Dear friends and neighbors,
As I was wrapping up this newsletter to send to you, I saw the news that many of you have seen: President Trump’s administration has called members of the Oregon National Guard into federal service in Portland, and the state has filed a lawsuit to block the deployment. I have received at least one report that additional ICE agents have arrived.
Here is what you can do if you see ICE in your neighborhood:
- Call the PIRC (Portland Immigrants Right Coalition) hotline: 1-888-622-1510. I’ve put this number in my phone and urge you to do so too.
- Bookmark the ACLU intake portal to report incidents online.
- Share CLEAR information when you report; Count, Location, Equipment, Activity, Report time:
Count: How many agents and vehicles?
Location: Exact address or intersection
Equipment: Vehicle descriptions, uniforms, gear
Activity: What are they doing?
Report time: When did you see this?
Among the many things that are distressing about having federal troops and additional ICE agents in Portland is that we know the political messaging does not match what is happening here. Portland is not war ravaged, as Trump has said. But his interest does not seem to be aligning his administration’s actions with what is true. It is about advancing his own reality.
We do not have to help him with that. Let’s continue to take care of each other, protest together, point out where our local governments need to do a better job, and celebrate what is good about our county.
Thank you,
Jennifer
Post-audit engagement
A highlight of my month was connecting with community members with lived experience of probation and parole who had participated in my office’s audit of the Department of Community Justice’s Adult Services Division.
We issued the report in July, and had the chance this month to connect with participants about the audit’s results. It is important to me and my team that we keep in contact with people most impacted by the areas we are auditing; this helps us keep accountable to them by sharing how we used their knowledge.
The stories we heard during the audit, triangulated with our research and data analysis, helped ensure that our audit report included recommendations for improving probation and parole outcomes, which in turn will mean fewer new crimes by people on probation and parole and a safer county for all of us.
If you and your community organization or network would like to learn about our work on any audit or investigatory report, please reach out and we can arrange a presentation. You can use this form to make that request.
Being aware of how your local governments work - and advocating for how you want them to work - is so important right now. This is a frightening time in our nation. Our Constitutional rights are under attack, as are loved ones and friends that the federal administration is targeting. But through local advocacy and community building, you can help to sustain and improve our local democracy, even as the national picture looks bleak. My team and I will continue to stay the course by promoting an accountable, equitable county government through our audits and investigations.
Community Engagement
NAYA's Reimagining Justice Mural Celebration in Cully
Reimagining Justice Mural Block Party was rescheduled to September 29th, in Portland’s Cully neighborhood. From my office, Performance Auditor Jeremy Johnson and Constituent Relations and DEI Engagement Specialist Raymond De Silva attended the event. This placemaking project celebrated Cully’s newest community mural created by BIPOC youth. There was a BIPOC-centered open mic, speakers, and performances.
AFSCME Local 88 Labor Day Picnic
In addition to the engagement described above, several members of the Auditor’s Office attended AFSCME Local 88’s Labor Day picnic. Audit Director Caroline Zavitkovski and Constituent Relations and DEI Engagement Specialist Raymond De Silva (a former Local 88 Vice President) joined with union members to reflect on the meaning of Labor Day and celebrate at this family friendly event.
Invite Auditor McGuirk to attend an event or meeting
If you’d like me and or staff to attend or speak at a meeting with your community group, simply fill out this form.