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Hello Friends,
These past few weeks, the Legislature came back to business for “Leg Days” to meet in our assigned committees and begin crafting our legislation for the upcoming short session in 2024. The building is still very much under construction, which is the perfect backdrop as we electeds hammer together our own bills. In Oregon, we have a part-time legislature, so when we are not in session, some of us return to making a living in our other jobs.
As some of you may know, in addition to my legislative duties as your State Representative, I also work a full-time day job. While life as a working class elected official can mean a VERY full plate, I am grateful to have this opportunity to serve you all and to elevate the issues that matter most in Beaverton and Aloha.
 We held a very special gathering at the Aloha Community Library, where I heard about issues that are top-of-mind for many of you. If you did not make it this time, stay tuned. We will be hosting more events across the district in the future.
I recently joined Washington County Chair Harrington, Commissioner Fai and staff from Washington County, as well as fellow legislators, at the Beaverton location of the new CATT, (The Center for Addictions Triage and Treatment,) a project to increase addictions treatment capacity in Washington County.
Upon its completion, it will add much needed capacity for:
- Assessment and triage
- Sobering
- Withdrawal management (detox)
- Residential and outpatient treatment
- Transition services
- Health services
- Peer drop-in center
- Crisis services
Thank you to all of the behavioral health experts from Washington County Health and Human Services and CODA who were there to answer questions and lots of gratitude for all of the work done by so many to shepherd this project through all of the necessary steps on the way to becoming reality.
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It was an honor to attend the opening of the newest Recovery Gym location in Hillsboro, thanks in part to funds from Measure 110! This new location in Washington County will be a fantastic resource for helping folks recover from addiction. Earlier this year, I got an opportunity to visit the Recovery Gym location in SE Portland and it was incredible to see how people can be successful in overcoming addiction when we invest in solutions. |
Do you qualify for The Employment Related Daycare (ERDC) waitlist will begin November 4, 2023? Families who believe that they qualify for these benefits should apply before November 3 at 11:59 pm.
Please find out more about eligibility requirements and apply here.
Why is this happening and why are advocates so concerned with problematic “Current Service Level” analysis that has informed 2023-25 ERDC funding levels?
The Current Service Level (CSL) was calculated for the ERDC program when the Department of Early Learning & Care (DELC)’s budget was passed last session. It is estimated that DELC will need significant additional funds to end the waitlist and reopen enrollment, but they will be gathering more enrollment data, and will be able to give the Legislature a more firm number in the coming months.
The current calculation of Current Service Level (CSL) funding for the Employment Related Child Care (ERDC) program does not take into account the increase in child care prices,
impact of the newly eligible students & TANF populations and the previous biennium spending on these populations in other agencies’ budget that was passed last session.
 I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the NEW Purple Pipe water system going into Beaverton!
The Beaverton Purple Pipe program will water our green spaces and conserve one of our most precious natural resources: clean water. Beaverton’s drinking water is a limited resource. Treatment and testing make it safe and healthy for us to drink, but our parks and yards do not need such high-quality water. Using drinking water for irrigation is currently the only available option because, up until now, our city only has one set of water pipes. The Beaverton Purple Pipe received necessary funds from the Legislature this past session, and will create a new water system that routes cleaned storm water to irrigate green spaces like parks, school grounds and yards and for stream recharge, allowing us to conserve our precious drinking water.
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Summer has come to a close but the weather was perfect for the Walk for Recovery events (at multiple locations) this past month. So uplifting to hear stories of resilience and hope as our state faces the realities of the statewide addiction crisis. As always, it was great to spend time with Oregon Recovers and support their good work. |
Thank you Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District for hosting an incredible adventure hike with elected officials and community leaders, and for sharing your vision for an expanded Cooper Mountain nature park! As our urban areas are growing, we must plan for maintaining wild spaces as well. |
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Things have been busy, so I really enjoyed taking time to relax and learn more about the Tualatin Riverkeepers at the Green Heron event at Alpaca Farm and Gardens. A heartfelt thank you for all of the good work they do to protect our Tualatin watershed. |
I'd like to give a special shout out to everyone who made it out to the Beaverton Celebration Parade this year, especially my walking buddies Representative Reynolds and Tammy Carpenter! It was great to see so many of you out, showing up for a #brighterbeaverton
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Labor Day may have come and gone, but as always, it is an opportunity to reflect on the struggles of workers to collectively fight to gain fair workplace protections, safety standards and wages. We’ve watched #HotUnionSummer continue into the fall. Joining the 24/7 United Auto Workers picket line on Allen Blvd. in Beaverton has been truly inspiring. If you want to run into your Representative, it's a good bet you will find me standing in Solidarity with my fellow workers. On the line, my favorite part of any week!
We are facing many challenges, and every day my job as your State Representative is to do the work to meet these challenges. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
In Solidarity,
Representative Farrah Chaichi
House District 35
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1435
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-478, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.Farrah.Chaichi@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/chaichi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepresentativeFarrahChaichi/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FarrahChaichi
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