Measure 20-362
On the November Ballot there is a Measure that would approve a Charter Amendment that would change the way redistricting for the county would be determined. The current way allows for commissioners to hand pick individuals for a committee that would return recommendations. Supporters of measure 20-362 want to see a more independent committee perform this task. The measure would establish a 15 member, non-partisan, redistricting commission. One of the supporters of this measure is west Lane County Commissioner Ryan Ceniga. He says during the last redistricting really changed the landscape of the West Lane district.
“there could be a city council person in charge of every district in Eugene the way the maps are drawn. That’s a big deal when you break it down especially when you are talking the rural commissioners, like me. I don’t want west Lane operated by somebody that lives in Eugene.”
Ceniga says that the Measure is supported by 3 of the 5 commissioners and believes it is what is best for West Lane County, particularly. He joins us along with Jennifer Waggoner for the October Our Town to lay out the specifics of the measure.
Hospitality Focus Group
If your job is part of the tourism arm of Florence, whether it is in hospitality. food and beverage, Hotel or nature guide there will be an Employee Voices Focus Group on October 10th at Driftwood Shores. The meeting is to collect data in order to apply for a Department of Labor grant that would allow the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging association to provide more training and education to hospitality workers in the state. Attendees will receive a $50 visa gift card for their time. For information and to RSVP you can call or text 714-483-6542.
Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies Respond to Fake 911 Call
Lane County Sheriff’s deputies along with several other entities responded to a 911 call that indicated a person in the Chesire neighborhood had been shot and that a domestic abuse situation was occurring. Personnel from Oregon State Police, Eugene K-9, and even Junction city police responded after the child caller hung up the phone without giving a location. Law enforcement was able to track down a child involved in a call and were told that several children on a bus ride home had made prank 911 calls. School administration and law enforcement are investigating how many children were involved. Prank calls to 911 can severely disrupt law enforcement’s ability to respond to actual emergencies. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office wanted the public to educate their children on the seriousness of utilizing emergency systems, such as 911.
Deflection Program Delayed
The Lane County Deflection Program is closer to launching this fall. The program, created as part of the Oregon Legislature’s reform of Measure 110, will be the first of its kind in Lane County. While important progress in developing the program has been made it will not be ready for a full launch on October 1. the deflection program will provide law enforcement officers with an alternative to arrest for people facing low-level charges that affect quality of life in the community. If a person is eligible for deflection and has indicated interest, the responding officer will have the option to call on a peer navigator to connect with the person and enroll them in the program, which includes case management and tracking. If the deflection program is successfully completed, the charges will not be filed. If the program is not completed, the charges may be filed, and the case will proceed through the criminal justice system.