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On this day, September 1, 1836, Protestant missionary Dr. Marcus Whitman led a party to Oregon. His wife, Narcissa, was one of the first white women to travel the Oregon Trail.
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OREGON STATE FAIR |
Monday, September 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm |
STATE FAIR IS RUNNING NOW UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2.
Make sure and visit the Americans for Faithful Election booth. |
Salem, Oregon |
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2024 Gathering of Eagles |
Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 10:00 am |
Click for more info
|
Ames Ranch, Turner |
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Oregon ranked fifth in the country for stolen vehicles
In recognition of July as National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
is now urging vehicle owners to be aware of the ongoing threat of vehicle theft.
Vehicle theft continues to be a significant concern in the U.S., costing vehicle owners more than $8 billion in 2022 alone.
Shockingly, more than 1 million vehicles were stolen in the same year in the country, reflecting a 25 percent increase in vehicle theft totals compared to previous years.
Of all stolen motor vehicles, passenger cars historically accounted for more than 74 percent, with an estimated occurrence of one motor vehicle theft happening every 32 seconds.
In 2021, Oregon ranked fifth in the country for stolen vehicles based on the highest rate of vehicle theft per 100,000 residents, according to data provided by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
The states with the highest theft rates were Colorado, District of Columbia, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Theft of vehicles is covered – subject to the deductible – if you have comprehensive insurance coverage. Talk to your insurance company or agent to make sure you have the correct coverage for your needs.
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To ensure the safety of your vehicle, it is essential to adopt preventive measures. Always remember to:
- Park in well-lit areas
- Close and lock all windows and doors when parking
- Conceal your valuables
- Avoid leaving your keys inside your vehicle
- Refrain from leaving the area while your vehicle is running
- Check with your vehicle’s manufacturer or your local mechanic to make sure the vehicle’s software is up to date
While some vehicles come equipped with alarm and anti-theft systems, those without such features should consider purchasing additional layers of protection. Anti-theft systems are readily available for purchase online or in stores and can provide an extra level of security for your vehicle.
Those interested can find more comprehensive information on motor vehicle theft prevention
on the NHTSA site.. Also, more resources can be found at the
National Insurance Crime Bureau website, providing further guidance and tips on safeguarding your vehicle from potential theft.
--Bruce ArmstrongPost Date: 2023-07-10 12:28:13 | Last Update: 2023-07-11 18:19:08 |
COVID lockdowns provided opportunities for thieves
A former Portland area non-profit director was just recently sentenced to federal prison for stealing more than $321,000 in federal funds intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
Theodore Johnson, 62, a Portland resident, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay approximately $321,000 in restitution to two banks, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services.
According to court documents, in February 2017, Johnson incorporated and began serving as the director of operations for Ten Penny International Housing Foundation, a non-profit organization in Oregon which only helped BIPOC people.
After the US Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to American employers, Johnson saw an opportunity to fraudulently obtain illegitimate government funds on Ten Penny’s behalf.
In early March 2021, Johnson submitted his first of three Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications, falsely claiming Ten Penny employed 16 people and had an average monthly payroll of more than $57,000. To support his application, Johnson submitted fraudulent tax documents and created an electronic counterfeit IRS stamp to make it appear as though his forms had been received by the IRS. Based on these false claims, Northeast Bank issued a PPP loan worth more than $143,000 to Ten Penny.
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Two months later, in May 2021, Johnson submitted two more fraudulent PPP loan applications. In these applications, he again falsely claimed Ten Penny employed 16 people and had an average monthly payroll of at least $50,000. Johnson further falsely claimed to have used the entirety of his first PPP loan for eligible expenses.
As a result, Central Willamette Credit Union issued Johnson a second PPP loan worth more than $130,000.
In addition to his three fraudulent PPP loan applications, Johnson submitted a fraudulent Oregon Cares Fund application on behalf of Ten Penny and received an additional $34,975.
On October 31, 2022, Johnson was charged by criminal information with one count of bank fraud and two months later, on December 29, 2022, pleaded guilty to the single charge.
