Podcasts about Portland City Council

Portland's brilliant solution to crime? Defund police to clean park restrooms. In yet another display of misguided priorities, the Portland City Council voted to redirect $1.9 million in police funding to parks maintenance while ranking 48th out of 50 states in police per capita. Watch as we break down how this decision impacts public safety in a city already struggling with vacant downtown buildings, delayed 911 responses, and parks overrun with homelessness and drug use. The police chief warns of reduced services while parks officials prioritize graffiti removal over violent crime response. Is anyone surprised downtown Portland has the highest vacancy rate of any major U.S. city? How many more businesses need to flee before city leadership acknowledges the obvious connection between public safety and economic prosperity?Like this video, subscribe for more government accountability coverage, and share with anyone who thinks defunding police actually works in practice.

(Intro) What is your best "I say it wrong on purpose" example? (5TYNTK) Power Outage, Papal Conclave, Portland City Council, Pine Tree Plate, Mackenzie Holmes (Dirty) Terrence Howard, Rock & Roll HoF, Channing Tatum, Below Deck, Eagles & Trump, Travis Kelce, Jelly Roll Stagecoach (Topic) Are you a delivery or pickup person? (Outro) Brains For Bank

Portland has been operating with a 12-member city council and district representation for more than 100 days now. Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney is responsible for setting council meeting agendas and referring items proposed by the mayor or city auditor to votes. Among other things, the council has wrestled with the city’s noise code, the permit for Zenith energy, rent pricing software and when exactly public testimony should be heard. Pirtle-Guiney joins us to talk about the challenges and successes of the new city council so far.

Loudaquinn Whatley, known as Juma Blaq, is a rapper, community and civic leader, music producer, videographer, song writer, DJ, sound engineer, husband, and dad of 5. Juma did media and videography for Portland City Council candidate Terrence Hayes. Juma currently serves on Portland's Focused Intervention Community Oversight Group (FITCOG), which works with the mayor and Portland Police Bureau to reduce gun violence in Portland. He also works with the City of Tigard on facilitating community events focused on diversity.https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCKOXk1SeZy/?igsh=MWZwOWIwem85cHRqbg==https://www.instagram.com/jumablaq?igsh=MTJpcWcza3kwMGVlbw==https://youtu.be/QJLghX7psfg?si=lEkc4DB7kd3e00xohttps://youtube.com/@jumablaq?si=KCP9pAFzrMsFE1gPPortland Hip Hop Week Freestyle at KGW | kgw.comhttps://www.tigard-or.gov/explore-tigard/community-events/el-tigre-festhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DFti_qhS6qm/?igsh=bGFoeGxncmVseGJzJuneteenth Celebration | City of Tigardhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/5jlgu1Y0UDpB2OQFpcb8q0?si=leunXq7IQ46RnWpPniJukAhttps://www.woodenfishpreschool.com

Portland City Council unanimously approved a proposal Wednesday to study "social housing" — public housing developed, owned and run by city government. If it's found to be feasible, the city could eventually begin keeping a stock of housing units with rents permanently affordable for people living in Portland.During public comment on the proposal during Wednesday's meeting, most of the people who gave testimony were enthusiastically in support of the idea, and council members appeared to share that enthusiasm."Every time we try to make a bold move on housing — whether it's affordability, stability, or fairness — we hear the same refrain: the private market won't build if you do that," said Councilor Jamie Dunphy. "So it's time for us to stop waiting on the private market. This is a supply-side problem, not a regulatory problem."

In this episode, newly elected city councilor Olivia Clark shares her bold vision for tackling housing and development challenges. She discusses streamlining the permitting process, revising zoning regulations, and fostering a more collaborative environment at City Hall to support sustainable growth. Olivia highlights her approach to reducing administrative burdens, lowering operational costs, and working with key stakeholders to drive meaningful change in the community. Don't miss this insightful conversation about shaping the future of our city.

In this episode, we sit down with Portland City Council member Eric Zimmerman to discuss the city's growing challenges and opportunities in multifamily housing; from tackling frustrating permitting delays to reducing regulatory burdens that weigh heavily on multifamily property owners, our guest shares candid insights into hurdles facing the housing market today. We also delve into the innovative incentives and tax breaks being proposed to encourage new development and support housing growth. Whether you're a property owner, developer, or someone simply curious about the future of housing in Portland, this conversation sheds light on potential policies shaping the city's housing landscape.

