Helen Jung

Editorial: Keep proving Trump wrong Trump’s plan to use the military to suppress one block of protests is yet another page from his playbook of bulldozing rights and norms while claiming he's justified, the editorial board writes. With ...

As a federal judge's order confirms, Trump's bid to deploy the National Guard in Portland is neither warranted nor justified. Portlanders should continue to show the nation how wrong he is about what's happening here. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Portland must resist becoming Trump’s political prop President Donald Trump's announcement that he will send federal forces to Portland is neither necessary nor justified, the editorial board writes. But Oregonians must resist reacting impetuously to Tr...

Trump's authorizing of fed troops to Portland is unnecessary and unjustified. But Portlanders must keep a cool head in how we respond. Don't let Portland to be turned into a prop for Trump’s authoritarian theatrics. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Pull it together, Portland City Council With the city already anticipating a $16 million shortfall and ongoing economic uncertainty, the City Council needs to do a better job of resolving routine matters and tackling the urgent issues facin...

Portland City Council needs to stop grandstanding over minutiae and focus on tackling the crises facing Portland. With a shortfall projected after an already brutal budget, the need for leadership and pragmatic action is urgent. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Choosing the path away from political violence The murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is the latest horrific act of political violence caused by extremists who span the political spectrum, the editorial board writes. Elected leaders and ...

Extremism thrives in the absence of humanity. Oregonians need to pull back from the toxic exchange of accusations and celebration that's sprouted in the days following Charlie Kirk's murder and uphold open, thoughtful public debate. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: A rollercoaster ride for Oregon’s transportation bill Gov. Tina Kotek may have drawn too hard a line in negotiating her transportation funding package, the editorial board writes, leaving no room for error. Unfortunately for Democrats, there have been pl...

That critical transportation funding package for Oregon? Still in limbo, as state senators are forced to delay a vote. These are the risks when elected officials leave themselves no room for error – and there's been plenty. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Stay vigilant, but don’t take Trump’s bait With President Donald Trump threatening to send National Guard troops to Portland, among many other cities, state and local leaders should prepare for that possibility, the editorial board writes. But...

Are Trump's threats to dispatch National Guard troops to Portland serious or bluster? While state and local leaders should be prepared for the former, Portlanders should keep the momentum of restoring the city going forward. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Billions in new taxes should come with a commitment While Gov. Tina Kotek's transportation tax proposal includes proposals to increase oversight of the Oregon Department of Transportation, the plan fails to provide basic accountability, the editorial b...

It's not surprising that the "accountability" portion of Gov. Kotek's transportation plan fails to provide actual accountability. If legislators are going to ram through billions in new taxes, they should make clearer commitments. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Portland’s missing rental units Portland's mandatory rental registry shows only meager growth in the number of rentals from 2021 to 2023, despite significant construction in those years, the editorial board writes. Unfortunately, ci...

Portland's mandatory rental registry shows the city gained only 269 rentals from 2021 to 2023, despite construction of 1000s of new apartments. Is the registry wrong? Is the city losing existing rentals? Lack of compliance? Don't ask the city. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: The Knights’ blockbuster bet on Oregon Phil and Penny Knight’s donation to OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute signals both a vote of confidence and a call to Oregon to rise to the challenge, the editorial board writes.

Phil and Penny Knight's $2 billion donation to OHSU's cancer institute is both a vote of confidence in Oregon as well as a challenge to be unapologetically ambitious. Even facing bleak news, Oregon can make its own future. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Oregon must lob a dunk for the next Trail Blazers owner While conventional wisdom suggests that whoever buys the Portland Trail Blazers won't be permitted to move them, the city and state shouldn't pin the franchise's future on that hope, the editorial boa...

Conventional wisdom says the Portland Trail Blazers' next owner will keep the team in Portland, but Oregonians shouldn't count on that. Elected leaders must show there's no better partner for a team on the rise than a city staging a comeback. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Get back in the car, legislators. We’re not there yet Legislators and Gov. Tina Kotek must prepare for a targeted legislative special session to pass a more modest transportation funding package that wins substantial bipartisan support and considers need...

Legislators and Gov. Tina Kotek must prepare for a targeted special session to pass a modest transportation package negotiated by Rs as well as Ds. Kotek should help set the tone for compromise by rescinding her expensive PLA executive order. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Second time around, Portland City Council makes the right call The seven city councilors who reversed their earlier rejection of Children's Levy grant recommendations deserve credit for admitting their mistake and rectifying their reckless decision, the editorial...

Portland city councilors did the right thing by rescinding an earlier decision that held back Portland Children's Levy grants. But the importance of admitting a mistake shouldn't be the only takeaway from this debacle. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Portland City Council’s most reckless decision yet The Portland City Council's decision to reject grant recommendations by the Portland Children's Levy to organizations supporting the city's most underserved children stands out for its sheer recklessn...

Dozens of small nonprofits that provide hunger relief, mentoring, after-school care and other programs for Portland's most underserved kids won't get funding as expected due to a reckless power play by 7 Portland city councilors. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Oregon’s uninspiring response to a decades-old crisis A federal judge ruled the Oregon State Hospital in contempt of court, but the state's response so far lacks the urgency and problem-solving creativity needed to resolve the aid-and-assist crisis, prot...

The aid-and-assist crisis is 20+yrs old, yet Oregon still lacks the problem-solving creativity needed to help those with mental illness charged with crimes. Simply limiting how long someone can receive treatment won't help defendants or public safety. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Blinders on, legislators press on with SB 916 Despite school districts, local governments and businesses laying out all the harm that Senate Bill 916 poses, every House Democrat but one voted to pass it, the editorial board writes. Oregonians sho...

