A report by Commissioners on their recent activities and initiatives May 16-31
Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson
Commissioner Vega Pederson contracted COVID-19 in mid-May, despite being vaccinated and boosted. This is a reminder to continue to be cautious to protect those with underlying health conditions. Multnomah County’s public health officer has recommended wearing masks indoors. Top of mind for the Commissioner is protecting teachers and students, who are trying to enjoy the final weeks of school and all that goes with it.
After recovering, Commissioner Vega Pederson delved into the budget, meeting with staff and attending the public budget hearing (the last of which will be held on Wednesday, June 1st).
The Commissioner also joined the AMR River Rescue Team to unveil a statue dedicated to the team, and remind the public about the potential dangers of swimming in our local rivers. As temperatures warm, our rivers are often colder, faster, and deeper than swimmers would expect. This is especially true along the Sandy River, a popular spot to cool off in the summer months. These conditions can make swimming in this water more dangerous and sometimes deadly.
This is why having the AMR River Rescue Program nearby is so critical. They are on the river seven days a week to lend life jackets, give safety talks, and swiftly jump into action if a situation turns dangerous. They’ve saved hundreds of people in the 22 years they’ve been in operation. Last year alone they performed more than 150 rescues.
Commissioner Lori Stegmann
Over the past two weeks, Commissioner Stegmann has been focused on the County Budget, meeting with Department directors to review program offers and with our invaluable community partners who provide critical services to our residents. She has been grateful for everyone who has been able to provide their feedback and attend the budget briefings and public hearings. Commissioner Stegmann looks forward to seeing everyone, in-person or virtually, at the third public hearing on June 1 at 6 p.m.
As the Vance Vision moves forward, Commissioner Stegmann continues to meet with the Vance Project Team to discuss community engagement and develop a work plan for this tremendous community asset.
Last week, she met with Vailey Oehlke, the Director of Multnomah County Libraries to discuss the security of our County Libraries, the importance of maintaining a climate of safety for our employees and residents, and to discuss steps being taken to make improvements.
Commissioner Sharon Meieran
In light of a worsening youth mental health crisis, Commissioner Meieran hosted Multnomah County’s second ever Youth Mental Health Forum in partnership with youth, mental health service providers, community organizations, and local schools. The Commissioner met with the planning committee for months to plan this event to make it a success. Youth from all over the County participated in person and virtually to share their experiences and tell policy makers what they need to be better supported. Stakeholders heard directly from youth recommendations for more parent education to understand mental health challenges, more proactive help from schools and other support systems, and the need for more mental health services, including those that are culturally specific. Commissioner Meieran will continue to work alongside youth and stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels to prioritize youth mental health.
Commissioner Meieran brought forward a resolution to support single-payer universal healthcare in partnership with Commissioner Jayapal. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed the resolution which strongly urges the Governor to request the federal waivers that would allow Oregon to receive the federal dollars for its own state-based single payer universal healthcare system that is comprehensive, equitable, affordable, accessible, and of high quality.
As a doctor, Commissioner Meieran has seen firsthand how unequal access to affordable health care can cause significant harm to families and individuals facing some of the most challenging moments of their life. She believes firmly that money should not dictate whether someone lives or dies and it should not dictate the quality of healthcare they receive. Commissioner Meieran was recently named to participate on the State Task Force on Universal Healthcare and looks forward to continuing to push for a more equitable future.
Older Americans play a vital role in our community. To recognize the continued contributions of older adults in Multnomah County, Commissioner Meieran and the Aging Disability & Veterans Services Division sponsored the Older Americans Month Proclamation. The theme for this year’s proclamation was “Age My Way.” The Board heard testimony from members of the County’s Aging Services Advisory Council, Hollywood Senior Center participants, and Cascade Aids Project Aging Well Program staff. Speakers shared the importance of accessible transportation, technology assistance, culturally specific programs, and other services to support the growing population of older adults and elders.
Commissioner Susheela Jayapal
We know that ending houselessness will take short-term and long-term solutions. With the passage of Metro Ballot Measure 26-210, the Tri-County region has a rare opportunity to confront the true scale of this crisis — to reduce rates of chronic and short-term homelessness along with racial disparities. Commissioner Jayapal is a leader in this work as the Multnomah County liaison for the Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Oversight Committee, that is advising Multnomah County’s local implementation plan, and was recently appointed to the Tri County Planning Body for SHS. The SHS funds are a historic investment from Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties that will help our region build capacity and house, and keep housed, thousands of people.
As part of her work on houselessness, Commissioner Jayapal continues to explore solutions and to engage directly with people experiencing houselessness. People living in their cars are more and more visible throughout our community; oftentimes people living in their vehicles are undercounted in our data. Last week, Commissioner Jayapal toured the Safe Parking Zone Program in Vancouver, WA, to learn more about their program and how it helps people receive resources. The site is well-supervised with city staff on site daily, and contracted security officers present at night, and is a safe and humane location for people to sleep and have access to hygiene services. Later this week, she will visit District 2 locations that are the site of large houseless encampments to learn more about conditions and the needs of those who are camping at those locations.
Upcoming
June 1: Join the third and final budget hearing is Wednesday, June 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. Community members can sign up to testify virtually or send in a written statement at /budget-feedback.
June 4: Join Commissioner Stegmann from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the 2022 Parent Summit at Blue Lake Regional Park’s Chinook Shelter, to “Grow, Revive and Celebrate.” Participating families engage in weekly groups that are parent directed with the support of participating agencies, tackling issues such as education, public safety, COVID, mental health disparities employment and parenting skills.