This case was investigated by the SBA Office of Inspector General and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). It was prosecuted by Meredith D.M. Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
--Ben FisherPost Date: 2023-07-10 08:17:47 | Last Update: 2023-07-10 22:24:20 |
“For me, this isn’t a pursuit of political powerâ€
PPortland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps has announced that he is running for Portland Mayor. "I have the values, vision, experience, and judgment to lead Portland to a safer, more equitable, and more prosperous future," he said from his campaign website. "I have a strong record of accomplishments for the two short years I’ve been a Portland City Commissioner and am proud of what we have done -- while also recognizing that it’s not nearly enough."
Commissioner Mapps, a
former Professor in the Political Science department at Brandeis University focused on equal treatment and fixing the city of Portland, especially in the face of rising crime. "I'm a dad of 12- and 14-year-old Black sons. I want my sons to live in a place where they can be free to be their authentic selves, love who they want, and live in a safe environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. For me, this isn’t a pursuit of political power, it’s about fixing the broken city I love, the city that has made me who I am."
His
campaign site also featured the theme of homelessness. "Our current policies around houselessness are creating chaos as we witness the tragic impacts of exploding drug addiction and mental illness. Rock bottom should never be a tent or RV on the streets. We can and must do better." He offered no specific plans.
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As a City Commissioner, he currently oversees the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the Portland Water Bureau, and the Bureau of Environmental Services.
--Staff ReportsPost Date: 2023-07-09 13:16:39 | Last Update: 2023-07-09 13:24:37 |
The campaign slogan that ended with a vote on one bill
During the 2022 campaign season, Republican candidates beat the drum of “bring balance back to Salemâ€. There was even a Political Action Committee with that name that helped campaign and fund Republican candidates. The goal was to get the House Republicans out of the Super-Minority and closer to a place where balance could be achieved. With balance, the belief was that it would bring forward good policy, developed on a collaborative platform.
The 2023 election yielded the Republicans 2 additional House seats and one additional Senate seat over what they had. Republicans in the House went from 23 to 25 which was a major step. They had not seen those numbers since 2014. The last time the House was controlled by Republicans was 2004. The Senate went from 12 to 13 (which includes 2 Independents who typically vote with the Republicans). The last time they were at 13 was 2016 and the last time they controlled the Senate was 2000.
Although neither chamber was controlled by Republicans, the balance was 5 votes away in the House and 2 votes away in the Senate, they did have one advantage. In both chambers it put them in a position to stop any new taxes from being imposed on Oregonians. New taxes, per the State Constitution, take a 3/5 vote, or 36 in the House and 18 in the Senate.
During the last week of session,
HB 2757 came to the floor for a vote. This bill would implement a cell phone tax to support the 9-8-8 crisis line. 44 other states operate this service without a tax. The state with the lowest tax is California at $0.08 and the highest is Washington with $0.40. The original bill proposed $0.50, but the amended bill was for $0.40. The state with the closest population to Oregon is Nevada and their tax is $0.35. So why did Oregon need to be so high? Some are asking why was it not lower to start with and raised over time? Some are asking why was it not funded out of general fund money since there was plenty to go around?
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What was not discussed during the floor debate was that the 9-8-8 system already had funding tucked away in the Oregon Health Authority Budget
HB 5525 under Package 404.
Package 404:
988 Behavioral Health Crisis System: Provides $39.6 million General Fund, $100,000 Other Funds expenditure limitation, and $29.3 million Federal Funds expenditure limitation, including $22.7 million General Fund, $100,000 Other Funds and $4.7 million Federal Funds to support the anticipated increase in call, text, and chat volume in Oregon’s 9-8-8 crisis call line and to support information technology changes and operational costs at OHA, as well as $16.9 million General Fund and $24.6 million Federal Funds to support anticipated Medicaid costs for rolling out mobile crisis response teams statewide.
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When
HB 2757 came to the House for a vote, Republicans had the power to kill the bill and the new tax. Democrats, with 35 members needed 1 Republican vote. No Republican votes would have killed the bill and the funding for 9-8-8 would have needed to go in a different direction, the OHA budget, package 404.
However, when the buttons were pushed, two Republicans broke their campaign promises and voted with the Democrats. They were Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner) and Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-North Salem/Keizer).
