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

 - Shelly

Solving our drug crisis requires political courage

Defenders of Measure 110, like Governor Kotek, will tell you that drug decriminalization “needs more time to work.” Make no mistake, what that means in practice is “more people are going to die before we make a change.” That is not acceptable to me, nor should it be acceptable to Oregonians.

But the problem is getting harder and harder to ignore. Even Democrats in Salem are second-guessing their “wait and see” approach.

In response, Democratic leaders have finally acknowledged the problem. Speaker Rayfield and Senate President Wagner have put together a committee to figure out what we need to do when it comes to drug use and Measure 110. Most of us already know what needs to be done: Repeal Measure 110. But in the meantime, this new legislative committee will meet in the run-up to the 2024 short session and talk about potential paths forward.

The same legislators who rejected Republican attempts to reform and repeal Measure 110 last session are chairing this committee, so my expectations are somewhat limited about the outcome of their work.

But the public pressure against Measure 110 is mounting. Marion County became the latest of 11 counties that have formally passed resolutions calling for the recriminalization of hard drugs. This comes at the same time that homeless people in Salem have said they haven’t seen the benefits of Measure 110. Newspapers and editorial boards from around the state are calling for something to be done.

It’s also getting increasingly hard to tell Oregonians not to believe their lyin’ eyes. A combined 60% of Oregonians said that homelessness and drug addiction were the most pressing issues facing the state, according to a new poll. The news is filled with events like the mass overdose event that happened a few weeks ago about a mass overdose event in a Portland park.

Quality of life issues like Measure 110, homelessness, and related crime have big impacts on other parts of our state. People don’t want to travel here, and increasingly, people don’t want to live here at all. This has serious implications for the future of our economy.

We know what needs to be done. We just need the political courage to do it.

What else can go wrong with Oregon education?

This week, the Portland Teachers Union went on strike, locking kids out of the classroom. Right now, there is a $200 million gap between the district and teachers in their negotiations. As a result, nearly 40,000 kids are missing school on top of dealing with the lingering impacts of COVID school closures. A prolonged strike will undoubtedly compound the damage of learning loss, and without strong leadership from the Governor, more districts around the state could see similar strikes.

As of the 19-20 school year, Portland public schools spend $14,829 per student. However, that number is expected to rise significantly over the coming years because of  Corporate Activities Tax revenues and declining enrollment. Regardless of how much Portland spends per student, data shows that is not a good indicator of outcomes. Currently, the average Portland teacher earns $87,000/year, almost $10,000 more than the median household income in Portland.

What are we getting for all that money? While graduation rates have increased slightly in the last few years in Portland public schools, general trends show that academic achievement has declined over the decade.

But the trend of increasing graduation and declining academic achievement isn’t just a Portland problem; it’s a statewide problem.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that graduation statistics are not a good way to measure the success of our education system in Oregon. Yet that is exactly what Governor Kotek’s Board of Education is asking you to believe by suspending graduation requirements again.

After the legislature passed Senate Bill 744 in 2021 (I strongly opposed it), Oregon students no longer needed to demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, and math in order to graduate. The pause on those assessments lasts until the end of this school year. So, the Board of Education unanimously voted to extend that pause for another four years.

The Board of Education insists that students will still need to fulfill minimum credit requirements to graduate, and that will surely ensure they are prepared for the real world. But the data says otherwise.

We need strong standards for our students to ensure they are prepared to pursue their best future and to support struggling students to reach those standards, not lower the bar for everyone.

Another quick education note:

It was announced that the Ducks do not have the Beavers on their foorball schedule for next year. While it sounds like conversations are ongoing about how to make the rivalry game happen, this was always a risk due to the implosion of the PAC-12.

Just a few weeks ago, I got to sit in on a committee meeting where the University of Oregon administrators explained their decision to move to the BIG 10 to us lawmakers. At the hearing, I questioned UO President Scholz about the steps the university had taken to study whether the move to the Big Ten broadly benefited Oregon.

