November 17, 2021
Page 2
The
Week in Review
New Prosecutors Hired
School Employees Bonuses
Multnomah County District Attorney
Mike Schmidt has hired four new pros-
ecutors to support investigations involv-
ing firearms. The addition was made
possible by a $1 million investment
from Multnomah County to fight gun
violence.
Portland Public Schools announced last
wek it was awarding bonuses to all PPS
employees who refer a successful appli-
cant to the school district, and a reten-
tion bonus for all PPS teachers and edu-
cators. It comes amid a national staffing
shortage worsened by the COVID-19
pandemic.
Running for City Council
Former Oregon State Rep. Akasha Law-
rence Spence announced that she is run-
ning for the Portland City Council, citing
both an urgent need and an opportunity
to make sure that our city’s recovery is
just, centering those who have been most
impacted by the health and economic
crises of the last two years.”
Union Gospel
Thanksgiving Meals
Feds Call for Body Cameras
The U.S. Justice Department recom-
mended that Portland police wear body
cameras if they are on tactical, traffic
or crowd control operations. The city
currently doesn’t use the cameras, but
has been in negotiations with the po-
lice union over how the cameras would
be used and when officers could review
footage.
Man Drives Into Crowd
A Portland man was arrested Sunday af-
ter driving his vehicle into a small crowd
and hitting a police officer on Sunday on
Northeast Sandy Boulevard where it in-
tersects with Prescott Street. The officer
and a woman were hospitalized for non-
life threatening injuries.
Bipartisan Win for Biden
Racism in Complaints
A new report by the city auditor finds
Portland’s complaint-driven property
maintenance system has led to a dispro-
portionate number of financial penalties
for Portland homes in racially diverse
and gentrifying neighborhoods.
President Joe Biden signed his hard-
fought $1 trillion infrastructure deal into
law Monday before a bipartisan, cele-
bratory crowd on the White House lawn,
declaring that the new infusion of cash
for roads, bridges, ports and more is go-
ing to make life “change for the better”
for the American people.
Union Gospel Mission has started
to cook 100 turkeys in order to be pre-
pared to serve more than 900 Thanks-
giving meals.
Meals will be provided during the
week of Thanksgiving starting Sun-
day, November 22 those living down-
town, in camps all over Portland and
on the east side of the mission’s over-
night shelter.
Donations of pre-baked, packaged
pumpkin pies and coffee (ground or
whole bean) are still needed. Pie and cof-
fee can be dropped off at 3 N.W. Third
Ave. Financial donations are also en-
couraged and can be made online at ug-
mportland.org.
Union Gospel Mission provides meals
and care for the homeless and operates
LifeChange -- a transformative recovery
community for men, women and children.
For more information, call 503-274-4483.
A N I M P O RTA N T M E S S AG E F R O M M E D I C A R E
MEDICARE PLANS CHANGE EVERY YEAR.
Use Medicare.gov to
find plans and to more
easily compare:
· Part D prescription
plans for cost, coverage,
and convenience.
· Medicare Advantage
plans for changes in
network providers,
co-pays, and more.
Need help with Medicare costs?
If your 2021 income is below
$18,000 you may qualify for help
with Medicare costs. To find out
about Medicare Savings Programs
that could be available for you, call
the Oregon Health Authority at
1-800-699-9075.
Find plans at Medicare.gov or call
1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048).
Paid for by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
