The Advocate - Issue 2 - October 16, 2020

Volume 55, Issue 2 October 16, 2020 advocate-online.net

FOR THE STUDENTS BY THE STUDENTS

Explaining Measures 107 and 108 PAGE 2

Details about Measure 110 PAGE 3

Halloween and COVID-19 PAGE 4

LEARNING ABOUT BALLOT MEASURES 2020 PAGE 2-3

Lucia Faith shares her artwork PAGE 3

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NEWS

A D V O C AT E-O N L I N E.N E T

DETAILS ABOUT MEASURE 107: CAMPAIGN FINANCES The Oregon Supreme Court case of Vannatta v.

Daniella Young The Advocate

The November election is quickly approaching – and one of Oregon’s ballot measures would directly impact all future elections across the state.

Passage of Measure 107 would permit limits on campaign contributions that could contribute to an election’s outcome. It also requires that political advertisements identify their sponsorship and just who pays for those ads, and there would be more identification within campaigns.

Those against the measure who would vote “no” oppose authorizing the Oregon Legislature and local governments to make laws that limit campaign contributions, or require identification of Web Graphic. sponsorships in political ads.

Kiesling found that the freedom of speech stated in the In recent years, several cities and even the Legislature state’s constitution prevents the Legislature from limiting have adopted contribution limits (often by a public vote), campaign finance activities. only to seem them rejected in court.

This prompted Measure 107, which would alter the Oregon constitution and so requires a statewide, public vote. The measure was referred to voters by the Legislature.

For details about the measure, visit: https://ballotpedia.org/Oregon_ Measure_107,_Campaign_Finance_ Limits_Amendment_(2020)

PASSAGE OF MEASURE 107 WOULD PERMIT LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO AN ELECTION’S OUTCOME.

LEARNING ABOUT MEASURE 108: VAPE TAXES revenue would first be applied to enforcing the tax. Of the remainder, 90% would be allocated to the Oregon Health

Terris Harned The Advocate

On Nov. 3, Oregon residents will have the opportunity to vote on a measure that would increase taxes on nicotine products, including those for vaping. Tax revenue from this measure would be directed toward funding medical assistance programs in the state.

Measure 108, the Tobacco and E-Cigarette Tax Increase for Health Programs Measure, proposes a dime tax increase on individual cigarettes, from 6.65 cents to 16.65 cents, equating to a raise from $1.33 to $3.33 per pack. The measure would also impose a tax of 65% of the wholesale price on the sale of inhalant delivery systems (e-cigarettes) and cigars, with an increase to the maximum tax per cigar from $0.50 to $1.00.

The increase in revenue created by this measure is forecast to be approximately $160 million a year, according to a fiscal impact statement released by the Oregon Legislative Revenue Office (https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/ Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/51935).

This

Oregon is looking to add a ballot measure that would increase taxes on cigarettes and nicotene products.

Plan and “other medical assistance programs,” and 10% would be dedicated to tobacco use prevention and cessation programs, especially among tribal health providers and

for the students by the students Co Editors-in-Chief Daniella Young Brad Le Arts & Entertainment Editors [Positions Open]

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programs targeting children.

Proponents of the measure – approved by the Oregon Legislature in 2019 and referred to voters – claim that the funding is necessary for the expansion of Medicaid coverage in the state and suggest that it will greatly act to encourage smoking cessation.

Opponents suggest that the measure is self-defeating: If smokers quit purchasing tobacco products, then the funding for Medicaid goes away. They also warn that smokers may turn to the black market for their purchases to avoid increasing prices, thus generating no tax revenue at all.

Oregon currently has the lowest tax on cigarettes on the West Coast, at $1.33 per pack, and ranks 32nd in the nation Web Photo. overall. California’s tax is $2.87 per pack while Washington’s is $3.03.