The bill then went to the Senate where the same options were available; offer Democrats no Republican votes and kill the new tax, or drum up one Republican vote and pass the bill. The Republicans did one better. When the roll call was called, two Senators aided the Democrats in assisting in the passage of the new tax. They were Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend) and Senator Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook).
The new tax will start appearing on every cell phone bill in Oregon beginning January 1, 2024, four months before the May 2024 primary. The question now is, will this tax vote hurt the Republican promise of “no new taxes†when it comes time to vote in May and again in November of 2024?
--Terese HumboldtPost Date: 2023-07-09 12:21:46 | Last Update: 2023-07-09 13:03:46 |
“Establishing this committee is another way for us to embrace climate-smart scienceâ€
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
has established and appointed members to a new Federal Advisory Committee to provide advice and recommendations on modernizing landscape management across national forests within the Northwest Forest Plan area in Washington, Oregon and Northern California.
The committee will make recommendations focused on a climate-informed amendment of the Northwest Forest Plan to update management direction so that national forests are managed sustainably, adapted to climate change, and resilient to wildfire, insects, disease, and other disturbances, while meeting the needs of local communities.
“Establishing this committee is another way for us to embrace climate-smart science, ensure we hear from diverse voices and get a range of perspectives on how to best confront the wildfire crisis and climate change,†said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This committee will also be asked to help reshape ways we engage with communities and deepen our connections with tribes as we go through the Northwest Forest Plan amendment process.â€
The Forest Service says that the committee’s recommendations will incorporate traditional ecological knowledge, the latest science, and climate resilience into its recommendations for the 17 national forests in the Northwest Forest Plan area. They also say that the committee will also advise how these planning efforts can complement the Wildfire Crisis Strategy and help the Forest Service take more proactive measures to reduce wildfire risk, restore fire resilience, and enable long-term ecological integrity for people, communities and natural resources.
The Forest Service says that stablishing this committee is in line with President Biden’s Executive Order 14072 and Secretary’s Vilsack’s Memorandum on Climate Resilience.
The national forests in the Northwest Forest Plan area have significant ecologic values, including for water, wildlife, and carbon, and contain important old and mature forests. They are embedded in the people and communities of the area and are important for the social and economic sustainability of those communities. These lands are also culturally significant and the ancestral homelands for tribal nations.
According to a recent inventory conducted by federal researchers as required by the Executive Order, the 17 national forests represented in the Northwest Forest Plan contain one quarter of the remaining old-growth forest on national forests and grasslands in the lower 48 states.
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The Forest service says that the new committee represents a diverse group from Tribes, local communities, environmental groups, industry, and academia across Northern California, Oregon and Washington.
Members appointed to the committee are:
- Jerry Franklin, PhD Professor Emeritus, School of Environmental and Forest Science, University of Washington
- James Johnston, PhD Assistant Professor (Senior Research), College of Forestry, Oregon State University
- Meg Krawchuk, PhD Associate Professor of Landscape Fire, Ecology, and Conservation Science, College of Forestry, Oregon State University
- Angela Sondenaa, PhD Certified Senior Ecologist, Nez Perce Tribe
- Elaine Harvey, PhD Environmental Coordinator, Yakima Nation
- Ryan Haugo, PhD Director of Conservation Science, The Nature Conservancy
- Heidi Huber-Stearns, PhD Associate Research Professor and Director, Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon
- Daniel Reid Sarna-Wojcicki, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher, UC Berkeley
- Robert “Bobby†Brunoe Secretary Treasurer/CEO, Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs
- Jarred Patton Deputy Director, California Conservation Corps
- Lindsay Warness Western Regional Manager, Forest Resource Association
- Travis Joseph President/CEO, American Forest Resource Council
- Elizabeth Robblee Conservation and Advocacy Director, The Mountaineers
- Jose Linares District Manager (Retired), Bureau of Land Management, Northwest Oregon District and Board Member, Straub Outdoors
- Susan Jane Brown, JD Principal, Silvix Resources
- Henry Anderson Senior Policy Analyst, The Wilderness Society
- Nicholas Goulette Executive Director, Watershed Research and Training Center
- Ryan Reed Co-founder and Executive Director, Fire Generation Collaborative and Wildland Firefighter
- Karen Hans Good Neighbor Authority Program Coordinator, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Lauren Osiadacz Kittitas County Commissioner
- Ann House, JD Staff Attorney, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Environmental and Natural Resources Department
The Forest Service says it will be working with the committee members to plan and conduct its first meeting later this year.
