Friends and neighbors, here are some highlights from the week and helpful community information for you! 

 - Shelly

CELEBRATING ALL 2023 GRADUATES!

OREGON FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION

COMES TO THE CAPITOL

My Policy Director, Dru, got into Salem FD’s HAZMAT suit!

This week, the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association came to the Capitol and gave us a tour of their equipment and rigs. Shout out to Albany’s FD Water Rescue Team for bringing the boat up to Salem to show legislators how they keep the waterways in Albany and surrounding areas safe! The Water Rescue Team has over 20 members that are trained in swift water rescue, dive rescue and advanced boat operations. Albany Fire Department has 2 water rescue boats (Boat11 & Boat14) and 1 personal rescue water craft (PWC11). The Water Rescue Team responds to various water related emergencies such as floods, boaters in distress, victims in distress and non-emergency water related incidents. They also assist local law enforcement agencies with water related crime scene investigations. The Albany Fire Water Rescue Team predominantly covers Linn County and Benton County as well as parts of Polk County and Marion County.

Editorial: Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s recusal offers too little, too late The Oregonian Editorial Board An independent entity needs to review this case not only to assure Oregonians that top political players can and will be held accountable for their misdeeds. But also because Rosenblum herself does not seem to take seriously the reasons Oregonians might doubt her – someone who donated to a political ally as it was under investigation by the state. Her spokesman, Roy Kaufmann, told the editorial board that “AG Rosenblum wants to be clear that she does not believe this screening/recusal is required by law. Rather, it is out of concern for appearances —and the high public profile of this matter— that she is taking this action,” he said. Appearances – as opposed to a commitment to independence. Sadly, that sounds about right.

Nearly twice as many people died from drug overdoses in Oregon in 2022 than in 2019 KOIN6 Drug overdose deaths had been increasing ever so slightly in Oregon from 2015 through the end of 2019, but by the end of 2020, the numbers shot upward.  In 2022, the number of overdose deaths nearly doubled what it was in 2019. According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 1,161 people died from drug overdoses in Oregon in 2022. A number that large is difficult to grasp, especially when only three years earlier, in 2019, 610 people in Oregon died of drug overdoses. The number of deaths has increased by 47%.

‘It’s crazy out there’: The reasons behind Oregon’s deepening drug crisis OPB For years, Oregonians have reported some of the highest rates of substance use disorder in the nation on federal surveys. The opioid crisis is nearly three decades old and use of methamphetamine, long Oregon’s deadliest drug, has not abated. At the same time, the state consistently has among the lowest treatment availability in the country, according to surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Fentanyl — a cheap, incredibly addictive synthetic opioid — has made all of those problems much worse. More Oregonians are dying from drug overdoses than ever before. On average, three people die every day from an unintended drug overdose, according to the Oregon Health Authority. … Since its passage, Oregon has struggled to fully implement the law. While possessing small amounts of drugs is no longer a criminal offense, the provision of additional treatment has lagged. Some police and prosecutors say Measure 110 is the reason behind a substance abuse crisis that appears out of control. “Since Ballot Measure 110 passed, unequivocally, the price of fentanyl has, in Oregon, dropped precipitously, availability has increased exponentially,” Mygrant, the assistant U.S. Attorney said. And some voters are fed up. A recent poll by DHS Research found nearly two-thirds of voters support bringing back criminal penalties for drug possession. 

Oregon, awash in treatment funds after decriminalizing drugs, now must follow the money Associated Press To ensure things run smoothly, the Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council, responsible for overseeing addiction and recovery centers and the funds to support them, needs more staff, officials say. And the Oregon Health Authority needs more leverage to address bureaucratic and administrative barriers to oversight. But a bill to provide all that remains stuck in the Senate, along with more than 100 other bills, because of a walkout by Republican senators that began on May 3 seeking to block Democratic initiatives on abortion rights, transgender care and gun safety.

Preventing bad laws is part of the job Hasso Hering You may have been reading that Oregon senators who have kept the Senate from meeting were “not doing their jobs.” That’s the wrong way of looking at it. In fact, these sentors are doing what they were elected to do, which is to prevent bad bills from becoming law.  That is their job, and they are doing it. One of the bills they oppose would, among other things, promote the medical mutilation of children confused about their sex. (The euphemism is “gender-affirming care.”) Another would do an end-run around last year’s initiative on firearms while the initiative’s constitutionality is being challenged in the courts.

