News Roundup June 16-23, 2024

County races to implement M110 reforms, feds take down 2020 fence, PPB stops data report is out, JOHS renewal debate ahead of controversial renewal

At a glance:

• County commissioners, reform groups, DA-elect Vasquez, and others expressed concern over Multnomah County's proposed implementation of Measure 110 reform (deflection). KGW

• Security fencing around the downtown federal courthouse has been taken down, replaced by hardened building security. The fencing was put up in summer of 2020. KPTV

• Portland police have increased traffic enforcement work significantly, but have not yet returned to 2019 levels. KATU, Report

• The City of Portland's negotiations with Multnomah County over the renewal of their contract for the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) is nearing conclusion. Willamette Week

Under-the-radar:

• Local anarchists claimed responsibility for two attacks on critical energy infrastructure in forest park, a power lineand a gas pipeline worksite. Separately, anarchists claimed responsibility for an arson in NE Portland.

• Oregon's unemployment system is still significantly backlogged, with most claimants waiting longer than three weeks. KGW.

• City of Portland's use of private debt collection puts Portlanders at risk of financial ruin despite the auditor's recommendation to make changes. KGW

Reports released this week:

• 2023 PPB Annual Stops Data Collection Report

Upcoming events

• June 24, 2024(Monday) 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Local Public Safety Coordinating Council (LPSCC) agenda

• June 26, 2024 (Wednesday) 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing (PCCEP) Forum on Brain Injuries, Policing, and Public Safety (website)

• June 25, 2024 (Tuesday) 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Police Bureauwide Advisory Committee (PBAC) June 2024 Meeting (website)

Opportunities and calls for volunteer service

• PCCEP, CRC, and PRB are recruiting for new members. See the city's volunteer job board for details

• PPB has several directives up for review, including policies on secondary employment, traffic crash investigations, and field training for new officers. PPB directive review

Policing and crime

Crime and the impact of crime:

• 2024-06-22: KATU - Stabbed man drives into oncoming traffic, crashes head-on in NE Portland

• 2024-06-21: KPTV - Man dies two days after assault in NW Portland

• 2024-06-20: Oregonian - Portland State in midst of expensive, ‘marathon’ race to repair damaged library before fall classes begin

• 2024-06-17: KPTV - Golden tabernacle stolen from SW Portland Catholic church recovered, one item still missing

Gun violence:

• Policy:

  • 2024-06-17: Oregonian - Oregon gun control Measure 114: Harney County judge turned legal standards ‘on their head,’ state argues

• Incidents:

  • 2024-06-22: KGW - 1 arrested after robbing 3 people at gunpoint in Portland

  • 2024-06-22: KGW - Suspect arrested after shooting, pistol-whipping during Portland armed robbery

  • 2024-06-21: KGW - Suspect indicted for 2023 triple homicide that included high school students in Portsmouth neighborhood

Crowd control, protests, and public order policing:

• 2024-06-19: KPTV - Security fencing removed from Portland courthouse 4 years after protests

Police and policing:

• Police missions:

  • 2024-06-22: KGW - Portland police arrest 6 in human trafficking mission on 82nd Avenue

• Traffic enforcement:

  • 2024-06-21: Oregonian - Portland police made thousands more traffic stops last year, data shows

  • 2024-06-21: KATU - PPB releases driver stop data report: 26% increase since last year, speeding primary cause

• Body-worn cameras:

  • 2024-06-23: KATU - Portland is the last major city to have police body cameras

• Mishaps:

  • 2024-06-17: KGW - How suspect stole a Homeland Security vehicle from federal agents

  • 2024-06-17: Oregonian - Portland police officer run over on the job sues city for $1 million

• Shootings:

  • 2024-06-21: KGW - Man shot and killed by Vancouver police officer had a modified cap gun, deputies say

Multnomah County's implementation of M110 reform:

• 2024-06-23: Oregonian - Editorial: Multnomah County’s Measure 110 redux

• 2024-06-21: Oregonian - Top broker of Measure 110 changes unhappy with Multnomah County deflection plan