The
Northwest Forest Plan was first implemented in 1994. The plan was designed to protect old-growth forests and critical habitat for the northern spotted owl, while also providing for forest products, water quality, recreation and other uses.
--Ben FisherPost Date: 2023-07-08 18:49:54 | Last Update: 2023-07-08 19:46:38 |
Unknown male discovered in 2016 remains unidentified
Oregon State Police and Marion County Medical Examiner’s Offices are requesting assistance in identifying a deceased male discovered in 2016. Photos of what he might look like have been produced
here.
On July 22, 2016, the body of an unknown male individual was found deceased under the Marion Street Bridge in Salem, Oregon. The individual was wearing a short-sleeved dress shirt and blue denim jeans. He appeared to have brown hair with some gray, and was between 35 and 65 years old at the time of death. The identity of this individual has never been confirmed, and almost 7 years have passed without any substantial leads regarding his identity. His profile has been uploaded into the
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System under NamUs UP#16050.
OSP has partnered with
Parabon NanoLabs to perform innovative DNA analysis on this case. Based on genetic information, his eye color and hair color are brown, and his skin color is light brown. Additional results show this male to have genetic ancestry common in Central and South American Latino individuals. He is likely from Central Mexico and very likely to have close family in or near Las Ranas, Michoacan.
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Do you know of, or have family members in Las Ranas? Can you recall a known Hispanic male individual disappearing in the summer of 2016 who meets this description and has not been heard from in 7 years? If so, please contact the Marion County Medical Examiner’s Office at 1-503-580-9471 to report information that may help identify this man.
Information can also be e-mailed to Randerson@co.marion.or.us
--Donna BleilerPost Date: 2023-07-07 17:42:09 | Last Update: 2023-07-07 18:04:08 |
Salem hosts this international event for the third year
Thousands of athletes and their supporters from around the world are heading to Salem, Oregon for Ironman’s premiere endurance competition. Ironman 70.3 Oregon takes place on Sunday, July 23, 2022, beginning at 6:00 a.m. in Riverfront Park.
The 70-mile racecourse features a 1.2-mile swim in the Willamette, a 56-mile bike ride through South Salem to the Ankeny Nature Preserve and back, and a 13.1-mile run through Minto-Brown Island Park finishing in Riverfront Park at the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater. For decades, Ironman events have attracted athletes to compete against each other and the grueling course itself.
Several road closures are planned from Riverfront Park in downtown Salem towards the Ankeny Natural Wildlife Refuge along River Road South. Information is being sent to residents that live along the racecourse and signs will be posted to warn drivers of the potential traffic impacts that may occur throughout the day.
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Salem and their partners in tourism, including Travel Salem are proud to host Ironman 70.3 Oregon. Details about the course, including maps and information about park and street impacts, can be found at
Ironman 70.3 Oregon. You can be part of this event by
volunteering.
--Donna BleilerPost Date: 2023-07-06 18:32:29 | Last Update: 2023-07-06 18:41:10 |
Online applications are due by 5 p.m. Monday, July 17
The Roseburg Oregon City Council
has announced that it is taking applications from candidates interested in filling the vacancy created when Councilor Brian Prawitz resigned on Monday, June 26.
Prawitz, who chaired the Roseburg Economic Development Commission, resigned after accepting the position of Executive Director for the Umpqua Economic Development Partnership. He represented Ward 3 in southwest Roseburg for more than six years after being elected in November 2016.
Candidates to fill his seat must live in Ward 3. Ward boundaries can be found on this
Roseburg ward map.
Online applications are due by 5 p.m. Monday, July 17. Application forms can be printed and turned in at City Hall, 900 SE Douglas Ave., or downloaded and
emailed to the city.
