Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The chilly fall weather is a perfect time to follow current
events at the local and state level. While the national news can get you down -
especially when we read about our fellow Americans whose lives have been
devastated by natural disasters - I hope you’ll join me in working for change
here in Oregon to make sure our state is a welcoming place where everyone can
have a fair shot at success. Please join me next month for my fall town hall.
Please join Senator Lew Frederick, Representative Tawna
Sanchez, and myself for a town hall next month.
We will debrief the 2017 session, discuss some community issues, and
share what we’re hearing about the 2018 session. We look forward to your
questions and learning about your priorities for North and Northeast Portland.
WHEN: Saturday, November 4, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: PCC Cascade Campus, Terrell Hall Auditorium
(on the corner of N. Kerby and N. Jessup)
Legislators meet periodically in Salem when the legislature
is not in formal session, approximately every two months. In September, interim committees met for the
first time since the end of session. Agenda and meeting materials for each committee can be found here.
Here are some highlights of some of the issues that my
office is following:
Education and Early
Childhood - The Education Committee got an update on the status of the
state’s plan to meet the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act
(ESSA) (Oregon’s plan was approved by the U.S. Department of Education in late
August). They also had an informational hearing on the impact of class sizes on
student achievement which will be a continued focus of their work. The Early
Childhood and Family Supports Committee met the new Early Learning Division
Director, Miriam Calderon. There was an informational overview of the Office of
Child Care audit which has spurred the creation of a work group that will
present legislation in the 2018 session to ensure safety in child care
settings.
Housing - The
Human Services and Housing Committee heard a presentation from the City of
Portland, the first city in Oregon to pass a local affordable housing bond,
about the challenges of using municipal bonding authority for affordable
housing development. Certain legal restrictions in Oregon’s constitution
prevent local jurisdictions from efficiently using bond proceeds for affordable
housing. A possible change was discussed to ensure that local jurisdictions can
get the greatest “bang per buck” out of voter-approved bond dollars to ensure
that local governments can build as much housing as possible with limited
resources. The committee will have a bill to address this issue in the 2018
session.
Clean Energy Jobs and Cleaner
Air Oregon -
The Energy and Environment Committee kicked off a process to continue the
effort to develop a Clean Energy Jobs program in Oregon. This program, to be
refined through stakeholder work groups this fall, would set an annual cap on
greenhouse gas emissions and incentivize businesses to meet reduction goals
through a market-based strategy. You can find more information on the Clean
Energy Jobs Work Group website.
The committee
also heard an update from the Department of Environmental Quality about the
Cleaner Air Oregon program being developed to reduce health risks from point-source
industrial pollution. The first draft of the program rules has been
released for public comment. The deadline to submit feedback is December 15.
For more information or to sign up for updates, click here.
Equifax Breach - The Judiciary Committee and
the Business and Labor Committee heard presentations from the Oregon Department
of Justice about the Equifax data breach that has affected thousands of
Oregonians. The state released this Scam Alert with helpful links and
information if you believe you were impacted by the breach.
Health Care - The Health Care Committee
heard from Pat Allen, the new director of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The
agency has undergone sweeping changes within its leadership ranks. Director Allen,
who hails from the Department of Consumer and Business Services, introduced his
new team and provided a broad overview of what’s to come for the agency. The
OHA is on-track to meet their September eligibility/renewals deadlines and has
taken a thoughtful approach to transition Medicaid enrollment services to the
Department of Human Services.
Housing - On
September 22, I attended the St. Johns Story Slam and Tenant Rally hosted by
the St. Johns Center for Opportunity and the Community Alliance of Tenants.
Community members from St. Johns shared their stories about housing insecurity
and displacement felt in St. Johns. We heard from Titan Manor residents like Coya
Crespin, a mother of two who faced the same no-cause eviction given to all
residents in her apartment complex. Even though some Titan Manor residents relocated,
many were able to stay due to the City of Portland’s relocation ordinance.
The City of Portland will need to implement additional anti-displacement strategies to keep
people housed in communities like St. Johns. Some ideas are land banking for collective and public ownership, set
asides for affordable new developments, preserving the already affordable housing
that people live in now, and increased tenant protections.
Pedestrian Safety - The city is now able to lower
speed limits on residential streets without having to go through a lengthy
state approval process, thanks to House Bill 2682 passed by the legislature this
year. The new transportation package also included $1.5 million to improve
pedestrian and traffic safety at the George Middle School crossing at Midway
and Columbia Blvd. in North Portland. Watch for some community meetings this
fall to discuss that future work. Finally, our office is also supporting
community efforts to implement (finally) the St. Johns Truck Strategy to improve
safety and calm traffic along N. St. Louis St. and Fessenden St. I strongly
encourage the city to live up to its commitments in this dangerous corridor.
Our
democracy relies on public involvement and advocacy. I hope you will
participate in your state government by contacting me about what is important
to you.
If
you'd like to set up a constituent meeting in the district before or during the
upcoming session, please email rep.tinakotek@oregonlegislature.gov or call
503-986-1444 and my legislative assistant, AmyBeth Stevens, will work to set up
an appointment.
Thank
you for reading!
Best,
Tina Kotek
State Representative House District 44 Speaker of the House
email: Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1200 address: 900 Court St NE, H-269, Salem, OR 97301 website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/kotek
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