The law requires that each public university’s Board of Trustee’s decisions are to “act in the best interests of both the university and the state of Oregon as a whole,” not just their individual university.

I am not fully convinced that the UO Board of Trustee’s did that. Further, we often hear from our public universities about their climate goals. I struggle to understand how increasing emissions from flight travel because of the change to a conference where many teams are located in the Midwest and East Coast is consistent with the University of Oregon’s climate goals.

Oregon’s Struggling Transportation System

I have written before about the precarious situation our transportation system is in. As we head into the snowy winter months, the problem is becoming clearer.

ODOT recently announced that they may need to cut back on snow plowing, salting, and other prep for snow storms because of budget constraints.

Oregon's infrastructure and ODOT’s operation and maintenance budget are funded by gas taxes and weight mile taxes. As hybrid, electric, and more fuel-efficient vehicles are on the rise, gas tax revenues decline.

So, as you prepare for your winter travels, test out your snow chains and make sure you are prepared for delays before hitting the road.

Check current road conditions, HERE.

Seven arrested in Milwaukie human trafficking sting, repeat offender caught twice

KATU

Milwaukie Police caught seven people last Thursday as part of a human trafficking mission – saying one of the suspects was busted twice after he contacted undercover officers a second time.

Police officials said their officers posed as escorts on popular dating apps and websites, “providing locations in and near Milwaukie to meet with purchasers of sex.”

They say they issued seven people citations during the mission, releasing them pending a court appearance.

One of the suspects who was cited and released, a 51-year-old from Portland, promptly contacted another undercover officer online and was re-arrested and booked into the Clackamas County Jail on two counts of prostitution and possession of a restricted weapon.

Marion, Polk elected leaders call for repeal of Oregon Measure 110 drug decriminalization Statesman Journal Marion County’s commissioners Wednesday joined 11 counties including Jackson, Coos and Polk in formally calling for the repeal of Measure 110.

Lisa Charpilloz Hanson appointed to top job at Oregon Department of Agriculture Capital Press Lisa Charpilloz Hanson is the new director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Gov. Tina Kotek announced her appointment Oct. 11. Charpilloz Hanson, currently executive director of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, was the deputy director of ODA for 15 years before that.

Marion, Polk elected leaders call for repeal of Oregon Measure 110 drug decriminalization

Statesman Journal

Marion County’s commissioners Wednesday joined 11 counties including Jackson, Coos and Polk in formally calling for the repeal of Measure 110.

“I feel super comfortable saying please repeal Measure 110,” Marion County Commissioner Colm Willis said. “I’m convinced more people will get treatment than less.”

The Marion County resolution, which was similar to the one adopted by other counties, says that there were 1,161 overdose deaths in Oregon in 2022, up from 585 in 2020.

Scammers targeting public benefits have discovered new Paid Leave Oregon program  OPB But some Oregonians have reported getting a letter saying they’ve been approved for paid leave benefits that they never applied for. That’s a warning sign a person’s identity has been compromised. A spokesperson for the program said Oregonians should keep an eye on their mailboxes and report any letters regarding benefits they didn’t apply for.

Portland metro area’s homeless tax could bring in nearly $1 billion in unexpected revenue by 2029 OPB The tax built to fund homeless services in the Portland metro area is expected to rake in nearly $1 billion more than previously anticipated over the next six years. A revenue forecast prepared by Metro, the regional government that oversees the supportive housing services tax, shows that the tax is expected to collect around $437 million annually by 2029. Metro initially estimated the tax would raise $250 million annually until it expires in 2031. If the tax raised that amount over the next six years, it would bring in $1.5 billion for regional homeless service programs. Metro’s current estimate, however, nearly doubles that figure to $2.4 billion in the same period of time.

Decline in Oregon bank deposits could signal economic turbulence ahead

OregonLive

Deposits in Oregon banks fell last year at the steepest rate in a decade, dropping by 9.5% as businesses and families spent down their pandemic savings.

