Thank you for your interest in reading The Astorian. Here are a few stories that you might have missed this week:

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As drug possession becomes a misdemeanor crime again in Oregon, leaders in Clatsop County are preparing to launch a program aimed at steering people away from jail and into treatment.

In 2020, Oregon voters approved Measure 110, which decriminalized the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. This year, following what many considered an unsuccessful experiment with decriminalization, the Legislature rolled back portions of the law, allocating roughly $211 million for treatment and addiction services and more than $20 million for grant funding to support optional county deflection programs.

The idea behind deflection is to offer an alternative to the criminal consequences set to return on Sept. 1. In Clatsop County, representatives from law enforcement, the courts and Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare have spent the last four months developing a program ahead of the deadline — and generally, they seem optimistic about putting it into motion.

“I’m really hopeful for this project, because it feels like we all have the same goal, and that is to help people get the treatment they need,” said Amy Baker, the executive director of Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare, the county’s mental health and substance abuse treatment provider. “The criminal justice system has its place — it’s an important part of the system — but if we can not go that route and get somebody the help they need, it’s just better for everybody involved.”

See the story by Olivia Palmer by clicking here.

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Two-hundred fifty dollars.

It’s an amount that could buy a night’s stay at a hotel, a used bike or about a month’s worth of groceries.

It’s also the amount scrawled across tickets for city camping violations.

For years, Astoria has used fines to enforce rules for camping within city limits — but two years after passing a new camping ordinance in response to concerns about homelessness, questions remain about their effectiveness. More often than not, people fail to appear in court and the fines go unpaid, posing challenges for city officials and those facing homelessness.

Now, a decision by the nation’s highest court is prompting new questions about if and how the system could change.

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass v. Johnson ruling, leaders across the country have engaged in discussions about homeless camping. In Astoria, the decision has been one consideration in an ongoing conversation about how to navigate challenges.

Read the story by Olivia Palmer by clicking here.

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The Astoria City Council, acting as the Astoria Development Commission, voted Monday to approve a funding request for emergency roof repairs of the American Legion Clatsop Post 12 building downtown.

Representatives from the American Legion spoke at a City Council work session in July, outlining the history and current condition of the building on Exchange Street. The American Legion requested about $1.3 million in urban renewal funds for projects, including emergency roof repairs, but also the installation of an elevator and a restoration of the building’s historic facade.

Dwayne “Doc” Holiday, the post commander, spoke at the work session about the value of the American Legion to veterans in the community, including his personal experience.

“When I got out (of military service), I didn’t have anything,” Holiday said. “I didn’t have — there was no camaraderie, no friendship, none of that. You feel out of place. And I found the American Legion and I’ve been there ever since.”

The Development Commission agreed on Monday only to allocate about $160,000 for roof repairs, but stressed their commitment to aiding the American Legion with the remainder of the project.

Take a look at the report by Rebecca Norden-Bright by clicking here.

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— Derrick DePledge