Blair Best

RT @KCookKGW: Powerful story showing how fentanyl is killing people on the Oregon coast, and what’s being done about it. Excellent, in-dept…

Multnomah County will soon no longer hand out tents and tarps except during extreme weather events. @KGWNews https://t.co/In0H8d8KDF

The director of Welcome Home Coalition, a critic of Mayor Keith Wilson’s $24M plan to end unsheltered homelessness, says the city instead needs a “holistic system that’s efficient and not just growing a system that’s not actually ending people’s homelessness.” @KGWNews https://t.co/A7HgOVFDZn

Multnomah County Commissioner Meghan Moyer has “mixed feelings” about some of the county’s harm reduction practices including handing out tents and safe smoking supplies. In her budget, the county chair is proposing $6M for these efforts. @KGWNews https://t.co/xiXlmWlceJ

Results of a city-wide survey show homelessness, cost of living, and safety as top challenges for Portlanders. This comes as the city is in the middle of filling a $93M budget gap. Hear from the city administrator and police chief warning against cuts to PPB tonight @KGWNews. https://t.co/WBHDacpXpJ

Attorney John DiLorenzo is working to get an initiative on the November ballot that would force Multnomah County to pay victims of property crimes. “I think it’s time that Multnomah County start doing things for people who follow the rules.” -DiLorenzo @KGWNews https://t.co/vLO4sMSAj2

Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson has asked District Attorney Nathan Vasquez to prepare a budget with a 3% cut. Vasquez tells me it would be a big mistake and impact public safety. My latest: https://t.co/Xr8iEhnY2F

Mult. Co. Commissioners Meghan Moyer and Vince Jones-Dixon this week introduced proposed revisions to board meeting rules in an effort to promote "transparent and balanced government." The proposals included pulling some power away from the chair. @KGWNews https://t.co/IMieiglcOW

Portland sober housing facilities are a crucial step for recovery, but a change in reimbursement rules has left providers struggling to secure funding. Meanwhile, dozens of people seeking care are being turned away daily as beds sit empty. My latest: https://t.co/8rVLhayBil

The Portland Diamond Project founder Craig Cheek tells me he believes the Major League Baseball commissioner will be “very intrigued and very motivated” to send an expansion team to Portland. Cheek is looking for $800M in state bond money to help build the stadium. @KGWNews https://t.co/aWyZMXf4f2

Our team has obtained text messages between Mult. Co. Chair Jessica Vega Pederson & Metro Council President Lynn Peterson, revealing friction between the two and an accusation of 'backroom dealing' of where tax money meant for homeless services is going. https://t.co/lKjaoXi5RA

On the House floor this week, Oregon representative Dwayne Yunker reads an explicit passage from a book he believes should be banned from school libraries. He was eventually told to stop and his presentation was called "lascivious and obscene." @KGWNews https://t.co/jCCjTOXy7A

Washington County DA Kevin Barton tells me the state's public defense crisis is "the single biggest public safety crisis facing Oregon." How he and the Multnomah County DA are proposing to fix it tonight at 6:30 on @KGWNews. https://t.co/UuYvgrI7ws

Multnomah County commissioner Shannon Singleton found $22M meant for homeless services is going to other departments. She tells me she was “surprised at some of the investments being made” and believes her findings could help lower the county’s budget gap. @KGWNews https://t.co/rvpBW9vSgJ

#BREAKING Clackamas County commissioner, Melissa Fireside resigned this morning after being indicted on 8 felony charges. "I recognize that for many, this decision is not soon enough, and I know how difficult and upsetting this situation has been." - Chair Craig Roberts

A Vancouver, WA drug trafficker pleaded guilty in federal court this morning for selling fentanyl that killed a Portland teen three years ago. Today in court, the judge said deportation is "extremely likely." @KGWNews https://t.co/A0XWZU2pjP

Portland city councilor Dan Ryan says “everyone knew this was coming” regarding one-time federal pandemic dollars that have run out adding to the city’s historic budget gap. Some are blaming the previous council for much of this deficit, which Ryan served on. @KGWNews https://t.co/jKApZTf9e0