The Liftoff: Controversies with past, present, and future legislators
PLUS: VP Kamala Harris' husband comes to Oregon; Oregon's new federal judge; Senate GOP Leader hires a familiar face (and name); the possible end of the Sweet Cakes controversy; and more!
Welcome back to The Liftoff!
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1. National Republicans believe that they can flip the Oregon Senate in 2022
From the Oregon Capitol Chronicle: “The Republican State Leadership Committee in March listed Oregon as one of several liberal strongholds where it would be possible for GOP candidates to make ‘meaningful gains.’ On Wednesday, less than a week after the national group released an internal poll showing Oregon Republicans leading on generic legislative ballots, the committee added Oregon to its list of Democratic-controlled legislatures where Republicans could seize power after the 2022 election.”
Why this matters: Targeting from national groups matters because it usually signals resources. From the Chronicle: “The committee already gave $140,000 each to caucus political action committees for House and Senate Republicans.”
Reality Check: Legislative maps still present an uphill climb for Republicans in Oregon, particularly in the House. Democrats have voter registration advantages in far more seats—so the question is: will Republicans over-perform by a large enough margin to tie a chamber? Some have speculated that, if resources become scarce, GOP donors may focus disproportionately on swing Senate seats—as tying the Senate could end up being their best bet of creating a “backstop” (compared to the House and Governor’s office). Stay tuned!
2. Current, former, and potentially future legislators in the news
From the Capitol Chronicle: “Woodburn mayor, state House candidate report sexual contact at massage parlor”. Mayor Eric Swenson (who recently dropped out of the race for state senate) and legislative candidate Anthony Medina both went to the same parlor—but had very different experiences.
Rep. Susan McLain received a national award for her work as an educator.
Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Anne Lininger was asked to recuse herself from the Oswego Lake access case because of a meeting she had as a state legislator; she declined. A Multnomah County Judge will determine whether she’ll continue to preside over the case.
State Rep. Marty Wilde is running for a position on the Lane County Circuit Court.
In a new article from The Astorian, some of the founders of Timber Unity say that former state representative Julie Parrish “hijacked” their movement and “dictated nearly everything #TimberUnity did, fueling turmoil and toxicity.”
3. Hirings and firings among Oregon’s key leaders
President Joe Biden has nominated Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson to serve on the federal bench. She would be the first Black female federal judge in Oregon.
After some initial eligibility questions, it’s official: Senate GOP Leader Tim Knopp has tapped his son, Reagan Knopp, to serve as Chief of Staff for the Senate GOP Caucus. Knopp will replace Branden Pursinger, who will be joining the Association of Oregon Counties, on August 1. Both Knopps are friends of the pod: check out our episode with the Senator, and our most recent with Reagan.
Four of the state’s top executive leaders on affordable housing are leaving their positions—just as an influx of cash arrives.
Central Oregon has only one hospital system: St. Charles Health System. CEO Joe Sluka just announced his resignation amid severe financial challenges for the system. Additionally, St. Charles laid off two top executives to reduce costs: Chief Physician Executive Jeff Absalon and Senior Vice President Strategy Rod Marchiando.
4. This week on The Bridge: Can Portland end homelessness?
Beth Sandor from Community Solutions (a national nonprofit working to end homelessness) and Lori Kelley from the Joint Office of Homelessness Services (a collaborative effort between Multnomah County and the City of Portland) join the podcast to discuss a new approach to addressing homelessness in the metro area.
In this episode, we discuss what the "Built for Zero" program actually does (and where they've seen remarkable success), the controversy from a recent Willamette Week article (linked below), and some important information that politicos should understand about homelessness (e.g. how the "point in time" count works and why it's problematic).
Links Referenced in the Episode:
Willamette Week Article: Could Portland End Homelessness With a By-Name Directory of People Living Outside? Officials Are Going to Try.
Built for Zero from the Joint Office of Homelessness Services
5. Portland News: PDX listed as one of Time’s greatest places, Starbucks closing locations due to safety, and Wheeler’s spat with a reporter
Portland was recognized on Time Magazine’s list of the “World’s 50 Greatest Places.” The city was cited for its commitment to “planet earth, with new infrastructure for bikers and walkers”. Check out the full write-up here.
Several Portland-area Starbucks made a list of locations that the company is planning to close due to “safety concerns”. The locations that will soon close are on Southwest Fourth Avenue and Morrison Street in downtown Portland and a location at the Gateway complex. Starbucks is planning to close 16 locations in total across the country. Read the full story over at The O.
