The Oregon Department of Education is seeking information from organizations to develop new standards in Culturally Relevant Sexuality Education and Social Science lessons and materials for K-5 educators. The request includes the availability of curriculum writers and designers to create lessons, units, and curriculum materials and/or associated professional development materials aligned to Oregon education standards in human sexuality, ethnic studies, or both. The Request for Information (RFI) asks for a brief 1-page summary of an organization’s expertise and capacity to complete an upcoming grant-funded opportunity in alignment with Oregon laws and standards.

The State Board of Education’s policy and priority of the Oregon Department of Education is that there must be no discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color, sex, marital status, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability in any educational programs, activities or employment.

Comprehensive sexuality education includes instruction on sexual violence prevention, child abuse prevention, STI prevention, and unintended pregnancy prevention alongside abstinence. Comprehensive sexuality education refers to sexuality as a natural and healthy component of human development and does not shame students who may have already had sexual experiences. Although abstinence can be taught as a healthy and safe option, it cannot be taught at the exclusion of other content areas that support young people with information on healthy sexuality and relationships.

Ethnic studies includes a series of culturally relevant and inclusive lessons guiding students to explore the identities, contributions, histories, and perspectives of traditionally marginalized groups.

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Oregon’s ethnic studies that is aimed at students in kindergarten through grade 12 refers to the histories, perspectives, and contributions of ethnic and social minorities. “Social minorities” means women, people with disabilities, immigrants, refugees and individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The purpose of instruction is to increase cultural competency for public school students and promote critical thinking regarding the interaction between systemic social structures and ethnic minority or social minority status.

This curriculum must align with the Oregon’s Health Education Standard including a comprehensive sexuality education. With the passage of HB 2002, identity and unintended pregnancy is sure to be incorporated.

The RFI is open for submissions until July 21 at 5:00pm.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-07-11 23:09:37

Last Update: 2023-07-12 10:26:51

Outgoing Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill has sent a farewell letter to members of the public education community cataloging his achievements as director. Director Gill was appointed by Governor Brown as Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction and as a function of that office serves as the Director of the Oregon Department of Education He was confirmed by the Senate on February 12, 2018. Charlene Williams has been appointed his replacement by Governor Kotek.

In a letter to Superintendents, Principals, K-12 Public Information Officers, Education Partner Leaders and Communicators, Business Managers, Gill said, "My time in this capacity of service to you, students, families, and communities has come to an end. Governor Kotek has appointed an incredible Director, Dr. Charlene Williams, to support her education efforts, lead at ODE, and be of service to you. Please know that I am partnering closely with Governor Kotek, Dr. Williams and their teams to provide whatever support may be helpful in this transition. I will be supporting her transition behind the scenes through the end of August."

Gill summarized his work at ODE, "I will miss working with and for all of you. We have worked hard to situate ODE as a service organization to districts and charter schools. My aim was to have the department be a partner in accountability alongside school districts in service to students and families, sharing responsibility for equitable services and outcomes and the federal and state laws that govern our work. We also shared a unique time in history together, leading communities through a global pandemic, historic wildfires, the beginning of a reckoning on racial inequities, and deep political divide."

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Gill will perhaps be remembered for a period of low academic achievement in Oregon public schools where the focus was on equity and inclusion, at the expense of academic excellence. Gill shared a list of his accomplishments, which many would say reflects a lack of serious focus on academics:

• The Student Success Act
• The Every Student Belongs Act
• The Educator Equity Act
• Tribal History/Shared History
• Ethnic Studies Standards
• Social Emotional Learning Standards
• Inclusive Instructional Materials
• Preschool Promise

In 2011, the Legislature passed SB 552 which removed the elected position of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, making the Governor the top education officer in the state. This move has been decried by some as creating an academic system in which the "inmates are running the asylum" with no accountability to the voters.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-11 12:05:40

Last Update: 2023-07-11 12:36:21

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 Armstrong

Post Date: 2023-07-10 12:28:13

Last Update: 2023-07-11 18:19:08

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 Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-10 08:17:47

Last Update: 2023-07-10 22:24:20

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 Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-09 13:16:39

Last Update: 2023-07-09 13:24:37

During the 2022 campaign season, Republican candidates beat the drum of “bring balance back to Salem”. 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.

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 Humboldt

Post Date: 2023-07-09 12:21:46

Last Update: 2023-07-09 13:03:46

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.”

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 Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-08 18:49:54

Last Update: 2023-07-08 19:46:38

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 Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-07-07 17:42:09

Last Update: 2023-07-07 18:04:08

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 Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-07-06 18:32:29

Last Update: 2023-07-06 18:41:10

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 Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-04 16:02:47

Last Update: 2023-07-04 16:24:52

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.”

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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.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-07-03 21:36:07

Last Update: 2023-07-04 13:27:56

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.

“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 Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-02 16:23:41

Last Update: 2023-07-02 19:25:16