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

 - Shelly

My office was informed yesterday that there has been a massive DMV data breach that included unauthorized access to up to 90% of Oregonian's data, including driver's license information.

On June 12, ODOT confirmed that some DMV data had been copied and taken while transferring data through a software vendor. The broad-based attack impacted over 2,000 organizations worldwide.

Individuals with active credentials through the DMV (driver's license, permit, ID card, etc.) SHOULD ASSUME information related to that credential is part of the breach.

More details in article, HERE.

To protect yourself, regularly monitor your credit and consider freezing your credit. Here is the contact information for the three major credit monitoring agencies:

- Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services or 1-800-685-1111

- Experian: experian.com/help or 1-888-397-23742

- TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-help or 1-888-909-8872

Drive-By Shooting Mars Oregon Trucking Associations’ Annual Skills Challenge Willamette Week Jarvis is used to the rough-and-tumble politics around road taxes, climate regulation and the ultra-competitive economics of an industry that supplies most of the goods made and consumed in Oregon. There isn’t much that surprises her. But after determining nobody had been injured, she was flummoxed. Should she cancel the event or try to move it elsewhere on the sprawling property? After consulting with the terminal manager, she chose the latter. She also called 911, hoping a police presence might help keep the drivers and their families safe until the event, which kicked off at 7:30 am, ended at 5 pm. “They said, ‘We don’t have anybody to send you,’” Jarvis recalls. A Portland Police Bureau spokesman confirms that. 

Opinion: Republican senators’ protest a stand for parents and rule of law OregonLive – By: Tim Knopp As I sit down to write this, it has been 35 calendar days since Senate Republicans and Independents began our peaceful, constitutional protest. In these 35 days, we have heard many claims, opinions and rumors about our intentions. But a record-setting pause is precisely the opposite of what my caucus envisioned for the 2023 legislative session. After winning enough seats to end the Democratic supermajority in the Oregon Senate, Republican senators were eager to work together to provide Oregonians with bipartisan solutions to the chronic problems exacerbated by years of one-party rule. … Respecting the public also means putting critical needs first ­– not prioritizing an extreme agenda that has done nothing but divide us. Senate Democrats hold a slim majority in the Oregon Senate thanks to two races decided by fewer than 3,000 votes collectively. We should recognize those close margins in how we govern. What I heard when I ran for reelection in 2020 was that Oregonians want Democrats, Republicans and Independents to work together to get good things done for them. That is what we are trying to do. Republicans and Independents represent nearly 2 million Oregonians who live across the state. We are not interested in merely acting as a speed bump for an agenda that is unlawful, uncompromising and unconstitutional.

‘Unfathomable’: PPB’s fentanyl response shows ‘gritty state’ of downtown Portland KOIN6 According to the Center for Disease Control, fentanyl overdose deaths are rising dramatically across the U.S., and police say that trend is happening in Portland. KOIN 6 News sent a crew out with the Portland Police Bureau bike team on Tuesday as they patrolled downtown during the day. Essentially every call they responded to involved fentanyl. PPB said sometimes they’re responding to up to five overdoses a day and are giving out all the Narcan they have. 

Culture of Corruption

Shemia Fagan spent taxpayer or donor money on hotel pet fees, airfare for her kids. She says she’s done nothing wrong. OregonLive Oregon Secretary of State’s Office employees repeatedly told their former boss, Shemia Fagan, that she was bending – if not breaking – state travel rules by bringing her family along on state-paid business trips. But Fagan disregarded her staff’s warnings and did it anyway. That’s according to Cheryl Myers, who became acting secretary of state after Fagan resigned May 8 amid another controversy – that she was allegedly using her public office for personal gain by taking a side job to earn extra cash.

Democratic Party of Oregon Agrees to Return $500,000 Contribution Made by Crypto Bro Who Pleaded Guilty to Campaign Fraud Willamette Week Eight months after getting a $500,000 contribution from an executive at Sam Bankman-Fried’s bankrupt cryptocurrency firm FTX, the Democratic Party of Oregon is surrendering the cash to federal authorities to comply with a request from the U.S. Department of Justice. The whopper donation has been a headache for the party since it was made on Oct. 4, 2022, in the name of another crypto firm called Prime Trust LLC. Three weeks later, FTX executive Nishad Singh told the DPO that the contribution came from him, not from Prime Trust. The party changed the source in its campaign filings, but not before a seven-day deadline to do so, drawing a penalty from the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.

Sen. Ron Wyden’s campaign was looped in on $500K donation from FTX executive to Oregon Democrats, records show OregonLive A fundraiser long associated with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and his campaigning efforts coordinated the $500,000 donation from an FTX executive to the Democratic Party of Oregon last fall, and two longtime Wyden campaign staffers were kept in the loop on the transaction, records show. Yet Oregon elections officials in the Secretary of State’s Office who investigated the huge contribution, which Democrats misreported as coming from a payment processor, did not mention the Wyden campaign’s involvement in a settlement with the party last month.

