A new agreement amongst Portland area government agencies and labor unions makes a move toward hiring more women and people of color on construction projects around the region.
On March 17, Metro officially signed the Regional Workforce Equity Agreement which accelerates the hiring of women and people of color construction careers across the Portland region.
As one of the nation’s first multi-jurisdictional workforce agreements, it covers specified projects undertaken by Metro, Multnomah County and the City of Portland over the next five years. For Metro, all capital projects of more than $5 million will be subject to the terms of the agreement.
Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury has signed the agreement. The City of Portland is expected to approve it later this month. The agreement is structured so that other agencies can sign on in the future.
“This is about keeping our promise as a council to advance racial equity and promote economic empowerment in our region,†says Juan Carlos González, Metro Councilor for District 4.
Workforce agreements are legally binding contracts that set standards for wages, benefits and safety protections for workers. For project owners, they are a tool to control costs and prevent workers from striking.
Metro says it is an opportunity to address historical wrongs.
They cite that in 2021, nearly 88% of people employed in construction were white, and less than 4% were women in non-office jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“We began with equity.†says Sebrina Owens-Wilson, regional impact manager at Metro, describing how Metro’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team set out to negotiate the agreement.
Although contract negotiations are typically closed, says Owens-Wilson, “we created an equity advisory table that included workforce development partners, pre-apprenticeship programs and minority contractors’ associations to advise the public owners on what we needed to be getting from this agreement.â€
Maurice Rahming, president of O’Neill Construction, served on the equity advisory table. “We identified opportunities and barriers and came up with solutions for this crisis we’re facing. We needed to make sure that women and people of color get the opportunity to fill those higher-paid construction jobs.â€
The agreement implements hiring targets that ramp up over five years. Eventually, 14% of work hours at every jobsite will have to be performed by women, 25% by people of color and 20% by apprentices.
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“The agreement is transformational,†says Twauna Hennessee, community outreach representative at Northwest Carpenters Union. “People who may have been left sitting on the bench can now go to work because of these diversity targets. It will give women and people of color a chance to build wealth for their families for generations to come.â€
Willy Myers, executive secretary treasurer of the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council, says, “We need to achieve true reflection of the communities we are working in, then to maintain that diversity those jobsites will need to be safe from hate and harassment.â€
The workforce equity agreement requires that everyone on a jobsite participate in anti- harassment or respectful workplace training.
The agreement also includes protections for BIPOC and women-owned smaller firms who already have a diverse workforce. Mark Matthews, president of open shop firm Pacificmark Construction, says under the agreement, he can use his own workforce and is not required to hire through union hiring halls. “It levels the playing field.â€
On March 30, Metro issued a request for proposals to renovate or replace the operations and maintenance facility at Blue Lake Regional Park. The project will be the first to be governed by the Regional Workforce Equity Agreement.
This political cycle has seen a good level of speculative office seeking -- by both outsiders and insiders -- fueled no doubt in part by redistricting and the creation of a new 6th Congressional District.
Many of these changes will force current office holders to risk their incumbency to seek other office. Article 2, Section 10 of The Oregon Constitution says:
Lucrative offices. holding other offices forbidden. No person holding a lucrative office, or appointment under the United States, or under this State, shall be eligible to a seat in the Legislative Assembly; nor shall any person hold more than one lucrative office at the same time, except as in this Constition [sic] expressly permitted.
If an officeholder is in mid-term for a seat that has a term longer than two years, they can run for another office and keep their current seat. For instance, the term of Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read (D-Beaverton) isn't up for re-election until the 2024 cycle, so if he loses his bid for governor -- either in the primary or the general -- he can keep his job as Treasurer.
The Gubernatorial race will surely bench some.
Former House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland) is running for Oregon Governor and most insiders say that despite several negatives and general dissatisfaction with the Democrat left, her support from government employee unions is likely to give her the upper hand over State Treasurer Tobias Read and a few other minor candidates.
Former State Representative and House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) has already resigned from her House Seat to run for Governor. Experts like her chances. Despite a crowded field, she has recent, high-profile elected office experience and that sets her apart from the pack a bit. She has some negatives and is not popular with the Republican base, but her lobby connections have placed her in the lead for fundraising among Republican Gubernatorial hopefuls.
State Senator Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) is running as an independent for Oregon Governor. She has already resigned her seat in the Oregon Senate to run for Governor, but at age 71 she may not have had a long political career left, especially with the leftward movement in the State Senate.
Observers like Johnson's chances, despite her entry into the race as a politically unaffiliated candidate. Waning resources in government employee unions and the prediction of an anti-blue wave may be just what she needs to move to Mahonia Hall. Her $5 million campaign war chest won't be depleted by a primary battle, so she'll be well-funded in the general election.
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Over the last decade, Oregon gained population and so, during redistricting, a new Congressional District was created. This, of course, creates an instant vacancy and -- as might be expected -- the hopefuls lined up. The new district was created to include Yamhill and Polk Counties, the more denser populated parts of Marion County including Salem and a slice going up to Portland containing just enough Democrats so that the ruling party in Oregon can hold on to more power.
State Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Lake Oswego) entered a controversial battlefield when during the 2021 First Special Session she accepted the position as Co-Chair of the House Special Committee On Congressional Redistricting. Readers will remember that then House Speaker Tina Kotek reneged on a deal made with Republicans and stacked the committee in favor of Democrats. Representative and Co-Chair Salinas made the wound further insulting by drawing herself into the sprawling northernmost tip of the new, vacant district and then filing to run for it.
State Representative Ron Noble (R-McMinnville) will be leaving his legislative seat in order to run for the 6th Congressional district. the former McMinnville police chief is running on a law-and-order platform, despite some weak votes on law enforcement.
The loss of experience at the level of elected officials isn't permanent and may not even be a loss. Lack of statewide officeholders among Republicans has meant that they haven't had much of a credible bench and the movement of these elected officials has the effect of giving broader name recognition and perhaps a political future if they can use the two year rest to build relationships.
Police seeking home and in-car surveillance video in case
On April 23 at 4:50 a.m. Eugene Police officers responded to a neighborhood in the 2500 block of Lakeview Drive after reports of catalytic converter thefts in progress and then shots fired.
One resident reported going outside to confront the two or three male suspects, who then started to flee the area in a white minivan-type vehicle.
The resident got in his vehicle and began to follow the suspects but heard multiple gunshots coming from the van and stopped. EPD officers arrived and found shell casings during their search.
Just before 3 a.m., April 24, a resident in the 4300 block of Goodpasture Loop heard a vehicle alarm going off and then startled individuals near the vehicle, who took off in a white mini-van.
Due to the details of the previous day’s call, and the possible presence of a firearm, Eugene Police officers flooded the area.
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A sergeant located a white mini-van and began to follow it. He momentarily lost sight of it around N. Delta Road, near some new apartments, but then spotted the occupied van in a back parking lot.
Additional police units were brought in for a high-risk stop due to the possible presence of firearms and three suspects were taken into custody without incident.
There is an ongoing investigation into the thefts and shooting.
Eugene Police is seeking any relevant tips or home surveillance as well as any in-vehicle video from drivers out and about in these areas during the times of the thefts or shooting that may be helpful in this case. Please call Detective Rick Lowe, 541-682-5573, and reference case 22-06300.
Socialist policies have worsened the housing crisis
Beginning Friday, May 6th, Community Action in Washington County Oregon will cease taking applications for its Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program to ensure that it can meet obligations for applications currently in the pipeline.
The purpose of the ERA program has been to help stabilize households unable to pay rent and utilities due to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Washington County estimates that nearly all the $29 million in federal emergency rental assistance allocated to Community Action has been requested by community members, and the program will be fully committed in the coming weeks, meaning the anticipated dollar requests in the application pipeline will reach the threshold of what is available.
All applications from eligible households who apply by end of day May 6, including current pending applications, will be processed.
To-date, Community Action has paid out $16 million in local emergency rental assistance to more than 2,100 renters impacted by the government lockdowns and restrictions.
Another $13 million is available to service received applications.
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Another $41 million from the State of Oregon’s ERA program has also been spent. 53% of all households served by Community Action are from communities of color. 70% of the households served had incomes below 30% median family income (or incomes below $29,000 for a family of four) highlighting the impact on people most vulnerably housed.
“The fact is, the need for emergency rental assistance is far greater than the amount of federal funding available for the program at this time,†said Washington County Chair, Kathryn Harrington. “Despite having these programs, renters are still at risk of losing their homes and we are concerned about the many renters who may potentially experience the trauma of eviction.â€
Community Action may, on its own, reopen its application portal as funds from other sources become available, however, at this time the larger sources of federal assistance are fully committed through the Community Action pathways.
This is a concern beyond Washington County, especially after June 30th when the statewide eviction protections end.
