Governor Tina Kotek has announced that she is partnering with the Oregon Business Council to convene local elected, business, and community leaders to tackle issues impacting the economic future of Portland’s Central City.

Governor Kotek and Dan McMillan, President and CEO of The Standard, will co-chair the Portland Central City Task Force. The task force will focus on identifying next steps to develop a shared vision for Central City’s future economic growth and address immediate emergent challenges. Committees of the PCCTF will be Vision & Value, Clean Streets, Crime & Vandalism, Unsheltered Homelessness, and Tax Competitiveness.

“It’s no secret that downtown Portland has faced an onslaught of challenges in recent years that have tarnished some of the characteristics that people love about Oregon’s largest city,” Governor Kotek said. “Growing pains turned into crises, exacerbated by a global pandemic, and now concerns about Portland have become a statewide economic issue. It’s time to look forward, bring together diverse voices, and focus our energy on developing concrete and equitable solutions. I want to thank everyone who believes in Portland and is committed to building a brighter future, whether you’re a member of this task force or doing great work elsewhere.”

The Oregon Business Council supports the vision of the Oregon Business Plan, a policy forum that we’ve shared nearly two decades with leaders from all sectors of Oregon life. This vision, recently updated, embraces three intertwined policy priorities for a coming decade of shared prosperity.

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Kotek has little private-sector business experience. For a short time she was a commercial diver and a travel agent. Her official biography touts experience at the non-profits Oregon Food Bank and later at Children First for Oregon as a policy director. She has a degree in Religious Studies from the University of Oregon and a master’s in international studies and comparative religion from the University of Washington.

Governor Kotek and McMillan are leading the task force -- according to a statement from Governor Kotek -- in response to a clear mandate from Portlanders and Oregonians to address issues facing Portland’s Central City, which represent a bellwether for the prosperity of the entire state as Oregon’s largest economic center.

"We are thankful to have a strong and willing partner in Governor Kotek working with the business community, local officials and nonprofit leaders to create actionable steps to ensure downtown Portland's future prosperity," Co-Chair Dan McMillan said. "We're gradually seeing increased foot traffic, a decrease in property crime and boarded windows coming down. It's time to seize the moment and write the next chapter for our beloved city, together."

Their first meeting will be held on August 22, 2023. The task force will meet once per month between August and October and is slated to present recommendations at the Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit in December. Full membership will be announced at a later date.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-08-09 13:38:10

Last Update: 2023-09-16 16:30:46

The Oregon Secretary of State has announced that she has directed the Oregon Elections Division to implement an administrative rule restricting access for members of the minority to run for office on arbitrary, capricious, and retaliatory unexcused absences assigned to members by Senate President Rob Wagner. The rule states that legislators with 10 or more unexcused absences are barred from appearing on the 2024 ballot. The Senate President has sole authority in determining whether an absence is unexcused and does not need to give any form of explanation.

“After repeated unlawful and unconstitutional actions by President Rob Wagner and other Democrat leaders in the 2023 Session, Senate Republicans held them accountable by peacefully pausing the session to gain compliance with Senate Rules, Oregon Law, and the Oregon Constitution,” said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend). “In retaliation, Wagner was quick to impose unexcused absences on members who challenged his failed leadership.”

Republican Senators Eligible for Re-election Based on M113

David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford)

Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City)

Fred Girod (R-Lyons)

Senators Not Eligible for Re-election Based on M113

Lynn Findley (R-Vale)

Bill Hansell (R-Athena)

Tim Knopp (R-Bend)

Art Robinson (R-Cave Junction)

Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer)

Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook)

Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles)

Cedric Hayden (R-Roseburg)

Dennis Linthicum (R-Klamath Falls)

Brian Boquist (I-Dallas)

Senate Republicans will need a decision as they plan for the 2024 elections.

Senator Knopp continued, “It appears the Democrat Attorney General and the Democrat Secretary of State are willing to cover for the Democrat Senate President Rob Wagner’s decision to ensure Measure 113 quashes the free speech of minority Senate Republicans as it was designed to do by political special interests. We believe the plain language of Measure 113 allows for members to run again in 2024 elections. We disagree with the Secretary of State’s determination and will challenge it in court.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-08-09 12:49:28

Last Update: 2023-09-16 16:30:18

Oregon's New Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has now directed the Oregon Elections Division to implement a new administrative rule, which she says provides guidance to candidates on Oregon's recent controversial Measure 113. She states that the new rule clarifies that Measure 113 disqualifies legislators with 10 or more unexcused absences during the 2023 legislative session from running for legislative seats in the 2024 election. Griffin-Valade says that this interpretation is consistent with legal advice provided to the Secretary of State by the Oregon Department of Justice.

