Preschool ‘disappointed’ bid to block deflection center rejected by judge

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — The lawyer representing a preschool near Multnomah County’s planned deflection center is “disappointed” after learning a judge rejected his bid to stop the facility from opening on Monday.

This all comes as KOIN 6 News is getting its first look inside the Coordinated Care Pathways Center Friday after possessing small amounts of hard drugs became recriminalized in Oregon earlier this year.

With its reform to Measure 110, HB 4002 opened the door to allowing individual counties to start deflection programs, in which an offender can choose between jailtime or signing up for, and completing, treatment for addiction.

Multnomah County’s Pathways Center on Southeast Sandy Boulevard is the planned location for those arrested to be given resources for getting that treatment. However, it is located one block away from the Esuela Viva Preschool, which took legal action against the county to delay the deflection center’s opening.

On Friday, a judge sided with the county, striking down the attempt by the preschool’s lawyer to stall the opening. The preschool previously filed a lawsuit in August, accusing county officials of violating Oregon’s public meetings law by allegedly discussing the deflection center without having enough input from community members.

David Watnick, an attorney with Perkin Coie representing the preschool, filed a temporary restraining order against the facility’s opening, citing safety and security, but was denied.

“We’re really disappointed by the judge’s decision I think he was wrong on the law and determining that the leadership team, convened by the county and the chair is, is not subject to the public meetings law,” Watnick said. “I think that Multnomah county residents are worse off today, for you know, the leadership team being told that it can make all these decisions for them behind closed doors.”

The path is all clear for the deflection center to open on Monday, Oct. 14, after Multnomah County was previously forced to push back its original Sept. 1 opening date due to construction and staffing delays.

Watnick also criticized the fact that the county had not finalized a Good Neighbor Agreement with community members prior to opening the deflection center.

“I think the Good Neighbor committee was just a fig leaf created by the county to give the impression of public participation in the process, when it was convenient for the county. And they just kicked it to the curb when the county was prepared to move forward,” Watnick said.

KOIN 6 asked the county for comment about the lack of a GNA regarding the facility. A Multnomah County spokesperson sent a response that said in part:

“We remain fully engaged in ongoing dialogue to address concerns, establish trust, and develop a Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) that works for everyone. We are getting there, but we’re not there yet. We have listened to and addressed most concerns in the best way possible.”

KOIN 6 got a look inside the facility on Friday. It has a separate entrance for law enforcement to drop off qualifying drug offenders opting for treatment instead of jail. The center will offer a waiting area with TV, food and bathrooms. It also has a nursing station and exam rooms where specialists can provide assessments and connect patients to housing and recovery services.

The facility will operate on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on weekends from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

As of last Friday, Multnomah County said law enforcement have referred more than 70 people to the deflection program since Sept. 1.

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