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      Clackamas Won the Fight Against the Decriminalization of Killer Drugs…But the Fight Isn’t Over

      The people of Oregon have won a hard-fought battle against the nightmare of drug decriminalization. Governor Tina Kotek will sign House Bill 4002 into effect which officially recriminalizes the possession of illicit substances. After three devastating years of Measure 110, Oregonians have demanded immediate action in the wake of soaring overdoses, surging crime, and an exacerbated homelessness epidemic.

      Within a few months of Measure 110’s controversial implementation, it was clear voters had been sold a bill of goods. The elites in Portland cleverly shrouded their controversial drug experiment in a cloak of compassion. This was the only way they could smuggle in radical woke policies that would’ve been unconscionable to the average voter. People have finally seen Measure 110 for what it is: a bloody free-for-all of killer drugs.

      Clackamas County has proudly led the charge against Measure 110. Way back in June 2023, the board of county commissioners checked in with residents and received an overwhelming chorus of family members, friends, coworkers, concerned neighbors, and recovering addicts calling for a repeal. After urging surrounding communities to follow suit, over a dozen of Oregon’s 36 counties agreed to put the future of drug decriminalization on a ballot in May.

      The growing pushback against the abject failure of Measure 110 ended up forcing the legislature to stop gambling with people’s lives immediately. Passed with widespread bipartisan, HB 4002 reimposes criminal penalties for the possession of illicit substances including heroin, methamphetamines, cocaine, and oxycodone. This reequips the government with a crucial mechanism for coercing treatment from offenders with substance abuse disorders.

      Now, those possessing minor amounts of these hardcore drugs have the choice between incarceration of up to 180 days or treatment of up to 18 months. Violators of the recovery channel face 30 days of prison for the infraction. On top of that, the bill beefs up spending on recovery and addiction treatment. However, critics point out that no elevation in funding has made a considerable impact thus far.

      While HB 4002 is a ray of hope for Oregonians, it’s not as robust as some people might have hoped. It leaves the possession of killer drugs as a Class E violation, the lowest offense possible. Furthermore, the legislation doesn’t undo no-cash bail which lets drug dealers and violent offenders walk free. Instead, it simply instructs the Supreme Court to “reevaluate” early release.

      Suggested Reading: Portland Lets Suspect in State’s Biggest Fentanyl Drug Bust Walk Free

      The Clackamas County Commission represents one of the most diverse counties in the state. This fact is reflected by the board’s wide-ranging backgrounds and political persuasions. However, we’ve consistently found strength in our differences to uphold the will of the people. The recriminalization of hard drugs is another example of the victories this commission has been able to rack up. This is a considerable shift in the right direction, but the fight isn’t over.

      The ‘Clackamas Way’ for Tackling Homelessness

      With Oregon racking up one of the nation’s highest homelessness rates, no county in Oregon has been unaffected by this harrowing epidemic. It’s a statewide issue. Just a few years ago, Multnomah County and Clackamas County were in a similar position. After taking two very different paths to solve the problem of homelessness, the results speak for themselves.

      The Portland Model – informed by politics, ideology, and idealism – has overseen skyrocketing homelessness numbers with a 20% jump in 2023 alone. In stark contrast, the “Clackamas Way”, which is driven by common sense, results-oriented solutions, and the will of the people, has reduced chronic homelessness by 45%.

      Instead of tossing taxpayer money at the problem, the Clackamas County Commission pulled together experts from around the country to ensure our strategies for tackling homelessness were effective, fiscally responsible, and realistic. We drew upon the expertise of local, state, and national thought leaders, nonprofits, elected officials, community volunteers, faith leaders, and business representatives to ensure everyone had a voice in our eventual solution.

      When the first tentacle of Portland’s failed homelessness initiatives slithered into view, the commission listened to Clackamas residents by drawing a bright red line at the county border. We’ve developed functional housing programs as part of a comprehensive homelessness strategy that offers shelter when people are ready for that crucial step, not when it’s politically expedient.

