Experts highlight value of local voting ahead of May elections
George Carlin summed up voting more than 20 years ago for people feeling trapped in a system that mocks freedom and breeds cynicism. “Voting is a meaningless exercise,” the late comedian wrote in 2001. “I’m not going to waste my time with it. These parties, these politicians, are given to us as a way of…
State’s Psychiatric Security Review Board stalls patient discharge, critics say
Luke Walters was playing a video game on a shared Xbox console at the Oregon State Hospital last year when his lawyer arrived for a rare visit. Walters’ lawyer told him the state appeals court ruled that he had recovered from his mental illness, ordering officials to reconsider his commitment to the psychiatric facility. The…
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Who is Nathaniel VerGow, the county’s new homeless services leader?
It’s official. Nathaniel VerGow — a senior leader at Los Angeles’ homelessness agency — will be the new director of Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted 3 to 2 on Thursday to approve VerGow, with two commissioners expressing hesitation. “I think this is a really challenging time to appoint…
