Category: Portland, Oregon Local News

Imagine a country with fifty states, each of which operates semi-autonomously, even concerning national issues, such as the election of the chief executive and members of the national legislature. Now imagine that each of these states is allowed to write laws that determine who may and may not vote, where they must live for those votes to actually matter in the outcome, and for whom they may and may not vote. Stop imagining. That place is called the United States of America. Just this week, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that South Carolina may keep a redistricting map that essentially eliminates any possibility that a predominantly black area could ever elect a black Representative to Congress. The Court found that the evidence of racial basis is circumstantial. Of course, racial bias would be unlawful and the map would need to be redrawn. Instead, the Court declared that the map merely reflected partisan bias, the intent of one party to increase its voting edge by altering how votes are distributed geographically. The illogic behind this ruling is staggering. First of all, there is no reason I can fathom to allow a nation’s regions, provinces, states, counties, and/or municipalities to determine the rules for elections that are national. Is such a country a country or just a loose confederation of independent states? Secondly, the Court acknowledges that the partisan argument coincides perfectly with the racial claim. In South Carolina, blacks overwhelmingly vote for Democrats and whites overwhelmingly vote for Republicans. Even if partisanship is the reason for redistricting, absurd in its own right, the (un)intended effect is to deny the minority race of its proportionate representation. In this case, partisanship equates perfectly with racism. The Court’s ruling is purely race-motivated semantics.

Here are some of the things I expect to happen within the next ten years. Any one of these could end life on planet Earth, or at least alter it for the worse to such a degree that survival might seem a curse. 1. Full-blown fascism arrives and becomes entrenched in the United States. On the international stage, traditional alliances collapse as nations realign. Nationally, democracy withers and dies, and civil rights are abridged or eliminated. Wars break out. 2. The immediate rise of fascism is thwarted and civil war ensues as segments of the population refuse to accept the election results and mindlessly rise to defend the defeated partisans. 3. The house of cards we call the economy collapses. The rich get richer and the rest of the people sink into feudal poverty, which causes internecine conflict. The naked greed and corrosive capitalism of the obscenely rich, politically powerful, immensely privileged rule. 4. Another pandemic sweeps the world and is confronted by the same idiocy as the last one. Tens of millions die needlessly. Supply chains are fractured beyond repair. Critical worker shortages sabotage agriculture. Society breaks down. 5. A third world war is launched, including the use of nuclear weapons. Potential triggers include Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine, Taiwan and China, or anywhere in the Middle East. The earth is left scorched and shredded. And society collapses. 6. Climate change passes its tipping point, resulting in violent storms wracking the planet. There is coastal flooding and drought everywhere else. Severe protracted water and food shortages cause mass migrations, all of which create worldwide chaos. 7. A huge comet hits the Earth! Which shoe drops first? Does it really matter? Personally, I favor the comet. It’s fast, neat, and effective. Just ask the dinosaurs.

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Here are extended excerpts from USAODI’s February 14, 2024 news release on Efren Avilez-Lopez and Maria Medina-Zeveda:

“BOISE – Efren Avilez-Lopez, 81, and Maria Medina-Zeveda, 70, husband and wife, and both Mexican nationals illegally living in Ontario, Oregon, were sentenced for trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine in Idaho, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.

On February 12, 2024, Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Avilez-Lopez to nine years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On February 13, 2024, Chief Judge Nye sentenced Medina-Zeveda to 37 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Both Avilez-Lopez and Medina-Zeveda were ordered to serve three years of supervised release. Both will be deported after completing their sentences.

According to court records, on April 15, 2023, Avilez-Lopez and Medina-Zeveda sold an undercover officer five pounds of methamphetamine in a Nampa store parking lot. On April 25, 2023, they both sold an undercover officer 20 pounds of methamphetamine in a Nampa store parking lot.

Then on May 12, 2023, Avilez-Lopez and Medina-Zeveda drove from Ontario to Los Angeles, to pick up a large load of methamphetamine.  On their way home, they were stopped by law enforcement in Owyhee County, where it was discovered they were transporting four family members, including a minor child. A dog, which was trained and certified to detect the odor of illegal drugs, alerted on the vehicle and when officers searched the vehicle, they located twenty-one pounds of methamphetamine in the floorboards.” . . .

“This case highlights the incredible working relationships among our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in and around the Treasure Valley,” said Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue. “It also shows that the illicit drug trade — inherently operated by Transcontinental Criminal Organizations like the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels — knows no bounds. These individuals are not what the average person would think of when they hear the term drug dealer. This was a couple in their 70s and 80s who bought and sold extremely high quantities of methamphetamine, endangering countless lives, including those of their own family.” . . .