Oregon banks’ deposits totaled $105 billion at the end of June, according to new federal data. (The figures include banks, but not credit unions, with branches in Oregon.) That’s still nearly $25 billion more than in 2019, so savings remain relatively high.

But with inflation still elevated and interest rates high, the decline in savings could point toward a downturn ahead.

Task force looking for ways to ramp up Oregon housing says cutting down trees could help

Statesman Journal

As Oregon tries to ramp up housing construction to meet demand, an advisory council established by Gov. Tina Kotek is working on a proposal to loosen restrictions some communities have in place to protect tree canopies.

The governor charged her Housing Production Advisory Council with coming up with solutions to increase production of housing by 36,000 units a year for the next decade.

Among some two dozen ideas, the council has drafted a proposal that says: "No city or jurisdiction shall have a tree code that prohibits or charges a fee for the removal of a tree less than 60″ in diameter."

Blue state suspends basic skills graduation requirement again, citing harm to students of color

Fox News High schoolers in Oregon won't need to demonstrate basic competency in reading, writing or math in order to graduate for at least five more years because, according to education officials, such requirements are unnecessary and disproportionately harm students of color.

"At some point … our diploma is going to end up looking a lot more like a participation prize than an actual certificate that shows that someone actually is prepared to go pursue their best future," former Oregon gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan told Fox News.

…

"It is not bigoted, it is not racist to want your student to be able to actually learn," said Drazan, who ran as a Republican for governor in Oregon last year, losing to Democrat Tina Kotek by less than 4% of the vote. 

Oregon has one of the lowest graduation rates compared to other states, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting, but also has among the most rigorous credit requirements.

Manufacturers say Washington red tape is costing them almost $30,000 per employee Yahoo News The trade association that advocates for manufacturers in Washington, D.C., has tallied up the total costs of government red tape. Here is what it found: America’s regulatory burden cost manufacturing companies almost $30,000 per employee in 2022. Small manufacturers faced an even higher price of $50,000 per employee.

Kotek plans to ask Legislature for money for Portland revitalization  Oregon Capital Chronicle Kotek’s comments came after the third meeting of the Portland Central City Task Force, a group she and Dan McMillan, president and CEO of Portland-based insurance company The Standard, convened in August to come up with a plan to save the struggling city. The group, which consists of dozens of state and local elected officials, business leaders and community advocates, has blocked reporters and the public from its meetings and provided few details about its work. 

Oregon is latest state to dumb down education. Talk about the soft bigotry of low expections Fox News | Opinion by Tony Kinnett, Heritage Foundation The Oregon Board of Education voted unanimously in October to remove requirements for students to be proficient in reading and writing in order to graduate—joining the long line of ill-advised moves to cut academic expectations for American students. The Oregon Department of Education released a statement calling the reading and writing proficiency standards "burdensome to teachers and students." Dan Farley, Oregon’s assistant superintendent of research, assessment, and data with the Education Department, said the standards simply "did not work." There’s no evidence that suspending those standards is going to improve the academic performance of any student—quite the contrary. Had the Oregon Board of Education done 15 minutes of research, it would have found that relaxing academic performance standards has had drastic adverse consequences.

Why are Oregon students chronically absent from school? KGW | By Evan Watson About 200,000 Oregon students, or 38% of all students statewide, were recorded as being chronically absent during the school years of 2022 through 2023. The year prior, 36% of all students were recorded as chronically absent.  In 2018-2019, 20% of all Oregon students were recorded as chronically absent, highlighting how far attendance rates have plummeted post-pandemic. "Big picture, it's troubling," said Madhu Narayanan, assistant professor at Portland State University. "We want students to graduate from school, and [absenteeism] has a huge impact on their life outcomes."

On First Day of Teachers’ Strike, School District Looks to Salem for Money to Settle Willamette Week Portland Public Schools leaders started pointing their fingers toward Salem as a way to settle the teachers’ strike that shuttered the district’s 81 schools this morning. “We need real investment from the state,” said Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero at a press conference at school district headquarters. “The state of Oregon is not funding what they themselves have identified as a quality education for Oregon students.” Portland School Board Chair Gary Hollands was even more direct. “The excuse of, ‘We don’t have more money,’ is unacceptable,” Hollands said. “When we make things a priority, we find the money.”