“It is clear voters intended Measure 113 to disqualify legislators from running for reelection if they had 10 or more unexcused absences in a legislative session,” said Secretary Griffin-Valade. “My decision honors the voters’ intent by enforcing the measure the way it was commonly understood when Oregonians added it to our state constitution.”

Measure 113 states that 10 or more unexcused absences “shall disqualify the member from holding office as a Senator or Representative for the term following the election after the member’s current term is completed.” Some have suggested this language means a Senator who accumulated disqualifying absences in 2023 would be able to run in 2024 but be prohibited from running in 2028.

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The Secretary says she found no suggestion prior to enactment – in the voters’ pamphlet, media, or otherwise – that the measure was understood or intended to allow absent legislators to serve an additional term after accumulating too many absences, and then be disqualified the term after that.

Griffin-Valade says that the voters intended the measure to prohibit legislators from holding the next term in office, and the Secretary has chosen to uphold the voters’ intent and apply Measure 113 to the 2024 election.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-08-08 15:43:55

Last Update: 2023-08-08 18:19:34

With heavy hearts, we share that a Forest Service firefighter employed by the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest was killed in an on-duty vehicle accident on August 4 near Powers, Oregon.

The fallen firefighter has been identified as Benjamin Charles Sapper, age 21. Benjamin, who was originally from Boulder, Colorado, was working as a first-year hand crew member on the Gold Beach Ranger District.

Benjamin graduated from Boulder High School and the University of Colorado with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics. Benjamin was an avid baseball player, chess player, and skier, and he loved engaging others in a wide array of topics including philosophy and mathematics.

He joined the Forest Service out of a desire to serve the community and be part of a great team. Benjamin was looking forward to starting graduate school this fall at the University of British Columbia in Earth Sciences. He was truly loved and will be missed.

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“This is a devastating loss of one of our own Gold Beach firefighters. We have a tight knit community on the Gold Beach and Powers Ranger Districts, and we stand together in grief and support for his family, friends, and fellow firefighters during this heartbreaking time,” said Gold Beach District Ranger Kailey Guerrant.

The US Forest Service states that any additional information on how to honor Benjamin will be shared as it becomes available.

The Forest Service has asked the media to respect the privacy of Benjamin's family and employees on the Gold Beach and Powers Ranger Districts at this difficult time.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2023-08-06 11:08:14

Last Update: 2023-08-06 11:19:51

Over the course of three days Eugene City Police have responded to six overdose-related deaths. While the Lane County Medical Examiner determines the cause of death, in each case the Eugene Police say initial investigations suggest a connection to illicit drug use and likely connected to fentanyl use. This is a significant increase in deaths over a short period of time. The department stated that the public needs to be aware that some of the fentanyl currently circulating could be more potent and deadly than normal.

Case 23-11281: On August 2 at 12:46 a.m. police and fire were called to the location of a deceased subject behind a building. Evidence suggested they were using an illicit drug in the time leading up to their death.

Case 23-11353: On August 3 at 4:54 a.m. police and fire were called to the location of a deceased subject in an apartment. Evidence suggested they were using illicit drugs in the time leading up to their death.

Case 23-11438: On August 4 at 1:24 p.m police and fire were called to the location of a possibly deceased subject near a building. Emergency responders delivered Narcan however, the victim was not able to be revived. Evidence suggested they were using illicit drugs in the time leading up to their death.

Case 23-11465: on August 4 at 10:40 p.m. police and fire were called to the location of a deceased subject in a residence. Evidence suggested they were using illicit drugs in the time leading up to their death.

Case 23-11468: On August 5 at 12:22 a.m. police and fire were called to the location of a deceased subject in an RV. Emergency responders attempted to revive the victim but were unsuccessful. Evidence suggested they were using illicit drugs in the time leading up to their death.

Case 23-11477: On August 5 at 8;32 a.m. police and fire were called to the location of a possibly deceased subject in a residence. Evidence suggested they were using illicit drugs in the time leading up to their death.

The Eugene Police say that the community is seeing an increase in street drugs containing fentanyl, a powerful, illicit opioid with high risk for overdose. They say they have seen fentanyl contamination in cheap, counterfeit pills sold as common medications such as oxycodone, Adderall, or Xanax. They also have reports of fentanyl being found in white or colored powdered drugs that might be sold as cocaine, MDMA, or methamphetamine. It should be assumed that any illicit drug could contain fentanyl.