“This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nampa Police Department, the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Probation and Parole, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, the Caldwell Police Department, the City-County Narcotics Unit, the Idaho State Police, the Oregon State Police, the Ontario Police Department, the Owyhee County Prosecutor’s Office, and the High Desert Drug Task Force in Oregon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Nafzger prosecuted the case.” – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

Some historical background information, on Monday, August 21, 2023 the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho (USAODI), issued a news release titled “Local Task Forces Crack Down on Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Distribution Networks” where two of the subjects of interest were identified as being Efren Avilez-Lopez and Maria Medina-Zeveda.

Here are extended excerpts from USAODI’s August 21, 2023 news release that includes Efren Avilez-Lopez and Maria Medina-Zeveda:

“Multi-State Investigations Result in Federal Charges Against 25 Defendants on Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

BOISE – Two multi-faceted, large-scale Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigations have resulted in the federal indictments of 25 defendants on drug trafficking and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. Seventeen indictments were issued over the last several months by federal grand juries sitting in Idaho along with an additional indictment in the District of Oregon.

According to the indictments, the defendants distributed large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Southwestern Idaho and Eastern Oregon. Many of the individuals are alleged to have been in possession of firearms at the time they distributed the narcotics.” . . .

“As part of these two OCDETF investigations, the following individuals have been charged with federal drug and gun violations:” . . .

“• Efren Avilez-Lopez, residing in Ontario, Oregon, was indicted for distributing 25 pounds of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 21 pounds of methamphetamine;

• Maria Medina-Zeveda, residing in Ontario, Oregon, was indicted for distributing 35 pounds of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 21 pounds of methamphetamine;” . . .

“Drug distribution charges carry mandatory minimum prison sentences depending on the amount and type of drugs distributed. Maximum prison sentences range from up to 20 years to life in prison. Unlawful possession of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.” . . .

“The cases were primarily investigated by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, which is led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. In addition to the work of the Metro Violent Crimes Task Force and the DEA, U.S. Attorney Hurwit thanked the following agencies for assisting in the investigations and arrests of the above named individuals: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Caldwell Police Department, City and County Narcotics Unit, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, the Nampa Police Department, the Gem County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho State Police, Idaho Department of Correction, the Owyhee County Sheriff’s Office, the Owyhee County Prosecutors Office, the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the Malheur County Sherriff’s Office, the Ontario Police Department, the Oregon State Police, and the High Desert Drug Task Force in Oregon.” – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

An important fact to understand, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), through ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) take on important roles in managing immigration enforcement and the federal government’s law enforcement anti-drug trafficking mission.

Seeking detailed information on the historical immigration status Efren Avilez-Lopez and Maria Medina-Zeveda on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” contacted via e-mail U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Public Affairs national office and ICE Public Affairs office for the Northwest Region which encompasses the states of Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

As of Thursday, May 23, 2024 neither the ICE Public Affairs national office nor ICE Public Affairs office for the Northwest Region had yet responded to the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” request for investigations and statements on Efren Avilez-Lopez and Maria Medina-Zeveda.

On May 23, 2024 Efren Avilez-Lopez and Maria Medina-Zeveda were incarcerated as inmates at two separate locations in the U.S. Federal Bureau Prisons (BOP) prison system:

Efren Avilez-Lopez (BOP: Register Number: 64035-510) was incarcerated at SeaTac FDC located in Seattle, Washington.

Maria Medina-Zeveda (BOP: Register Number: 63984-510) was incarcerated at Hazelton FCI located in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia.

Mexican nationals Efren Avilez-Lopez and Maria Medina-Zeveda are now amongst more than 12-thousand Mexican nationals incarcerated in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) prison system.

Lars, the third full week of May 2024 and another “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” for Lars Larson Show KXL FM 101.1 Pacific Northwest radio listeners and website followers.

David Olen Cross (docfnc) is a reporter on foreign national crime. He is a more than decade long contributor to the “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report.” His past crime reporting can be found at http://docfnc.wordpress.com/.

https://docfnc.wordpress.com/2024/05/23/lars-larson-show-criminal-alien-of-the-week-report-356/

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A police union proposal that would effectively repeal and replace Portland’s voter-approved police oversight board now has legal approval to proceed with signature collecting for the November ballot.

On Thursday, Circuit Court Judge Katharine von Ter Stegge ruled the Portland Police Association’s (PPA) initiative petition to change the authority, membership, and budget for the city’s new community-led police oversight board can move forward, with a few changes.

