6 • The Southwest Portland Post
NEWS
November 2013
Rep. Williamson gives detailed report on Oregon legislature’s special session
MULTNOMAH NOTEBOOK
By Melinda Hasting
The Southwest Portland Post
State Representative Jennifer
Williamson (D-36) gave a detailed
report on the highlights of the re-
cent special session of the Oregon
Legislature. Rep. Williamson, a
freshman, sits on the Judiciary and
Ways and Means Committees.
Rep. Williamson is chairwoman
of the Public Safety Subcommittee
of Way and Means. Highlights in
education included an additional
$100 million in funding for K-12
schools and an infrastructure bond
to fund an additional academic/
student center with a medium-
sized, 5,000 seat concert hall.
Williamson, a former post-sec-
ondary education activist, gained
authorization for a study to deter-
mine the impact of the Pay It For-
ward program, which would create
a financing system for college stu-
dents to pay back their tuition after
graduation through a percentage
of pay upon the attainment of jobs.
The plan is designed to diminish
cost-prohibitive disincentives for
students to pursue lower-paying,
but highly necessary fields of work
such as social work. One idea un-
der consideration is allowing co-
enrollment in community colleges
for certain core subjects.
In public safety reform, William-
son shepherded several policy bills,
Rep. Jennifer Williamson (right) gives a report on the recent Special Session to the
Multnomah Neighborhood Association, October 8. (Post photo by Melinda Hasting)
including one measure that would
improve flexibility in dealing with
low-risk drug offenders by allowing
probation coupled with treatment
options under the Affordable Care
Act.
Funding was also increased
for multi-disciplinary centers for
abused children, and domestic vio-
lence shelters received a doubling
of funding statewide.
A citizen questioned whether
the measures could help negate
the need for two new prisons, and
Williamson answered, “Yes, the
majority of property crimes are
related to drug abuse. These [bills]
address the fundamental impact of
addiction.”
Stephens Creek Crossing
update
A representative from Home
Forward attended the meeting to
discuss the progress on the new
Stephens Creek Crossing afford-
able housing development slated
to open in January 2014. The de-
velopment is designed to replace
the isolated 1968 Hillsdale Ter-
race housing development in the
Multnomah neighborhood.
According to Home Forward,
122 apartments will replace 60
existing housing units. Thirteen
of those units will be provided
to households with less than 60
percent median federal income
and 109 units will be available for
households qualifying for Section
8 and public housing subsidies.
In addition, seven new Habitat
for Humanity homes will be built
for first-time home buyers.
Former Hillsdale Terrace resi-
dents received relocation services
and will be offered the opportu-
nity to return when the construc-
tion is complete.
Sustainability features in the
proposed design include bio-
swales and cisterns to manage
surface water; energy-efficient
geo-thermal “heat exchange”
heating and cooling system; and
construction materials selected
for indoor air quality.
Neighborhood association
elects new officers
The Multnomah Neighborhood
Association elected officers for
the coming year on Oct. 8. Moses
Ross will serve another year as
chairman, and Ellen Houston was
elected Secretary.
Current vice chairwoman, Katie
Brumbelow, will vacate her seat to
serve as the new parks committee
chairwoman. Meghan Vidal has
volunteered to be a member of the
communications committee.
There are still openings for vice-
chair and treasurer; members of
the association interested in serv-
ing in these positions may contact
Ross at mnachair@gmail.com.
PoSt a to Z BuSineSS CaRd diReCtoRy 503-244-6933
Advertise in our
Business Card Directory
Contact Don or Harry at 503-244-6933
for details. Deadline is November 20.
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HANDYMAN
20 years in Multnomah Village!
“Call Kenny!”
Kenneth S. Morse
CCB License #195820
503-939-5452
morseks@aol.com
Excellent SW Portland references
Family &
Cosmetic
Dentistry
503-246-2564
www.mvdentalcare.com
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(Multnomah฀Village฀•฀SW฀Capitol฀Highway฀&฀34th฀Ave.)