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This was extraordinarily disappointing news (by early 2020 standards, anyway). The Republican walkout caused the death of SB 1506 — a widely popular bill to make the Public Records Advocate independent. https://twitter.com/WashingtonCOG/status/1235640592329129984
This came after a scandal in which Governor Brown's chief counsel tried to pressure @gingermccall to back off on her efforts to strengthen the public records act. https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-public-records-advocate-ginger-mccall-resignation/
The Public Records Advisory Committee strongly supported independence (with an exception of the Oregon League of Cities lobbyist). To that end it crafted SB 1506, which would have limited the Governor's influence over the hiring the Advocate and made the office independent.
Because that popular bill never got a full vote before the session was sabotaged, the PRAC had to hire @gingermccall's replacement under the same rules Ginger was hired.
PRAC's top choice for a new Public Records Advocate was @gingermccall's hand-selected deputy, Todd Albert.
(He's awesome. Would recommend.)
Kate Brown ignored that selection and chose instead Becky Chiao.
(He's awesome. Would recommend.)
Kate Brown ignored that selection and chose instead Becky Chiao.
Unless you're a lawyer, you probably don't know Ms. Chiao, but she's spent most of the last two decades as the claims adjuster for Portland Police civil lawsuits.
Every PPB trial over the last two decades; Becky likely decided to drag the victims and survivors through that hell.
Every PPB trial over the last two decades; Becky likely decided to drag the victims and survivors through that hell.
When Portland Police officers Jeffrey Elias, Robert Bruders, and Sarah Kerwin beat and tazed Jason Cox so badly that it ended his career as an ironworker, it was likely Ms. Chiao who decided not to settle. https://www.kafourymcdougal.com/case-studies/km-wins-largest-portland-police-brutality-verdict/
In 2017, when SERT cops used explosives to blow the door off Nguyet Le's rental house near NE 81st, she expected the City to pay her "fair and moral" claim per its usual practice.
Instead the City fined her and Ms. Chiao offered her a pittance. https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2017/08/steve_duin_a_silent_coup_at_ci.html
Instead the City fined her and Ms. Chiao offered her a pittance. https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2017/08/steve_duin_a_silent_coup_at_ci.html
When the City was deciding whether to apologize and pay Venus Hayes a settlement for murdering her 17-year-old son Quanice, or to concoct a nonsense, racist story to BLAME HIS MOM that was Becky Chiao's risk management office making the call. https://www.wweek.com/news/city/2020/02/27/city-council-candidates-protest-citys-defense-of-policeman-who-killed-quanice-hayes/
Becky has long been a police apologist. In 2010, Ms. Chiao was forced to step down from @KBOO after she called in to a radio program to defend Nazi cop Mark Kruger against claims that being a Nazi made unsuitable for promotion.
Didn't bug the city though.
http://publish.portland.indymedia.org/en/2010/07/400845.shtml
Didn't bug the city though.
http://publish.portland.indymedia.org/en/2010/07/400845.shtml
There's a dropbox folder here with the full KBOO program and just the 5 minute clip of Ms. Chiao's call.
Also some documents related to this subject. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pjrk05ufgsrbyzy/AABVe7egLwrkGd0GcsHzG_uXa?dl=0
Also some documents related to this subject. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pjrk05ufgsrbyzy/AABVe7egLwrkGd0GcsHzG_uXa?dl=0
The City of Portland is consistently recognized by experts in Oregon as the worst abusers and violators of or public records laws. The Portland Police Bureau is the worst offender at the city by far.
Governor brown plucked a brilliant, shrewd lawyer from the heart of the PPB's information-obstruction apparatus to lead the agency charged with bringing sunlight and transparency.
Becky Chiao has remained mostly out of public view, but last week she revealed her proposal for a new version of SB 1506. One that eliminates the independence which, @gingermccall fought for as the most important reform needed to make the office work for Oregonians.
It's bad.
It's bad.
Tomorrow at 1PM, the Senate is scheduled to vote on her confirmation.
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2019I1/Committees/SRULES/2020-09-21-13-00/Agenda
At the very least the public needs more notice; I personally do not think anyone who has worked with police at the City of Portland should be confirmed for this role.
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2019I1/Committees/SRULES/2020-09-21-13-00/Agenda
At the very least the public needs more notice; I personally do not think anyone who has worked with police at the City of Portland should be confirmed for this role.
Testimony with respect to the confirmation hearing for Rebecca Chiao as the Public Records Advocate can be sent to:
[email protected]
[email protected]
