When the punishment does not fit the crime: Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) wastes money; wastes lives, and spends $22,620 to kill a young dog. MCAS will immediately kill this young dog as soon as all legal deadlines end in mid-September. Protest this politically motivated action and support the rescue, adoption, and foster offers that have been made to allow him the life he has never had. Blaze, a young American Pit bull impounded at 10 months of age, has been held in maximum security at Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) since May 19, 2017. Over 3 years have gone by. He is not a “dangerous dog.” Blaze has not caused a “serious physical injury.” He was never used as a weapon and has caused no one ‘s death. The bite incidents (2) that resulted his incarceration in 2017 were well within the range of incidents that occur throughout the community, were preventable, and situational, secondary to living in a chaotic multi occupant household. There is no need to kill him to keep society “safe.” MCAS’s plans to kill him are retaliatory, driven by a need for absolute control and a commitment to the idea that killing is the best way of teaching a lesson to those with the courage to a challenge MCAS’s authority. The fundamental policy at MCAS is that that no one may ever question the validity of their decisions or offer alternative solutions. The rejection of public input and inclusive thoughtful solutions began with a regime change five years ago when the newly hired director began to systematically re-write all policies to exclude all professional consultations, rescue and public input, once important parts of decision making. It was in fact a hostile takeover, unfettered by oversight targeting removal of the public from its own government. The immediate escalation in killing that followed has been covered up, disingenuously explained away way as “socially responsible,” when no data has been presented that the community is “safer” with more killing. Killing just requires less effort. The agency, not the homeless animals unfortunate to be there, is “unhealthy and untreatable.” No questions are asked by government. Complacency and collegiality trump fact finding every time. The agency requirement that Blaze be killed when safe humane alternatives exist is a continuing pattern at Multnomah County Animal Services and is about vengeance, a revenge for which MCAS as of September 07, 2020 has willingly incurred boarding costs of $22,620. Blaze’s exemplary behavior under stressful agency generated circumstances has been extraordinary. Nearly all of Blaze’s life has now been spent in solitary confinement where he is only permitted visits behind a kennel door without contact allowed for 15 minutes or less, with those closely supervised by an animal control officer. The goal to discourage visitors has succeeded. But despite the fact that nearly all of his life has been spent in solitary confinement, Blaze has survived. His daily kennel monitor reports document a cheerful welcoming behavior and efforts to seek out positive attention from other animals and people passing by the outside of his cell. MCAS refuses to allow him to be evaluated by an expert professional with a diplomate in veterinary behavior medicine and rejects the opportunity to create a behavior plan and allow him to go to a 501(c)(3) placement partner as did previous administrations. This resort to autocratic rule is occurs because MCAS can simply run out the clock. MCAS’s deliberate refusal to acknowledge and respond to consultation and rescue offers from volunteers, community professionals, and rescues in all cases now is unconscionable. “Winning” by deliberately shutting out the community has led to increased killing throughout the county without any safety agenda served. Please contact the listed responsible parties in charge of this agency where every democratic principle has been removed. Ask that Blaze be permitted to live and help us in this county advocate for a humane democratic shelter, one that does not kill arbitrarily when safe and humane options exist and partners with the community that pays its way. Documents available upon request. Gail O’Connell-Babcock, PhD [email protected] Foster Pets NW Citizens for Humane Animal Legislation/Watchdog --- Contact list for responsible parties: Wade Sadler, MCAS Director: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-6233; (503) 988-7387 Jamie Waltz: Interim Director Dept.Community Services: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-7968 Interim Chief Operating Officer Peggy Brey: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-2999. -- The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners County Chair Deborah Kafoury: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-3308 Sharon Meieran, Commissioner District 1: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-5220 Susheela Jayapal, Commissioner District 2: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-5219 Jessica Vega Pederson, Commissioner District 3: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-5217 Lori Stegmann, Commissioner District 4: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-5213

Trump’s Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf reportedly told intelligence analysts to downplay assessments on Russian election interference because they were making the President "look bad." Wolf’s politicization of the most fundamental and non-operations operations of government is the stuff of authoritarian regimes — twisting basic information used to make life or death security decisions just to appease Trump’s vanity. Incredibly, Trump wants to nominate Wolf as DHS Secretary and put him in this role permanently. But no one who believes this is acceptable behavior for the head of a government agency should have the job.

As a community of current and former Lobos, we are extremely disappointed to have been alerted that UNM has an officer who is emboldened in his behavior at a time where the nation is revisiting the systemic racism that is inherent in all police structures and cultures. We would hope by now you've been alerted that an officer who refers to himself as Eric on TikTok has displayed not only a gross misuse of taxpayer money, but created racist content. Below I will highlight all of the policy infractions this individual made, and demand he no longer represents the University of New Mexico in any capacity if, "Each of us defines all of us". Eric has built his entire online brand as being a University Cop at UNM therefore his actions cannot be explained as off-duty edgey humor. Even his username on the platform is "505collegeCop". Officer Eric's face can be clearly seen on this video: https://www.facebook.com/FFOLABQ/videos/pcb.2824755617754241/314282863356085/ Where is not wearing a mask during an international pandemic and endangering lives on University property. In this video, Eric clearly shows he is misusing University resources (UNMPD vehicle) while on duty, damaging the landscaping our campus community works so hard to uphold - staff landscapers and students during Spring Storm, and riding his UNMPD bicycle through the SUB - an action that would not be allowed if he were a student. This a complete disrespect to the student's annual fees and state taxpayers money that support the upkeep and renovation of campus buildings: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1001116097004456 And of course, the last video I'll share with you is while he is off duty but creating racist content that's already been heavily associated with the University of New Mexico: https://www.facebook.com/FFOLABQ/videos/948231055589747 How can you be a proud "College Cop" at a predominantly Hispanic Serving Institution and create content like this?

