LEONARD IN JAIL
City Commissioner Randy Leonard spent last Wednesday night, November
28, in jail—on the invitation of sheriff’s deputies at the
Multnomah County Detention Center on SW 3rd. Leonard says, “I was
struck by the understaffing” in the city-funded 57-bed Project 57 unit.
“It struck me as very dangerous.”
Leonard spoke with County Chair Ted Wheeler, and 36 hours after
Leonard’s visit, County Chair Ted Wheeler said he wants the county to
take over management of the jail from Sheriff Bernie Giusto’s office.
Wheeler’s announcement follows recent allegations of prisoner
mistreatment at the jail. MATT DAVIS
HOMOPHOBES SUE
In October, anti-gay activists attempting to force a referendum vote
on two new gay rights measures failed to turn in enough signatures to
put domestic partnerships and a non-discrimination law on the ballot.
Undeterred, the groups—Concerned Oregonians and Defense of
Marriage and Family Again—protested, saying that the Oregon
Elections Division and county clerks tossed out legit signatures. (If
five signatures were validated, the referendum petition on domestic
partnerships could have qualified for the ballot.)
On Monday, December 3, the groups—along with the conservative
Alliance Defense Fund—filed the suit in federal court, asking the
court to reinstate signatures that were “improperly excluded,” and send
the referendum to the ballot. AMY J. RUIZ