Opinion
4A
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Our View
Vote no on
Measure 110
rug abuse and addiction are huge prob-
lems in Oregon. Methamphetamine, opi-
ates (heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone
and others) and cocaine damage and kill thou-
sands of people every year. Few of us reach adult-
hood without knowing someone whose life was
destroyed by drug or alcohol addiction. Some of
us have been victims of crime in which the perpe-
trator was seeking a way to fund their addiction.
There is considerable tension between those
who believe that dangerous drugs should be
illegal, with criminal penalties for their posses-
sion versus those who believe use of these drugs
is primarily an addiction and thus a mental health
and behavioral health issue. Ideally, we should
have a behavioral health system that can inter-
vene before the criminal justice system needs to.
Measure 110 on the November ballot would
redistribute marijuana tax revenue above $11.25
million per quarter — reducing revenue to
schools, state police, mental health programs and
local governments. This revenue would be redi-
rected to a new “Drug Treatment and Recovery
Services Fund” that would grant money to fund
“Addiction Recovery Centers” in each existing
coordinated care organization service area in the
state, as well as “organizations providing sub-
stance use disorder treatment, peer support and
recovery services, permanent supportive housing,
and harm reduction interventions” at no cost to
the recipients.
It also decriminalizes certain drug offenses for
juveniles and adults, such as possession of heroin
(1 gram or less), cocaine (2 grams or less), meth-
amphetamine (2 grams or less), MDMA (less
than 1 gram or 5 pills), LSD (less than 40 user
units), psilocybin (less than 12 grams), metha-
done (less than 40 user units) and oxycodone (less
than 40 pills, tablets or capsules). In doing so, it
removes the judicial system’s authority to man-
date participation in drug courts or other addic-
tion treatment for those found in possession.
The Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police
oppose Measure 110, along with 26 out of 36
district attorneys in the state. They believe law
enforcement plays an important role in getting
people the help they need — and we agree.
The Oregon Council for Behavioral Health
is opposed to Measure 110 because it does not
address fundamental problems in Oregon’s addic-
tion treatment and recovery system. While the
measure provides for screenings and assessments,
it does not, for example, create treatment beds
and outpatient care.
Oregon desperately needs more detox centers,
residential and outpatient treatment options, and
supports for ongoing recovery. We appreciate all
efforts to provide treatment for those whose lives
are controlled by their addiction and to keep them
out of the criminal justice system, but we don’t
think this ballot measure — which seems to be
a test case for the New York-based Drug Policy
Alliance — is the way to do it.
We recommend a “No” vote on Measure 110.
D
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Letters
Pet pigs are welcome in
country town
I have lived in Union for 40-plus
years and we love living in our little
country town. Our pet pigs are just like
other pets, just like your dogs, cats,
horses, goats or even cows. That is one
of the reasons why we like our little
town. So, yes, pigs for (pets) are wel-
come. If you don’t like country living,
maybe Union is not for you to move to
then.
Jodi Falk
Union
B2H route the wrong choice
for wildfire prevention
Recent attention on the Boardman
to Hemingway transmission line and
which route might be permitted in
Union County brings me to share
another option that doesn’t get enough
attention. I have commented on this
option since 2015, at the Oregon Public
Utility Commission. While I honestly
did not have wildfires on my mind back
then, it’s all I can think about these
days.
This option needs to be surfaced and
discussed widely — especially among
land use planners and utility regulators.
The idea is the current 230 kilovolt line
coming through Union County could be
upgraded and “re-conductored.” This
means if Idaho Power really needed
“more capacity,” which Stop B2H and
others dispute, they could upgrade to a
345 kilovolt line on the same poles in
the same corridor.
While doing so, the company could
digitize the line in preparation for
future energy distribution, and it could
fire-harden the line and clean the cor-
ridor, making us all more secure and
safe. There are actually three of these
existing 230 lines going into Idaho (the
others go through the Hells Canyon
complex). Upgrading these three lines
could yield another 345 kilovolts of
transmission capacity for the compa-
ny’s profits.
I guess that’s still not enough profits
for the hungry profiteers? Do they
really need 500 kilovolt — when their
lines are not constrained and people are
using less energy? Apparently, Idaho
Power would rather risk our lives, our
livelihoods, and our cherished land-
scapes and habitats. Get involved —
join www.stopb2h.org — and help Stop
B2H. It’s obviously such a wrong and
risky choice.
Fuji Kreider
La Grande
Vote for Steve Clements, a
proactive public official
My name is Jim Whitbeck and I am
writing in support of Steve Clement in
his campaign for reelection to mayor of
La Grande.
I had the pleasure of working with
Steve in multiple capacities, but would
first like to focus on my time as a city
councilor. I believe one of the most
important competencies for his posi-
tion is a willingness to engage with
new and different ideas, seek compro-
mise and, where necessary, be willing
to “agree to disagree.” Steve not only
demonstrated this capability many
times over, but brought a sense of lead-
ership and responsibility that is often
needed to build consensus and move
challenging conversations forward.
Steve has one of the strongest foun-
dations of public service experience of
anyone in our community. Put simply,
he knows how the processes of our
local government work (no small feat)
and has built the relationships needed
to drive progress. Further, Steve is
nothing if not accessible and open to
input from any citizen seeking to be
heard.
Speaking as the owner of a small
local business, from my earliest days
through the present Steve has been
both a supportive customer and proac-
tive public official in seeking out how
the city can help us thrive. I have also
seen him at every major community
event I can remember, not that I could
miss his energy and enthusiasm if I
wanted to.
Please consider voting for Steve
Clements for La Grande mayor.
Jim Whitbeck
La Grande
Nicole Howard is always
prepared and compassionate
I have lived in the city of La Grande
for just over a year. One of the ways
that helped me acclimate to this com-
munity was to attend the La Grande
city council meetings each month.
Magic happens when you observe a
city council in person; you get to know
what the community cares about, and
you get to know your council represen-
tatives on a human level. (This is also a
letter to advocate for civic involvement.
More people should follow what hap-
pens on city council.)
One of the things I miss most
about attending the city council meet-
ings in person is watching how coun-
cilor Nicole Howard engages with the
people of this community. No matter
the concern, she comes prepared. She
clearly does her homework regarding
council decisions and is always ready
to ask the fact-finding questions. Nicole
also offers a sense of compassion to
everyone with a civil concern. She
carefully considers the needs of the full
community and advocates for the bet-
terment of La Grande. Once when she
noticed two millennials were showing
up to city council month after month,
with no stake outside of interest in their
community, Nicole introduced herself
and asked how she could work for a
better La Grande for us.
I see Nicole Howard as someone
who deeply cares about our commu-
nity, and is working to build bridges
that make our city whole. I encourage
everyone in La Grande to vote for
Nicole Howard to serve another term
on our city council.
Taylor Gould
La Grande