November 12, 2014
Jîortlanô (Observer
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T H E OREGON WW II
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H onoring V eterans
WHEN CORPORATE FOXES M INE INTERNET COOPS
O pinion
Refugee
Released
Rights activist
free pending trial
O livia O livia
T he P ortland O bserver
A Salvadoran refugee and immi
grant rights activist has won a tem
porary release from federal custody.
U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement officials arrested Fran
cisco Aguirre at a Portland court
appearance on Thursday. Aguirre,
who recently took refuge at a north
east Portland church to avoid de
portation, has been in the United
States for 19 years and has two
American-born children who are
citizens. He is the coordinator o f a
Portland nonprofit that runs a day
labor center.
His appearance in court was to
face a charge of driving under the
by
Immigrant activist Francisco Aguiree pleads for his freedom. (KOIN photo)
influence of intoxicants, which trig-
gered the federal detainer to remove
him from the countiy. After pleading
not guilty to the local charge, he was
taken into custody, but then released
as his deportation order was put on
hold pending the outcome of his DUI
trial which is scheduled for Jan. 13.
Aquiree’s history of a previous
deportation is what weighs heavily
on his current situation - he is fight-
ing to not be sent back to El Salva-
dor from the United States, with the
help of the Augustana Lutheran
Church. The church gave Aguirre
sanctuary beginning with an inter-
faith service in late September,
Aguirre took refuge at the church
after immigration officials attempted
to arrest him at his home in mid
September in Fairview. When the
officers failed to provide a warrant,
he refused to go with them and fled
to the church.
AugustanaLutheran,a900-mem-
ber church, is one of a handful of
Oregon churches that provide sanc-
tuary to undocumented immigrants
and their families.
Aguirre supporters held a protest
Thursday outside the U.S. Attorney’s
Office in downtown Portland.
Marijuana Charges Dismissed
D.A. drops
cases after
legalization vote
A levy that renews a property tax failed by only by 1.2 percent.
bond that supports Portland Public
Measure 91, which allows for the
Schools won by a landslide. The possession, manufacture, and sale
district released a statement saying of marijuana by and to adults, passed
the levy will allow them to hire an with 56 percent approval.
additional 40 to 50 teachers next
Measure 90, which would have
by O livia O livia
year.
changed the May Primary nomina
T he P ortland O bserver
The parks’ replacement bond levy tion process, providing a single
The results of last week's elec also broke at over 70 percent ap
ballot in which the top two candi
tion has already started playing out proval. The money will be used to
dates advanced regardless of politi
its ramifications as the Multnomah prevent more parks from closing,
cal party, failed with 65 percent of
County District Attorney has de maintaining community pools and
voters coming out against it.
cided to dismiss any pending cases other services, like mobility accom
Measure 89, which sought to end
dealing with violation-level mari modations.
sex and gender based discrimina
juana possession.
Multnomah County saw about a tion, passed.
On Monday, D.A. Rod Underhill, 58 percent turnout in the election.
Measure 88, a ballot measure that
the county’s chief prosecutor, said Voters also had their say on food
would have provided an opportu
he would dismiss 50 pending mari labeling,.college funding, and a
nity for undocumented immigrants
juana cases.
gubernatorial race.
to secure drivers licenses in the
Measure 91, which legalized rec
Jeff M erkley won the local race state of Oregon, failed. Undocu
reational marijuana use in Oregon, for U.S. Senator, beating out Re
mented immigrants are still able to
will have a huge effect on the way p u b lic a n c a n d id a te M o n ic a
attain driver’s licenses in the State
the Oregon Liquor Control Commis W ehby by a landslide. Incumbent of Washington.
sion does business as the agency dem ocrat Suzanne Bonamici kept
Measure 87 passed, allowing
will be responsible for taxation, regu her seat as U.S. Representative in
state judges to serve in the military
lation and licensing marijuana.
the 1st D istric t. G ov. John or teach at state public universities.
The new law goes into effect July K itzhaber was re-elected amidst Previously, judges were not allowed
1. But between now and January, c o n tro v e rs y su rro u n d in g his to do either.
the OLCC will be exploring mari fiancé Cylvia Hayes.
Measure 86, which would have
juana policy and enforcement ques
This year's closest race was allowed the State of Oregon to bor
tions through extensive public out Measure 92, which failed by a nar
row money to fund college educa
reach.
row margin. The measure would tion for local students, did not pass.
In other election results, voters have forced food manufacturers and Oregon graduates currently each
gave financial backing to Portland retailers to label genetically engi
owe an average of $26,639 in stu
schools and Portland parks.
neered foods as such. The measure dent debt.