Some Oregon Democrats want to change your kicker payout. How to weigh in Statesman Journal SB774 and SJR26 are tied together. Both are sponsored by Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, and Sen. Kayse Jama, D-Portland. SB774 would go into effect only if Oregon voters pass SJR26. The resolution proposes amending the state constitution and ending the Oregon kicker. The bill would repeal the kicker law beginning with the 2023-25 biennium. … Republicans have warned Democrats against introducing legislation pulling back on the kicker, releasing statements after the March and May forecasts in celebration of the historic predictions. "We expect the kicker to be rightfully returned into the hands of hardworking Oregonians," House Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville, said in a statement following the forecast.

Portland-area poll finds huge appetite for tougher tactics on homelessness OregonLive An overwhelming majority of Multnomah County voters say homelessness in the Portland area is “an out-of-control disaster” and people in crisis living on the streets should be required to undergo addiction or mental health treatment. Nearly three-fourths also back a proposal by Mayor Ted Wheeler to enforce a citywide daytime camping ban, which is scheduled to receive a public hearing at the City Council on Wednesday. … Seventy-five percent of the poll’s participants agreed with the characterization of Portland-area homelessness as “an out-of-control disaster,” including 71% of Democrats and 66% of those who self-identified as liberal. Another 17% described the crisis as “manageable but not great” while just 6% said they saw progress being made. Only 25% of Multnomah County voters said that treatment for people experiencing mental health or substance use disorder should be voluntary; 67% believe “we need legal tools to encourage and compel people to get help.” And 71% said they support Wheeler’s proposal to ban people from pitching tents on public land anywhere in the city between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and restrict camping around-the-clock near schools, shelters and more than a dozen other locations.

New Oregon gun law, Measure 114, to face federal court test next week OPB Oregonians passed Measure 114 in November. It would ban the manufacture, purchase or sale of magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. It would also require people to take a safety course and pass a background check to get a permit allowing them to purchase firearms. But before the law went into effect, it ran into a flurry of legal challenges at the state and federal levels. The state case is expected to pick up again in September. And several bills meant to tighten Oregon’s gun laws are among the legislation sidelined by the Republican-led walkout in the Oregon Senate. In the meantime, the federal bench trial — no jury — starts next week in Portland and will be heard by U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee. The federal trial, which is slated to run for five days, will result in a first ruling about whether the new law is legal under the U.S. Constitution. No matter what Immergut decides, the ruling will likely be appealed, possibly all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Drug dealers face prison for links to fentanyl overdose deaths of victims ages 15 and 17 OregonLive Prine’s parents attended the sentencing Tuesday of the man who supplied the fentanyl to the street-level dealer who provided the pills that ended up killing their daughter. They were joined by family friends and several of their daughter’s classmates at Yamhill Carlton High School. Earlier in the day, one floor down in the same federal courthouse, another set of parents, grandparents and friends remembered 17-year-old Cedar McMichael, a senior at Portland’s Helensview School when he also died from an accidental fentanyl overdose. The cases reflect Oregon’s place in the nation’s fentanyl crisis -- adolescent drug overdose deaths have more than doubled across the country since 2019 but more than tripled in Oregon over the same time. The overdoses are tied to the cheap and easy access to fentanyl flooding Oregon’s streets, according to narcotics investigators and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Portland considers banning public homeless camping during daytime hours Fox News City Council members in Portland were considering on Wednesday whether to ban homeless camping during daytime hours in most public places, a move that aims to bring the city into compliance with a new state law and appease the growing number of residents frustrated by a deepening yearslong homelessness crisis. Portland is among progressive West Coast cities moving to adopt stricter rules on camping while grappling with intertwined homelessness, housing, mental health and addiction crises. In Portland, homelessness jumped more than 30% between 2019 and 2022, according to federal data.

Democrat Rep Hoyle received campaign donations from cannabis entrepreneurs who applied for grant she oversaw Fox News Freshman Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore., accepted congressional campaign donations from a handful of cannabis entrepreneurs who were awarded a taxpayer-funded grant she oversaw during her tenure as the commissioner of Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) last year. In April 2022, Federal Election Commission (FEC) records showed that Laura Vega – a co-founder of the nonprofit ENDVR who, according to Portland-based Willamette Week, "founded a cannabis products company and served on an array of cannabis advisory bodies" – made a $1,000 donation to Hoyle's campaign.

ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP?

From our friends at the ABC House: 

We could use a little extra help with wish list items. We are low on teen hygiene items, stickers, adult coloring books, journals and gel pens, reusable water bottles, teen gift cards, drawstring bags, and hair accessories. If you are out shopping and could spare to grab any of these items we would greatly appreciate your help!