The PPA wants to replace the police oversight measure approved by a large margin of voters in 2020 with a new one, written by the union and its lawyers. If the police union can gather enough signatures to get a measure on the November ballot, voters will be asked to consider scrapping the independent police oversight board–which is entirely civilian led and has authority to discipline and fire officers–with a significantly watered down version with far less authority.

The PPA’s ballot initiative was one of two filed with the city elections office in February by William Aitchison, an attorney for the union. The other initiative called for an increase in police officers, detox centers and “street response services” in Portland. Both were met with legal challenges from two different plaintiffs.

A complaint from Leroy Hanes Jr., a local pastor and police reform coalition leader, asserted the PPA’s oversight board measure used vague and misleading language in its title and description.

The PPA’s measure couches the proposed charter amendment as “changes” to the “authority, membership and budget for [the] community police oversight board.” 

The measure pitched by the PPA is much more than a change to the current oversight board. It’s more akin to a repeal of the one voters approved by a large margin in 2020.

In his legal challenge, Haynes argued the PPA’s initiative “[guts] the oversight and disciplinary powers of the current Community Police Oversight Board (“Board”), repealing the Board’s independence…”

Haynes’s complaint notes the police are also proposing to eliminate a 5 percent budget allocation for the oversight board and change the membership rules to allow law enforcement to serve on the board–a stipulation explicitly prohibited in the city’s current iteration. The proposed ballot title didn’t use the word “repeal” but that’s effectively what’s being pitched to voters. 

“Adding insult to injury, the north star of the Community Police Oversight Board – its independence – stands to be fully repealed yet neither the Caption or Question mention this extraordinary aspect of the Initiative, and the Summary buries this effect at the end,” Haynes and his attorney noted.

In her ruling on Haynes’s complaint, von Ter Stegge agreed in-part with Haynes and his attorney. 

The judge posited that while the ballot title for the PPA’s measure was “factual, neutral, and drafted in good faith,” she agreed “it does not sufficiently capture the major effects of the measure.” She came up with an alternate title and caption the PPA must use if it moves forward.

Portland’s civilian-led oversight board is considered one of the strongest in the nation because of its independence from the police bureau and its authority to discipline and fire officers.

The PPA’s objections to the 2020 measure have been known for years. The union filed a grievance over the police oversight board just days after it was passed by voters. Nevertheless, the city got legal assurances to continue, and convened a Police Accountability Commission to decide the specifics of how the new civilian-led board would operate.

The Portland City Council approved the commission’s recommendations last year, but the police union hasn’t yet agreed to the terms in a labor contract bargaining session, so the board has yet to be implemented.  

Judge von Ter Stegge noted the chasm between the PPA and plaintiffs who challenged the union’s oversight repeal measure.

“Other than both generally supporting the citizen initiative process [in] Oregon, petitioners have diametrically opposed viewpoints—so much so that at times it sounds like they are not even discussing the same measure,” von Ter Stegge’s opinion states.

This week’s ruling was the second made by von Ter Stegge this month regarding the PPA’s initiative petitions. 

On May 9, the judge ruled on a separate complaint over the union’s proposal to use cannabis and general fund money to bolster Portland police funding, while also paying for more detox centers, and increased “street response services.” That measure was deemed unconstitutional.

In that ruling, von Ter Stegge said the initiative, dubbed PDX24OL-02 by the city elections office, violates the Oregon Constitution “because it is administrative, not legislative, in nature.” The measure tried to assign staffing decisions to the city council, but those decisions are supposed to be made by the police chief in an administrative and executive capacity.

Jacqueline Yerby, the plaintiff who challenged the police staffing and services measure, said its reference to “street response services” was misleading.

“Despite this clear focus on expansion of police power and presence, the Initiative’s ballot title tells voters that one of the Initiative’s major effects will be to increase ‘street response services.’ This is not accurate,” Yerby wrote in a legal filing, noting that in Portland, the term “street response” carries a specific connotation that excludes police.

It’s unclear whether the PPA will press on with plans to try to get either of its measures on November’s general election ballot. The union would need to collect 40,750 signatures before a July 5 deadline. 

Aitchison, the police union attorney who filed the measures, deferred to the PPA when reached for comment. The union did not respond to a request for comment.

Regarding public universities…. What constitutes a public good? Is there a point where transparency of too much privatization of a public institution should be made known? Has the federal and the state officials failed in keeping public colleges even 50 percent public? Structural adjustments professors forced into precarious job settings, and programs disappearing while real estate becomes more attractive and administrators demanding efficiency and giving themselves high pay all suggest that what is public has become VERY Private. This frustration is not around the private colleges in existence. They don’t offer a false narrative of being public. But has all public education become private while the public has been in slumber on this topic?