Last month, Elana Pirtle-Guiney made history becoming the first president of Portland's new 12-member City Council. She'll be driving the conversation on a lot of big issues: Will they support Mayor Keith Wilson's ambitious new plan to end unsheltered homelessness? And how will the Council deal with a staggering $100 million budget shortfall? Today, host Claudia Meza talks with President Pirtle-Guiney about the council's priorities, the challenges ahead, and how they plan to move Portland forward despite the financial crunch. Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about the budget boost Portland City Council just voted in for themselves this week and their game plan for committee work. We're also looking into Metro Council's proposed changes to the homeless services tax that Multnomah County commissioners are not too happy about. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are Oregonian City Hall reporter Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and our very own senior producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today's Episode: Portland City Council Greenlights $4.6M Boost for Council, Mayoral Budgets [Oregonian

At the beginning of the year, Portland’s new city council elected Elana Pirtle-Guiney as council president in a contentious vote that revealed some of the dividing lines of the new council. Pirtle-Guiney won by a 7-5 vote after nine rounds of voting. In the new role, Pirtle-Guiney will set council meeting agendas and refer council items to a vote that are proposed by the mayor or city auditor. Pirtle-Guiney joins us to talk about her new role and the challenges facing the new 12-member city council.

Earl Blumenauer is one of the longest-serving elected officials in Oregon history – if not the longest. He first won election to the Oregon House of Representatives in his early 20s, and over the course of five decades went on to serve on the Multnomah County Commission, Portland City Council and, most famously, for nearly 30 years representing Portland in Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District.In that time, Blumenauer has stood out for any number of reasons: his bow tie, his enthusiasm for bicycles, and his passion for cannabis legalization to name a few. But now he’s saying goodbye to public office, and looking forward to a role helping his hometown find its feet.Blumenauer came into OPB on December 13 to chat with reporter Dirk VanderHart. They chatted about Blumenauer's career, his take on national politics, and what comes next. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts. And if you have a question for the OPB Politics Now team as we head into 2025, shoot us an email at opbpoliticsnow@opb.org. (edited)  8:03 Andrew Theen fyi we're gonna start asking for reader questions via email/voice memo to see if we get any engagement.

In mid-November, the Portland City Council approved a 1.3-mile extension of the Portland Streetcar in Northwest Portland to service anticipated housing development near the Montgomery Park building. Council members assumed that the streetcar is a critical mobility option for Portland residents, but the facts suggest otherwise. According to TriMet, monthly ridership in 2024 has been 39% lower than ridership during 2018, despite a rise in population during that period. The Streetcar is simply irrelevant to most residents. It's a low-speed, low-capacity, high-cost method of travel that doesn't go many places. Even for those who love trains, the Streetcar is not practical for most trips. Historically, Streetcar construction has been paid for by various sources including property owners, parking revenues, and grants. Federal money is always the linchpin. Portland expects to submit a large grant request to the federal government no later than June of next year; but with the election of Donald Trump, those subsidies might not be available.

Sandeep Bali is running for Portland City Council in District 3. Sandeep is a first generation gay immigrant. He works as a pharmacist and specializes in HIV care. Prior to his work with HIV patients, he worked in geriatric care, including long-term, end-of-life, and hospice care. When Sandeep was a pharmacy student, he interned at Central City Concern, a Portland nonprofit clinic that does street medicine. Sandeep enjoys gardening, dissecting scientific and medical journals, and hanging out with his fraternal twin brother. We talked about his family's journey from India to the US; political strategy; how he would deal with Multnomah County and its Joint Office of Homeless Services; the serious issues that he sees as a health care worker in Portland; what he is hearing from his potential constituents as he canvasses and campaigns; and more.https://www.betterwithbali.comhttps://www.instagram.com/betterwithbalihttps://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1795318576049795471https://www.wweek.com/news/2023/02/01/they-left-portland-is-losing-some-of-its-biggest-fans/https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/portland-city-commissioners-file-to-end-joint-homelessness-efforts-with-multnomah-county/https://www.thelundreport.org/content/county-health-and-social-services-contracts-need-better-oversight-auditors-sayhttps://www.opb.org/article/2024/06/27/audit-finds-problems-multnomah-county-contracting-system/

In 2022, Portland residents voted to overhaul the city’s form of government. That includes using ranked choice voting to expand the number of seats on city council from five to 12. Another major change is the creation of four geographic districts in the city. Voters within each district will now elect three candidates to represent them on the new council. Thirty registered candidates are competing in District 4, which includes all of Portland west of the Willamette River, including Downtown, the Pearl District, Multnomah and Hillsdale neighborhoods. It also contains the inner southeast neighborhoods of Sellwood-Moreland, Eastmoreland, Reed and Ardenwald.  On Oct. 24, “Think Out Loud” convened a D4 candidates forum at John’s Marketplace in Multnomah Village. We invited the 13 candidates with the largest number of individual donors who contributed to their campaigns. They include: Eli Arnold, Olivia Clark, Lisa Freeman, Mitch Green, Chris Henry, Ben Hufford, Chad Lykins, Tony Morse, Stanley Penkin, Moses Ross, Sarah Silkie,  Bob Weinstein and Eric Zimmerman. 