Our Wishlist can be found here

CAMPING SAFETY

From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office: 

Camping season has finally arrived and we wanted to remind everyone of a few tips to help keep you and your campsite safe and secure.

• Lock your vehicle. When venturing off on an early morning hike, lock your personal belongings out of sight in your vehicle, or better yet, carry them with you. If you're tent camping, valuables can easily be stolen from inside and around your tent.
• Get an extra set of eyes. If you leave your campsite for a day trip, ask your neighbors to keep an eye on it for you.
• Lock items to a tree. If you have an expensive grill or bike, secure them with a cable locked around a nearby tree.
• Properly store your food. Thieves can also take the form of furry critters. Store your food in airtight containers. This not only keeps it fresh; it prevents animals from noticing its scent and raiding your campsite.
• Keep an eye on Mother Nature. Mother Nature can quickly whip up a summer storm. Make sure your belongings are properly secured. Store expensive items in your car or RV. Properly stake items to help keep them secure from strong winds.
• Dry your gear during the day. If you have expensive camping gear that needs to air out, do it during the day. Never assume you can leave it out overnight and expect it to be there in the morning.
• Leave it at home. Camping provides an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. Leave the tablet or laptop at home and enjoy a simpler life.

With so many great areas to camp in Linn County, we hope these tips help you and your family stay safe and make the most of the great outdoors!

CONVERSATION TIP

From our friends at the ABC House:

When we have open conversations with our children about sex, personal safety, and boundaries, it helps them recognize when someone—child, youth, or adult—is crossing safe boundaries. This is an important child abuse prevention strategy for parents and caregivers.

Did you know that we offer free private training for groups in Linn and Benton Counties? If you are part of an organization, business, church, parent group, etc. and would like to learn more about having protective conversations with kids and other prevention strategies, send us a message or visit here to schedule a training today!

WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

CAREER FAIR

From our friends at Albany Police Department: 

Come join us for the Women in Law Enforcement event hosted by the Albany Police Department!

This free event will be taking place on Saturday, June 3rd at the Albany Police Department, 2600 Pacific Blvd. from 11am-3pm.

While this event will be geared towards women who are interested in a career in Public Safety and/or Criminal Justice, all are welcomed to attend! This event will allow you to find the information you are looking for through question-and-answer sessions, person to person hands-on experience, and explanation of the hiring process! This is a perfect opportunity for anyone interested in a career in Law Enforcement to meet those who do the job on a daily basis and ask any questions you may have! Even if you are unsure about law enforcement, come see us and maybe we can help with finding an interest. Positions in corrections, dispatch, corrections nursing, as well as patrol, are all great careers that help serve our community.

All are welcomed to attend, but please keep in mind that there will be no videography, large backpacks or weapons allowed. This will be a family friendly event, but all children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

KIDS FIREARM SAFETY CLASS

From our friends at the Albany Oregon Police Department: 

Sign up here for a free gun safety class for kids at the Albany Police Department

It fills up quick so sign up today here!

June 7th! 6-7pm for free

REMINDER:

SAFETY CAMP IS SOON

From our friends at the Albany Police Department:

What is Safety Camp?

A fun packed day camp for kids currently in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade put on by Albany Police and Albany Fire departments!

June 26-29, 9am-4pm at Oak Grove Elementary School

We do all the fun stuff...crafts, games, swimming, field trips to Safe Haven to see all the cute animals, roller skating and we sprinkle in some safety lessons...online safety, water safety, gun safety, bike safety...and more.

Plus, lunch and snacks are provided! All for $60 per child!

Plus, we have scholarships available!

Camper registration here

Completed registration forms can be dropped off at Albany Boys And Girls Club

YMCA SUMMER DAY CAMP 2023

From our friends at the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA: 

YMCA SUMMER DAY CAMP 2023 it’s about that time, registration is now open for our Summer Day Camp!

Get all the info here

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office: 

Congratulations to Todd Vian on his recent retirement from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office!

Todd served with us for over 26 years!

Most recently a Programs Captain in our Corrections Division, Todd also served as a Firearms Instructor, Field Training Officer, a member of SWAT, advisor on Search and Rescue and much more!

We would like to thank Todd for his many years of dedicated service and wish him the best in retirement!

During the 2023 legislative session my office will continue to keep you updated and informed - and is always at your service. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any community event announcements, legislative questions, or concerns.

Talk soon, 

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1415
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-389, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.ShellyBoshartDavis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boshartdavis