VIDEO/PHOTOS: Oregon lawmakers are discussing a bill that would provide critical public safety infrastructure to several cities and counties across the state.
House Bill 3870 would allocate funds to cities and counties for emergency and law enforcement services. Rep. David Gomberg, vice-chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, said we are on the edge of a public safety crisis in Oregon as critical infrastructure ages.
“In Toledo, we got a police station that’s in the tsunami inundation zone that’s completely inadequate for its community. In Waldport, we’ve got a fire station which is aging out and no longer really very effective. We’re seeing those kind of challenges across the entire state of Oregon,” said Gomberg.
Money would also go toward seismic upgrades and support centers for health and public safety. If passed, the bill would give $10 million to the city of Gresham for designing and constructing a replacement for Fire Station 74.
Rep. Zach Hudson, who represents the city of Gresham, said the current fire station is well past its usable lifespan. “Right now, it’s not earthquake safe. It doesn’t meet current building codes or fire codes. So, it’s really in need of replacement,” said Hudson.