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Lane County Public Health warns against any pills not obtained from a pharmacy. They urge people who use illicit drugs to take precautions and to not use alone. They recommend anyone who uses drugs or knows someone who does, to carry Narcan (naloxone), an overdose reversal nasal spray. Individuals are able to test drugs for fentanyl with a fentanyl testing strip. It is also important to know the signs of an overdose and always call 911 immediately.

Eugene says that narcan is available at any pharmacy upon request. State Law requires pharmacists provide it and many insurance plans cover it. You can also obtain free Narcan and a brief training from HIV Alliance’s Eugene location during drop-in hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10a-2p, Friday 1p-5p).


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2023-08-05 12:37:29

Last Update: 2023-08-05 12:59:29

The Big Ten Conference voted Friday to accept Oregon effective August 2, 2024. The University of Oregon will remain in the Pac-12 Conference for the duration of the Pac-12's existing media rights agreements.

The move will benefit UO students and faculty, said University of Oregon President Karl Scholz, who, while dean and provost at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, helped shape and observed the benefits of the Big Ten Academic Alliance over the last decade.

With the future of the PAC 12 conference uncertain, Oregon taxpayers could be at risk, according to some. As the University of Oregon and the University of Washington are in talks with the Big 10 Conference about potential exit plans, questions remain about the impact on Oregon’s university system.

Representative Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) is calling on House Speaker Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis) to convene a legislative panel to understand the unintended consequences of the University of Oregon’s potential move away from the PAC 12.

“As a graduate of Oregon State and as a representative of a district that houses many OSU students, I am deeply concerned about the impacts on our state university system if the University of Oregon decides to leave the PAC 12," said Representative Boshart Davis. "There are many unanswered questions about what these moves mean for Oregonians beyond just the ending of one of the nation’s longest-running rivalry football games. If one of our major universities is going to make a unilateral decision that could impact Oregon’s budget, we should at least understand the full impacts. At the most, the people’s representatives should have a say.”

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“The University of Washington estimates increased travel costs to Big 10 venues to be around $10 million. It is unclear how a similar increase in costs for the Ducks would be paid for. Will the Legislature be expected to ask taxpayers to fill that gap? How will these increased travel times impact student-athletes and their academic performance?” continued Representative Boshart Davis. “How will a depleted PAC 12 impact OSU’s revenue? It’s hard to imagine how the Beavers will make up lost revenue.”

University of Oregon Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Rob Mullens, looked for continued competition with Oregon State University. "In coming years, the UO will prioritize the long-held traditions, including competition across all sports with Oregon State University. The alliance puts UO student-athletes on a national stage," said Mullens.

Representative Boshart Davis summarized her feelings. “As legislators, we must ensure government entities like the public university system does not overly burden taxpayers. We need to have all the information before a decision is made.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-08-05 12:05:51

Governor Kotek has signed HB 2426 into law, allowing Oregonians to choose between self-service and service from an attendant at gas stations statewide.

Polling has consistently shown that over two-thirds of Oregonians support choice at the pump. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, the Oregon State Fire Marshall temporarily lifted the self-service ban statewide during public health emergencies.

In 2015, legislators changed the law for fuel retailers and drivers by voting to allow self-serve gas during nighttime hours in rural and coastal counties. In 2017, legislators expanded this to all hours in rural counties. In 2020, 2021and 2022, Oregon's fire marshal lifted the ban on self-service multiple times statewide due to emergencies such as wildfires or heat waves. HB 2426 will simplify this patchwork of rules for all Oregonians. Representative Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) is a Co-Chief Sponsor of this legislation and has led the fight to create this change in Oregon law for the past few years.

"I am thrilled to see this legislation signed into law. Not only do Oregonians want the freedom to choose whether they can pump their own gas, but this also provides critical relief to small businesses struggling with the ongoing labor shortage," said Representative Boshart Davis. "This legislation provides a common-sense solution by protecting gas attendants' jobs and Oregonians' access to fuel. I want to thank House Majority Leader Fahey (D- West Eugene & Veneta), Senator Bonham (R- The Dalles), and Senator Sollman (D-Hillsboro) for their bi-partisan commitment to this effort."

