Earlier this month, my office had an article about the Good Government Hotline in the county’s employee newsletter. We wanted to thank county employees who have supported the hotline by making reports or sharing information about the hotline with others. And we wanted to make sure employees knew how to make reports to the hotline.
I thought it would be prudent to also thank those of you who have connected with the hotline or told others about it - and I wanted to provide a reminder that anyone in our county can make reports to the Good Government Hotline. It’s not just for county employees. Through the hotline, you can report tips about suspected inefficiency, fraud, waste, and abuse of position in our county government. The Good Government Hotline webpage has detailed information about how to file a report and the kinds of things to report. You can submit tips online, or by calling 888-289-6839. In addition to reporting through the hotline, you can call Hotline Director Marc Rose at 503-988-3359 to share concerns. In accordance with state law, we keep the identities of reporters confidential, and reporters can remain anonymous if they choose.
But what if your concern isn’t about fraud, waste, or abuse of position? What if you need help resolving an issue you are having with a county department or program? In those cases, you can contact County Ombudsperson Cheryl Taylor. Cheryl is a part of my office and her role is to ensure people are treated fairly in their interactions with the county. As an Ombudsperson, Cheryl can conduct independent, impartial investigations into administrative acts of county programs.
Before you contact the County Ombudsperson, first try to resolve your issue directly with the county program or department involved. This is the quickest way to resolve most issues between individuals and the county. If you are unsure of who to call or are unable to resolve the issue directly with the program or department, then contact the County Ombudsperson at 503-988-1234 or ombudsperson@multco.us. You can also make a report online. The hotline and ombudsperson functions in my office are important services that promote fairness and honesty in government. Please let your friends, family, and neighbors know about these resources. If you would like to have a presentation about the hotline, ombudsperson, or the audit function of my office, simply fill out this form.
Thank you,
Jennifer McGuirk, Multnomah County Auditor
On September 16, my parents and I attended the Portland Polish Festival, which had not been held since 2019. It’s the oldest Polish festival in the western U.S., and a great place to hear Polish, watch (or participate in) polka contests, and dig into traditional foods. Over potato and cheese pierogi, my parents and I listened to Polish folk music and talked about my mom’s and my Polish heritage. My maternal great-grandparents immigrated from Poland and Germany. Next month is Polish American Heritage Month.
In Multnomah County, we honor Latiné and Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) and celebrate the diverse contributions of people who identify as Hispanic, Latino, Latiné, Chicano, or Indigenous from Mexico, Central America, or South America. The generational work of Latinés in Oregon reflects their enduring commitment to building a future for the flourishing of our families and community - an important contribution to who we are in Multnomah County.
On September 23, Constituent Relations and DEI Engagement Specialist Raymond De Silva represented our office by attending Come To Our Home - Ven A Nuestra Casa. The gathering was culturally immersive as it featured educational crafts, delicious food, and live music. The event spotlighted Latin American music by Gerardo Calderon and Dominican Republic visual artist Hampton Rodriguez, to name a few.
On September 27, I attended a meeting of the Brooklyn Action Corps, the neighborhood association for Portland’s Brooklyn neighborhood. I talked about my office’s recent audit report Joint Office of Homeless Services: Providers were frustrated with contract management and communication. The neighborhood association members asked impressive, tough questions about my office’s work and that of the Joint Office. If you would like to have me or a member of my office attend a meeting of your neighborhood association or community group, simply fill out this form, and we’ll be in touch.