Finally, Mayor Ted Wheeler was put on the defensive last week after a recent piece from Oregonian homelessness reporter Nicole Hayden titled “Mayor Ted Wheeler says Portland’s new homelessness strategy succeeds – but there’s no evidence it helps house the homeless”. Wheeler responded to the piece on Twitter disputing a portion of the article about a disabled homeless woman named Mama Kat—which then evoked a response and follow up story from Hayden countering the mayor’s statement.
6. ECONorthwest explores the economic impact of outdoor recreation in Deschutes National Forest
This section was authored by ECONorthwest.
The Pacific Northwest conjures images of hiking boots, serene moss-bound forests, and cascading falls—and during the COVID-19 pandemic, more people than ever are finding relaxation and solace in engaging with the outdoors. This surge of backcountry activity has led to heavy use of forests and recreation areas. However, without increased resources and attention to go along with increased use, the trails people love could fall into disrepair. To address this issue, ECONorthwest worked with the U.S. Forest Service and Deschutes Trails Coalition (a local stewardship group) to evaluate the contributions of Deschutes National Forest to the local economy as well as the wellbeing of the regional resident and visitor population.
ECO’s research found that the Consumer Surplus for the trail system in 2021—or the difference between what someone actually paid for an experience and what they would be willing to pay—was $82.5 million; locals claim the majority there as they are more likely to be frequent visitors. Spending—all retail/restaurant/gas/hotel/other trip-related expenditures while folks are on trail-based trips—was also around $80 million. Non-locals, since they're coming from farther away and need to purchase hotel rooms, restaurant meals, rental cars, etc., tip the scale there. There are also nearly 900 trail-dependent jobs within Deschutes County.
Using this data, we projected visitation, costs, and benefits of the trails 30 years into the future. We found that at its current trend, Deschutes National Forest needs at least $1-$2 million in additional annual funding just for maintenance (including deferred) to keep the trail system in a functional condition. Other capital investments are justified as well, considering the trends in outdoor recreation demand. The benefits and economic impacts are enjoyed by regional residents and visitors alike, justifying these investments that return benefits orders of magnitude greater than the costs.
7. OVBC: How Oregonians feel about the threat of wildfires
Thanks to our friends at the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center for this week’s graphic, demonstrating Oregonians’ feelings about the threat of wildfires to local communities.
8. News Roundup: Second gentleman comes to town, Sweet Cakes case gets resolved, and gubernatorial candidates on abortion
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff was in Oregon to speak with Governor Kate Brown, UO President Michael Schill, and other on the topic of mental health. Emhoff, Brown, and Schill were all on hand to watch the World Athletic Championships in Eugene.
Following a Supreme Court ruling, Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle has reduced the financial penalty levied against Sweet Cakes by Melissa for illegally discriminating against a lesbian couple. They will now be required to pay $30,000 in damages instead of $135,000.
Both OPB and Willamette Week explored the positions of the three gubernatorial candidates on abortion—and its more confusing than you might think.
From the Capitol Chronicle: “Millions earmarked for cooling, heating, clean air yet to benefit Oregonians”
Tragedy Strikes: University of Oregon football player Spencer Webb tragically passed away during a cliff diving accident in a popular swimming spot in Lane County.
What has Brad Avakian been up to since leaving his role as Labor Commissioner? It involves deer antlers.
Leslie Wright, who filed to run for “mirror” of Oregon City, is ineligible to run for mayor for failing to meet the city’s residency requirement—but his name will still appear on the ballot after a judge ruled “mirror” was sufficient for showing intent to run for mayor.
From KATU: Demand for marijuana in Oregon is plummeting—and so is the price.
Thank you for reading.
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About the Authors
Ben Bowman is the chair of the Tigard-Tualatin School Board and a Democratic candidate for Oregon House District 25 (Tigard and Beaverton). In his day job, he works for the Oregon Department of Education. Previously, he worked as a legislative aide for former Reps. Margaret Doherty and Val Hoyle. He also co-hosts The Oregon Bridge podcast. In the newsletter and podcast, he speaks only for himself.
Alex Titus is a small business owner and consultant to businesses, nonprofits, and associations. Previously, he served as an Advisor in the Trump Administration and as a Policy Advisor to President Trump’s Super PAC. His writing has appeared in National Review, Fox News, The Hill, RealClearPolitics, and other publications. He also co-hosts The Oregon Bridge podcast.