space for on-site management.

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The scope of work for operating the outdoor shelter also includes providing essential services and supportive services, including but not limited to: The scope of work also requires a Comprehensive Management Plan. The plan will address the safety of clients, the neighborhood and the outdoor shelter site. It will also include outreach plans for shelter residents and the surrounding neighborhood.

“City Council has set a clear goal of serving some of our most vulnerable community members by providing more of the shelter space that we desperately need,” said Bend City Councilor Melanie Kebler. “Now is the time for the Bend community to support our unhoused neighbors with outdoor shelter solutions that have been proven successful in other cities.”

Councilors also expressed interest in fast-tracking a Safe Parking program site and other support services on City-owned land in Juniper Ridge.

According to the January 2021 point in time count, there are 1,099 adults and children experiencing homelessness in Central Oregon.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2021-11-07 09:45:36Last Update: 2021-11-07 10:10:11



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