      The Clackamas Way of solving homelessness is also set apart in its willingness to address root causes. Drug addiction and mental health disorders are a part of the problem, so they need to be part of the solution. While Portland is too busy blaming homelessness on abstract concepts such as “inequity” or “oppression”, Clackamas County is committed to dealing with these underlying challenges head-on through recovery and treatment-oriented programs.

      Multnomah County’s unwillingness to admit the connection between addiction and homelessness bars it from fixing the horrific consequences of Measure 110. This haphazard and short-sighted bill has made it harder for those struggling with housing insecurity. In Clackamas, we’re saying NO to Measure 110 by spearheading the push to repeal this failed experiment. Due to our efforts, Clackamas County as well as counties across this state are referring a vote on this issue to the May ballot.  United, we will make them listen to us.

      Portland elites pay lip service to the importance of recovery but their soft-on-crime policies have eliminated the only legal mechanism for enforcing effective treatment programs. Clackamas County is able to back up its recovery strategy by holding struggling individuals accountable and getting them the resources they need to get better. This is a crucial yet overlooked component of the effort to help people overcome homelessness when drug addiction is involved.

      The Clackamas Way has been successful in alleviating homelessness and addressing its underlying causes. The county needs to remain on its current path while firmly rejecting Portland Creep to continue making progress in this crucial area. In the next election, residents must vote for commissioners who are committed to this vision and willing to listen to the people. I’m proud to stand on the side of effective solutions and responsive leadership. 

      Putting Public Safety First

      In Clackamas County, public safety isn’t just a talking point thrown around to win cheap political points – it’s a priority. This commission has remained steadfast in its commitment to end the importation of disastrous policies of Portland Creep.

      This is evident in the tangible steps we’ve taken to ensure the security and well-being of our community, distinguishing us as a county that doesn’t just speak of safety but actively fosters it. While our neighbors grapple with rising crime and thwarted law enforcement, Clackamas stands apart as a model of safety. The difference is ideas, not geography.

      Let’s revisit some effective policies that have successfully turned Clackamas County around.

      Supporting and fully funding the police.

      Amid the “Defund the Police” movement, Oregon counties across the state implemented a slew of radical soft-on-crime policies in the name of equity, racial justice, and other ultra-progressive policies. Instead of succumbing to peer pressure and political trends, the Clackamas County Commission put the public’s safety first.

      We doubled down on our commitment to fully fund the police force in terms of finances and resources. Our 2023-2024 police budget is 88% of Multnomah’s budget despite the significant population disparity. That means we’re spending more per citizen on public safety which translates to quicker response times, sufficient resources for police, and a safer community overall.

      In total, 65% of Clackamas’ general funds are going towards public safety in the 2023-2024 county budget, underscoring our acknowledgment of a fully funded police force as the cornerstone of public safety. Law and order matters, and we’re not apologetic about that.

      Reviving the old courthouse.

      A courthouse is a vital component of a smoothly operating criminal justice system. It ensures timely trials for the accused, efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and improved safety for the public. When this current commission took the reigns, the nearly-a-century-old Clackamas Courthouse was on the verge of being condemned.

      While previous leaders flirted with the idea of funding through a public bond, we stood resolute in our promise to deliver a new courthouse without raising taxes. After securing nearly $100 million from the state, we pioneered a groundbreaking public-private partnership which was the first of its kind in Oregon.

      Right out of the gate, we saved tens of millions of dollars without assuming any of the financial risk. The new 215,000-square-foot courthouse will have the capacity to handle the county’s criminal justice needs now and well into the future to ensure the safety and protect the rights of all citizens.

      Addressing the root causes of homelessness.

      The state’s homelessness epidemic wasn’t caused by Clackamas County, but we are handling this crisis with more success than most counties. We’ve put an end to the doomed-to-fail and cost-prohibitive housing projects that incorrectly blame the cost of living for the steep rise in homelessness.

      Instead of chasing trends, we’re focusing on the root causes of homelessness such as drug addiction and mental health. That’s why we’ve been able to reduce the unsheltered homeless population by 45% while surrounding counties see uncontrollable spikes. By focusing on recovery and treatment, Clackamas has effectively helped nearly half of its homeless get their lives back.

      In the end, this proactive and effective approach has increased public safety by reducing homeless-related crime and improving addiction recovery programs. While other counties might rest on their laurels, we’re pushing ahead to the next challenge to public safety: Measure 110.

      Pushing for the repeal of Measure 110.

      Controversial from the outset, Measure 110’s decriminalization of killer drugs was sold to the public under the guise of compassion, equity, and – most absurdly – public safety. The extreme legislation not only failed miserably on all accounts but managed to increase the crime and addiction rates to new highs and erode public trust in the competency of leadership.

      While surrounding counties search for excuses or call for band-aid “fixes”, the Clackamas County Commission is unequivocally demanding a complete repeal of Measure 110. We see through the smoke-and-mirror show put on by the “Drug Addiction and Recovery Act” advocates. This legislation is a death sentence for addicts and victims of violent crime.

      Instead of putting blind faith in lifetime politicians or “so-called” experts, we’re putting the power back in the hands of the people. Clackamas County Commissioners voted unanimously to put the fate of Measure 110 up to a popular vote in the May 2024 primary election. This bold move has inspired similar action from over a dozen counties and municipalities throughout Oregon.

      Portland Lets Suspect in State’s Biggest Fentanyl Drug Bust Walk Free

      Recently, Oregon reached a grim milestone: the state’s largest fentanyl drug bust. What could have been a heartening story of textbook police work, the prevention of countless overdoses, and the halting of a dangerous criminal is instead a glaring indictment of failed Portland policies.

      This debacle not only reveals an inability to effectively deter criminals but also a failure to protect the most vulnerable members of the community. Furthermore, it highlights the type of behavior that is encouraged under a flawed criminal justice system.

      Portland’s Largest Fentanyl Bust

      A few weeks before Christmas, the Dangerous Drugs Team busted a massive drug ring, uncovering 52 pounds of fentanyl in Portland and over 8,000 fentanyl pills in Oregon City. Going off DEA stats, the drug dealers were about to release enough drugs to kill everyone in the state nearly three times over.

      In a move emblematic of the Portland model, the main drug dealer, Luis Funez was allowed to walk free on the same day of his arrest. Apparently, having enough fentanyl to kill 11 million people doesn’t nullify your get-out-of-jail-free card. Ready for the real kicker? This wasn’t the first time Funez had been arrested for dealing fentanyl in Portland.

      In 2021, Multnomah County adopted controversial bail reform which ultimately led to Funez’s premature release. As anyone could have guessed, the perp didn’t show up to court the following morning. Fortunately, police were able to rearrest the fugitive during a routine traffic stop a few days later.

      When you have to rely on recidivism or sheer criminal stupidity to catch the bad guys, you know something is wrong. At the very least, Portlanders can rest assured that this lead suspect is finally in custody and (at least for now) it doesn’t look like he’ll get released.

      It would be reassuring to say this raid was anomalous, but this comes in a long string of serious fentanyl seizures. As recent as September, police found 28 pounds of fentanyl in a vehicle in downtown Portland. In March of 2022, a then-record high of 20 pounds was discovered. Notice the pattern? The problem is only getting worse.

      The Portland Model is to Blame

      Politicians and ideologues love to tout the theoretical benefits of their policies, but it’s radio silence the second real-life consequences take effect. For years, the Portland elites have experimented with blatantly risky policies to the direct detriment of their constituents.

      You can draw a straight line from limited police funding, soft-on-crime policies, and drug decriminalization to the disastrous outcome of this historic (for now) fentanyl bust. As these policies become more radical, criminals grow bolder and the inevitable harm escalates. It’s a dangerous gamble made on behalf of Portlanders which has only resulted in chaos, harm, and death.

      While they’re held up in their guarded communities and insider circles, Portlanders are suffering the daily consequences of their policies: crime, homelessness, drug addiction, overdoses…the list goes on and on.

      The Results Speak for Themselves

      For Portlanders, this blunder reinforces a stark truth: the city is in crisis. Its failed policies prioritize political correctness over public safety, ideology over practicality, and short-term appeasement over long-term solutions.

      For Clackamas County, this unfortunate event fortifies our commitment to fighting Portland Creep and proves that doing things the Clackamas Way is optimizing safety, preserving sanity, and building a stronger community.

      It’s a testament to our dedication to preserving local control, reasserting our values, and ensuring that our policies reflect the genuine needs and concerns of our residents, not popular political narratives of the day.

      Clackamas County has gone from a follow-the-leader victim of Portland’s policies to a model of sanity for other counties looking to escape the fate of so many Oregon communities. We decided to take a stand, say enough is enough, and chart our course. And, we’ve been all the better for it. Let’s keep doing things the Clackamas Way.

      We can stop tolling permanently!

      Plans are underway to toll the essential freeways we rely on every day in Clackamas County for our transportation needs, but we can stop it!

      Some people might not know this, but the Portland metropolitan area is already under study for tolling on both I-5 and I-205. If implemented, this would be the largest tax increase in the history of Oregon.

      Our commission teamed up with the Clackamas County Department of Transportation and Development to draft a 36-page technical letter outlining the deficiencies with the I-205 Toll Project Environmental Assessment. Ultimately, our technical letter led to the governor declaring a two-year pause on tolling. That’s a good start. However, we now need everyone to do their part and sign IP-4, a constitutional amendment that will require a regional vote before any new toll is imposed. We stopped it but they are still full steam ahead to force tolling on us.

      Signatures are being gathered right now for IP-4 (Initiative Petition 4). IP-4 is a constitutional amendment, meaning it can only be changed by another vote of the people. This will keep politicians from deciding to change this policy without our permission.

      There are many reasons why permanently stopping tolling is important. Any toll would act as a regressive tax on working people who are simply trying to commute to their jobs to support their families. Tolls would limit mobility and regulate the movements of private citizens. Some low-income residents would undoubtedly be forced onto public transit. Because most of Clackamas County is rural, that’s just not practical. Tolls will adversely affect the daily lives and pocketbooks of vulnerable citizens.

      Our local residential areas will also feel the effects. Traffic patterns of side and residential roads will be forever altered, and none of them are prepared to handle that.

      But perhaps worst of all is that there are no guarantees that any revenues raised through tolls will ever go towards improving roads or adding capacity. There will be no accountability whatsoever for how that money will be spent.

      For years, bureaucrats have been treating tolling as a predetermined outcome, but we are not giving up. We can stop tolling with IP-4 but we need your help.

      In order to get IP-4 on the ballot, we need to gather 200,000 signatures by June 2024.

      For more information, and to download a petition, go to www.NoTolling.com.

      Just Say No to Measure 110

      It’s well past time to admit the obvious: Measure 110, which decriminalized extremely dangerous drugs, has been a disaster.

      Presented to voters as the “Drug Addiction and Recovery Act,” this ill-conceived measure is actively destroying the quality of life for all Oregonians. It has enabled people to destroy themselves with deadly and dangerous drugs. Let’s face the facts—Oregonians were sold a bill of goods when Measure 110 was put before them in the November 2020 general election.

      Treatment programs that were promised three years ago still don’t exist. Multnomah County, for example, has huge amounts of money intended for services to addicts, but no clue or direction on how to spend it and no clear vision or sense of urgency. The best idea they’ve come up with so far involved providing drug paraphernalia to users, until the press caught wind and public outrage brought that program to a grinding halt.

      Clackamas County decided to take the lead on pushing back against Measure 110 and other counties are following suit.

      I’m proud to say that in June, our board of county commissioners voted to ask voters if they wanted to repeal Measure 110 in the May 2024 primary election. We’ve urging other counties to do the same in the hopes that the Legislature will take action to modify the measure.

      So far, twelve counties including Marion, Polk and Douglas counties have gotten on board in some form and so has the city of Medford. Other municipalities throughout the state are expected to start doing the same.

