Oregon’s BIPOC Caucus Reflects on Major Achievements Published: 29 June 2021
The Monday after the 2021 state legislative session ended, nearly a dozen members of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Caucus gathered remotely to discuss significant wins over a hectic few weeks many called historic.
Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-Happy Valley)“Our 12-member caucus presented an ambitious policy agenda to address the roots of structural racism and promote racial equity, accountability, justice, and healing,” Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-Happy Valley) said in her introduction. “This session, our caucus prioritized and delivered on affordable housing, and the houselessness crisis, public safety and police reform and accountability, environmental justice, education, equity, immigrant and refugee rights, economic opportunity and development, health care, infrastructure, health care access and affordability, mental and behavioral health, and cultural preservation and celebration.�
He said virtually all participants support the idea. They support this effort because they understand the huge cultural, environmental and economic value that reopening the locks will have on the region, he said. Establishing the Willamette Falls Locks Authority and reopening the locks will help unlock the potential of the region and positively affect our area for years to come.
The commission s primary task was to draft a plan for reopening the locks.
Meek said more than $900,000 has been amassed for the plan, and more than $650,000 for work to make them operational again. That area is a little bit shoddy looking right now. It is kind of run down, Rep. Jeff Reardon, D-Happy Valley, said. But we are looking at a point where with the continuation of these locks is going to incentivize further development on both sides of the river.
Oregon s state song awaits an official makeover April 18 2021
A House resolution, which moves to the Senate, changes a few words that some argue reflect a racist past.
Oregon s official state song, nearly a century old, is about to get a makeover to remove words that advocates of change say reflect a racist past.
The Oregon House has adopted and sent to the Senate a resolution that changes some of the words to Oregon, My Oregon, which the Legislature approved as the state song in 1927.
House Concurrent Resolution 11, which passed 47-6 on Friday, April 16, replaces the first verse by J.A. Buchanan: Land of the Empire Builders, Land of the Golden West/Conquered and held by free men, Fairest and the Best.
Oregon s state song awaits an official makeover April 18 2021
House resolution, which moves to the Senate, changes a few words that some argue reflect a racist past.
Oregon s official state song, nearly a century old, is about to get a makeover to remove words that advocates of change say reflect a racist past.
The Oregon House has adopted and sent to the Senate a resolution that changes some of the words to Oregon, My Oregon, which the Legislature approved as the state song in 1927.
House Concurrent Resolution 11, which passed 47-6 on Friday, April 16, replaces the first verse by J.A. Buchanan: Land of the Empire Builders, Land of the Golden West/Conquered and held by free men, Fairest and the Best.
Clackamas County stops short on tolling opposition Values document recognizes that legislature, ODOT have authority to charge drivers crossing I-205 bridge.
Clackamas County officials say they are taking a values-based approach rather than outright opposition to tolling in recognition that ODOT has the existing authority to implement tolling and continues advancing the concept.
County commissioners this week adopted the set of values to guide how transportation in the metro region should be funded. The one-page document issued Thursday, April 15, stopped short of calling on the legislature and Oregon Department of Transportation to divert their focus from potential plans to implement tolls.