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OCTOBER 16, 2020

EXPLAINING MEASURE 110: DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION legal sale of marijuana, as well as the expected savings attributable to less incarceration of drug offenders. It

Terris Harned The Advocate

A measure on the Nov. 3 ballot in Oregon proposes decriminalizing the possession of controlled substances.

Schedule I-IV controlled substances, which include heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines, are currently a Class A misdemeanor under Oregon statutes. If passed, Measure 110 would change these charges to a Class E violation.

According to Oregon sentencing guidelines, a Class A misdemeanor can result in up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $6,250. Under the new, proposed legislation, the maximum fine for possession of a controlled substance would be $100, with no possibility of incarceration. Instead of a fine, offenders may be sentenced to seek a health assessment by addiction recovery centers.

This measure is meant to reduce punishments only for those in possession of small amounts of Schedule I-IV controlled substances, such as for personal use.

Consequences for the distribution of these substances, in most cases a felony charge, would not change.

Funding for addiction recovery centers would be supplied by state taxes collected from the ongoing

Dr. Robert Lowe, former teacher of emergency medicine at OHSU, and Dr. Ray Strangeland, an emergency physician, wrote in an OregonLive. com article (https://www.oregonlive.com/ opinion/2020/09/opinion-a-yes-on-measure-110will-ensure-oregon-treats-addiction-as-the-healthcare-issue-it-is.html) that “Measure 110 offers those struggling with addiction a way out, while offering our state a path forward to treat addiction humanely and effectively.”

Those in opposition to Measure 110 claim that it falls short on addressing addiction problems. Dr. Paul Coelho of Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics believes decriminalizing drug use and lowering the financial disincentive to possession of controlled Web Graphic. substances will “result in a revolving door of drug is anticipated that Measure 110 could reduce jailable abuse, treatment refusal, crime, homelessness, and convictions by as many as 3,076 people annually, a 90% ongoing costly health related expenditures.” (http:// decrease. This could save the state as much as $132 million votenoon110.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/OCBHin taxes per year and alleviate over-population in county Ballot-Measure-110-Opposition-Statement.pdf) Measure opponents also criticize the bill for not facilities.

Proponents of Measure 110 claim that incarceration has actually creating new revenue for the state budget, little-to-no positive benefits to those people experiencing but instead reallocating funds (from marijuana taxes) drug addiction, especially as recovery and rehabilitation currently being used, in part, for K-12 public schools. programs are being cut from stressed jail budgets.

MHCC STUDENT LUCIA FAITH EXPRESSES EMOTIONS THROUGH ART “My work comes from loving a lot of different artists including [Jean-Michel] Basquiat, George Condo, Louis

Omar Carrillo The Advocate

Historically, artistic talent has always flourished, in many ways, during times of high stress and frightening uncertainty.

But very few artists truly capture and reflect the collective unease of our time as does MHCC student Lucia Faith, in every piece.

Each of Faith’s works evokes a composed savagery, every strikingly bold color and stroke intricately contrasted with the rest. She intricately mocks traditional anatomical form in every painting, choosing instead to twist conventional human shape into something monstrously alluring, entirely new. Often combining cubist and surrealist elements, Faith depicts dark images and emotions with a juxtaposing brightness, forcing a viewer out of their comfort zone and encouraging them to find another form of satisfaction in this unknown space she has created for them.

MHCC Student Lucia Faith shows off a recent piece.

Carreon, and @najimir (username of popular artist Naji Chalhoub),” she explains. “I started drawing based off of how I felt and just needing something to keep me busy, and those artists just helped influence me a lot.”

Regarding whether the current pandemic has affected her work, she shares a painfully relatable sentiment for many of us: “It’s affected my painting a lot, honestly. I have a lot of free time on my hands which you’d think would [make] me paint more, but instead it’s left me kind of in a rut and not doing anything.”

As Faith solidifies herself as a creative force to be reckoned with within the Portland metro area art scene, so, too, do her images implant themselves into an admirer’s psyche – before insisting on being spread, like a magnificent plague.