PBOT ‘mistakenly’ installs bike lanes in NE Portland

Fox12

The new bike lanes were approved by the Portland City Council in 2021 as part of the Columbia/Lombard Mobility Corridor Plan. However, a spokesperson for PBOT admits that there was no proper public outreach to impacted residents along the corridor required in the plan. PBOT continued on in a statement:

“PBOT did not conduct a parking study, look at the impacts and tradeoffs of the bike lane treatments, or the status quo. Notice was not provided to adjacent residents and the critical step of discussing the project with neighbors was not completed.”

In response PBOT was set to remove the lanes Wednesday at a cost of $25,000, but stopped the project because of a group of bikers protesting the removal project. Christopher Hale joined about one dozen cyclists who stood on the corner of Northeast 33rd Avenue and Northeast Holman Street pushing PBOT to stop the lane removal.

Oregon cities join police, prosecutors in push to recriminalize drug possession OPB “As your partners in public safety, we believe that Ballot Measure 110 failed to recognize that drug addiction is both a public health and public safety crisis and requires solutions on both sides of the ledger,” reads a letter sent to lawmakers this week by the League of Oregon Cities, the Oregon State Sheriffs Association, the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police and the Oregon District Attorneys Association.

Judge to Oregon sheriffs: Release people from jail who don’t have lawyers within 7 days of 1st court appearances  The Oregonian A federal judge Thursday ordered counties statewide to release criminal defendants from jail if they’re not appointed a lawyer within seven days of their initial court appearances amid an ongoing public defense crisis. U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane’s ruling went beyond his August temporary decree that required the release of criminal defendants only in Washington County, if they’d been held for 10 days without a lawyer. As of Wednesday, there were 14 indigent defendants housed in Washington County jails without access to counsel, and 135 statewide.

Get ready to ‘fall back’ an hour Sunday morning in Oregon — yes, that’s still a thing OPB | By John Hill Oregon lawmakers voted four years ago to keep the state permanently on daylight saving time, eliminating the annual need to “fall back” an hour as the leaves change color and the air grows chillier. But at 2 a.m. on Sunday Oregonians’ smartphones will dutifully do just that.

Oregon cities join police, prosecutors in push to recriminalize drug possession OPB | By Conrad Wilson Three years after Oregon voters decriminalized small amounts of hard drugs, cities across the state say they’ve had enough. The League of Oregon Cities has joined with police and prosecutors in calling on state lawmakers to recriminalize drug possession when they convene in Salem starting in February.

BUILDING COMMUNITY TOGETHER

For Immediate Release 

Date: November 1, 2023 

Contact: Dru Draper 

Email: Dru.Draper@oregonlegislature.gov 

Representative Boshart Davis Hosts 'Service and Support Tour' Around Oregon House District 15 

ALBANY, OR – Last week, Representative Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) hosted a "Service and Support Tour" around House District 15. The tour highlighted several individuals and organizations that help the community thrive. In the Legislature, where monograms are used to reference each unique district, House District 15 is affectionately known as The Hub City District. 

"I truly believe what makes our District special is the commitment to strengthening ties, raising awareness, offering opportunity, and forming powerful community partnerships to improve the lives of others," said Representative Boshart Davis. "So many people want to do something to make a difference but simply do not know where to start. That was the goal of this tour – to give others the resources needed to get involved." 

