Oregon
Oregon GOP legislators introduce bill to end Measure 110
PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Oregon House Republicans introduced legislation Thursday to repeal the voter-approved Measure 110 which reduced criminal penalties for people caught with small amounts of illegal drugs in the state.
The chief sponsors of the bill are Rep. Rick Lewis (R-Silverton), Republican House Leader Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River), Rep. Tracy Cramer (R-Gervais), Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem), Rep. Ed Diehl (R-Stayton) and Rep. Christine Goodwin (R-Canyonville).
Measure 110 audit finds serious lack of accountability, slow rollout of services
Sponsor Rep. Lewis said the bill is in response to a failure of Measure 110.
“Change is needed, and we can’t afford to take small steps that fail to adequately address the problem,” Lewis said. “We filed the bill today. A great deal of thought has gone into it, and we have the opportunity to do the right thing for Oregon, for public safety, and for the drug addicted. The bill creates accountability, but it also provides the tools and the resources needed to get us on the road to recovery. We cannot wait any longer.”
In a statement released by the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon on behalf of Oregonians for Safety & Recovery about the push to end Measure 110, the ACLU said fighting drugs with jail and prison only increased the state’s prison population.
“We’ve squandered billions of tax dollars on the criminal system every year,” the ACLU said in their statement. “But it’s never enough. This year, state lawmakers increased funding for public defense by more than $100 million; yet too many Oregonians still cannot access a defense attorney, destabilizing the entire system. Criminalization of drug addiction will further siphon limited taxpayer dollars away from housing, addiction services, education, poverty reduction, economic growth, and neighborhood clean up and stabilization efforts.”
Audit finds treatment providers slow to roll out Measure 110 money in Oregon
The new bill classifies illicit possession of all drugs from Schedule I to Schedule IV, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and meth to a Class A misdemeanor and imposes jail time, fines and/or mandated time in treatment.
Under Measure 110, possession for personal use was reduced to a Class E violation and allowed people charged with the violation, instead of paying a $100 fine, to complete a health assessment. People caught with more than personal-use quantities of specific drugs and having felony convictions still faced Class C felonies or Class A misdemeanor charges.
Before voters passed Measure 110 in 2020, possession for personal use of Schedule IV drugs was a Class C misdemeanor. Under the new bill, IV drug possession would also be a Class A misdemeanor.
Coalition files ballot initiative for changes to Oregon’s Measure 110
The bill would also make using illegal drugs in an open or enclosed public space a Class A misdemeanor. If the person has a prior conviction of this, the charge would be increased to a Class C felony.
Under Section 34 of the new bill, “delivery of a controlled substance that results in the death of another person from the use of the controlled substance is a Class A felony.”
Section 42 stipulates that anyone charged with a drug-related misdemeanor be evaluated for drug dependence. If ordered, the state will be required to fund the costs of the evaluation and treatment, but the court may also assess fees from the person to offset costs.
However, defendants would only be eligible for a treatment diversion agreement if they are not facing any other charges, have not already participated in a diversion drug treatment program within the previous year or have several other drug-related charges or convictions on their record.
Rep. Diehl says the bill incentivizes people to seek treatment and supports them in recovery.
“There is dignity in each individual human being,” Diehl said. “This is the compassionate thing to do for those suffering from drug addiction and for all Oregon communities.”
Also in their statement, the ACLU states that Oregon is currently only meeting 50% of the demand for addiction treatment.
“People are lining up daily for detox in downtown Portland only to be turned away,” the ACLU said. “People cannot access treatment when they need it across our state.”
Oregon delegation shares what they learned on trip to Portugal in relation to Measure 110
Also new to the bill is a grant program for teams that respond to opioid overdose reports, which, they state, an “opioid overdose rapid response team may consist of a peace officer, a firefighter or emergency medical technician, a peer recovery mentor and a treatment professional.”
Neither the bill nor the accompanying statements by legislators address whether people will avoid calling for help if they face being charged with a Class A misdemeanor after law enforcement officers arrive.
The bill would take funding oversight from the Oregon Health Authority and Oversight and Accountability Council to the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, and removes language that allows for any surplus money in the Drug Treatment and Recovery Services Fund be used for such things as transitional and supportive housing, harm reduction services and low-barrier substance use treatment.
Addiction clinic in NE Portland says Measure 110 funds allow them to help more people
Rep. Goodwin says Measure 110 is “sucking the life” from Oregon communities.
“They’re overrun with drugs, crime, and homelessness,” Goodwin said. “People do not feel safe. Businesses are leaving. People are afraid to do business in our state. We must change direction, and this bill begins to put us on the right track.”
The ACLU says the way forward for communities is to not return to the “known failures” of the war on drugs.
“The state legislature must invest in proven strategies that will reduce and prevent addiction, reduce homelessness, and improve public safety,” the ACLU said. “We are calling on the legislature to stop pursuing criminalization tactics that we all know will not work. Lawmakers must stop making false promises to Oregonians that will only further harm the most vulnerable Oregonians. Instead, lawmakers must embrace immediate actions that will get people into housing and treatment now and make all of our communities more safe.”
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WEST LINN, Ore. (KOIN) — For some 30 years, locals and boaters along a popular spot on Oregon’s Willamette River have been staring at a 50,000-plus-square-foot home, unsure of what to think.
It’s unfinished, fenced in, and the open-air structure towers over 31 acres that include 2,700 feet of prime riverfront in an area affectionately called “Peach Cove.”
“Being a kid, I would drive the boat and look at it from the river,” said Jason Mendell.
The high-profile realtor never thought he’d actually list the home, yet now he’s fielding calls from all kinds of folks trying to figure out the property’s potential.
