Who:  I was likely the loudest and most outspoken opponent of the hospital.  I wrote Op
Eds, spoke at every meeting and wrote to every State legislator.  Every mental health professional in the State opposed it.  The governor-appointed State Mental Hospital Advisory Committee opposed it.  All to no avail.  You're right a group of "so-called Democratic progressive legislators" pushed it through.  It was a giant, costly blunder.  80 plus million wasted building it and over 400K per patient to run it.  Of course it needs to be shut down....the sooner the better.  

Additionally, as we argued before construction, a large number of the patients can be safely housed, and better treated in community-based residential facilities. 

 You don't know anyone who might wish to purchase the ugliest building in Oregon, do you?  regards, Gary