{"id":108,"date":"2018-11-21T09:47:18","date_gmt":"2018-11-21T09:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fixmultnomah.com\/?page_id=108"},"modified":"2025-10-10T21:48:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T21:48:05","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/p3.alidigitalmedia.com\/?page_id=108","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

WE KNOW WHAT TO DO, WE HAVE A SOLUTION!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

People often wonder why, with so much money, homelessness, mental health, and addiction have gotten so much worse in Multnomah County. \n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Having spent eight years as a Multnomah County Commissioner, while working on the front line as an ER doctor and street medicine provider, I will help you understand the issues and disconnects that have led to our current crises. More importantly, I will identify real solutions. \n
\nJoin me to connect the dots and explore how, together, we can fix Multnomah County!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMultco 101<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTranslating the News<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Big Issues<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlans and Resources<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n

Understanding Multnomah County<\/h2>
<\/div><\/div>\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The full story often doesn\u2019t make it into the headlines. But it needs to be understood if we ever want our local government to function effectively and keep its promises.\n

\nThe good news is that the problems we face in the Portland area aren\u2019t as hard to solve as we\u2019re making them. As a lawyer, emergency room doctor, and former Multnomah County Commissioner, I have rare insight into the region\u2019s toughest challenges from a practical, policy, and political perspective.\n

\nHere, I will pull back the curtain of Multnomah County government and share what\u2019s really at the heart of our region\u2019s seemingly intractable challenges. And how, together, we can implement straightforward solutions to restore our community.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n

About Sharon<\/h2>
<\/div><\/div>\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

I was born in Palo Alto, California, the daughter of Gene Meieran, a scientist\/mineral collector, and Roz Meieran, an artist\/sociologist.\n

\nI grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended UC Berkeley, majoring in Economics and English. I went directly to law school and practiced law in the Bay Area for seven years. I developed an expertise in trademark and copyright law and volunteered in children\u2019s advocacy and family law.\n

\nAt the age of 30, I decided to pursue my true dream of becoming a doctor. I remember it like it was yesterday \u2013 it was my 30th birthday, and I felt so old. But I realized I didn\u2019t want to look back when I was 80, think how young I\u2019d been at 30, and wish I had at least tried to pursue my dream. So I decided to go for it.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n

Multnomah County 101<\/h2>
<\/div><\/div>\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n

<\/h2>

Multnomah County plays a critical but often overlooked role in the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of people. It is responsible for essential services that form the backbone of our community\u2019s well-being, including homeless services, public health programs, mental health and addiction treatment, emergency medical response, and disability support. Despite its broad impact, many residents remain unaware of what the County actually does, how its systems operate, or the extent to which its decisions affect their everyday lives and future opportunities.<\/p>

Through this series, I will take you step by step into the inner workings of Multnomah County, what it is, how it functions, and why its effectiveness as a local government body directly shapes the future of the entire region. Whether it succeeds or falls short has real, measurable consequences for individuals, neighbourhoods, families, and the region.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n

Translating the News<\/h2>
<\/div><\/div>\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n

<\/h2>

Too often news outlets only reflect press statements issued by local governments, missing essential context, background, and information. Here, I translate the headlines, providing critical context, correct the record when needed, and fill in the gaps.<\/p>

In this space, I aim to do things differently. I break down the headlines, offer the necessary historical and policy context, and connect the dots to tell the real story\u2014clearly, honestly, and without spin. This is about making complex issues understandable and holding power to account by providing the information that\u2019s too often left out.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n

The Big Issues<\/h2>
<\/div><\/div>\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n

<\/h2>

Many people are asking the same questions: With so much funding and so many programs, how has Multnomah County struggled so profoundly to address homelessness, mental health & addiction, and public safety? The frustration is real, and the answers are not always easy to find.<\/p>

In this space, I aim to offer a more comprehensive understanding of the situation. I\u2019ll unpack the history, explore the underlying factors, and present the research and facts that often get lost in the noise. By offering this context, I hope to empower you to engage in thoughtful, informed conversations about the issues that affect us all. The goal is to promote not just awareness, but also a more effective and civil approach to addressing these crucial problems.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n

Recent Stories<\/h2>
<\/div><\/div>\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\"County<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n \n Sharon Meieran <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n WW Headline: \u201cCounty Commissioner Brings Expert on Millionaire Migration Into Preschool\u00a0Debate\u201d <\/a>\n <\/h4>\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n

I generally appreciate attempts to bring outside experts into government conversations, because it\u2019s generally good for politicians to have someone around who u<\/p>