Representative Boshart Davis' four-day long 'Service and Support Tour' included the following stops: 

• Family Tree Relief Nursery has helped thousands of children and their families stay together as a family unit. They provide several programs, including the Therapeutic Early Childhood Program (TECP), Family Support Program, and a Certified Recovery Mentor Support Service. More information can be found here. 
• ABC House works to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect, supports children as they find their voice, and helps children and families heal and thrive. To date, they are the only agency providing child abuse assessment and support services for Benton and Linn counties. More information can be found here. 
• Takena Hall at Linn-Benton Community College is the front door to Linn-Benton Community College. It houses most of LBCC's Student Services and is, therefore, one of the busiest buildings on its main campus. In 2021, President Avery and their team at LBCC worked with Representative Boshart Davis' office to secure funding for their new and much-needed ADA access point. This week's tour included the ribbon cutting. 
• Mid-Willamette Valley YMCA has recently opened an adaptive playground. An adaptive playground goes beyond the basic specifications of the Americans with Disabilities Act, aiming to engage children of all abilities, including those who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices. More information can be found here.  
• Albany Visitors Association is the city's official marketing arm, charged with marketing Albany, the area attractions, historic resources, venues, and events for leisure tourism and group travel. AVA is responsible for the annual Veterans Day Parade, the largest parade this side of the Mississippi, as well as the banners displayed in honor of those who have served. Learn more about their work here.  
• Boys & Girls Club of Albany has been empowering children to reach their full potential in the area for decades. They have been fostering teamwork, sportsmanship, and individual growth through their sports programs since 1966. BGCA also offers no-cost dental services to uninsured children ages 3-18. More information can be found here. 
• Jackson Street Youth Services offers a safe haven for youth 24/7/365, providing resources to navigate crises and build a brighter, more stable future. They serve youth across Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties, working tirelessly to end youth homelessness. To achieve this mission, they rely on donations and partnerships. More information can be found here.  
• 1st Hand Seconds Unique Boutiques sells donated women's clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories to support the Mercy House's mission of offering safety, hope, healing, and restoration to women and their children at risk from domestic abuse. More information can be found here.  

Representative Boshart Davis' Office is seeking ideas for additional visits. Do you have information about important work going on within the community that deserves to be recognized?

Email Rep.ShellyBoshartDavis@oregonlegislature.gov with your thoughts and suggestions! 

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SEASON OF GIVING IS AROUND THE CORNER

From our friends at Family Tree Relief Nursery:

It’s almost the Season! Please email season_of_giving@familytreern.org if you’d like to be matched with a child this year!

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE 'Y'

Lifeguards needed! gain the skills to save a life!

The Mid-Willamette Family YMCA is offering a FREE Red Cross lifeguard certification class!! DEC 15-17

Our aquatics department hires ages 15+. Come join our YMCA family!

Details and registration here.

Pickleball is a rapidly growing sport that is loved and played by members of all ages in our community!

Become a YMCA Pickleball Member and gain access to up to 66 hours a week of pickleball open play availability!

Our courts are newly resurfaced and freshly painted! Nets will be set-up and taken down by our staff, so you no longer need to deal with the inconvenience!

We supply the pickleballs, and extra paddles for players who may not have their own.

ALL THE DETAILS, HERE.

For more info, contact our Court Sports Director Jalen.

NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION! Winter Day Camp-2 sessions: Dec 18-22, Dec 26-29

9am-5:30pm | Members $130 Guests $155

Register at our Welcome Center

Before and after care available at additional cost.

ALBANY VETERAN'S DAY PARADE CLOSURES

From our friends at ODOT:

For more information: (503) 373-0000, option 1 for information about over-dimension loads; (503) 378-6699 for information about registration services

November 1, 2023

ALBANY – On Saturday, November 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the annual Veteran's Day Parade in Albany will result in the following closures:

US20 westbound between OR99E and 1st Avenue

OR99E southbound between 7th Street/Jackson Street and US20

Detour

A local detour will be in place for authorized vehicles only. Motor carriers hauling loads need to avoid traveling through this area during the restricted days/hours, or use authorized alternate routes.

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM: NOVEMBER 4TH

From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office:

Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan announces a TEST of the Linn-Benton Alert system on Saturday, November 4th , sometime between 1PM and 4PM.