The Great Grift: How billions in pandemic relief aid was stolen or wasted OregonLive An Associated Press analysis found that fraudsters potentially stole more than $280 billion in COVID-19 relief funding; another $123 billion was wasted or misspent. Combined, the loss represents 10% of the $4.2 trillion the U.S. government has so far disbursed in COVID relief aid. That number is certain to grow as investigators dig deeper into thousands of potential schemes. How could so much be stolen? Investigators and outside experts say the government, in seeking to quickly spend trillions in relief aid, conducted too little oversight during the pandemic’s early stages and instituted too few restrictions on applicants. In short, they say, the grift was just way too easy.

Complaint asks state to investigate if Shemia Fagan illegally used campaign money for family vacations OregonLive A complaint filed Monday asks Oregon officials to investigate whether former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan violated state law by allegedly spending campaign donations on family vacations, including on airfare, meals and lodging for her kids or romantic partner. Agency spokesperson Ben Morris said Tuesday that his office forwarded the complaint against its former boss to the Oregon Department of Justice for review, “which is in keeping with past practices when complaints are related to a Secretary of State.” Justice department spokesperson Roy Kaufmann said his office has received the complaint. Former state representative Julie Parrish filed the complaint, as well as a second complaint on Tuesday with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. The second complaint asks the commission to delve into whether Fagan violated state statute by using her official position for personal financial gain or the benefit of members of her household through their travels.

As the Feds Close In, the Founders of La Mota Are Hard to Find Willamette Week Since WW’s first cover story on Michell and Cazares in March, the couple has kept a low profile. They made one public appearance, on KOIN TV. They said they never intended to do wrong and were unfairly targeted by the media. For her part, Fagan has all but disappeared from public view since her May 2 resignation. She’s spoken through her attorney since. But public records, court transcripts, and people close to Democratic Party politics sketch an outline of what the weed entrepreneurs and their former contractor have been up to for the past month.

… She’s once again an employee of Seattle-based HKM Employment Attorneys LLP, where she worked prior to becoming secretary of state in 2021. “We could not be more thrilled to have Shemia return to HKM. She is one of the most selfless, ethical, and honorable individuals that I have ever met,” says HKM managing partner Daniel Kalish. “I really feel it is HKM’s gain (and Oregon’s loss) that she has returned to our firm.” Kalish says Fagan will not practice law for the firm until she’s reinstated by a state bar. He would not say which office Fagan would work from—Seattle or Portland. (A spokeswoman for the Oregon State Bar says Fagan’s reinstatement application is in a “holding pattern” until the Ethics Commission’s investigation is completed.)

State ethics commission opens formal investigations into OLCC managers who diverted Pappy Van Winkle bourbon OregonLive The Oregon Government Ethics Commission gave the go-ahead for formal ethics investigations into six Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission managers who set aside hard-to-find bourbon for themselves. Investigators with the ethics commission carried out preliminary reviews of each employees’ conduct, finding they had potentially violated multiple state ethics rules. In a meeting last month, the ethics commission decided to move ahead with investigations of Steve Marks, the former executive director; his deputy, Will Higlin; Bill Schuette, the budget manager; Chris Mayton, the director of the distilled spirits program; Boba Subasic, the chief information officer; and Kai Nakashima, director of the office of information services.

ARE YOU ABLE YOU HELP?

From our friends at Family Tree Relief Nursery: 

We have an urgent need to restock our hygiene closet! Please help us keep the listed hygiene items readily available for local families. You can drop off items or get them delivered to our office, or get in contact with Kylea at (541) 971-8333

WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM? 

From our friends at the Albany Fire Department: 

Albany Fire is accepting applications for two vacant single role EMT positions and two single role Paramedic positions.

For full job descriptions, go here

SUMMER BASEBALL IS HERE

From our friends at Mid-Willamette Family YMCA: 

Time to play ball!

It is time for summer baseball! 

July 15 - August 31

Everything you need to know + registration here

NATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT WEEK!

From our friends at the ABC House: 

This week is National Community Health Improvement Week!

As the children's advocacy center serving Linn and Benton Counties, ABC House is proud to provide high quality child abuse assessment and support services for children in crisis! This includes making sure children and families get the vital medical exams, forensic interviews, family advocacy and trauma counseling they need as well as child abuse prevention trainings to help every day people keep our community safe and healthy!

LAST REMINDER

FAMILY CAMPING TRIP

From our friends at Link Up Vets: 

To RSVP for this camping adventure, please follow the link to sign up here

Join us for a family camping trip at the Rocky Top Group Campsite located near the Rocky Top Bridge and Moose Creek on The Quartzville arm of Green Peter Reservoir.

JUN 23 AT 12 PM – JUN 25 AT 5 PM

This site can accommodate tent camping in addition to a limited number of RV/trailers. If you have any questions about this trip, please message us.

To learn more about the campsite please visit here

We hope to see you there!

REMINDER:

SAFETY CAMP

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

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