Public safety advocates and street-level outreach groups in the Portland area on Friday urged state lawmakers to put back $10 million for community violence intervention that they said was abruptly removed this month from the Oregon Justice Department budget.
“This is not the time to lighten up. The summer is here. We need double the investment,” said Lionel Irving, executive director of a nonprofit called Love is Stronger who works directly with children, teenagers and families to thwart involvement in shootings.