8 April 2024

The TRUTH Behind Oregon’s Fentanyl State of Emergency

On January 30th, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, and Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency in a last-ditch effort to address the state’s deadly fentanyl crisis which has already claimed thousands of lives....

13 November 2023

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...

26 June 2023

Clackamas County Considers Recriminalizing Drugs: Measure 110 in the Hot Seat

Published in Willamette Week Clackamas County Commissioners are deliberating on potentially overturning Oregon's drug decriminalization law amidst concerns over a surge in drug overdoses. Measure 110, which reduced penalties for drug possession, is under scrutiny as officials weigh its impact...

27 March 2023

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...

5 October 2022

Rights and Responsibilities

Many of the most important public policy debates these days are the result of fundamental disagreements on what, exactly, rights are. Some people are quickly to declare everything they want to be a “right,” meaning that the rest of society...

10 February 2021

Freefall from the Free-For-All

A simple drive on the freeway through Portland and the sight of all its homeless camps confirms what many have suspected for a long time—the tendency in this state towards the legalization of drugs has come with tremendous consequences for...