Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, alongside Commissioners Jesse Beason, Julia Brim-Edwards, and Lori Stegmann, as well as Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell and District Attorney Mike Schmidt, gathered with area legislators for a breakfast roundtable to outline key legislative priorities for the upcoming short session scheduled to run from February 5 to March 10.
At the forefront of the County’s concerns are urgent issues related to behavioral health, homeless services, and public safety. Chair Vega Pederson emphasized the need for increased spending on mental health and residential drug treatment, as well as the removal of barriers to housing.
One of the major requests is a $7.5 million allocation to address the surge of individuals charged with a crime who are unable to mentally assist in their own defense. The State Hospital’s capacity constraints have led to a substantial increase in individuals assigned to Multnomah County for mental health services, without a corresponding increase in resources to support their needs.
“The resources have not followed this increase in the number of people being served,’’ Chair Vega Pederson explained. “This means that more and more individuals are not being connected to the services they need most.’’
The legislative agenda also includes a call to expand the number and types of residential drug treatment facilities. County staff reported making 23 referrals for residential services in December, but only one person could be accommodated.
Additional Legislative Priorities Include:
• Ban on Public Consumption of Illicit Drugs: Commissioner Brim-Edwards urged legislators for a statewide ban on public consumption of illicit drugs and additional tools for the district attorney to prosecute drug violations. The goal is to provide effective alternatives to incarceration for individuals with substance use disorders.
• Addressing Public Defender Shortage: Commissioner Brim-Edwards highlighted the critical shortage of public defenders, leading to routine dismissal of felony cases. Both she and District Attorney Schmidt emphasized the need for legislative support to address this issue and fully fund community corrections.
• Eviction Prevention and Housing Production: Commissioner Stegmann emphasized the importance of eviction prevention efforts and maintaining shelter investments as federal COVID-19 relief diminishes. She stressed the need for legislative action to rapidly increase housing production, including investments in infrastructure.
• Response to Gas Threat Post-Earthquake: Commissioner Beason called for legislative response to a 2023 Multnomah County report identifying a deadly threat of toxic plumes from storage tanks in the event of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. Legislative support is sought to develop a comprehensive understanding of the region’s risk and prevent unnecessary deaths.
As Multnomah County leaders align their priorities with state legislators, they expressed optimism about the potential for positive change through enhanced collaboration and coordination.
“We need you,’’ she told 13 legislators at the roundtable, urging for more substantial efforts. “It’s going to take more than what we’ve been doing. But I’m feeling optimistic about what’s possible because we’re working together more closely and in better coordination than ever before.’’
