Re: Portland leaders frustrated, say city allowed to set harsher rules for cigarettes than fentanyl: 'It's insane'

On 17 Feb 2022, Lefty Lundquist <[email protected]> posted some
news:[email protected]: 

> You stupid Portlandistan fucks voted for it!  CHANGE IT OR LIVE WITH
> IT!  FUCK YOUR WHINING! 

City leaders say they've been hamstrung when it comes to cleaning up
Portland's streets and are calling on legislators to help in the
upcoming legislative session. 

"It is extremely frustrating for us to take the steps that we believe,
and, frankly, that we know we need to take as a municipal government to
address open drug use or to address addiction or to address
unsanctioned, dangerous and squalid camps in our community," Portland
Mayor Ted Wheeler said. "And yet we don't have all of the tools we need
at the municipal level to be able to get done what we need to have
done." 

CRISIS IN THE NORTHWEST: ARE VOTERS 'BEYOND A TURNING POINT' AFTER
DECADES OF PROGRESSIVE POLITICS? 

The Portland City Council has passed two main ordinances addressing drug
use and homeless camps in the last year that promptly hit road blocks. 

Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance banning public drug use
in September, but noted that the law couldn't go into effect until state
lawmakers pass legislation allowing them to enforce it. 

"It is insane," said Commissioner Mingus Mapps, who is running to
succeed Wheeler as mayor. "The city of Portland can make rules about
where you can smoke a cigarette, but I cannot make any binding rules
about where you smoke fentanyl. That is part of the reason why Portland
looks the way it does, and that needs to change." 

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The council also passed an ordinance last June banning people from
blocking access to Portland businesses or sidewalks with tents from 8
a.m. until 8 p.m. But the Oregon Law Center sued, alleging the
restrictions violate the state constitution and existing laws, and a
circuit court judge blocked the city from enforcing the ban. 

"We're going to end up winning this challenge," Commissioner Dan Ryan
said. "Because the fact is, we need to provide services for people who
are on the streets during the day, and we need to free up our public
right of way." 

The Oregon Law Center is also behind the upcoming Supreme Court case
over how local governments can respond to homeless people camping on
public property. 

HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS REMAIN IN PORTLAND, DESPITE TENT BAN: 'IT'S
BULLS---' 

Oregon lawmakers will meet for a short legislative session beginning
Feb. 5. Their biggest agenda item is likely to be reforming Measure 110,
the voter-approved law that decriminalized possession of small amounts
of all drugs. 

Drug possession is currently a Class E violation in the state and police
can cite offenders with a $100 ticket, which can be waived if the
suspect calls a hotline to complete a treatment assessment. Almost no
one calls the hotline or pays the fine, and open-air drug use and
overdoses have surged in areas like Portland. 

Several polls show Oregonians favor re-criminalizing hard drugs and
making treatment required, not voluntary, as a jail alternative. 

Both Mapps and Ryan called reform a "common sense" move.

"Oregonians are not happy with how [Measure 110 has] been implemented,"
Ryan said. "It's our job as legislators and public servants to listen to
that and admit that we have to roll it out with some improvement." 

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Lawmakers on the Democrat-controlled Joint Committee on Addiction and
Community Safety Response have proposed making drug possession a Class C
misdemeanor — the state's lowest crime classification — punishable by up
to 30 days in jail, a $1,250 fine, or both. 

Oregon Republicans want to make possession of drugs like fentanyl,
heroin and meth a Class A misdemeanor and require treatment to avoid
jail. If convicted, drug users could face up to a year in jail, a $6,250
fine, or both under their proposal. 

Lawmakers will have just 35 days to come to an agreement once the
special session begins next month. 

Wheeler said he needs Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, the legislature and county
government to work with the city, even if that means changing their
views on homeless camp sweeps and drug policy. 

"If they really want to see this community improve the way it needs to
improve, they need to get into line with what this city council is
doing," he said. "We're unified as a city council … but if the courts
and the legislature, and other political players in this state who hold
sway over what we do continue to block us, it makes our job all that
much harder." 

"We'll work around them. We'll find other solutions," he added. "But it
would be great if we could all get on the same page." 

‘FENTANYL NEXUS’: PORTLAND POLICE’S BIKE SQUAD FACES ‘EXPLOSION’ OF
OPEN-AIR DRUG USE 

Wheeler has presided over some of Portland's most difficult years in
recent history. The city suffered massive economic losses during the
coronavirus pandemic and, nearly four years later, downtown foot traffic
still has not fully returned. 

Protests and destructive riots seized the city for more than 100
consecutive nights after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Homicides hit a record high, homelessness continued to soar and open-air
drug use became commonplace. 

The mayor told Fox News he was "happy to say we're making really good
progress" on public safety and livability issues. Homicides and
shootings dropped dramatically last year. Assaults and car thefts also
decreased in 2023, according to Portland Police Bureau data. 

"We've hired more police officers, we've expanded patrols, we've put
foot patrols back into the central city," Wheeler said. 

And while PPB continues to suffer from staffing shortages, the city
council has "funded private sector security in particular hot spots,"
according to the mayor. 

To hear more from Portland's city leaders, click here.

https://news.yahoo.com/portland-leaders-frustrated-city-allowed-170039618
.html