News Roundup November 19-26, 2023
Teacher strike ends, record traffic deaths, gun control measure unconstitutional, several shootings, MultCo jail troubles, PPB fights car theft, more movement on 2024 election
At a glance:
The teachers' strike has come to an end. Classrooms reopen Monday. KGW
New candidates have entered the race for City Council. Check out Rose City Reform's excellent coverage.
A judge found Oregon's Measure 114 unconstitutional. The gun control measure was approved last year. KATU
Multnomah County's Behavioral Health Resource Center is facing a budget shortfall after opening last year. The center has a troubled operational history. Willamette Week
An elderly man's death following a July collision brought Portland's traffic death toll to 64, breaking last year's record. KOIN
East county mayors are calling on Multnomah County to change their higher-than-usual standards for ambulance staffing in order to alleviate shortages. They say they have been disproportionately impacted by the crisis, which leaves calls for ambulance service unanswered about 10% of the time. Willamette Week
Multnomah County Jails knowingly hired a medical director facing legal challenges. Separately, the medical director was accused of "gross negligence" by the state medical board. The jail has seen a historic level of inmate death this year. Willamette Week
PPB touted progress on fighting car theft, claiming a 35% reduction. KGW
Under-the-radar:
The City of Portland is seeking applicants for advisory groups, including a new one. See the Opportunities section below.
The deadline for written comments on the amended Settlement Agreement has been extended to November 29 at noon. The fairness hearing is scheduled for November 30th at 9 AM in Judge Simon's courtroom.
Upcoming events
November 27, 2023 (Monday) 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Local Public Safety Coordinating Council (LPSCC) Executive Committee Meeting (in person) (website)
November 29, 2023 (Wednesday) 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Police Bureauwide Advisory Committee Meeting(website)
November 29, 2023 (Wednesday) 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing (PCCEP) Full Committee Meeting (website)
November 30, 2023 (Thursday) 9:00 AM: Fairness Hearing on Amendments to the Settlement Agreement between the United States and the City of Portland
Opportunities and calls for volunteer service
The City of Portland seeks volunteers for two advisory groups:
Police Equity Advisory Council Application deadline is December 31
Community Safety Strategic Plan Advisory Committee - Application deadline is December 17
PPB seeks feedback on directives under review (first phase):
December 1: 0305.00 Active Bystandership, Intervention, and Anti-Retaliation, 0630.61 Stolen Vehicles
December 15: 0910.00 Use of Force Reporting, Review, and Investigation, 1010.00 Use of Force, 1010.00 Deadly Force and In-Custody Death Reporting and Investigation Procedures, 1015.00 Less Lethal Weapons and Tools, 1035.00 Ballistic Shields
PPB seeks feedback on directives under review (second phase):
December 1: 0750.00, Bureau Cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Joint Terrorism Task Force
December 15: 0640.38 Interacting with Members of the LGBTQIA2S+ / Queer Community, 0825.00 Protection Orders and Domestic Violence Cases, 0825.10 Members as Victims or Suspects of Domestic Violence
Policing and crime
Highly covered incidents:
Gun violence:
2023-11-26: KGW - 1 dead in Southeast Portland shooting
2023-11-25: KGW - 2 injured after Portland shooting
Crime and the impact of crime:
2023-11-22: PPB - Cully Neighborhood Shooting Ends with 1 Man Deceased
2023-11-21: Bike Portland - A driver hit a 12-year-old crossing the street, broke their leg, then fled the scene
2023-10-06: KGW - 1 dead, 3 injured in Southeast Portland crash
Police and policing:
2023-11-23: KGW - Plunging car theft rates across Portland metro area
2023-11-22: PPB - Plunging Car Theft Rates as East Precinct Continues Stolen Vehicle Operations With Partner Agencies
Police-produced media:
2023-11-22: YouTube - Multi-Agency Retail Theft Press Conference | November 21, 2023
2023-11-21: YouTube - PPB Holiday Season Walking Beats
Politics and policy
Criminal justice system:
2023-11-24: KOIN - 12 graduate Multnomah County's STEP Court in program's first year
2023-11-22: Willamette Week - County Chair Knew About Top Jail Doctor’s Ongoing Legal Troubles Before Hiring Him
2023-11-21: Willamette Week - A County Employee Is Under Criminal Investigation for Contraband Smuggled Into Jails
County:
2023-11-26: Willamette Week - County’s Downtown Homeless Resource Center Faces $3.3 Million Funding Gap Next Year
2023-11-20: KGW - Prosecutor challenges Multnomah County District Attorney in 2024
Metro:
Federal:
2023-11-22: Mercury - Jewish Activists Blockade Rep. Earl Blumenauer's Portland Office For Second Time in Two Weeks
Transportation:
2023-11-22: Bike Portland - Steel bollards on Naito have gone missing, leaving bike riders exposed to head-on traffic
2023-11-22: KOIN - 88-year-old Portland man dies in July crash, marking city's 64th fatal crash of 2023
2023-11-21: Bike Portland - Free2Move carsharing bites the dust, leaving low-car Portlanders in a lurch
2023-11-20: Bike Portland - Portlanders march to remember traffic victims amid call for safer streets
Education:
2023-11-22: PDX Monthly - Will the Portland School Year End in July? Four Possibilities after the Strike
2023-11-22: Willamette Week - Angela Bonilla Led Teachers Out of Schools and Into the Streets
2023-11-20: Oregonian - Second graffiti of a swastika found at Reed as Israel-Hamas protest and backlash roil campus
Economy:
2023-11-25: KGW - Portland small businesses celebrate small business Saturday
2023-11-22: KATU - Thousands of City of Portland workers still work remotely at least half the workweek
2023-11-21: Willamette Week - J.K. Gill Building, a Portland Landmark, Goes to Auction and Finds No Buyer
Addiction and behavioral health:
2023-11-21: KGW - Psilocybin treatment center to open in Northeast Portland
2023-11-20: KOIN - Oregon wonders what today's 'insane asylum' looks like
Housing:
2023-11-23: PSU Vanguard - Housing insecurity at PSU
2023-11-22: Street Roots - Northeast Portland project offers ethical redevelopment approach
2023-11-21: KGW - Homeless Portland woman struggles to find housing
2023-11-20: Oregonian - Unhoused Portlanders account for 45% of pedestrian traffic fatalities so far this year
Other news
Growth and resilience: