Roy Jay Helps Pass Resolution For $20M Court House

Roy Jays Efforts Helps Pass Resolution To Build New $20 Million Court House In East County

Portland, OR – October 31, 2010
The issue had been talked about, tossed around like a ping pong ball for over three decades. It was pronounced dead several times and then revived depending on who was in political office. The need for a new court house in East Multnomah County, Oregon was all but a fading memory until a group of citizens, law enforcement officials and a very influential businessman in Portland, Oregon took the football and ran with it.

Teamwork at its best, as described by one Gresham, Oregon resident who was elated to hear the news that this long overdue project had promise.  Over the past decade, East Multnomah County has grown at an epidemic rate primarily due to gentrification which has moved thousands of longtime Portland residents from their North/Northeast Portland homes to the low income suburbs, approximately 30 miles outside the city center.  Many residents have to commute to Portland to deal with various minor legal issues which include everything from retraining orders, evictions and many nonviolent issues.

The old court room setting in Rockwood had become an embarrassing disaster with both staff and residents claiming that it was not uncommon to see rodents running across the floor and in hallways. Face with a deplorable condition, the need to provide a safe environment had become a paramount importance to Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel and County Chair Jeff Cogen.

Roy Jay was approached by several private and public entities seeking his assistance in making the East County dream come true. Jay attended various community meetings, lobbied hard to political and business colleagues.  The year of hard work, dedication and tenacity finally paid off as Multnomah County Commissioners voted on October 28, 2010 to pass a resolution approving a new East Multnomah County Court House totaling approximately $20 million.  Also included in the resolution was an inclusion to provide jobs and subcontracting opportunities for minorities, women and emerging small businesses.

Jay wears multiple business and community service hats including President of the NW Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, African American Chamber of Commerce, Alliance of Minority Chambers just to name a few.  He was recently recognized earlier this year as one of the Daily Journal of Commerces Newsmakers of the Year for 2010.

By: Jeff Stern, Community Affairs Columnist

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