Street roots., May 08, 2015, Page 13, Image 13

Street Roots • May 8-14, 2015
MENTAL HEALTH, from page 7
composed of De Muniz, Watson and Dennis
Rosenbaum, director of the Center for
1
Research in Law & Justice at the University
of Illinois at Chicago - officials told local
media De Muniz’s presence on the team
was a major selling point for the
Rosenbaum group. The Rosenbaum group
was selected over local consultant John
Campbell and local alcohol and drug policy .>
commission executive director Daniel Ward.
The city’s selection advisory committee
recommended Ward.
“It is really important to say that it is g
COCL’s decision as to how to move forward
and the city is here to support them,”
Haynes told Street Roots. “The, Rosenbaum/
Watson team will need a new contract and
they’ll need some technical assistance from
us, and we will be there in lockstep to
support them when they’ve made the
decision because they’re our monitor and so
they’re independent of us. We don’t Want to
be too influential, because they’re
monitoring us, but we’re also there to be
supportive so that we don’t set them up to
fail. So as the team needs support, we will
be there to give it to them and that will be
mostly contractual. We will take care of the
contract and office space and things like
that.” ?
, The mayor has included $600,000 for the
COCL/COAB operations in his new budget
proposal.
Shortly, before De Muniz’s departure,
activists criticized COCL for setting up his
office space in a building on East. Burnside /
that also' housed traffic officers and'’the-
„„OJfice of Neighborhood Involvement’s crime
prevention staff. The city and the DOJ have
also^ome under fire for'failing to properly
educate the public about the settlement in
the weeks before De Muniz stepped down.
Neither Rosenbaum nor Watson
responded to messages asking if they intend
Commentary
to replace De Muniz on the COCL, and
demurred when asked for more- general
comments on next steps.
“We are working with the city and DOJ to
finalize a plan to fill those responsibilities
and keep the group moving forward. Can’t
say more than that until more is
confirmed,” Watson said.
Dan Handelman, head of Portland
Copwatch, told Street Roots he thinks
COCL should replace De Muniz.
“It was a bad faith decision to invite a
team from out of town, against the
recommendation of a hand-picked
committee to Council,” Handelman said.
“TJhey justified that decision by.De Muniz’s ,
- presence. There’s too much going on (180
paragraphs of details) for this to be handled
solely by the folks from Chicago. Even if
they just had administrative help on the
ground, it wouldn’t be enough. They need
1 someone more engaged and supportive of
the community.”
> Watson told Street Roots if the city fails
To meet the settlement’s requirements, the
result would be that it would be under the
supervision of the DOJ and COCL for a | |j
longer period of time.
| “My understanding is if they don’t meet
the requirements, that gets reported back
i to the judge. The judge can keep the city
under the supervision of the court and the
COCL for a longer time,” Watson said. The
text of the agreement requires the city to
have substantially complied with all
provisions of the agreement by Oct. 12,
2017,‘ but notes that minor, occasional
’ violations- riot considered-systemic -
would not disqualify the city from qualifying.
Instead, the COCL and court want to
ensure big-picture, systemic changes are
being made. “They want to make sure that
any changes that aré made are sustainable
so infrastructure is in place that carries
forward,” Watson said. £
Page 13
Love is Just Complicated
by M ik e D.
You ask me to communicate
-
.
What it is I feel within
I search for words to assist
But I feel none to help me begin
I guesg loye is just complicated
Loveis complicated
And now I’m, coming, around to better communication *,
You take off and you run,
And now by doing this to me,
My heart feels really strong. - <,
I found that you were my heart’s desire, '
It was only you I found that quenched my burning fire.
I thought I wanted “A”
But “A” was ‘me, and mixed up with “B” \
And “B” was to be with you
Then “C” was when 1 was more confuspcl / f ’
So “C” turned off nie because that when you chose to leave
So if you cap see “B” feels better than “C”
Now “A” is left upset and lonely
Because you up arid left me,
This why to me I think love is complicated n -
Love is complicated.
A Walk in Paradise
by Don Grubb
To where
To where
To where
To where
I do not know
it may not matter
as long as I hope
dreams never shatter!
Sisters Of The Road
a non-profit cafe in Old Town since
NEW CAFE HOURS
Sisters is open
Tuesday-Saturday
to welcome working families.
Closed on Sunday & Monday
Everyone is welcome.
Tuesday-Saturday 1Oam-2:3Opm
133 NW Sixth Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
main: 503 222 5694
http://sistersoftheroad.org