Washington County continues to encourage landlords to contact Home Forward, the administrators of the State’s Landlord Guarantee Program, which will remain in place until the summer of 2023 or until funds are fully obligated, whichever comes first.
TriMet must hire more than 300 operators to bring staffing levels back to where they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent incentives have resulted in some applications coming in, but it hasn’t been enough to reverse the most severe staffing shortage in agency history.
The new starting pay is a nearly $4 increase on top of the $4 salary upgrade TriMet made last fall.
All operators receive regular, guaranteed pay raises according to our Working and Wage Agreement with Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757.
Under the agreement, bus operators reach the top rate of $33.65 per hour with their 35th month of employment, guaranteeing a base pay of at least $68,000 before any overtime.
TriMet relies on people.
Applicants need not have experience driving a large vehicle like a bus.They offer a fully paid, seven-week training course thast will teach you how to drive a bus the "TriMet way".
During training, new operators work 40-hour weeks at the $25.24 starting rate.
In addition to classroom and field instruction, operators have the opportunity to earn their Commercial Driver License (CDL) certification during the training period.
TriMet starts new training classes about every three weeks and has space for up to 26 new operators per class. All new operators must successfully complete TriMet’s training program before heading out on the road on their own.
TriMet bus operators receive a package of benefits, which includes low- to no-cost health, life and disability insurance, paid vacation and sick time, and a retirement account with a guaranteed employer contribution.
All new employees have access to:
Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance plans at low or no monthly cost
Two retirement plans, with an 8% agency base pay contribution to employee’s 401a
One week of paid vacation and up to 40 hours sick leave in the first year of employment, with paid time off increasing over time
Health and dependent care spending accounts
Access to Employee Assistance Program with mental health and counseling services, legal assistance, financial coaching and home ownership programs
Annual transit pass (valued up to $1200) for employee and eligible family members
24-hour access to five exclusive, low-cost, on-site fitness centers
Representation by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757
TriMet bus operators have the option to pursue full- or part-time schedules of at least 25 hours per week.
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While they do not require driving experience, applicants must be able to provide:
High school diploma or GED
Valid driver license for three years
Clean driving record for past three years
In addition, candidates must successfully complete the following steps before being considered for a conditional employment offer:
Passing required CDL permit tests
Criminal background check
Medical exam
Drug screen
TriMet is regulated by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and must follow federal rules, regulations and mandates to remain in good standing and be eligible for federal funding for projects and initiatives that support mass transportation and the public transportation system for the Portland metro region.
TriMet is challenged by the current conditions in the labor market.
In January, they reduced bus service by about 9% as a direct result of the operator shortage. That’s on top of the 10% service cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lack of operators to this degree brings into question TriMet's service expansion in the future.
Portland Police Arson investigators are asking for public assistance investigating an arson explosion that damaged an occupied recreational vehicle in the Sunderland Neighborhood.
On Monday, April 18, 2022 at 4:47a.m., Portland Fire and Rescue (PF&R) was dispatched to a report of an RV on fire on Northeast 33rd Avenue south of Northeast Sunderland Avenue.
Firefighters arrived and discovered that community members had put out the fire with fire extinguishers.
They learned that an explosive device had caused the damage.
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They notified Arson Investigators from PF&R and Portland Police, who responded to the scene. Preliminary information suggests that a suspect or suspects in a large yellow box truck, possibly a moving-style rental truck, drove by and threw or rolled an explosive device under the RV.
At the time of the explosion, one female adult was inside. She was unhurt.
PPB and PF&R are requesting any information, witness accounts, video, or photos that would assist with the investigation.
Underaged drinkers, college-aged individuals and middle-aged parents
At 11:09 a.m. on April 23, Eugene Police started receiving calls about a very large party, reported to have been going since 10 a.m. on 16th Avenue between Patterson and Hilyard.
An estimated 500 to 1,000 people were reported to be blocking the entire roadway, spreading into the travel lanes and spreading onto neighboring properties.
In attendance were underaged drinkers, college-aged individuals and middle-aged parents.
Police were called to respond and had glass bottles and canned food thrown at them. EPD units ended up having to push the crowd out when hails to disperse failed.
