A vote for Betsy Johnson is a vote for Christine Drazan.

We need to provide a variety of shelter options for those living on our streets. The Menlo Park Safe Rest Village is a new option. This 60-person shelter will provide privacy, dignity, and access to hygiene for unhoused people in east Portland.

Hear ye! Hear ye! If you haven't filled out your ballot for the November 8 election, you should definitely vote for Jessica Vega Pederson for Multnomah County Chair. The Mercury Election Strike Force commands thee! (Check out our other endorsements too!) portlandmercury.com/election-2022/…

Alright now, #Clackamas County! We've got a lot of power to make positive change this election. Up & down the ballot, so many difference makers. Come on out and rally voters for Tina Kotek Jamie McLeod-Skinner for Oregon Senator Mark Meek Annessa for Oregon Janelle Bynum Libra for Clackamas County @CommSonya #Vote

Red trees blue state🗳️🗳️🗳️💯 LFG get your ballot in for Tina Kotek

note that there's no discussion of "moral hazard" here. when it's your kid who is blue & unconscious, no one says "maybe I shouldn't save them because it might encourage someone else." (there's no real world data supporting that idea, either) slate.com/human-interest…

Drug criminalization was never about helping people. It is about power and control. Though police broadly recognize the futility of drug arrests, they vociferously oppose drug decrim. Why? Power and control. /

I think one of the biggest misconceptions the Oregonian and lots of media have about Measure 110 is that its goal was to "pressure more people into treatment." Drug harm reduction policies are meant to meet people where they are at to save lives. 1/4 oregonlive.com/opinion/2023/0…

This is the most important story you can read about #Measure110. We Out Here Magazine sat down with members of the Oregon Black Brown Indigenous Advocacy Coalition: providers focused on serving the people most harmed by the racist War on Drugs. #orleg #orpol weouthere.net/2023/02/oregon…

Fabulous oped on harm reduction and why it matters sfgate.com/politics-op-ed…

It’s almost like if incarceration was good at preventing crime, a nation with the highest incarceration rate in the world would also have a low crime rate.

When I was put into drug court for possession, the court-offered free treatment was 12-stepish groups. To avoid jail, I had to use my private health insurance. Had I not been able to get into detox same day, I’d have gone to jail instead. The facility didn’t take Medicaid. 1/

“We believe that maintaining this felony is not unduly harsh considering the totality of Ms. Godvin’s criminal conduct,” said Kevin Barton’s staff when I asked to have a felony reduced to a misdemeanor 7 years later. oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/12/15/rec…

“I believe if you deal drugs and someone dies, you should be charged with felony homicide, full stop, no questions asked,” Youngkin said. “We cannot coddle drug dealers.” About that, Governor… (A thread about SB 52, the very unwise fentanyl overdose murder bill) 1/

Making possession of certain drugs a crime (even a Class C misdemenor) is insanely expensive and the legislature will not reflect the real financial cost in their pre-decided 'debate' on the issue.

📰Are you a journalist covering drugs, drug policy, and the overdose crisis? 📰 🗞️Want a free copy of my book? 🗞️ You can order a free copy of my book here: newsroom.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/journalist-acc… If you are okay with an uncorrected proof via email, reply with your email below -

These legislators are so far removed from the criminal court process that they cannot describe how a case under the new law would go through the process. If you are a reporter or a citizen talking to them, here are some questions that will reveal their ignorance:

I hope Oregonians are paying attention to who is pushing the recriminalization of addiction. Repealing Measure 110, and pushing HB 4002 ignores why people are addicted, and what is needed to actually address this crises. #orpol #orleg

Did the decriminalization policy in Oregon lead to an increase in overdose? Some media narratives and political interjections projected the notion that decriminalization failed and increased deaths. What’s the evidence say? A real must-read: bit.ly/4d7ZFnv

"Like any health issue, addiction care should be evidence-based, rooted in science, and met with compassion. We must never again settle for a system that uses stigma, shame, punishment and fear as the only way to access help." #orpol #orleg portlandtribune.com/opinion/opinio…