I would avoid this if I was Brim Edwards. The people represented are clearly in the status quo camp contributing to the mess we have in Portland in many ways. The government solution, housing first, the "homeless to housing continuum, continued needle and drug paraphernalia distribution, previous decriminalization, diversion, and abandoning punishment for those that break public law, will not be critiqued here as it should be. The superficial changing of civil commitment law, which has had little effect, will be touted for sure as progress, when it has led to nothing. Aside from Brim Edwards, the others represent the failed attempt by government to house people who are severely mentally ill and non-compliant with any treatment. I and a number of people are angry that the safety, civility, and beauty of some neighborhoods are adversely affected by incentivizing poor behavior. And they are under the impression that government is the solution, when in fact, the solution lies in the minds of those who choose to neglect their health, their responsibilities to their community and to themselves, by avoiding necessary treatment that is available. We should stop funding the homeless industrial complex and instead build out better fundamentals like more police, more acute care psychiatric beds in community hospitals, detox, outpatient mental health care. Support shelter and food and rely on philanthropic efforts by other like the Union Gospel Mission, or other solely independent providers of support to people in the form of housing. No more money to housing until we fix the underlying fundamentals, and even then, only rare cases that require it and are combined with full and demonstrated compliance with treatment.
Whoever wins should be prepared for failure. The structural deficits in mental health and criminal justice are things that Brim Edwards appreciates and will work to improve. It will take ten years to undo the damage here. There is always the possibility we will be surprised and happy with the results for chair. Hopefully they will not make things worse.
I would avoid this if I was Brim Edwards. The people represented are clearly in the status quo camp contributing to the mess we have in Portland in many ways. The government solution, housing first, the "homeless to housing continuum, continued needle and drug paraphernalia distribution, previous decriminalization, diversion, and abandoning punishment for those that break public law, will not be critiqued here as it should be. The superficial changing of civil commitment law, which has had little effect, will be touted for sure as progress, when it has led to nothing. Aside from Brim Edwards, the others represent the failed attempt by government to house people who are severely mentally ill and non-compliant with any treatment. I and a number of people are angry that the safety, civility, and beauty of some neighborhoods are adversely affected by incentivizing poor behavior. And they are under the impression that government is the solution, when in fact, the solution lies in the minds of those who choose to neglect their health, their responsibilities to their community and to themselves, by avoiding necessary treatment that is available. We should stop funding the homeless industrial complex and instead build out better fundamentals like more police, more acute care psychiatric beds in community hospitals, detox, outpatient mental health care. Support shelter and food and rely on philanthropic efforts by other like the Union Gospel Mission, or other solely independent providers of support to people in the form of housing. No more money to housing until we fix the underlying fundamentals, and even then, only rare cases that require it and are combined with full and demonstrated compliance with treatment.
She declined to attend. Personally, I think there are no good choices for County Chair. This is another example of picking the lessor of three evils.
Whoever wins should be prepared for failure. The structural deficits in mental health and criminal justice are things that Brim Edwards appreciates and will work to improve. It will take ten years to undo the damage here. There is always the possibility we will be surprised and happy with the results for chair. Hopefully they will not make things worse.
Thank you, Allan, for this notification!
I attended. The program was an education for me as a very new Portland resident.
Former governor Dr. John Kizhaber was very helpful in identifying the need for a strong Chair.
Mindy Stadltlander is highly focused on housing almost to a fault.
Lance Orton is a living example of what motivated people and a good "client" can achieve.
The people who participated all care. Compassion is not Portland's problem, its not Multnomah County's problem.
The system is uniformly described as underperforming and obscenly costly.
When there is no organizational alternative, I will vote for the individual who offers change and is not afraid to take on her desired changes.
Brim Edwards failed to attend. Unless she was ill, and she was apparently not; shame on her.
Shannon Singleton was present and wants to lead.
Dr. Sharon Meireran has credentials and a plan!