The chaos created by the lies being published and proliferated across various media in this country is disabling our democracy. If there is a chance at all for the 2020 election to go forward with a well-informed electorate, the lies must not be coddled into being or tolerated for another 270 minutes.

Joe Biden cannot control the narrative of a campaign against Donald Trump through words. HE MUST ACT. He should spend the remaining days of the campaign shuttling between Portland and Kenosha. Bring the parties together. GET THEM TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

Donald Trump is planning to visit Kenosha, WI on September 1, 2020 to “meet with local law enforcement and survey damage from the recent riots.” Donald Trump is not concerned about our state or city that is still reeling from recent tragedy and working to find a way forward. Trump's visit to Kenosha is merely a political ploy and a photo opportunity that only further jeopardizes the healing of Kenosha and the State of Wisconsin. Donald Trump has shown no regard for the Black lives of our City and State or for Jacob Blake and the Blake family, who are in immense pain, yet are calling for healing and peace. Using the open wound of Kenosha to benefit his political campaign is abhorrent, unethical and divisive. As citizens of Kenosha and/or of the State of Wisconsin, we do not choose to be or give consent to be used in this way.

Every citizen has the right to expect all politicians to uphold the laws of the United States of America especially the national campaign laws. If one party is allowed to utilize federal property and taxpayer dollars to improperly fund their campaigns and conventions, the entire system which should be based on merit and independence will be disrupted.

Inciting violence on a national stage is dangerous for America

Donald Trump and his new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have been working to undermine our U.S. Postal Service, including slowing the mail and warning states not to count on the Postal Service. This is a transparent attempt at voter suppression and rigging the election. Trump has been attacking voting by mail and has made clear that the Postal Service cuts are a way to frustrate vote by mail How are Trump and DeJoy interfering with the U.S. mail? DeJoy has ordered the removal of 671 high-speed sorting machines, stopped overtime pay, and taken other steps to slow delivery. Trump and DeJoy’s attacks on the Postal Service add up to mail delays that are so long that critical medications aren’t being received in time by patients in need, businesses are considering switching to private carriers to ward off customer complaints, and our right to vote by mail is threatened in the midst of a pandemic.

This is important to me because I not only have 3 siblings in foster care that I have not seen since I was eleven but I also have cousins in the system that are separated. I know how the system works because I was in the system and felt alone at times. I was lonely thinking I didn't have a family that cared until my father passed away and I moved with my aunt and then was taken from her. Placed in another home and then placed with my grandmother and I was scared for years that I would be lost in the system. I have been searching for my siblings since I turned 18 I tried calling the agency we were at when I was younger I spoke to a lawyer, searched Facebook, sent emails. I want to find them because they mean the world to me and I want to make sure they know that because I went through so much pain in the system to protect them and my little sister that got adopted with me. So just getting that help and finding them and stopping this from happening to other families will mean everything.

BREAKING: Trump’s Secret Service was caught red-handed buying mobile phone location data on innocent Americans from a shady data-mining company -- without a warrant.[1] The Constitution is clear about banning illegal search and seizures, but Trump’s Secret Service thinks they can bypass the 4th Amendment and spy on innocent Americans (potentially including Black Lives Matter protesters) and their location data and movements. This has to stop! Sign the petition: Tell Congress to ban the Secret Service from buying mobile location data! Technically, the government cannot spy on Americans without a warrant, but intelligence agencies like the FBI and the NSA have been secretly doing this for years. It’s what Edward Snowden revealed.[2] But what Trump’s Secret Service got caught doing was a new low: brazenly stomping over the 4th Amendment by buying our mobile location data from a shadowy data-mining company. The data-mining company, Babel Street, scrapes anonymized location data from popular apps to track people’s movements in any given area. This means that most people might not have consented or even be aware that their steps are being followed, let alone that the Trump administration is buying that data outright. In today’s digital age, we have to think about our personal data like oil: “liquid gold.” Tech companies and governments alike go to grave efforts to mine our data and sell it to the high bidder. That includes selling our personal data to the Trump administration who, clearly, have no regard for our Constitution. Congress can’t continue to sleep at the wheel on technology regulations. It’s time for you to speak up and protect your privacy online. Sign the petition: Tell Congress to ban the Secret Service from buying mobile location data! Source 1 https://gizmodo.com/secret-service-bought-access-to-americans-location-data-1844752501 2 https://www.newamerica.org/oti/blog/history-fisa-section-702-compliance-violations/

These changes will make policing a respected and accountable profession which will afford a safer community for all. Our main goal should be keeping the peace as we have all citizens abide in the law, and if one breaks the law, they will be treated fairly and humanely. Even though a person commits or is suspected of commiting a crime we as a country must still understand they have rights and deserve to be treated fairly under the laws of the United States of America. Finally, law enforcement is not the final justice our court system has that role. This investment by State and local governments in basic rights will forge a new future for our nation. Please make law enforcement reform a higher priority by continuing to invest in new programs and make the changes listed above. Thank you for your signature!