The Council will conduct interviews during a public City Council meeting and appoint a replacement to serve until December 31, 2024, when Prawitz’s term was set to expire. The seat will be up for election in November 2024. The Council may appoint a replacement at the City Council meeting when interviews are held or seek additional candidates to consider at a later date.
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The Roseburg City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month as well as for special meetings. As the elected legislative body for the City of Roseburg, the City Council is responsible for the scope, direction and financing of City services. The Council is also responsible for establishing land use policies and zoning regulations.
The Council establishes local law and policy that is administered and implemented by City staff under the council-city manager form of government. The Council gives policy direction to the City Manager, who’s responsible for administering City operations. In setting policy, the Council works closely with citizen-advisory commissions and committees, considers City staff information and recommendations, and takes input from interested parties and the public. Councilors review material to prepare for Council meetings, and speak and correspond with ward constituents. Councilors also attend other meetings and may chair a City commission.
Roseburg is divided into four wards, with two Council members representing each ward. Council members serve a four-year term with one Council position in each ward up for election every two years. The Mayor, who presides over Council meetings, is elected at large for a two-year term. The Mayor and Councilors are non-salaried, volunteer positions elected by Roseburg residents.
For more information about this vacancy, interested parties may contact City Recorder Patty Hitt
via email or by calling 541-492-6865.
--Ben FisherPost Date: 2023-07-04 16:02:47 | Last Update: 2023-07-04 16:24:52 |
Judge finds Oregon recording law unconstitutional
It was nearly three years ago that James O’Keefe walked into the Federal Courthouse in Portland wearing a bulletproof vest surrounded by six security guards arriving in two different black cars. That was the Portland atmosphere amid the BLM, ANTIFA, George Floyd riots that required caution to deliver his complaint against Oregon’s recording law. That law was overturned this week by the Ninth Circuit Court.
The original case was dismissed by Oregon Attorney General, Ellen Rosenblum, and the Multnomah County District Attorney, Michael Schmidt. O’Keefe’s appeal to the Ninth Circuit “alleged that because section ORS 165.540 favored recording some subjects, but disfavored others, the differential treatment rendered section ORS 165.540(1)(c) and its exceptions unconstitutional.†He is referring to a bill,
HB 2704 passed in 2015, that allowed citizens to record interactions with law enforcement officers unknowingly. Even ACLU testified that it was inconsistent with courts and legal scholars on the public right to record on-duty police.
Writing for the majority on the panel, Judge Sandra S. Ikuta wrote, “Oregon law generally prohibits unannounced recordings of conversations, subject to several exceptions. We conclude that Oregon’s law is a content-based restriction that violates the First Amendment right to free speech and is therefore invalid on its face.â€
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O’Keefe announced to his subscribers, “I was able to change a state law that disallowed my investigative journalists to covertly record their subjects while doing our reporting.
This is a first for journalism and for myself as the founder of three different investigative media companies.†He continued, “After over a million dollars in legal fees, many late nights with counsel and advisers, and yes.....even security escorts and of course the safety of black car transportation, history has been made in this country! No other news media outlet has ever toppled an unconstitutional State Law and this is just the beginning for us.â€
--Donna BleilerPost Date: 2023-07-03 21:36:07 | Last Update: 2023-07-04 13:27:56 |
Communities are living in fear, businesses are bearing the brunt of relentless attacks
A new Portland-based legal initiative has launched an effort to secure reparations for damages and losses incurred by business owners and hold elected officials, cities, states and local governments accountable for out-of-control crime, theft and property destruction incurred over the last three years.
Restore Law and Order is a new legal organization and business advocacy group founded by Oregon business owner Gregg Schumacher, president and owner of Schumacher Furs. “We have partnered with some of the most powerful constitutional attorneys and legal experts in the nation to secure rightful financial reparations for affected business owners and to hold accountable those who have allowed crime to run rampant and promoted policies that have led to decay and the loss of business,†said Gregg Schumacher, Founder of Restore Law and Order.
