The Street Roots newspaper has an excellent print insert of local resources. That directory is now online, at the Rose City Resource website. We know how much work is involved compiling such a a list and we thank them for it.
Other social service resources for people without shelter:
1) Local non-profit directories: IIn Washington County we have this terrific Community Action site. Call your own 211 service or your public library for your local referrals.
Thank you to the Lane County Law Librarian for her help in compiling this information. (And check out her great Oregon legal research guides, too.)
SCRIP and LOCAL CURRENCIES
Questions about scrip or local currencies vary. For example:
The Oregon Court of Appeals decided this case about a teacher who wants to carry a concealed handgun, while teaching, on school property. The decision is dated November 18, 2009:
Jane Doe V. Medford School District (A137804)
“Medford School District 549C adopted a policy that prohibits its employees from possessing firearms on school district property or at school-sponsored events. Plaintiff, a school district employee who wishes to carry a handgun while teaching, initiated this declaratory judgment action challenging the lawfulness of that policy. The scope of that challenge is a narrow one: Plaintiff contends that the school district’s policy violates a statute, ORS 166.170, which she contends legislatively preempts the school district from regulating firearms in any manner. She sought a declaration in the circuit court to that effect. ORS 28.010 – 28.160. The school district moved to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint for failure to state a claim. The trial court granted the motion, concluding that ORS 166.170 does not preempt the school district from adopting its policy. The court entered judgment dismissing plaintiff’s complaint.
Think about this interesting debate (and nicely written blog post) while you’re reading the new book on Interpreting Oregon Law:
“Judges Calabresi and Easterbrook Face Off on How to Interpret Statutes
When interpreting statutes, does the Constitution require federal judges to act as agents of the incarnation of Congress that enacted the legislation or the present day Congress? That was the question before Judge Guido Calabresi of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit and Judge Frank Easterbrook of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit at the Federalist Society’s annual debate luncheon this afternoon.
The Oregon Supreme Court : STATE v. TATE (SC S056904), 11/19/09
‘The issue in this criminal case is the proper interpretation of the term “corrections officer” as used in ORS 163.208(1),(1) which defines the crime of “assaulting a public safety officer” to include an assault on a “corrections officer.”’ — (Link to full case.)
“Williamsburg, Va. (Nov. 16, 2009) — Judge Gayle A. Nachtigal of the Circuit Court of Washington County, Ore., will be inducted into the National Center for State Courts’ Warren E. Burger Society….
The Warren E. Burger Society honors individuals who have volunteered their time, talent, and support to the National Center in exceptional ways. It is named for the former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who helped found the NCSC in 1971….” (link to full story)
I enjoyed this Oregonian story, not just because there are law library users amongst the parties, or because it takes place in this very interesting and creative place named Hillsboro, Oregon, but most of all because it is very funny. Don’t we all love the book or the movie where the little guy manages to win, despite the odds, through sheer stubbornness and persistence, not to mention smarts?
In this instance, it seems there were quite a few winners, and quite a few laughs – and even a peacock, about which I too know a little.
“Livestock in the city? Hillsboro crafts a creative compromise,” by Casey Parks, The Oregonian
November 16, 2009
I was thinking, for obvious reasons, about previous Presidential statements on sweeping changes to the Health and Welfare (and happiness pursuit) of the nation:
1) Presidential Statement on Signing the Social Security Act, August 14, 1935 (Roosevelt)
“Today a hope of many years’ standing is in large part fulfilled. The civilization of the past hundred years, with its startling industrial changes, has tended more and more to make life insecure. Young people have come to wonder what would be their lot when they came to old age. The man with a job has wondered how long the job would last.
An upcoming workshop on “Local Treasures – Special Collections and Archives in the Portland Area” (presented by the Portland Area Library Association for Continuing Education), alerts us to these excellent research resources. I’ve reproduced the descriptions right from the program announcement:
1) “The Oregon Historical Society Research Library has gathered one of the most comprehensive collections of local, state, and regional history in the country, with holdings that chronicle the history of the Oregon Country from early exploration to the present day. Collection strengths include: European discovery, exploration, and settlement; Native Americans; local history, family history, and genealogy; the fur trade; agriculture, timber, mining, and fisheries; performing arts; business; architecture and building history; politics and government; religion; and transportation
2) The City of Portland Archives and Records Center is the official repository for records created by or for the City of Portland and its agencies. The collections provide important historical evidence of the development of city government since 1851. Research subjects documented by the collection include public policy, urban planning, parks, land use, public works, economic development, public safety and social issues. The collection includes reports and studies, correspondence and memoranda from city agencies, and elected officials, maps and plans, and nearly 750,000 photographic images of City projects and personnel.
3) The Multnomah County Archives contains records documenting county activities from its formation in 1854 until the present. The collection of records, maps and drawings, audio recordings and microfilm provide historical evidence of the Board of County Commissioners, Community Justice, Community Services, County Human Services, Health, Library Services, defunct agencies, and much more.
4) Central Library’s John Wilson Special Collections houses the rare book and other special collections of Multnomah County Library. Six core collections include those devoted to the book arts and the history of the book; children’s literature; natural history; Pacific Northwest history; literature with particular strengths of Charles Dickens and D. H. Lawrence; and Native American literature.
5) Oregon Jewish Museum: As the only Jewish museum in the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon Jewish Museum houses the largest collection of the documented and visual history of the Jewish people of Oregon in existence. The Special Collections Archives contains personal papers, institutional records, and ephemeral material dating from 1850 to the present, representing 450 individuals, families and organizations and businesses.
6) Oregon State Library: In addition to a strong collection of materials on Oregon history and culture, the Oregon State Library has an extensive collection of Oregon documents (documents published by State and Territorial governments) which include monographs, serials, audio-visual items and maps from 1851 to the present. The State Library also has manuscripts and photographs from the WPA Writers Project and a collection of 5000-plus photographs primarily of Oregon government officials and buildings, and the Salem area”
This isn’t a complete list, but it’s a good start. There are also special collections at just about every Oregon college and university library and museum, at county and tribal libraries and museums, at art museums, and beyond. Ask at your public library and at the Oregon Visitors Center.
11/20/09 UPDATE:
1) Update: Link to the full text of the 11/13/09 Oregon Supreme Court decision.
2) Link to the 11/17/09, Oregon Secretary of State, Elections Division: Ballot Titles for 2010 January Special Election Measures: Measure 66 and Measure 67
If you want to find the most recent Oregon Supreme Court Ballot Measure Title decisions on Measures 66 and 67, visit the OJD News/ Media Releases website and look for the November 13, 2009, release, a PDF document.
Oregon Legal Research Blog