Ashley Hamilton, program director of the ARCHES Project, shows Jimmy Jones recently donated supplies that are currently stored in the building’s unused sobering center on May 7, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Unlike the rest of our folks at Salem Reporter, making this list for me meant less than four months of stories to dig through. That’s how recently I found my way here, and it feels like a lifetime ago.
Salem was getting its first significant rain in eight months after its hottest summer ever recorded, the city paused plans to start a crisis response program, and the renovated Reed Opera House building was gearing up for its so-called “soft opening.”
Since then, I’ve covered several local efforts to keep people in crisis out of the criminal justice system, and why some plans wound up on the back burner. I’ve also reported on the barriers to assistance that thousands of Marion County residents struggling to pay rent have faced during the pandemic.
It’s been a pleasure, and an education. These are my top stories (from the past four months).
Salem-Keizer educator Chuck Lee remembered for authenticity, love for education
I speak just about every week with people who have to talk to me as part of their job. And then there are the folks who have no obligation but take the time to help do a story justice. I never met Chuck Lee, but I got to speak with his wife, Krina, and several colleagues who explained how he raised millions of dollars for local education and came to be so beloved by students. He died Sept. 4.
Brenton Gicker, left, prepares to pull CAHOOTS van toward a 911 call at Eugene Public Library. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter)
Salem, United Way halt plans for mental health crisis responder program
After I joined in September, I heard the city was planning a program where mental health workers would respond to some crisis calls instead of police. The idea received broad support from Salem residents, and I tried to find out where things stood. Turns out, the city quietly paused those plans, as they hinged on getting state money that was no longer available to them.
County officials were hesitant to create another crisis response unit, saying they’d instead prefer to zero in on programs already in place through law enforcement and money would be better spent on navigation and sobering centers to take people in crisis. This was an opportunity for me to learn about two existing crisis response programs Marion County runs – the Mobile Crisis Response Team and Community Crisis Outreach Services – and show what they do.
This story looked back at the various moratoriums banning evictions during the pandemic. While they kept many Oregon families in their homes, local service providers said the need for assistance may soon outweigh what was available, and they were correct. Meanwhile, tenants facing eviction dealt with barriers to getting rental assistance and slow payments by the state.
Salem sobering center stalled by lack of funding
This was one of the existing projects county officials pointed to as being a better place to spend funds than a mobile crisis response program separate from police. A building was built in March 2020 to be used as a sobering center for severely intoxicated people, but the city still needed to find nearly $1 million for it’s two-year operating costs. Well, those plans have so far fizzled out. Meanwhile, the facility sits mostly empty and is all but ready for use.
The Oregon State Hospital on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
I stumbled on some court documents that showed Oregon State Hospital for three years has faced contempt of court proceedings, brought on by attorneys who argued the hospital didn’t admit people with mental illnesses to get court-ordered treatment. The records showed several people who should otherwise have been receiving treatment at the state hospital instead remained housed in county jails.
In total, circuit court judges have found the hospital and the Oregon Health Authority, its parent agency, in contempt six times in the last three years for not complying with their orders. Ten contempt proceedings initiated over the past three months remain open, with five in Marion County.
Aaron Harris (Courtesy/Wade Harris)
Salem father remembers son’s humanitarian spirit
This story breaks my heart. At 33 years old, Aaron Harris was found dead during a fire investigation in west Salem Nov. 19. He had moved through 40 foster homes and was abused before he met Wade Harris, a local pastor who adopted him when he was 18. He said his son was a loving person who wanted to help people and fit in.
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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