The test alert will go to recipients in both Linn County and North Albany that have signed up with the system. We would like recipients of the alert to confirm receipt of the message on each phone or device. This will stop additional attempts to deliver the message. Recipients should NOT call the Sheriff’s Office or 911 when receiving the message.

Linn-Benton Alert is a system that can push out emergency notifications to Linn and Benton County residents of any emergency event or evacuation. Sheriff Duncan encourages every resident to sign up if they haven’t already done so.

Residents can sign up for the notifications by going here and can choose how and where they receive alerts including cell, home, and/or work phone, by text message or TTY (hearing impaired devices) and more.

VEHICLE EMERGENCY KIT?

From our friends at City of Albany:

Winter is coming. Are you #WeatherReady for winter driving? Always check the weather for your route and use Tripcheck.com or call 511 for road conditions. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. Suggested items include:

✔️ Phone charger, warm clothes, blankets

✔️ First aid kit, bottled water and nonperishable food

✔️ Jumper cables, flashlight with batteries, road flares

✔️ Ice scraper, shovel, tire chains if needed

✔️ Winterize your vehicle, keep a full tank of gas and a spare tire.

✔️ Visit ready.gov/car for more information.

CASA OF LINN CO. PRESENTS:

TURKEY BINGO!

From our friends at CASA of Linn County:

Please Join us at Albany YMCA on Saturday Nov 4 2023 for Family Fun!

Play Bingo and win a Frozen Turkey for the Holiday!

• Hog dog, chips and beverage. Free Coffee and Donuts. Free Ice Cream made from a Tractor.
• Turkey Trot and Face Painting

Admission FREE – Donations Appreciated!

Click here for more information

SKATE PARK AFTER DARK

From our friends at Jackson Street Youth Services:

November 8th! 430-830pm!!! Free, all-ages concert at Corvallis Skate Park in honor of National Runaway Prevention Month. Live music by local bands Skeleton Boyy, Mothra, Who Brought Opie, as well as touring acts Lightweight and New Junk City. Local DJ Eveu will close out the night with a fun dance party.

Show up in solidarity with youth experiencing homelessness, everyone is welcome! Nick’s:  Soul Food will be dishing up free food for youth (and you can buy some food from him too). Caesar The No Drama Llama will be gracing us with his presence. Thanks so much to Corvallis Parks & Recreation for sponsoring this event and supporting our local youth. Our Jackson Street Youth Outreach team will be on site as well, serving free hot beverages and distributing hygiene kits, winter gear, and cool swag.

Lastly, our Youth Ambassadors will be on site with a hand-picked selection or fresh clothes from our clothing closet. This event is all about creating a critical mass of loving humans to light up the night in our winter months. Please share widely and invite your friends!

SHRED DAY: NOVEMBER 4, 2023

From our friends at Linn-Co Federal Credit Union:

Drop off your bags of paperwork containing sensitive personal information. Our team will shred & securely dispose of your documents! Free shredding, coffee & donuts!

CELEBRATION OF TREES

From our friends at Boys & Girls Club of Albany:

It’s our favorite time of the year! Our Celebration of Trees is back again thanks to our presenting sponsor, Central Willamette Credit Union. Community Night is free and open to the public to preview our decorated Christmas trees on Tuesday, November 28th from 4-7pm.

Over 30 business sponsors will be decorating trees to be auctioned off on November 30th. Come enjoy music from the local middle school and high school bands and choirs, tasty hot beverages, raffles presented by Central Willamette Credit Union, and vote on your favorite tree.

Come get in the holiday spirit with us.

LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERSHIP AWARD

From our friends at Albany Police Department:

We don't want to sound too braggy but... well, we must brag about this.

Our chief, Marcia Harnden, was honored by the FBI on Friday for making a difference through outreach, leadership and service.

She received the prestigious Law Enforcement Leadership Award from the FBI Portland Field Office for her unwavering dedication to our community, law enforcement and the wellness of her employees.

We are very proud.

During the session break (interim) - and for the rest of the year - my office will continue to keep you updated and informed with a monthly newsletter. My office 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