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“Something like this is a complete embarrassment for the people who engaged in that party,†said Chief Chris Skinner. “We all understand the excitement Spring brings but these irresponsible individuals, including parents and their college-aged children should be ashamed. What they did was force our operations to go into what is termed ‘priority calls.’ This means that much of the rest of the community has to have their individual calls for service placed on hold while we deal with people who are not able to self-regulate or observe our community’s standards of behavior. I commend our officers for showing tremendous restraint. The attempted assault on our police officers is inexcusable.â€
The hub appears it may have been some three-story apartments.
The party was dispersed by about 1:16 p.m. without any arrests. The Mobile Response Teams remained in the area for some time after.
Oregon bills HB 3055 and HB 3065 were introduced in the Oregon legislature in 2021, with the likely intent of opening the way to allow the government to toll particular roads in Oregon.
The Kate Brown administration has been attempting to find and collect revenue in as many ways and places that it can, so the ability to toll would allow the government a way to manage transportation even more than it currently does.
Critics say that the imposition of tolls would disproportionately impact low-income families and communities.
HB 3065 died in the Joint Committee On Transportation. The Chief Sponsor of that bill was Democrat gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek, whose recently resigned her position as Speaker of the House.
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The history of tolling bans highlights the mistrust of the practice, yet out of touch Oregon Democrats on the supermajority have neglected to acknowledge the distaste of the people for it.
As the internal combustion engine became widespread at the beginning of the last century, the first law providing federal aid to states for construction and maintenance of roads was enacted in 1916. HR 7617 from the 64th Congress was passed out of the newly-minted House Committee on Roads with no restrictions on federal money being used for toll roads.
But during the debate on the floor of the House Representative John Farr (R-PA) offered an amendment to the bill, appending a restriction at the end of the appropriation which said, “Provided, That no portion of this appropriation shall be used in the construction, improvement, maintenance, or repair of any toll road.â€
HB 3055 was signed into Oregon law on July 27th, 2021. It was introduced at the request of Representative Susan McLain (D-Hillsboro) and Senator Lee Beyer (D-Eugene).
Preseason maintenance and hazard tree felling in campgrounds hampered
Recent late season storm cycles brought much needed snow to the Deschutes National Forest’s upper elevations and other locations in Oregon.
However, the heavy snowfall has also impacted the ability to conduct annual preseason safety inspections, maintenance and repairs and hazard tree removal within the campgrounds.
Traditionally, a number of campgrounds in the Crane Prairie and Wickiup Reservoir areas open in time to coincide with the start of the annual fishing season.
While fishing season opens Friday, April 22, snow impacts have prevented the campground concessionaire from completing critical hazard tree removal work and maintenance at these facilities.
Campgrounds within these areas are tentatively rescheduled to open April 29, providing favorable weather returns this week. Hazard tree removal, inspections and repairs are conducted for visitor safety.
Much of the Crescent Ranger District remains under snow. Forest Service staff are working to clear snow from the Sunset Cove Boat Ramp and Day Use area in order to provide fishing access to Odell Lake.
For visitors looking for an early season camping trip, the four year-round campgrounds in the Metolius Basin, Allen Springs, Camp Sherman, Pine Rest and Lower Bridge Campgrounds are open on the Sisters Ranger District.
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During the spring and early summer recreation season, the Forest Service reminds visitors that it’s extremely important to “Know Before You Go.â€
This means confirming that your destination is open for use, checking to see if routes of travel are open and reviewing predicted weather forecasts.
Forest Service roads are not plowed or maintained during winter conditions.
You can visit the Deschutes National Forest website to check on the operational status of the recreation sites. For the most recent information on opening dates for the Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road visit Deschutes County’s website.
Check yours and let your friends know to check theirs, too.
The May Election is just around the corner and that means closed primaries. Don’t get caught off guard, check your voter registration on the Secretary of State's website. Make sure to check your party affiliation and address. The deadline to make changes is April 26.
Secretary Fagan is asking voters to "help reduce voter confusion by sharing the closed primaries video on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, or TikTok. People like you, armed with accurate information from a trusted source, are our best line of defense against false election information."
The Elections Divison has created a new page on their site with straightforward information on voting in Oregon, answers to frequently asked questions and details about how Oregon protects election integrity.
Secretary of State Shemia Fagan has sent out a notice reminding people that "Every year, we hear from voters who are confused about Oregon’s closed primaries. So we made a quick video to help explain things."
At least one way to prevent further crimes is to have potential perpetrators incarcerated
As the COVID outbreak winds down, one part of the wreckage that needs to be cleaned up is the ability of the criminal justice system to effectively address crime. The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission is reporting that on a statewide basis, prison intakes are down for all categories.
