Apparent hostage situation at UO ends in arrest

Another dangerous situation highlighting the mental health crisis we and many communities are facing. All too often mental health problems default to our police officers and firefighters as the last line of defense because we have failed to address the problem earlier in the process. We the public are then dissatisfied with the outcome and blame our responders when it is the system we created that has failed. Health and human services, which includes mental health, is a function of county and state government in Oregon, but like our unhoused problem, it is something that effects everyone, and all levels of our government need to work effectively with one another to address this situation. Likewise, our non-profit organizations must work seamlessly and effectively if we hope to bring this problem under control. I know that many of you here locally are thinking, what about CAHOOTS? In fact, I hear many people - with no street level response experience - describe CAHOOTS as the panacea to all of our problems. I agree that CAHOOTS is an important component of our response system and ideally positioned to respond to a band of non-violent or the most basic of medical incidents, but CAHOOTS like police and fire, needs a place to take many of the people they encounter. Otherwise it is like having a good ambulance system but no hospital, or a police force with no jail or alternative facility to provide help. Our mental health system needs a back end to effectively address this problem.

How has Measure 110 measured up

The two keys in addressing drug addiction are preventing drug misuse in the first place and treating those who have fallen into the downward spiral of addiction. As a former career firefighter, I responded all too often to calls where I saw first hand the adverse psychological and physiological effects of drug addiction on individuals, and the collateral damage inflicted upon their families and our community. BM 110, passed by Oregon voters in 2020 securing 58% of the vote decriminalized drug possession in amounts for personal misuse with the intent of getting the addicted into treatment. While I believe that voters thought they were doing the right thing, this change in law and practice has proven to be a dismal failure for a variety of reasons. Many of those working close to the problem predicted this outcome. For the misuser, addiction is powerful force and too few are strong enough, motivated enough, or care enough to voluntarily enter and complete treatment. The choice to confront one's addiction also requires continued work post treatment to remain drug free. I specifically remember one call many years ago involving a young man who was experiencing withdrawals from the lack of having opiates in his system. He was in agony. When I asked him to describe what he was feeling he responded (paraphrased) that it was like the worst flu you could ever have multiplied by a factor of 10. Considering that one can replace the symptoms of withdrawal with euphoria for $5 to $10, it's no wonder that many who suffer from addiction are unwilling and unable to fight this demon on their own, or even willing to voluntarily seek treatment. As a society we need to come up with new strategies for addressing this problem, a problem that plagues people from every strata of our society, but is especially prevalent in our unhoused community. BM 110 is not the answer the voters of Oregon were seeking. We need to go back to the drawing board and find better ways to address this problem.

Living in limbo

The crisis of eviction has been facing people struggling economically from the pandemic across our state. Both renters and landlords alike are facing financial challenges that are placing them in a precarious position. The renters facing the prospect of becoming unhoused. The landlords, many of them using their property to generate income or equity in preparation for retirement stand to lose big time by the set of circumstances thrust upon them by COVID-19. In the near term we need to find a path forward the keeps people in their homes while also protecting those who must pay mortgages on the properties they own. Looking forward, we must build a more robust safety net that will help us survive future events. During these difficult times as we confront the problem of being unhoused, we cannot be adding more people to the problem. From a humanitarian and economic standpoint it makes more sense to keep people in the housing they already have rather than having to find new housing once they are displaced. This debate also leads into the need in our community to increase our housing stock. The reality is that we need more housing at all levels with special emphasis on affordable housing.

Blocking CA forest management risks more climate disasters

Climate change is most definitely impacting wildfire behavior in the west and nothing I am saying here is intended to deflect attention from this issue. Prolonged drought, drying, dead trees and brush and erratic weather patterns all play a role in this problem. At the same time past forest management practices are also a contributing factor. Firefighters who have been on the front lines for a period of time can tell you that fires burning in areas where thinning and brush mitigation has been applied burn slower, are less volatile, and burn with less intensity than those occurring in unmanaged areas with crowded stands of trees and thick underbrush which can rapidly communicate the spread of fire. Our forests need to be managed in a way that reduces the spread rate when fire occurs.

Terms for downtown housing project approved

The Montgomery downtown housing project will replace the old dilapidated downtown LCC building and provide 129 units of much needed housing in the core of our city. At least 51% of the building's units will be for people making 80% of the area median income or less. The developers are committing to a 35 year timeline for retaining this mix of occupancies which is 15 years longer than the City asked for and is better for our community. In the mix, 10 units will be set aside for survivors of domestic violence.

‘Lawless city?’ Worry after Portland police don’t stop chaos

Hopefully this is NOT a glimpse into Eugene's future. Portland's example should be of concern to us all.

An opportunity for respectful dialogue on salmon and dams

Another interesting opinion on the conversation of salmon versus dams and hydroelectric generation capacity, our northwest's largest source of renewable energy. I'm not taking position on this because I feel both concerns are valid. However, this debate does have real implications for our future regardless of the path we ultimately choose.

Value of offshore wind rising

A possible replacement source of renewable energy for the loss in hydroelectric energy generation due to regulatory changes, federal court decisions and drought.

Hydropower decline in Western US strains grids

In addition to federal policies and the courts imposing measures to preserve fish, habitat and endangered species, hydroelectric generation capacity, one of our largest sources of renewable energy is also being reduced by drought. We must find a way to navigate these unprecedented times.

Setting strong foundations - A look at Eugene's first Safe Sleep site

Eugene's first supervised Safe Sleep Site opens and can accommodate up to 55 RVs, trailers and vehicles occupied by people without housing in our community. This is the first step in humanely getting the unhoused in Eugene off the streets and reclaim our parks, public spaces and right-of-ways.

Finding safe passage

Register Guard article on preserving salmon runs and protecting endangered species with regard to dams

Officials approve 3 more Safe Sleep sites

Officials approve 3 more Safe Sleep sites

COSTLY CLEANUPS - ‘Finish line’ still far away

Part III on Eugene's Unhoused Problem

Too little, too much

Community opinions on Eugene's unhoused problem

Eugene's costly cleanups

Everyone Village, a sanctioned camp site for the unhoused

MPC tour of regional transportation system projects

Local government officials tour Oregon Department of Transportation work being done in our area

Officials pass parking regulation changes

A note of clarification from Councilor Randy Groves: My council motion that precipitated this ordinance change was based on blocked access for trucking into and out of businesses, lawlessness (serious criminal behavior), chronic dumping of garbage and raw sewage into city streets and wetlands, and the uncontrolled camping that was placing workers, other unhoused campers, customers and businesses in jeopardy in West Eugene. A council majority then moved to expand the motion to include all of Eugene. The ordinance change is intended to support the establishment of the "Safe Site" camps which will come on line shortly and provide organized and managed safe spaces giving our unhoused community a place to go. This ordinance is not about picking on the unhoused, it's about restoring order to an unmanaged, chaotic and dangerous situation. The ordinance change will only be effective if we dedicate enough resources to support enforcement.

COVID 19 drive through shot clinic recognition

Rotarians from the Eugene Rotary Club have contributed countless hours of volunteer time over the past months making the drive through shot clinic at the Lane County Fair Grounds administer over 55,000 doses into Lane County arms!

Public provides feedback on CSI Funding

City Council to determine distribution of Community Safety Initiative (CSI) public safety funding