<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
\"What<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n \n Sharon Meieran <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n What is a by-name list? why is it so crucial to ending homelessness? Does the county have\u00a0one? <\/a>\n <\/h4>\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n

\nA By-Name List (BNL) is a comprehensive list of every person in a community experiencing homelessness, updated in real time.\n\n\u201cUsing information collected and <\/p>

<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Why<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n \n Sharon Meieran <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n Why Things Are As Bad As They Are? <\/a>\n <\/h4>\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n

\nA Yiddish word, \u201cfar-potshket\u201d, does a great job of encapsulating the problem \u2013 it refers to efforts to fix things that end up making them worse. The following<\/p>

<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Multnomah<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n \n Sharon Meieran <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n WWeek headline: \u201cMultnomah County Reaches Agreement With Ambulance\u00a0Provider\u201d <\/a>\n <\/h4>\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n

Translation: Multnomah County Chair Reaches Agreement With Ambulance Provider\u00a0after unnecessarily delaying for 18 months, putting untold numbers of lives at ris<\/p>

<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Whistleblower<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n \n Sharon Meieran <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n Oregonian Headline: Whistleblower suit alleges Multnomah County\u2019s mental health system turned into “the wild\u00a0west” <\/a>\n <\/h4>\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n

This whistleblower action should include the leaders in charge of perpetuating Multnomah County\u2019s failed mental health system.A year and a half ago, as a Multno<\/p>

<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Multnomah<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n \n Sharon Meieran <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n Oregonian Headline: \u201cCounty to pay marketing firm $238K to collect feedback on Preschool for All\u201d <\/a>\n <\/h4>\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n

A reporter should investigate how many consultants Multnomah County (read as JVP) has hired over the past 2.5 years in the core work of the county \u2013 homelessnes<\/p>

<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Downtown<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n \n Sharon Meieran <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n Void of subject matter expertise in county departments Has Led to institutional\u00a0dysfunction <\/a>\n <\/h4>\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n

Department function is directly tied to the background, expertise and experience of directors. Currently, too many directors do not have a background in the dep<\/p>

<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
\"PastedGraphic-3\"<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n \n Sharon Meieran <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n The Structure of County Government \u2013 In many Ways a Rigged\u00a0Game <\/a>\n <\/h4>\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n

In my first post, I explained what Multnomah County does and why it\u2019s the most important government you\u2019ve never heard of when it comes to the biggest issues af<\/p>

<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
\"image<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n \n Sharon Meieran <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n What is multnomah county and why is it so\u00a0important? <\/a>\n <\/h4>\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n

Over the years, I\u2019ve observed many different reactions when I\u2019ve told people I was a Multnomah County Commissioner. Most often, they\u2019ve smiled and nodded and tr<\/p>

<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Officials<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n \n Sharon Meieran <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n Oregonian headline: Officials now have a much better idea of how many homeless people live in Multnomah County. It\u2019s a lot <\/a>\n <\/h4>\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n

Translation:\u00a0Officials finally learn how to de-duplicate names in their database and realize they still have no idea how many homeless people live in Multnomah <\/p>

<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Multnomah<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n \n Sharon Meieran <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n Oregonian Headline: Multnomah County officials defend homelessness spending, despite now facing $70 million\u00a0shortfall <\/a>\n <\/h4>\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n

Translation:\u00a0Multnomah County officials awkwardly and ineffectively try to defend their indefensible massive budget shortfallLink to\u00a0original Oregonian article\u00a0<\/p>