While crime rates continue to soar, and riots in Portland have resurfaced, prison intakes have lagged and insiders are publicly asking what impact this has on the continued impact of crime in the state of Oregon. As the population grows and crime increases, at least one way to prevent further crimes is to have potential perpetrators incarcerated.
The commission presents four categories of intakes, all of which declined:
Drug, Property, Driving
Other
Person
Sex
Under Governor Kate Brown and Oregon Department of Corrections Director Colette Peters, prison beds have declined. Several prisons were scheduled to be shut down and in the end, only the facility at Mill Creek was shuttered.
​Mill Creek Correctional Facility was a minimum-security prison located five miles southeast of Salem. The facility was a minimum-security work camp providing labor to the Oregon Department of Corrections, other state and local agencies, and private industries throughout the Willamette Valley. MCCF officially closed on June 30, 2021 as part of Governor Brown's sentencing reform efforts.
The department has custody of adults sentenced to prison for more than 12 months, housing approximately 12,000 adults in 12 state prisons throughout the state. DOC is recognized nationally among correctional agencies for providing individuals with the cognitive, education, and job skills needed to become productive citizens when they transition back to their communities.
The Oregon Constitution was amended in November 1996 to say, "Laws for the punishment of crimes shall be founded on these principles: protection of society, personal responsibility, accountability for one’s actions and reformation."
Bus operators with TriMet will learn from TriMet bus trainers about the differences in operating a 60-foot articulated FX bus compared to our standard 40-foot buses—and doing it safely in a dynamic environment. They’ll be trained on how to operate the front door ramp and other mobility device features, learn how to line up the bus at station areas, and be educated on safe interactions with vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians in the busy Division Street corridor.
Trainers will also instruct operators on other unique features of the articulated bus, which bends in the middle. They’ll learn how to turn corners safely and operate the buses’ three doors for all-door boarding.
You won’t be able to get on the FX buses just yet. Riders need to wait until the new high capacity FX 2-Division service opens in September 2022. Overhead signs on the front of the buses will let people know they’re not picking up riders.
TriMet will have up to four FX training buses traveling along the FX 2-Division route each day. The route runs between Union Station in Downtown Portland and Gresham Central Transit Center. Buses will travel across Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People, and along the Division Street corridor, making brief stops at stations to simulate picking up riders. The new buses are longer, but not wider, than our standard buses.
“The on-street training is an exciting milestone in the Division Transit Project that will bring better, more efficient bus service to the corridor,†said TriMet Chief Operating Officer Bonnie Todd. “We do ask people driving, walking and biking around these articulated buses to give our operators some patience and room as they get used to the bigger buses. Please be aware and give them a little more space, like you would around trucks, as our operators learn how to make turns and other maneuvers safely in these longer buses.â€
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TriMet will initially train approximately 180 bus operators for FX 2-Division service, and more over time. Training for the start of FX 2-Division service is expected to last through August 2022 and will become a permanent part of TriMet’s bus operator training curriculum.
Former State Representative and House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) has already resigned from her House Seat to run for Governor. Experts like her chances. Despite a crowded field, she has recent, high-profile elected office experience and that sets her apart from the pack a bit. She has some negatives and is not popular with the Republican base, but her lobby connections have placed her in the lead for fundraising among Republican Gubernatorial hopefuls.
State Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Lake Oswego) entered a controversial battlefield when during the 2021 First Special Session she accepted the position as Co-Chair of the House Special Committee On Congressional Redistricting. Readers will remember that then House Speaker Tina Kotek reneged on a deal made with Republicans and stacked the committee in favor of Democrats. Representative and Co-Chair Salinas made the wound further insulting by drawing herself into the sprawling northernmost tip of the new, vacant district and then filing to run for it.
State Representative Ron Noble (R-McMinnville) will be leaving his legislative seat in order to run for the 6th Congressional district. the former McMinnville police chief is running on a law-and-order platform, despite some weak votes on law enforcement.
As the internal combustion engine became widespread at the beginning of the last century, the first law providing federal aid to states for construction and maintenance of roads was enacted in 1916. HR 7617 from the 64th Congress was passed out of the newly-minted House Committee on Roads with no restrictions on federal money being used for toll roads.
Under Governor Kate Brown and Oregon Department of Corrections Director Colette Peters, prison beds have declined. Several prisons were scheduled to be shut down and in the end, only the facility at Mill Creek was shuttered.