This group aims to address what they describe as the alarming rise in crime, lawlessness, and property destruction that have become distressingly normalized in cities
across the United States. The organization’s mission is to restore law and order by holding government officials personally accountable for their inaction and violation of constitutional law. Restore Law & Order, Inc. seeks to put an end to the ongoing deterioration of safety and security that plagues our communities. The organization is actively seeking business owners with demonstrable economic losses and damages due to crime and lawlessness to join as plaintiffs in its numerous lawsuits against cities, states, local governments, and elected officials throughout the country.
“We are standing up for business owners who law and order was supposed to protect,†he said. The events of 2020 unfolded with unprecedented levels of crime, lawlessness,
and property destruction that sent shockwaves throughout our nation. The primary damages that businesses incurred are devaluation of property, gross revenue-net profit losses and lack of tourism.
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“Sadly," Schumacher continued, "instead of addressing these issues head-on, they have persisted and continue to wreak havoc in cities across the US today. Communities are living in fear, businesses are bearing the brunt of relentless attacks, and law-abiding citizens are being denied the safety and security they deserve. As president and owner of Schumacher Furs, Inc., a family business established in 1895, the oldest fur company in America, Schumacher experienced firsthand the devastating consequences of this lawlessness. From 2005 to 2007, his family, employees, and loyal customers were subjected to a reign of terror by extremist groups in Portland, Oregon resulting in the loss of his 130-year-old family business.
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“It was shocking and heartbreaking watching terrorists systematically destroy the company my family built,†Schumacher said. “Law enforcement failed to intervene effectively, leaving us without the basic protection we deserved,†he said. “The effects were devastating to our family and the families of hundreds of people we employed, many of which were expert craftsman who had proudly worked for the company for decades,†he said.
The relentless attacks eventually forced Schumacher Furs to cease operations in downtown Portland, leaving behind a legacy of lost jobs and economic hardship. For this reason, Schumacher has made it his life’s mission to advocate on behalf of business owners, hopeless, helpless and facing the same fate. “My goal is to prevent what happened to Schumacher Furs from happening to other businesses," Schumacher said.
The detrimental effects of crime on businesses cannot be overstated. Apart from the obvious physical damage inflicted on properties, businesses face severe financial losses and operational disruptions. Vandalism, break-ins, and theft result in significant repair and replacement costs, diverting resources away from growth and innovation.
Furthermore, businesses in crime-ridden areas often experience reduced customer traffic due to safety concerns, leading to a decline in revenue and potential closures. The negative impact on employment and local economies cannot be ignored, as lost jobs mean diminished livelihoods for countless individuals and families.
Recognizing that the normalization of crime, lawlessness, and property destruction is a widespread issue affecting cities across the nation, Gregg Schumacher has rallied a passionate team to fight back. Restore Law and Order, Inc. is dedicated to holding government officials accountable for their inaction, negligence, and violating
constitutional laws, which have allowed these issues to persist and escalate.
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“The time for decisive action is now,†said Gregg Schumacher, Founder of Restore Law and Order, Inc. “We are committed to seeking justice and reparations on behalf of businesses, organizations, and individuals who have suffered due to the breakdown of law and order,†he said. The organization has retained a powerful legal team that has developed a comprehensive strategy to confront and challenge government officials' failures head-on.
“The effects of crime on businesses go beyond financial losses,†Schumacher said. “They permeate the fabric of our communities, instilling fear, eroding trust, and hindering growth. By taking legal action, we aim to combat the normalization of these destructive behaviors and restore safety, security, and peace to cities nationwide,†he said.
--Staff ReportsPost Date: 2023-07-02 16:23:41 | Last Update: 2023-07-02 19:25:16 |
“This bill will result in all gas stations in Oregon becoming self-serveâ€
Awaiting Governor Kotek's Signature is
HJB 2426 sponsored by Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Tangent) and Julie Fahey (D-Junction City) which will allow self-serve gas in Oregon. The bill requires that notification signs be posted stating which gas pumps are designated for self-service and which are designated for attended service and requires at least one person to be able to provide attended service and for price charged to be identical.