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For some, the state prohibition on self-serve gas helped to provide jobs. But Mike Freese with the Oregon Fuels Association provided testimony in committee during the last legislative session to the contrary, saying "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

Not everyone like the change. Scott Bartlett from Eugene, a former Legislative Assistant offered testimony, saying "This Committee should hear from Senior advocates, older women's advocates, disability specialists, paralyzed veterans' spokespersons and metro area residents who will be adversely impacted by this narrow and inadequately conceived Special Interest tailored proposal. Having hundreds of thousands of Oregonians often forced to pump their own gas while congested lines of cars seeking preferred assisted service vastly outnumber self-service customers is poor public policy."

Advocates for the bill have created a website with more information on self-serve gas in Oregon.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-08-05 11:35:21

Last Update: 2023-08-05 12:05:51

Governor Tina Kotek hosted a signing ceremony for seven bills passed during the 2023 legislative session to support K-12 public education and child care.

Her support of educators -- as distinct from supporting education or students -- is not surprising as they pumped over $1M into her most recent campaign.

“My vision for Oregon is a state where every child has a safe place to receive a high-quality, culturally responsive public education, and every family has access to affordable child care,” Governor Kotek said. “While I will always push for more, I can stand here today saying we made progress for our kids. We have built a strong foundation for the work ahead.”

Below is the list of bills Governor Kotek signed:

• SB 283: Addresses educator workforce needs by creating a statewide educator workforce data system and regular workforce surveys, allowing school districts to boost pay for teachers and classified staff working in special education, establishing apprenticeship and mentorship grants, allowing recently retired teachers to convert to substitute licenses at no charge, and more.
• SB 1050: Grants funding to the Oregon Department of Education to provide professional development to teachers and administrators relating to Holocaust, genocide studies, and ethnic studies content standards.
• HB 2281: Requires district school boards to designate one or more civil rights coordinators to monitor, coordinate, and oversee district compliance with state and federal anti-discrimination laws and oversee investigations of discrimination complaints.
• HB 3005: Aims to increase child care availability by creating a new $50 million Child Care Infrastructure Fund to strengthen access to physical infrastructure for child care facilities and support opening child care facilities across Oregon.
• HB 3144: Creates the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Student Success Plan to address the academic opportunity gap hurting NH/PI students.
• HB 3198: Increases funding for early literacy to improve how children are taught to read and write, ensuring educators, parents, caregivers, federally-recognized Tribes, and communities have what they need to support students.
• HB 5015: Allocates a historic $10.2 billion to the State School Fund (base funding for Oregon’s K-12 schools), which is $700 million above current service level and the most ever allocated to the fund.
  --Staff Reports
  
  

  Post Date: 2023-08-05 06:41:45

  Last Update: 2023-08-05 01:04:49

  
  

Oregon's Governor Tina Kotek has now provided a list of policy bill and line-item budget vetoes from the 2023 legislative session. Accompanying this list of vetoes are signing letters for bills passed in the final days of the legislative session. Many observers were left wondering throughout the early summer whether they would finally be allowed to pump one's own gas, or not.

“I am grateful to the Legislature for advancing hundreds of bills that will improve the everyday lives of Oregonians, and I look forward to the work ahead to ensure effective implementation,” Governor Kotek said. “After a thorough deliberation, including conversations with lawmakers, proponents, my advisors and legal team, I am moving forward on vetoing the list of bills and budget items I provided notice for last week. Additionally, I am sharing several signing letters with legislators and the public that raise specific concerns and affirm my values as we move forward on implementation.”

Following the conclusion of the legislative session, Governor Kotek had 30 business days to consider pending legislation.

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Friday marked the final day before the deadline. On July 28, pursuant to Article V, section 15b, of the Oregon Constitution, Governor Kotek provided notice to the Legislature of the handful of policy bills and budget items she was considering vetoing. The full list of bills and budget items, including the reason for her decision, was the focus of a recent Northwest Observer article.

The following bills were accompanied by signing letters: HB 2010, HB 2426, HB 2772, HB 3561, HB 5026, SB 80, SB 283, SB 488, SB 1089, SB 1095 (explanation of line-item veto for emergency clause). Additionally, HB 3440 and SB 5535 will become law without the Governor’s signature.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-08-04 10:05:27

Last Update: 2023-08-04 22:02:12

Oregon's Governor Tina Kotek has now announced that Juliana Wallace will join her administration as Behavioral Health Initiative Director in the Oregon Governor’s Office. Kotek's office says that Wallace will start in the Governor’s Office on September 5th, 2023

It is well known that Oregon is currently suffering from perhaps the worst behavioral mental health challenges in the country. These problems often are deeply intertwined with dismal education results of recent years and the crime and public drug use problems of late, which frustrates many Oregonians.

