Multnomah County commissioners clash over $2M deflection center contract

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Dissent continues among Multnomah County commissioners over plans to pay $2 million to set up a deflection center after an out-of-state nonprofit has already signed a contract to run it.

The deflection program, as previously approved by state lawmakers, is meant to give people the option for rehabilitation over jail when they get arrested with small amounts of street drugs. Each county can decide what its program looks like.

Durkee Fire ‘advancing...