To follow Faith’s work online: https://www.instagram. com/p/CFiKl2nF2Qf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Photo provided

by Lucia Faith.

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Kandy LeFebvre Staff Writer The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission.

Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print. Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.

Kandy LeFebvre is a native Oregonian who raised her three children in the Willamette Valley. She is a first-year college student pursuing a degree in psychology. She enjoys metalsmithing and live music. Like many Oregonians, she appreciates the state’s natural beauty and enjoys hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities.

PA G E 3

OPINION | COLUMN

A D V O C AT E-O N L I N E.N E T

WHAT’S UP WITH HALLOWEEN 2020?

Ashaura Espinoza The Advocate

It’s that spooky time of year, folks: Time to break out the pumpkin spice lattes and the jack-o’-lanterns, because Halloween is right around the corner. And if you love this holiday as much as I do (even if I am too old to trick or treat) you’re probably asking, “Hey, will there even be a Halloween this year ?”

To be honest, I don’t have the exact answer, but from what it looks like now, while some people feel like it should be cancelled for safety reasons, there are others who feel some Halloween traditions could possibly be adjusted for a fun experience for the kids and a safe night for everyone involved.

According to the federal CDC, here are some things you can do that are considered lower-risk activities, and some that would be moderate- to higher-risk activities: Lower-risk activities • Virtual Halloween costume contest • Decorating your home • Halloween movie night members of your household

with

• Carving pumpkins and decorating with members of your household • Carving and decorating pumpkins outside with friends and neighbors (socially distanced) Moderate risk activities • Lining up individually wrapped candy bags at the end of your driveway for trick-or-treaters to grab • Visiting a pumpkin patch or orchard with sanitizing or social distancing rules in place • Outdoor costume parties where people wear protective masks and stay more than 6 feet apart (a costume mask is not a substitute for a protective cloth mask) Higher risk activities • Traditional trick or treating • Indoor haunted house • Hayrides or tractor rides with people who you don’t live with • Crowded indoor costume parties PA G E 4

The CDC does say to check and follow local and state rules and regulations, and to not participate in any festivities if you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who does.

Though this holiday does not feel the

St., Portland; $30-$58.; fearpdx.com

• Oaks Park Haunted Drive-Thru - Enjoy Halloween frights and thrills from the safety of your own vehicle. Become part of the show as characters are front and center leading cars through an unusual storytelling experience. The show promises spine-tingling audio, video and special effects. Choose from five haunted attractions, each with a distinctive theme or story that plays out over multiple scenes. Tickets must be purchased in advance. No Halloween Activities could take place differently Web Photo. oversized vehicles, convertibles, this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. motorcycles, limos, scooters, bikes or pedestrians. Further details: Various dates and times Oct. same – and I wholeheartedly agree, it does 9-Nov. 1; Oaks Park, 7805 S.E. not – it can still be a ton of fun in a safe way Oaks Park Way, Portland; $70-$80; that will leave everyone with a smile and no scaregroundspdx.com one sick.

Let’s look at it this way: While we may • Clackamas County Scare Fair have the safety mask part covered by now, This drive-through experience getting large groups of people together to offers the sights, sounds and chills celebrate might not be a good idea this year. of Halloween with help from the But fear not, reader – I have produced a list Nightmare Factory, Davis Graveyard of some of the things we all can still do this folks, Fearlandia and Creatures of month that will be fun and bring a good the Night. Tickets are required in scare. advance via the website. Further It may not be everything, but I’ll try to details: 7 p.m.-midnight Fridayscover the big stuff!