• 2024-06-20: KGW - Police sound off on Multnomah County drug deflection program plan

• 2024-06-20: KGW - Post-Measure 110, Portland police and some Multnomah County leaders express trepidation over drug deflection plan

• 2024-06-20: KGW - DA-elect Nathan Vasquez critical of Multnomah County's 'revolving door' plan for drug deflection

• 2024-06-20: KGW - Portland police union president fears Multnomah County drug deflection plan lacks 'carrot or stick'

PPB Staffing Report Updates June 18 (change from June 6):

• sworn members: 810 (-2) sworn officers: 551 (no change)

• Officers in training: 102 (+1)

• Officers non-patrol: 130 (-8)

• Officers on leave: 23 (-1)

• Patrol officers: 296 (+8). East: 103 (+3), Central: 101 (+4), North: 92 (+1)

Police-produced media:

• 2024-06-18: YouTube - Special guest appearance at the East Precinct Stolen Vehicle Operation.

• 2024-06-12: YouTube - Join the Best - Now Hiring Police Officers

Police news releases:

• 2024-06-22: PPB - Suspect Facing Robbery and Assault Charges Following Downtown Shooting

• 2024-06-21: PPB - Human Trafficking Mission Results in Arrests, Seizure of Firearm

• 2024-06-21: PPB - Man Dies Following Assault in Northwest District

• 2024-06-21: PPB - PPB Releases 2023 Annual Stops Data Report

• 2024-06-20: PPB - UPDATE #2: Suspect Indicted for Murder Related March 2023 Triple Homicide in Portsmouth Neighborhood

• 2024-06-19: PPB - UPDATE: Sacred Catholic Object Recovered

• 2024-06-17: PPB - UPDATE: Pedestrian Who Died in February 5 Crash Identified

• 2024-06-16: PPB - Death Investigation Underway In Northwest Portland

Private security:

• 2024-06-21: KATU - Security guards pin woman to the ground at Randall Children's Hospital

• 2024-06-16: Willamette Week - City Council Votes to Beef Up Security at City Facilities

Politics and policy

Elections:

• 2024-06-23: KOIN - Tiffani Penson on the race for Portland City Council position 2

• 2024-06-23: KOIN - Activist Liv Osthus on mayoral campaign to restore Portland

• 2024-06-21: BikePortland - What would 40 Portland political candidates do to boost bicycling?

• 2024-06-19: Willamette Week - How Many Candidates Can You Rank in Portland’s Ranked-Choice Voting?

• 2024-06-17: Willamette Week - City Council Candidate Endorsed by Teachers’ Union Asks It to Stop Using Phrase “From the River to the Sea”

Portland government transition:

• 2024-06-18: KGW - Mayor Ted Wheeler introduces Portland's new way of doing business, 2 weeks from soft launch

Criminal justice system:

• 2024-06-23: Oregonian - Oregon launches new public defender division to stem constitutional crisis

• 2024-06-21: KPTV - 5 charged with conspiring to smuggle drugs into Multnomah County jail

• 2024-06-18: Oregonian - Oregon judge’s decision to use second graders as special jurors draws DA complaint

• 2024-06-17: Willamette Week - State Agrees to Pay $340,000 to Man Wrongfully Imprisoned for Six Years

City:

• Joint Office of Homeless Services:

  • 2024-06-20: KPTV - Portland commissioners vote on amendments to new homeless services agreement with Mult. Co.