Oregon is one of two states, including New Jersey, that restricts self-service dispensing of gasoline at retail fueling
stations. The prohibition dates back to 1951. Legislative findings regarding the prohibition cite: the need for
training for safe dispensing of Class 1 flammable liquids; hazards faced by untrained persons dispensing such
liquids; difficulties for some persons, such as senior citizens, in self-service fuel dispensing and the lack of ability to
ensure full-service fuel dispensing; health and environmental factors; the tendency for significantly higher cost of
full-service fuel dispensing in states that allow self-service dispensing; the correlation between self-service
dispensing and reduced availability of automotive repair at fueling stations; and employment considerations.
In 2015, the Legislature passed
HB 3011 which authorized fueling stations in counties with populations less than 40,000 residents to permit non-employees to dispense fuels into motor vehicles or other containers between the hours of 6:00 pm and 6:00 am. Two years later, during the 2017 regular session, the Legislature passed
HB 2482 which eliminated the time-of-day restrictions and limited the applicability only to small counties in eastern Oregon.
Now, House Bill 2426 allows retail fueling stations to operate up to half of their pumps as self-service dispensing devices.
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The testimony during the Legislative Committee hearings was mixed. Mike Freese of the Oregon Fuels Association said that the bill "has overwhelming public support. It is no secret that Oregon has unique gas fueling laws. Nevertheless, as explained by gas station owners, finding employees to pump gas is extremely hard – and even impossible in some cases – which in turn makes it impossible to keep gas stations open and operating. HB 2426 helps relieve pressure in this tight labor market, while preserving the choice to fuel your own vehicle or opt for an attendant to fuel the vehicle."
There were contrary voices. Brandon Venable of Pendleton said, "I’m a manager at a fuel station in Oregon and I oppose self serve. I deal with many dangerous situations on the daily created by people smoking, leaving their engines running, getting in and out of their vehicles creating static electricity, trying to fill up random bottles and jugs and driving off with the pump still in the vehicle. For someone who spends 10 minutes at a gas station this may not seem like something that is dangerous but when you deal with this for 8 plus hours a day it’s reality. Us as attendants do a lot for our customers and keeping everyone safe is a main goal. Selecting half of our pumps won’t speed the process of fueling up it will just add frustration and confusion to long lines of people that aren't concerned with the cars behind them."
Kathy Lincoln of Keizer submitted, "HB 2426 is a bad idea. There is no reason to change the current status of help at service stations. Service stations provide jobs to many people who may not find jobs elsewhere. Contrary to the complaint of the Oregon Fuels Association, we have never had an issue with lack of help at service stations. In my experience, workers are courteous, helpful and obviously, earning a living. Who are the beneficiaries of this bill? Certainly not the general driving public, nor the currently employed gas station attendants."
She continued, "This bill will result in all gas stations in Oregon becoming self-serve, which is a DIS-service to the disabled, seniors, and those who do not want to arrive at their destination smelling like gasoline.
--Staff ReportsPost Date: 2023-07-02 15:52:03 | Last Update: 2023-07-02 16:23:41 |
Oregon Election Integrity Suit Headed to Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
The
Thielman v Fagan lawsuit ‘Motion to Dismiss’ was heard on June 26th at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland, Oregon. The presiding Magistrate Judge was Stacie Beckerman. Attorney Bryan Marshall represented the Office of the Secretary of State and the Oregon Counties and Attorney Stephen Joncus represented the Plaintiffs.
The
Thielman v Fagan lawsuit asks for a declaration that Oregon’s mail-in voting and computer tabulation of votes are unconstitutional and asks for an injunction against use of those systems in elections. The lawsuit does not seek money damages, only relief from laws and policies that inflate voter rolls, use hackable tabulators, mandate mail-in ballots and stymie efforts of “We the People†to discover the many nefarious ways an election can be compromised.
The lawsuit states that; “…the very agents of the state and county governments that swear an oath to uphold the United States Constitution have encumbered, disrupted, obstructed, and out-right denied access of the people to public records, refused to investigate findings from election canvassers, and impugned the reputation of election integrity minded citizens.“
The suit details about 50 pages worth of election anomalies both in and out of Oregon. The suit does assert a fraud claim, and some anomalies reach to that level.