Sundays, Oct. 9-Nov. 1; 694 N.E. Fourth Ave. Canby; $20 per car, Haunted Attractions: $11 for single-occupant vehicles only; clackamas.us/fair/clackamas• The Cinema of Horrors Drive-In county-scare-fair Experience - This new contactless, Halloween experience combines 12 Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Farm scary blockbuster movies, including “Friday the 13th,” “Insidious,” and Stores. Zoo fun: “Halloween 2007,” with live actors • Bella Organic Pumpkin Patch and special effects. Organizers Activities include corn and hay promise the scares from the screen maze, haunted corn maze, hayride, will come to life as monsters lurk cow train, and petting zoo. Masks outside car windows, ready to pop are required prior to entering the out at perfect moments. You’ll want farm store, and masks and gloves are to keep your doors locked. See the required in the U-pick fields. Farm website for an FAQ for COVID-safe has gloves for U-pick. Masks will be practices, a complete list of films, required in mazes. Haunted maze and details on concessions. Further open weekends only in October. details: Various times FridayVisit the website for a complete Sunday, Oct. 9-Nov. 1; Clark County list of COVID rules and ticket Events Center, 17402 N.E. Delfel prices. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. TuesdaysRoad, Ridgefield, Washington; $49; Sundays through Oct. 31; 16205 CinemaOfHorrors.com N.W. Gillihan Road; 503-621-9545, bellaorganic.com • The Fear PDX - One of Portland’s favorite haunted attractions has a • Topaz Farm (formerly known as new timed ticketing system, with a Kruger Farms) - Pumpkin patch limited number of tickets available and two corn mazes. One entrance for each half-hour time slot. Expect is for a shorter maze, with parents a system similar to museums, but of young children in mind. The much scarier, organizers say. Guests other entrance brings visitors to a walk the entire haunted attraction in much longer and more challenging a single file line so they won’t come maze. Open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily within 6 feet of other groups. Further through Oct. 31; 17100 N.W. Sauvie details: Evening ticket times vary Island Road; maze admission $6-$8; Sept. 25-Nov. 1; 12301 N.E. Glisan

topazfarm.com/home • Bauman’s Farm & Garden Harvest Festival - The 2020 festival will offer U-pick pumpkin attractions and the corn maze. Visit the farm store for homemade doughnuts and apple cider. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Oct. 31; 12989 Howell Prairie Road N.E., Gervais, Oregon; 503-7923524, baumanshf.com • Lee Farms - Fall features include corn and hay mazes, wagon and pony rides, hayrides, farm animals, and a slide. Admission is limited during pre-booked time periods.

The pumpkin patch field and corn maze will not have a time limit. The farm offers more than 15 varieties of pumpkins and gourds, along with cornstalks, hay bales and decorative corn. Tickets are sold in advance on the website. No gate admission sold for attractions. Farm store is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31; 21975 S.W. 65th Ave., Tualatin; $10-$22; 503-638-1869 or leefarmsoregon.com • Oregon Zoo Howloween: Children learn about the habitats of zoo animals, while they look forward to a bag of treats as treasure for their scavenger hunt. Admission must be pre-booked online; registration opens 10 days before each event (shop.oregonzoo.org/#/Admission).

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 24, 25 and 31; Oregon Zoo, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road, Portland; treat bags $3 each. oregonzoo.org Sadly these popular attractions below will be cancelled this year: The annual Witches Standup Willamette Paddle is canceled this year due to maximum outdoor gathering capacity limits.

Tualatin has rescheduled the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta for Oct. 16, 2021; tualatinoregon.gov Davis Graveyard: Highlights from the famed Halloween haunt will be taken to Canby for the Scare Fair (see above).

Fear Asylum: From the website - “Fear Asylum has closed the coffin and will not be returning.” fearasylumhauntedattraction. com Milburn’s Haunted Manor and Pumpkin Patch: Canceled; milburnmanor. com The Beneath: The website has not been updated since 2019; thebeneath.com Hood River Valley Harvest Fest: Canceled. 541386-2000, hoodriver.org Wenzel Farm Fantasy Trail: Halloween Fantasy Trail will not be open for the 2020 season. Fantasytrail.com