<\/div> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n<\/div><\/div><\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WE KNOW WHAT TO DO, WE HAVE A SOLUTION! People often wonder why, with so much money, homelessness, mental health, and addiction have gotten so much worse in Multnomah County. Having spent eight years as a Multnomah County Commissioner, while working on the front line as an ER doctor and street medicine provider, I will help you understand the issues and disconnects that have led to our current crises. More importantly, I will identify real solutions. Join me to connect the dots and explore how, together, we can fix Multnomah County! Multco 101 Translating the News The Big Issues Plans and Resources Understanding Multnomah County The full story often doesn\u2019t make it into the headlines. But it needs to be understood if we ever want our local government to function effectively and keep its promises. The good news is that the problems we face in the Portland area aren\u2019t as hard to solve as we\u2019re making them. As a lawyer, emergency room doctor, and former Multnomah County Commissioner, I have rare insight into the region\u2019s toughest challenges from a practical, policy, and political perspective. Here, I will pull back the curtain of Multnomah County government and share what\u2019s really at the heart of our region\u2019s seemingly intractable challenges. And how, together, we can implement straightforward solutions to restore our community. Read More About Sharon I was born in Palo Alto, California, the daughter of Gene Meieran, a scientist\/mineral collector, and Roz Meieran, an artist\/sociologist. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended UC Berkeley, majoring in Economics and English. I went directly to law school and practiced law in the Bay Area for seven years. I developed an expertise in trademark and copyright law and volunteered in children\u2019s advocacy and family law. At the age of 30, I decided to pursue my true dream of becoming a doctor. I remember it like it was yesterday \u2013 it was my 30th birthday, and I felt so old. But I realized I didn\u2019t want to look back when I was 80, think how young I\u2019d been at 30, and wish I had at least tried to pursue my dream. So I decided to go for it. Read More Multnomah County 101 Multnomah County plays a critical but often overlooked role in the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of people. It is responsible for essential services that form the backbone of our community\u2019s well-being, including homeless services, public health programs, mental health and addiction treatment, emergency medical response, and disability support. Despite its broad impact, many residents remain unaware of what the County actually does, how its systems operate, or the extent to which its decisions affect their everyday lives and future opportunities. Through this series, I will take you step by step into the inner workings of Multnomah County, what it is, how it functions, and why its effectiveness as a local government body directly shapes the future of the entire region. Whether it succeeds or falls short has real, measurable consequences for individuals, neighbourhoods, families, and the region. Read More Translating the News Too often news outlets only reflect press statements issued by local governments, missing essential context, background, and information. Here, I translate the headlines, providing critical context, correct the record when needed, and fill in the gaps. In this space, I aim to do things differently. I break down the headlines, offer the necessary historical and policy context, and connect the dots to tell the real story\u2014clearly, honestly, and without spin. This is about making complex issues understandable and holding power to account by providing the information that\u2019s too often left out. Read More The Big Issues Many people are asking the same questions: With so much funding and so many programs, how has Multnomah County struggled so profoundly to address homelessness, mental health & addiction, and public safety? The frustration is real, and the answers are not always easy to find. In this space, I aim to offer a more comprehensive understanding of the situation. I\u2019ll unpack the history, explore the underlying factors, and present the research and facts that often get lost in the noise. By offering this context, I hope to empower you to engage in thoughtful, informed conversations about the issues that affect us all. The goal is to promote not just awareness, but also a more effective and civil approach to addressing these crucial problems. Read More Recent Stories September 17, 2025 by Sharon Meieran | Edit WW Headline: \u201cCounty Commissioner Brings Expert on Millionaire Migration Into Preschool\u00a0Debate\u201d I generally appreciate attempts to bring outside experts into government conversations, because it\u2019s generally good for politicians to have someone around who u September 9, 2025 by Sharon Meieran | Edit What is a by-name list? why is it so crucial to ending homelessness? Does the county have\u00a0one? A By-Name List (BNL) is a comprehensive list of every person in a community experiencing homelessness, updated in real time. \u201cUsing information collected and September 9, 2025 by Sharon Meieran | Edit Why Things Are As Bad As They Are? A Yiddish word, \u201cfar-potshket\u201d, does a great job of encapsulating the problem \u2013 it refers to efforts to fix things that end up making them worse. The following August 9, 2025 by Sharon Meieran | Edit WWeek headline: \u201cMultnomah County Reaches Agreement With Ambulance\u00a0Provider\u201d Translation: Multnomah County Chair Reaches Agreement With Ambulance Provider\u00a0after unnecessarily delaying for 18 months, putting untold numbers of lives at ris July 17, 2025 by Sharon Meieran | Edit Oregonian Headline: Whistleblower suit alleges Multnomah County\u2019s mental health system turned into “the wild\u00a0west” This whistleblower action should include the leaders in charge of perpetuating Multnomah County\u2019s failed mental health system.A year and a half ago, as a Multno July 16, 2025 by Sharon Meieran | Edit Oregonian Headline: \u201cCounty to pay marketing firm $238K to collect feedback on Preschool for All\u201d A reporter should investigate how many consultants Multnomah County (read as JVP) has hired over the past 2.5<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/page-builder-content.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-108","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_hostinger_reach_plugin_has_subscription_block":false,"_hostinger_reach_plugin_is_elementor":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/p3.alidigitalmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/p3.alidigitalmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/p3.alidigitalmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p3.alidigitalmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p3.alidigitalmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=108"}],"version-history":[{"count":396,"href":"https:\/\/p3.alidigitalmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1264,"href":"https:\/\/p3.alidigitalmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108\/revisions\/1264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/p3.alidigitalmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}