Defendant Shemia Fagan was appointed as Secretary of State after Stephen Trout was fired/resigned during the 2020 election when he insisted the election was not secure. On May 8th, 2023 Fagan was forced to resign due to the scandal over her acceptance of $10,000 a month as a cannabis consultant. For the June 26th hearing, it was mandatory that the participants agreed that Fagan’s successor, Cheryl Myers, was accepted as replacement as the SOS Defendant in the lawsuit. Fagan’s ethical breaches regarding her position as SOS were not discussed at the hearing.
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The Motion to Dismiss asserts that Plaintiffs do not have standing because they are asserting a generalized grievance applicable to all citizens. Defendants’ Attorney, Bryan Marshall, argued that the Plaintiffs do not have standing in subject matter and Plaintiffs cannot establish ‘an injury in fact’ that is ‘concrete, particularized, and actual or imminent, that the injury was likely caused by the defendants and that the injury would likely be redressed by judicial relief’.
Plaintiffs’ Attorney, Stephen Joncus, explained that Defendants’ argument does not address the situation where the government has taken complete control of the election system, uses it to re-elect themselves, and prevents the public from discovering the fraud. Defendants’ rule cannot be right because it means that there is no way for a free people to escape a tyrannical government. Joncus relied on authority stating that “elections enable self-governance only when they include processes that give citizens confidence in the fairness of elections.†In other words, when the public does not have confidence in elections, they are no longer governing themselves.
The subjectiveness of a feeling of lack of confidence is not a bar to a constitutional remedy because in
Brown v Board of Education, the Supreme Court found that separate but equal schools for black children was unconstitutional because of a feeling of inferiority. The injury can be emotional rather than concrete and does not have to be particularized. Joncus explained that the voters have lost the civil right of fair and free elections due to the election anomalies presented by Plaintiffs. The voters have lost confidence in the election system.
Joncus stated that Oregon touts risk-limiting audits as one of the pillars of Oregon’s purported transparent and robust security measures. In fact, no county is capable of doing risk limiting audits and no county has ever done a risk limiting audit.
Joncus argued that in cases where the very rules regarding elections are broken, it is that broken system that incumbent officials have to thank for their incumbency. Such officials will not be motivated to reform the system that put them in power; instead, they will tend to defend the system that keeps them in power.
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Magistrate Judge Stacie Beckerman summarily rejected Plaintiffs’ arguments. She sided with the Defendants when her opinion relied on the post 2020 election caselaw that refuses to acknowledge that election fraud exists. For her opinion, Beckerman cited the case
Lake v. Hobbs, that finds Plaintiffs lacked standing as their alleged injury of potential voter fraud was too speculative because “a long chain of hypothetical contingencies must take place for any harm to occur†and concluding “that speculative allegations that voting machines may be hackable are insufficient to establish an injury in fact under Article IIIâ€.
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Judge Beckerman also cited the case
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. v. Boockvar. This case dismissed claims related to the state’s mail-in voting system as “too speculative to be concrete†where the plaintiffs claimed a “fear that absent implementation of the security measures that they seek; guards by drop boxes, signature comparison of mail-in ballots, and poll watchers, there was a risk of voter fraud by other votersâ€.
Judge Beckerman stated in her opinion that Plaintiffs seek entry of a judgment declaring that Oregon’s voting systems are unconstitutional, Plaintiffs allege that Oregon’s computerized vote tabulation and mail-in voting systems violate their constitutional rights including violations of the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and their fundamental right to vote.
The Judge continued with, “Plaintiffs allege that organized criminals are manipulating Oregon’s elections, and they base their claims on a documentary about voting irregularities in other states and reports of voting irregularities in Oregon.â€
Judge Beckerman’s opinion concludes; “The Court agrees that Plaintiffs have failed to plea a cognizable injury-in-fact and therefore grants Defendants’ Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss.â€â€œPlaintiffs lack standing here because the injury they allege is neither particularized nor concrete.â€
Joncus immediately filed an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the same day of Judge Beckerman’s order. Joncus will request expedited review by the Ninth Circuit, and plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court if the Ninth Circuit fails to reverse Judge Beckerman’s order.
Editor's note: The author of this article is a Plaintiff in the Thielman v Fagan lawsuit.
--Terry NoonkesterPost Date: 2023-07-02 15:02:56 | Last Update: 2023-07-02 15:52:03 |
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