“Entrepreneurs, pro-athletes, business owners, and people trying to figure out what you could do with this,” he told Nexstar’s KOIN on a recent summer day.
The home’s specs are massive, and Mendell said if it’s ever completed, it would be the largest mansion in Oregon by far.
The listing includes nine bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, multiple garages for dozens of show cars and other toys. There’s a massive gymnasium or event space, too, which could include a full-size basketball court. Original plans called for two pools.
“There’s obviously only a certain amount of people that can afford a home like this, and they’ve got to have the vision to be able to finish it off,” says Mendell.
Ask around, though, and it doesn’t take long to learn there’s much more to the larger story.
“He said, ‘Would you like to build a home for me?’” says Tom Avgerakis.
The longtime home builder is referring to Mark Wattles, the founder and one-time boss of Hollywood Video, which grew to be the second-biggest video store chain in the country in the 1990s and 2000s.
Avgerakis remembers when Wattles first showed him the architectural sketches.
“He rolled them out, and I went ‘Oh, okay.’ The challenge was thrown out, and we can do it,” he said.
At first, Avgerakis said construction moved swiftly, with 50-plus workers on site moving dirt and using high-grade Oregon lumber to erect the frame.
Then, as 1996 became 1997, construction stalled, and “We anticipated a short amount of time off, but it just grew and grew and grew.”
He said that as the owner moved on to other businesses and eventually moved away, they kept up general maintenance and even planted acres of berries.
The property was eventually unloaded at auction, and it has changed hands a couple of times over the years, but no one has ever fully built it out.
“It’s a diamond in the rough. It’s just incredible,” said Avgerakis.
He hopes to be involved if the project is ever completed, and said much of the original woodwork remains in good condition even if other elements have deteriorated over the years. The current owner recently installed a new roof.
Mendell said they’re talking to potential buyers about “what could be,” whether it’s a private estate, high-end senior living facility or even a vineyard.
“It’s 31 acres of prime real estate that’s unique,” he said.
The asking price is $4.7 million.
The property is deemed Exclusive Farm Use (EFU), according to Clackamas County records.
A spokesperson told Nexstar’s KOIN that it’s approved for the one home but that anything like a larger care facility wouldn’t be allowed unless there was a zoning change.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Multiple illicit massage businesses in Washington County were shut down on Friday following action by multiple law enforcement agencies.
The Office of Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said it worked alongside Sherwood police, Tigard police, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington County District Attorney’s Office to execute multiple warrants at illicit massage businesses.
Following months of surveillance into two of the illegal massage parlors in Sherwood, investigators conducted searches at four locations in total on Friday: a home in Southwest Portland, Goji Foot Spa and Aroma Spa in Sherwood, and Tigard’s Sunny Massage.
More than $45,000 of cash and evidence of prostitution was seized during the operation. Three people were also arrested for alleged prostitution-related charges and two were cited for operating a massage business without a license.
The investigation was carried out as part of the Oregon Department of Justice’s partnership with Washington County law enforcement agencies through the program Special Projects: Investigate, Respond, Enforce.
Ryan Reynolds on John Candy’s prideful vulnerability
Ryan Reynolds reflects on John Candy’s mix of pride and vulnerability in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” The actor produces “John Candy: I Like Me.”
Entertain This!
The Aviation American Gin Distillery and visitor center in Portland, Oregon, has closed its doors as the company behind the celebrity-backed spirits brand shifts its production strategy, according to multiple reports.
Diageo, the global spirits company that acquired Aviation American Gin in 2020, confirmed the closure to local TV stations KGW and KOIN, saying the decision was made because of changing business needs.
“This decision reflects evolving business needs, as we continue to support growth ambitions for our Aviation American Gin brand,” Diageo’s statement reads. “Aviation American Gin remains an important part of Diageo’s portfolio and we are committed to the brand, our customers and consumers.”
USA TODAY contacted Diageo on July 9 for comment and additional information regarding the closure.
The nearly 33,000-square-foot facility opened in September 2022 in northwest Portland, offering visitors a cocktail bar, tasting room, gift shop and tours highlighting the gin-making process, including distillation and bottling operations.
Portland’s House Spirits Distillery founded Aviation American Gin in the early 2000s and later became associated with Emmy Award-winning actor Ryan Reynolds, who acquired a stake in the company in 2018.
“A little over two years ago, I became an owner of Aviation Gin because I love the taste of Aviation more than any other spirit,” Reynoalds said in a statement in 2020 after Diageo acquired the company. “What I didn’t expect was the sheer creative joy learning a new industry would bring. Growing the brand with my company, Maximum Effort Marketing, has been among the most fulfilling projects I’ve ever been involved with.”
Is Ryan Reynolds still a co-owner of Aviation Gin?
As of July 9, Reynolds remains an owner of Aviation Gin, according to his social media accounts. His Instagram says he owns Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile, Maxixum Effort and the Wrexham A.F.C. soccer club.
When Diageo acquired Aviation Gin, the acquisition agreement valued the deal at up to $610 million, including an initial payment of $335 million and a potential additional payment of up to $275 million based on the company’s performance over a 10-year period, according to a 2020 news release.
Diageo, one of the world’s largest spirits companies, also owns other alcohol brands including Captain Morgan, Crown Royal and Smirnoff.
What’s next for Aviation, Diageo?
Diageo said it had already begun moving Aviation’s production from Portland to other facilities in 2025 as part of an effort to improve efficiency and strengthen its North American operations, KGW reported.
Diageo also said Aviation American Gin will remain part of its portfolio despite the closure of the Oregon visitor center and distillery.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
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