      The legislature did not take the time to fix Measure 110’s issues during its regular 2023 session, and now ballot measures are being introduced to fix the mess under Measure 110. One group preparing ballot measures the Coalition to Fix and Amend Measure 110. It is preparing a series of ballot measures for voters in the November 2024 general election. One measure would make minor drug possession a misdemeanor once again. Others would recriminalize fentanyl, meth, and heroin, give offenders a choice between mandatory treatment or jail, and make it illegal to use drugs in public statewide.

      Measure 110 has had terrible consequences for our residents, and as a commission, we are committed to repealing it as quickly as possible.

      It’s time to end this failed experiment. And if the Legislature won’t do it, we the people will do it ourselves.

      Enough is enough.

      Housing Programs That Work

      Despite what people may think and what they read and hear in the press, we’ve actually had a huge reduction in homelessness in Clackamas County over the last year. And we have the data to prove it.

      According to the most recent point in time count, the number of people defined as homeless in the county dropped from 597 the same time in 2022 to 410. That’s a reduction of over 30 percent. Persons defined as unsheltered went from 327 to 178, almost half.

      To help the county board of commissioners get a better sense of the needs out there, a housing inventory was also conducted.

      The assessor’s office has counted over 142,000 dwelling units in Clackamas County. That includes houses, duplexes, triplexes and mobile homes, but not apartments. But a housing needs assessment conducted in 2017 by EcoNorthwest showed a total of 163,650 units.

      Out of all those dwelling units, the county owns, subsidizes or provides vouchers for nearly 7300. The various programs help over 7800 low-income and high-needs residents get into apartments, hotel and motel rooms and assists them with making rent payments.

      Overall, the county has over 4600 regulated affordable housing units. The Housing Authority of Clackamas County provides over 1800 housing vouchers and there are nearly 500 Regional Long-Term Rental Assistance Supported Housing Services vouchers issued to county residents.

      There are almost 50 emergency shelter beds for adults only, over 60 for adults with children and over 25 for youth. Another 44 residents are served through transitional housing programs, 37 through joint transitional and rapid rehousing programs and another 161 through rapid rehousing programs.

      As leaders, it’s important that we use the best available data to make our decisions. What this data shows is that what we’re doing is working. It also shows that county staff is doing an excellent job of obtaining positive results with existing programs and resources.

      It shows that with the right approach, the right locations and with proper public input, you can reduce your homeless population.

      What we’re doing is working.

      It’s official: There will be no tolling on I-5 or I-205 for at least the next couple of years.

      Governor Kotek has directed the Oregon Department of Transportation to put a stop to those plans until 2026.

      At one point, it was considered inevitable. We were told it was a foregone conclusion.

      But those of us who were against it mobilized to express our opposition. We put pressure on elected officials at the local, state and federal levels to join us in taking a stand.

       We fought back. And I can proudly say that we’ve won.

      Make no mistake—some of these officials had every intention of forcing this on us all, whether we wanted it or not.

      What they weren’t expecting was the backlash that followed.

      Every chance we got, we stood up and said no. We told them about how this would hurt working families during already difficult economic times. We told them there would be environmental impacts that they weren’t even considering. We took it one step further and voted politicians who supported tolling out of office.

      The pressure became so great that they actually listened this time.

      But just because plans for tolling have temporarily been paused doesn’t mean they’re going away forever. We can all fully expect this issue to return.

      As the chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, I remain committed to fighting against any tolling schemes. And when this comes up in a couple of years, I will continue to put our citizens first and make sure your voices are heard loudly and clearly.

      It worked this time and it will work again.

      It Takes All of Us – A Community-Centric Approach to Solving Homelessness

      By Tootie Smith

      Chair, Clackamas County Commission

      We all agree communities face the monumental task of addressing homelessness, drug addiction, and mental health across Oregon.  While we did not create this crisis, as elected leaders it is our responsibility to try to solve the problem and do the work to get results.

      I changed my vote on Project Turnkey after listening to the growing opposition, not only from the businesses and residents who live in the Quality Inn area but also those opposing the proposed model as well.  Our residents have witnessed the failed attempts in housing and shelter experiments of our Portland neighbors while also watching the homeless population continue to grow.

