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Open Letter to the Jackson County, Oregon Board of Commissioners - fentanyl crisis

Open Letter to the Jackson County, Oregon Board of Commissioners

Jackson County Board of Commissioners,

My name is Killian Yates, and I am writing as a resident of Jackson County to express my concerns regarding the continuing fentanyl crisis affecting our community and to encourage greater regional coordination among local, state, and federal officials.

Over the past several years, I have engaged in advocacy efforts, spoken with affected families, individuals in recovery, community members, and others with firsthand knowledge of the issue. Through these efforts, I have become increasingly concerned that the fentanyl crisis impacting Southern Oregon is part of a larger interstate problem that extends beyond the jurisdiction of any single city, county, or state.

In recent weeks, I have communicated these concerns to numerous elected officials and agencies, including:

  • Senator Jeff Merkley
  • Oregon State Senator Noah Robinson
  • Governor Tina Kotek
  • Governor Gavin Newsom
  • The Oakland Police Department
  • The Mayor of Oakland
  • The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
  • The Alameda County Sheriff's Office
  • The Embassy of Honduras
  • Additional law-enforcement agencies and sheriff's offices

I have also contacted local reporters and media organizations in both Jackson County and Oakland, California, because I believe public awareness and public accountability are important components of addressing a crisis of this magnitude.

Based on conversations I have had with individuals involved in the drug scene, people in recovery, affected families, and community members, I believe there are patterns that warrant serious attention from policymakers and law-enforcement agencies. While the verification of these patterns is appropriately the responsibility of law enforcement and investigators, the consistency of the reports I have received suggests that the issue deserves focused regional attention.

This is not a problem that Jackson County can solve on its own. Nor is it a problem that Oakland, Sacramento, Salem, or Washington, D.C. can solve independently. Effective action will require coordination among local governments, county governments, state governments, federal agencies, prosecutors, public health officials, and law-enforcement organizations operating across multiple jurisdictions.

I believe the Board of Commissioners should actively support efforts to strengthen communication and coordination between Southern Oregon and Northern California officials. In particular, I encourage close cooperation among the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, the Oakland Police Department, neighboring sheriff's offices, state law-enforcement agencies, and federal authorities. Information sharing, coordinated investigations, and sustained interagency cooperation are essential if trafficking networks operating across state lines are to be effectively disrupted.

President Donald J. Trump has described fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction because of the extraordinary number of lives it has claimed throughout the United States. Regardless of how one characterizes the crisis, the scale of death, addiction, and community harm associated with fentanyl is undeniable. Families throughout Jackson County continue to experience the devastating consequences of overdose deaths, addiction, crime, and family disruption.

Following this email, I intend to forward copies of additional correspondence that I have sent to elected officials and agencies, including Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Noah Robinson, Governor Tina Kotek, Governor Gavin Newsom, and others. My purpose in doing so is to ensure that the Board of Commissioners has access to the same information and concerns that I have shared with other leaders and institutions.

I appreciate your service to Jackson County and respectfully ask that you continue to prioritize public safety, regional cooperation, and coordinated action against the fentanyl crisis affecting our community.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,

Killian Yates
Jackson County, Oregon

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