For the courthouse construction in April, a large crane appears between the buildings on the county's Red Soils campus.

1. Additional cost of Tootie Smith’s reversal: $61 million in courthouse funding?
2. Clackamas County Republicans dispute Tootie Smith’s ‘bunch of noise’ censure claim
3. ‘Take the dais’ threat reported during tense Clackamas County Board meeting
4. Ex-Clackamas County staffer guilty of painting swastika on memorial
5. DA: Jermelle Madison jailed in general unit despite schizophrenia
6. Former Clackamas County director: ‘Ill-advised’ courthouse financing could have lasting impact
7. Elected official: Defunding Clackamas County’s Equity and Inclusion Office is an awful idea revealing misguided priorities

Each day, I and many others work to serve the members of the public who access various services all throughout Clackamas County. I leave my Portland residence and cross the county lines each time I journey into my office located in Oregon City. Within my own program I work alongside the Equity and Inclusion Office (EIO) to strive to embrace “a culture of learning and awareness…by guiding, supporting and collaborating with employees and residents in order to foster welcoming communities and create greater connections where all people thrive and belong.” The EIO in collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde created a Land Acknowledgment to promote “visibility and solidarity for the indigenous communities in Clackamas County.” These past few years I had thought that not unlike other government agencies and employers, Clackamas County had finally begun to make some headway towards prioritizing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Yet, amongst the progress being made towards change, an ominous force with an extreme agenda stirs, as ignorance and injustice are alive and well in Clackamas County.

So many of us in Portland view Clackamas County as a whole other world. It is home to parts of rural Oregon so lest we be surprised a Republican majority board of elected officials spout an agenda that may not align with ours? But this is not just “rural Oregon,” this is Oregon’s third most populated county. Yet, we sit in our Portland Bubble, shaking our heads at others. “Look at Texas,” we say. “Aren’t you glad we aren’t in Florida?” we lament. “Can you believe Target is having to pull their pride collection in some stores?” we cry. “At least we live in Multnomah County,” we sigh, as we gaze upon Mount Hood from our western hills. However, ignorance is not always bliss.

On May 24, the Clackamas County Budget Committee met to address the fiscal year 2023-24 through a proposed budget only recently made public. Much of these proposed budget cuts go toward building a new county courthouse with projected costs of $313 million. Less than 20 minutes into the meeting, Commissioner Mark Shull reviewed proposed allocated funding for the EIO and said, “I do not support any allocated funds to support equity, inclusion, and diversity… in this county.” Not long afterwards Commissioner Ben West spoke for eight-plus minutes calling Clackamas County’s EIO divisive despite being “a gay man raising a diverse family in the best country in human history.” Commissioner Tootie Smith rounded up the discussion stating, “I think an overhaul of the program is in order.” While, ultimately, the Board of County Commissioners and Budget Committee voted to table and return to the discussion in July, discussion of defunding the EIO did not end there. On June 1, Commissioner West was interviewed on Fox & Friends, once again rejecting DEI work and dismissing the fact that his personal background as a gay man with a Black son seemingly could make him a “DEI darling.” The Fox & Friends host ended the interview stating, “Doing so many stories on the Portland area like we do, I can think of a lot better ways to spend $800,000 in your community than on DEI. The homeless crisis and getting the drug help they need.” Ironically, earlier this year Clackamas County commissioners voted to suddenly halt plans to buy a former hotel to serve as transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness, at-risk of homelessness, or displaced by wildfires under Project Turnkey.

While the recent comments made by commissioners are startling, in reality they should not come as a shock. Time and again behavior from Clackamas County citizens, employees, and officials has made headlines. From public outcry surrounding employees displaying Black Lives Matter and Pride signage that led to policies prohibiting their display to commission meetings being disrupted by anti-mask protests. From the death of Jermelle “Melle” Madison while in police custody to a Clackamas County employee vandalizing and brandishing a swastika at the memorial of the late Melle Madison. What about former Oregon City Mayor Rachel Lyles Smith’s backing of a social media post supporting the actions of the Newberg School Board to ban Black Lives Matter and Pride flags on school grounds. Not to mention various anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim comments made on Commissioner Shull’s formerly public Facebook page. Or when Commissioner Shull was once again in the news, this time for likening COVID-19 vaccine status and “COVID passports” to the “conditions of a new Jim Crow 2.0.” And let’s not forget when Commissioner Smith vocally defied COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 to the Stop Portland Creep campaign resonating across Portland’s wealthiest suburbs back in 2012.

“Clackamas County is a whole other world,” we in Portland think. Yet, many of us cool our bodies in the clear waters every summer and drive in traffic to Government Camp every winter. We sit in our Portland Bubble living mere miles from the metaphorical and now seemingly literal “ground zero.” Work is underway for the new Clackamas County Courthouse largely funded by cuts and redistribution of county General Funds. Already, a large pit slowly gets filled with foundation. Cranes move overhead. Machinery beeps in the background. Work crews and gravel occupy once utilized employee parking spots. With each day and dollar spent things move towards the proposed budget cuts, many of which will impact social programs and services. In a time where many are still recovering from a global pandemic, devastating wildfires, ice storms that led to widespread power outages and looming economic uncertainty, cuts to social services could lead to devastating and lasting impacts that will disproportionately fall on Clackamas County’s most vulnerable employees and residents.

With commissioners now considering defunding the EIO that in part works towards providing resources and support to marginalized communities that threat only grows. Just because programs, services and positions are cut does not mean the need goes away. If an organization decides to defund an office whose purpose is to make employees and citizens of Clackamas County feel safe, seen and understood, what message does that send them? Where and to whom do you think people will be forced to turn to? Our Multnomah County systems and services continue to be overwhelmed, yet, we complain of the unhoused. We rose to march across the bridges in the wake of George Floyd’s death, yet we now mutter about avoiding downtown. Despite our demographics and racist past, we advertise Portland as a liberal stronghold, posting yard signs showing our solidarity but often little else. And now we sit in our Portland Bubble with these threats towards EDI progress happening at our doors. We cannot continue to wait for those most directly impacted to brace even more of the effects. We cannot continue to look to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disability, immigrant, houseless, older, rural (etc.) communities to carry the load for us. People are tired, and the burden is unfair. We as a city, Metro, state and nation cannot sleep when we know that those in power continue to resist change and state offense when faced with feedback and constructive criticism around the importance of EDI work.

At this moment I do not know what the immediate answer is, but I do know we cannot have access to this concerning public information and wait before taking action. Intersectional awareness and sharing of information is key to move towards a better, more equitable society. To Clackamas County commissioners it may be “just” a budget, but is it truly a “just” one? Because first this then what next? We must take this impending threat to defund Clackamas County’s Equity and Inclusion Office seriously to prevent regression of progress. Those more versed in equity work know that our local, regional, state and federal government have and continue to have major roles in equity across the board. Change can start at the local level, whether damaging or for the greater good, and we cannot continue to straddle the line. Yet, here I am, saying this loudly, and waiting for more of you to join me.

The author of this essay wishes to remain anonymous as they currently are employed by Clackamas County.