Think Out Loud

Administrative law judge Vadim Mozyrsky and public policy director Meghan Moyer rose to the top of a five-person primary race this spring for the District 1 seat on the Multnomah County Commission. Neither, however, received at least 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff for the general election in November.  We’ll hear from both candidates about how they hope to represent the district, which covers all of Multnomah County west of the Willamette River, as well as parts of Southeast Portland. We’ll also hear their stance on the biggest issues facing the county, including homelessness, public safety, addiction and mental health.

Oregon voters will decide the fate of five statewide ballot measures this November, including Measure 118. Also known as the “Oregon Rebate,” it would impose a 3% tax on a company’s sales above $25 million in Oregon. That money would then be distributed evenly to every Oregonian – roughly $1600 per person – regardless of age or income, starting in 2026 as either direct payments or tax credits. Proponents of Measure 118 claim that it would slash child poverty in the state by half while making large corporations pay “their fair share” in taxes. Opposition to the measure is being led by the No on Measure 118 campaign which argues that it would make the state less attractive for businesses and lead to higher prices for consumers. A recent analysis prepared by the Legislative Revenue Office has also raised concerns that the measure could have a negative effect on revenue the state relies on to pay for education and other services.  Joining us for a debate about Measure 118 is Stacey Rutland, an advisor to the Oregon Rebate campaign, and Angela Wilhelms, President and CEO of Oregon Business & Industry. 

While the fate of the nation seems to ride on which of the major party presidential candidates will win the November election, the stakes are arguably as high for Congressional races around the country. The result of a couple dozen of them - including a few in Oregon - will determine whether Republicans or Democrats control the House. In the 4th District, Val Hoyle is a first-term incumbent Democrat who’s fending off a challenge from Republican candidate Monique DeSpain. They join us for back-to-back interviews outlining the defining issues of their race and why voters should send them to Congress to represent the Oregonians in District 4.

New data from the Oregon Department of Education show that students in the state are still struggling with reading, math and science as they still have not bounced back to pre-pandemic levels. Test results show that less than half of students tested are proficient in English language arts and less than a third are proficient in math. Charlene Williams is the director of ODE. She joins us to share more on the results and what can be done at the state level.

For the first time, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have been found in Oregon. Emilio DeBess is the state public health veterinarian based at the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division. He says the insects are a national concern ”because they can carry and transmit various diseases that can have serious health consequences such as Zika virus, chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever.” The insect was found this summer in Jackson County while officials were monitoring other kinds of mosquitoes. Officials are continuing surveillance and OHA is working with other states to learn more about it. Infection risk from the mosquito is currently low. The insect, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, was found in California in 2013 and has been progressing northward since. DeBess joins us with more on this mosquito, why it’s important to track these insects with county and federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and how changing climates are playing a role in the insect’s spread.

It’s an open race this fall for Oregon Secretary of State. The office oversees elections and audits of state agencies, among other responsibilities. Interest in the race has been ignited recently by the discovery that the Oregon DMV accidentally registered hundreds of noncitizens to vote through an error in the state’s Motor Voter system. If voters pass Measure 117 in November, the winner of this race would also be responsible for implementing ranked choice voting for statewide elections. Dennis Linthicum is a Republican state Senator representing Klamath Falls. Democrat Tobias Read is the state treasurer. They join us to talk about why they’re running for secretary of state and what they hope to achieve if elected.

In 2022, Portland residents voted to drastically change the city’s form of government. That includes using ranked choice voting to expand the city council from five seats to 12. Another change is the creation of four geographic districts, with voters in each district electing three candidates to represent them on the new council. District 1 is in the far east side of Portland, including neighborhoods such as Hazelwood, Mill Park, Centennial and Parkrose to name a few. On Sep. 30, “Think Out Loud” convened a District 1 candidates forum at Von Ebert Brewing. Candidates were invited to participate based on the number of individual donors that contributed to their campaign. They include: Candace Avalos, Doug Clove, Jamie Dunphy, Timur Ender, Noah Ernst, Terrence Hayes, David Linn, Steph Routh, Thomas Shervey, Loretta Smith and Cayle Tern.

Amy Tan might be best known for her fiction, including "The Joy Luck Club" and "The Kitchen God’s Wife," but her latest book takes its drama from her backyard bird feeder. In 2019, Tan began drawing birds she saw in nature, particularly the ones who visited her tree-filled backyard in Northern California. The result is a book of reflections, observations, detailed drawings and cartoon sketches called "The Backyard Bird Chronicles." Tan talks to us in front of an audience of students at Franklin High School.

Rhythm Traders, a Northeast Portland drum shop that has been open for over 30 years, is welcoming two other music businesses into its building. Together, the three businesses hope to create a sort of living room for Portland musicians, and long term stability for their own stores. Ryan Lynn, owner of Eastside Guitar Repair, and Hank Failing, owner of Hank’s Music Exchange, join us to talk about what the new MLK Music Mall could look like. 

In this enlightening discussion, Gayle Fielding, a licensed clinical social worker, and her son Brandon, also a licensed clinical social worker, team up with psychologist Kelly Fielding to unveil their new Birchstone Mental Health Urgent Care clinic in Vancouver. They share their vision of bridging the gap between emergency services and traditional therapy to provide immediate mental health support. The trio tackles the challenges of insurance, highlights the increasing demand for mental health services post-COVID, and advocates for a cultural shift encouraging help-seeking as a strength.