      While other counties have opened many Turnkey operations, most all of those are inside larger cities with larger homeless populations.  The difference with Clackamas County is, we have 16 smaller cities scattered throughout the county.  All cities turned down offers to locate Turnkey in their area, leaving the county to bear the brunt of the responsibility.  The only hotels available were in unincorporated Clackamas County.  Residents tend to be very protective of these rural urbanized areas as they have no representative form of government except for the county commission. In the end, resident and business opposition to Project Turnkey outweighed the support.

      Additionally, Clackamas County voters turned down Metro’s Supportive Housing Services Measure 26-10 in 2020, yet because of the affirmative vote by Washington and Multnomah Counties, our residents were taxed against their will.  Added on top of an unwanted tax is Governor Tina Kotek’s emergency declaration on homeless creating another layer of unnecessary compliance and burden on precious staff time.

      It’s time we look at the cause of homelessness and structure programs that lead to recovery while holding people accountable along their path.  My decision was not about one hotel, but about seeking solutions that will benefit our county and all its residents.

      As Commissioners, we will start a discussion around my proposed three-point plan, which is not limited to the following points but will include a universal discussion considering all our commissioners’ opinions.

      1. The Clackamas County Board of Commissioners will hold a series of Homelessness, Causation and Accountability Summits focusing on the cause and solutions for the problems we face. The business community, faith leaders, nonprofit safety net providers, local elected officials, community volunteers and members of the public will be included.

      2. The board of County Commissioners will convene a Blue-Ribbon Committee of thought-provoking leaders at the national, state, and local level to bring best practices and solutions to the table to resolve and treat homelessness issues at the community level.

      3. With the approval of BCC, we will bring a referral to the voters on the question of whether the legislature should overturn Measure 110, which legalized drugs and is a major factor in the growing scourge of homelessness and addiction users.

      While some believe Project Turnkey would have addressed many of these issues, I believe its acceptance in our community was premature.  Now, the public can weigh in on these matters and participate in the decision-making process.

       

      Investing in Our Communities

      As the chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, one of my most important jobs is to ensure that we spend public resources in ways that best benefit our residents.

      Not only does that include county property tax revenues, but outside funds as well.

      Due to the 2021 passage of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the county was allocated a total of $81.2 million. A condition of receiving those dollars is that the county is required to spend them by the end of 2026.

      In early October, the board voted to approve $29 million of those ARPA funds towards a variety of projects all over the county.

      The single largest investment was in libraries. We approved $9 million for the Oak Lodge Library and $6 million for the new Gladstone Library project, for a total of $15 million. I was among those in attendance for the demolition of the old Gladstone City Hall, which will be the location of the new library facility.

      But that wasn’t all.

      The board voted for $4 million in critical infrastructure work, in the form of stormwater repairs. That will result in the replacement of culverts, reduction of flood hazards and drainage improvements in multiple areas.

      We put $4.8 million towards a multipurpose facility at the fairgrounds in Canby. That was after we had already built out the livestock barn there, using $10 million with shared funds from the legislature. This will serve to enhance livestock opportunities for area youth who participate in 4H programs.

      Another previous use of ARPA funds will result in Clackamas County having the largest Oregon State University extension service in the state. The total cost of this project is $20 million. That comes from a combination of ARPA dollars and general obligation bonds that will be paid back over time.

      Once completed, the extension service will emphasize sustainable vegetable, fruit and crop production, as well as cooking and preserving. This is especially important, given the skyrocketing cost of food.

      And even though we’ve now made it possible for several critical projects to get started or move forward, the county still has over $12 million of those ARPA funds remaining. This will allow us to identify any possible priorities that may arise over the next four years that we have to spend those dollars.

      Whenever possible, I’ve made it a point to maximize the county’s share of those ARPA funds. I’ve also sought to leverage funds provided by the members of our legislative delegation. Under my leadership, the county secured significant state funding to replace our outdated courthouse facility. Rising construction costs caused us to get creative and develop a public-private partnership to ensure that we could capitalize on that allocation of state funds.

      So as you can see, many important projects will be taking place throughout the county over the next few months. They represent the board’s commitment to investing in worthwhile projects that will improve the quality of life for county residents for years to come.