Despite schools, cities and counties laying out SB 916's many flaws, nearly every House Democrat voted for it. Even if lawmakers ignore how giving unemployment pay to strikers will hurt public services, Oregonians should know the consequences. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: A $1.9 million budget shift that Portland can’t afford The Portland City Council should restore a $1.9 million shift of funds from police in the coming budget year, the editorial board writes. Portland's revitalization depends on ensuring the safety and s...

Portland's revitalization - necessary to generate money for parks, housing and other needs - depends on re-establishing the stability that encourages people to bet on Portland. The city shld add $1.9m to police budget to keep momentum going. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: School funding should pay for students’ needs, not striking employees Legislators who claim to support schools should back that up by voting "no" on Senate Bill 916, which would allow striking workers to collect unemployment pay, the editorial board writes. The legislat...

Legislators talk about the need for accountability in how K-12 schools spend their dollars. That accountability should apply to them as well. Lawmakers should reject SB 916 and not force districts to spend scarce funds on non-educational needs. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: A bargain-basement fine for Fagan’s broken ethics While little can make up for former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan's actions that put her own self-interest above the public's, it's profoundly disappointing to see the Oregon Government Ethics Comm...

The best that can be said for the paltry fine Oregon ethics commissioners gave Shemia Fagan is that it was higher than what commission staff recommended. No wonder the public keeps losing faith in government. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial peak: A proposal to jolt Portland’s housing market The Portland City Council should embrace a proposal presented by Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Gov. Tina Kotek to temporarily waive development fees for housing construction in the city, the editori...

The proposal unveiled by Mayor Keith Wilson and Gov. Tina Kotek to waive SDC fees for housing construction for three years is a good move in this 10-year-old crisis. More of this please. Editorial peak: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial endorsement: Under duress, a ‘yes’ for PPS school bond Despite concerns about a $1.83 billion bond on the May ballot, the need to continue rebuilding and repairing Portland Public Schools' aging schools is undeniable, the editorial board writes. Provided ...

There are many reasons to question Portland Public Schools and its board of directors about the $1.83 billion bond on the May ballot. The public should keep them on the hot seat to give more specifics and vote "yes" once they comply. Editorial endorsement: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial endorsement: Elect Splitt, Greene, La Forte and Engelsman to Portland Public Schools board Christy Splitt, Herman Greene, Virginia La Forte and Stephanie Engelsman emerge as the strongest candidates with the experience, independence and vision to lead the board of Portland Public Schools, t...

The May ballot includes four seats on the Portland Public Schools board. Christy Splitt, Herman Greene, Virginia La Forte and Stephanie Engelsman are the best choices for their independence, student-centered agendas and accountability focus. Editorial endorsement: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Opinion: Should OHSU’s primate research center be closed? Advocates for closure and OHSU researchers offer their views Two views on whether OHSU should close its primate research center from the head of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and from OHSU and the Oregon National Primate Research Center.

Opinion: Should OHSU’s primate research center be closed? Advocates for closure and OHSU researchers offer their views

Editorial: Washington County must come clean on sewer agency’s lavish spending Washington County commissioners appear poised to provide some of the scrutiny they failed to show in their roles as board members of Clean Water Services, the editorial board writes. But their proposa...

It's taken awhile, but the Washington Co commissioners who govern the county's sewer agency may finally be working up the nerve to do something about officials' extravagant spending. Their proposal still falls short. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Oregon needs tens of thousands of new housing units a year - a need that the government cannot come remotely close to filling. So why do elected leaders continue to look at solutions that chase private developers away? Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Accountability proposal outlines needed first steps to reverse K-12’s slide Gov. Tina Kotek’s accountability bills are setting a new tone for educational discussions in Salem, the editorial board writes. But the governor and legislators should commit to more than the bills' r...

Gov. Kotek's K-12 accountability bills need more than a rough framework. But focusing schools' attention on meeting targets and increasing the state's authority to intervene provide the first rung of the ladder for K-12 to climb out of its hole. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial cartoons for March 16, 2025: Stock selloff, seesaw tariffs, Tesla backlash The week in visual commentary.

Editorial cartoons for March 16, 2025: Stock selloff, seesaw tariffs, Tesla backlash

Editorial: Democrats tee up a gift for donors at public’s expense The Oregon Senate should reject a bill that would allow striking workers at both public and private employers eligible for unemployment insurance, the editorial board writes. No other state in the cou...

At the behest of union donors, Oregon Democrats are pushing a bill that would allow workers who go on strike to collect unemployment benefits - a move that could hit public employers particularly hard. State senators should vote no on SB 916. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Portland City Administrator releases draft budget recommendations The document is a starting point for a city government facing a historic budget shortfall.

Portland's draft budget recommendations show a nearly $100M gap, yet the city is sitting on over half a billion dollars in contingency. That's half a billion dollars in the bank producing interest, not results.

Read the full draft here: bit.ly/3EVxmxk

Chair Jessica Vega Pederson frustrated partners and the public with her surprise news of Multco homeless services’ $104M deficit. Another surprise? The deficit is more like $70m. Her go-it-alone approach continues to burn relationships and trust. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial valley: Paying for a hotline gone cold The Oregon Health Authority's baffling decision to extend a contract for a poorly-used, unnecessary hotline reflects a lack of judgment, attention or both at the troubled agency, the editorial board writes.

The Oregon Health Authority knows how poorly used its Measure 110 hotline has been for years. Yet it made the baffling decision to extend its multimillion contract for the hotline even after M110's rollback. Is OHA director paying attention? Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...