  • 2024-06-20: KGW - Tents, tarps and lawsuits at the center of hours-long debate over Portland's partnership with Multnomah County on homeless response

  • 2024-06-20: Willamette Week - City Council Makes New Demands of Multnomah County Before It Signs 3-Year Joint Office Contract

• Downtown:

  • 2024-06-18: KOIN - Mayor Ted Wheeler: Downtown Portland Clean and Safe district increases foot traffic 10% from last year

• City's impact on businesses, families:

  • 2024-06-19: KATU - KATU Investigates: PBOT asked small businesses to pitch in millions for big projects

  • 2024-06-18: KGW - Family's bank accounts frozen over unpaid Portland water bill

• Mysterious firing:

  • 2024-06-20: OPB - Portland’s ex-budget director threatened legal action after firing by mayor’s office

County:

• 2024-06-21: KATU - Multnomah County officials promise sobering center will be operational by Sept 1

• 2024-06-19: Skanner - Black Leaders Urge County to Continue Funding Multnomah Mothers Trust

State:

• 2024-06-21: Willamette Week - Oregon Health Authority Fires Longtime Head of Equity and Inclusion

• 2024-06-20: KGW - Many Oregonians waiting over 3 weeks for unemployment benefits

• 2024-06-19: Willamette Week - Is This Your Stuff?

• 2024-06-17: Willamette Week - Departed OHSU Exec Could Collect $550,000 Salary Until June 2025

• 2024-06-13: Mercury - Queer Guide 2024 - The Long Road to Justice

Federal:

• 2024-06-20: OPB - A major pro-Israel group spent big to influence one Oregon congressional race

• 2024-06-20: Mercury - Activists Reignite the Battle for Oregon’s Old-Growth Timber

• 2024-06-19: StreetRoots - Turnkey Act seeks congressional approval for $1B annual housing projects

Transportation:

• City projects:

  • 2024-06-21: BikePortland - Parks reveals new concepts for North Park Blocks extension

  • 2024-06-19: BikePortland - PBOT will partner with Bike Bus PDX on signage project

• Advocacy:

  • 2024-06-18: BikePortland - A rap video about rejections, engineering bingo, and a story of my own

Nonprofits:

• 2024-06-22: KGW - Nonprofit Depave, city of Portland project turns church parking lot into green space

• 2024-06-18: Mercury - How a Billionaire Philanthropist is Transforming Oregon Nonprofits

Education:

• PSU:

  • 2024-06-23: KOIN 6 - School of Earth, Environment and Society to open at PSU

  • 2024-06-16: OPB - PSU students walk out of graduation to protest university over war in Gaza

• PAT:

  • 2024-06-19: Oregonian - Portland teachers’ union leaders vote to remove links to lessons advocating for Palestinians, after weeks of back and forth

  • 2024-06-18: KGW8 - Portland teachers' union removes pro-Palestinian teaching guides amid backlash

• PPS student safety lawsuit:

  • 2024-06-19: KPTV - Former student suing Portland Public Schools after class injury causes amputation

Economy and business:

• Labor:

  • 2024-06-23: OPB - Oregon’s minimum wage to go up 50 cents per hour on July 1

  • 2024-06-21: Mercury - Update: Providence Nurses Locked Out After Three

  • 2024-06-20: Willamette Week - OHSU Discloses Exact Number of Planned Layoffs

• Oregon's economy:

  • 2024-06-20: KPTV - Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment rises by 4,000 in May

  • 2024-06-17: OPB - How shipping containers and the Port of Portland play a vital role in Oregon’s economy

• Utility shutoffs:

  • 2024-06-17: KPTV - Electricity shutoffs for non-payment soar as utility costs increase in Oregon

Addiction and recovery:

• 2024-06-17: KPTV - Vancouver Fire Department launches leave-behind Narcan program

Housing and homelessness:

• 2024-06-22: KATU - Neighbors in two counties concerned about massive housing development

• 2024-06-20: OPB - Portland’s Safe Rest Village in Southwest neighborhood on track to triple capacity

• 2024-06-16: Willamette Week - County Program Helps Low-Income Tenants at Allen Fremont Avoid Eviction

Other news

Growth and resilience:

• 2024-06-23: Fox 12 Oregon - Portland area camp gives girls chance to explore, experience firefighting career

• 2024-06-20: KOIN - Portland-based app highlighting Queer-owned businesses world-wide invites users to be their 'authentic selves'

• 2024-06-16: PDX Monthly - Portland, Formula E Town?