Kotek says that the new Behavioral Health Initiative Director Wallace brings a combined two decades of experience as a clinical social worker, operational leader, and educator to the role.

She states that for the first 10 years of her career in Portland, Wallace worked with homeless youth at Outside In, developing and managing the StreetRISE Project, a federally-funded program providing housing and behavioral healthcare to homeless youth as they transition into adulthood. She later worked in leadership at Oregon Health & Science University before serving as the Director of Services at Unity Center for Behavioral Health.

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Wallace was most recently the Senior Director of Mental Health and Culturally Specific Services at Central City Concern.

Additionally, she worked as an adjunct professor at the Portland State University School of Social Work for the last five years. Wallace is also on two local nonprofit boards.

"Oregonians deserve a coordinated, accessible behavioral health system that meets them where they are and matches them with the appropriate level of care that they need,” Governor Kotek said. “We have a ways to go to achieve this vision, and I am grateful that Juliana is bringing her years of experience and expertise to help us move this critical work forward."


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-08-03 12:29:31

Last Update: 2023-08-04 14:30:10

A federal grand jury in Portland, Oregon has now returned an indictment charging a Klamath Falls, Oregon, man with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a Seattle woman and forcing her into a makeshift cell he constructed in his garage. This is not a good look for Oregon, as recent news headlines include other atrocities, including a suspected serial killer now in custody, who had been released from prison early by the former Governor Kate Brown.

Negasi Zuberi, 29, also known as Sakima, Justin Hyche, and Justin Kouassi, has been charged with interstate kidnapping and transporting an individual across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

According to court documents, on July 15, 2023, Zuberi was in Seattle when he is alleged to have posed as a police officer, pointed a taser at an adult woman, placed her in handcuffs, and forced her into the backseat of his vehicle. Zuberi then transported the woman approximately 450 miles back to his home in Klamath Falls, stopping along the way to sexually assault her and cover her face with a sweatshirt.

When Zuberi arrived at his residence, he moved the woman from his vehicle into a makeshift cell he had constructed in his garage. The woman repeatedly banged on the cell door until it broke open and she escaped. She retrieved a handgun from Zuberi’s vehicle, fled his garage, and flagged down a passing motorist who called 911.

The next day, on July 16, 2023, two Nevada State Patrol officers located Zuberi in a retail parking lot in Reno, Nevada. After a short standoff, Zuberi surrendered to law enforcement and was taken into custody.

On July 26, 2023, Zuberi made his first appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Nevada. He was ordered detained pending his transfer to the District of Oregon.

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Interstate kidnapping is punishable by up to life in federal prison and transporting an individual across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI Portland Field Office, Klamath Falls Police Department, and Oregon State Police with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada; Klamath County District Attorney’s Office; Reno, Nevada Police Department; Washoe County, Nevada District Attorney’s Office; and Nevada State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Brassell is prosecuting the case for the District of Oregon.

The U.S. Attorney's Office states that an indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Zuberi has lived in ten different states over the last ten years including California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, and Nevada, and federal law enforcement has reason to believe he may have victimized additional women.

If you or someone you know have information about possible crimes committed by Zuberi, please visit the FBI website that is dedicated to seeking Information on the Negasi Zuberi (Sakima) Investigation or call 1-800-Call-FBI.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2023-08-03 09:26:29

Last Update: 2023-08-03 17:36:42

Oregon House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Governor Kotek urging the immediate review of all commutations granted by former Oregon Governor, Kate Brown. This letter comes just one week after U.S. Representatives Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Bentz (OR-02) made a similar request.

House Republican lawmakers stated their appreciation for Governor Kotek’s action in ending the commutation of Jesse Lee Calhoun who is now a person of interest in the killing of at least four women in the Portland Metro area – but stated it is not enough.

“The unprecedented commutations undertaken by Governor Brown bypassed many of the existing safeguards that are in place for our current parole and probation system,” the lawmakers wrote. “House Republicans encourage you to do the right thing for Oregonians and give these commutations the due diligence they should have received in the first place.”

House Republicans concluded the letter by calling on Governor Kotek to follow through on the promises she made when taking office.

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“This is a great opportunity for you to show leadership and the integrity of the office you have often stated you want to bring to your administration,” wrote the lawmakers.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-08-03 06:52:46

Last Update: 2023-08-01 14:59:30