In 2022, Portland residents voted to drastically change the city’s form of government. That includes using ranked choice voting to expand the city council from five seats to 12. Another change is the creation of four geographic districts, with voters in each district electing three candidates to represent them on the new council. District 2 covers most of North and Northeast Portland, including neighborhoods such as Irvington, St. John’s, Kenton and Cully. On Oct. 17, “Think Out Loud” convened a District 2 candidates forum at Oakshire Beer Hall. Candidates were invited to participate based on the number of individual donors that contributed to their campaign. They include: Marnie Glickman, Mariah Hudson, Sameer Kanal, Debbie Kitchin, Mike Marshall, Tiffani Penson, Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Dan Ryan, Jonathan Tasini, Nat West and Nabil Zaghloul. 

Tiffani Penson is running for Portland City Council in District 2. She has been working for the City of Portland for 18 years, most recently as the People and Culture Manager. https://www.tiffaniforpdx.comhttps://www.instagram.com/tiffaniforpdxd2?igsh=MWJpMDVxOG0yd3YwZQ==LinkedIn: Profile of Tiffani Pensonhttps://www.portland.gov/procurement/inclusivecontractinghttps://www.portland.gov/pemo/resourceshttps://www.wweek.com/news/2023/02/01/they-left-portland-is-losing-some-of-its-biggest-fans/https://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1795318576049795471?s=46Black Portlanders Are More Likely to Be Murdered Than Their Peers in Cities Better Known for Crimehttps://www.oregonlive.com/news/2022/07/82-year-old-portland-man-dies-after-unprovoked-attack-police-say.html?outputType=amp

Noah Ernst is running for Portland City Council in District 1. He is a Superintendent and an in-house counsel lawyer for Radio Cab Co. Before he was a Superintendent, Noah drove a cab on the night shift for Radio Cab. Noah became a cab driver after he suffered a layoff from his litigator job at a law firm during the recession of 2008. https://www.noahernst4portland.comhttps://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2024/10/editorial-endorsement-november-2024-our-picks-for-districts-1-and-2-candidates-who-can-lead-portland-city-council-through-historic-change.html

In 2022, Portland residents voted to drastically change the city’s form of government. That includes using ranked-choice voting to expand the city council from five seats to 12.  Another change is the creation of four geographic districts, with voters in each district electing three candidates to represent them on the new council. “Think Out Loud” is hosting a series of events throughout Portland to help voters meet the district candidates. They were invited based on the number of individual donors who contributed to their campaigns. On Oct. 9, we held a District 3 candidates forum at Gigantic Brewing Hawthorne Pub. We partnered with the Urban League of Portland for the event which they live streamed on Facebook.  District 3 covers most of Southeast Portland, west of I-205. It includes the neighborhoods of Mt. Tabor, Sunnyside, Montavilla and Woodstock. It also includes some neighborhoods in Northeast which cross Sandy Boulevard such as Rose City Park and Roseway. The D3 candidates we spoke to include: Rex Burkholder, Jesse Cornett, Daniel DeMelo, Chris Flanary, Theo Hathaway Saner, Harrison Kass, Tiffany Koyama Lane, Angelita Morillo, Steve Novick, Jon Walker and Luke Zak.  

We're continuing to sort through the 90-plus candidates running for 12 open Portland City Council seats. We're breaking down the races by honing in on the candidates with the most individual campaign donations in each district: what they're campaigning on, who's supporting them, and how they're trying to stand out. Today, executive producer John Notarianni talks with Portland Mercury news editor Courtney Vaughn about District 3, which covers the Central Eastside and much of Southeast. With a whopping 30 candidates running in the district, there's a lot to talk about. Find the Portland Mercury's voter guide here. Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsor of this October 17th episode: MUBI - You can start streaming for 30 DAYS FREE at mubi.com/citycast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Ryan has been a Portland City Commissioner since 2020, where he pioneered the city's Safe Rest Villages to get homeless people off of the streets of Portland. His home was vandalized more than 7 times after he refused to defund the police. He is HIV-positive and in recovery from active addiction. Dan's spouse is gender fluid and a first generation Mexican American. Dan's priorities are public safety and homelessness. His endorsements include the Northwest Oregon Labor Council (AFL-CIO), AFSCME, the Portland Firefighters, and the Portland Police.https://www.danryanforportland.comhttps://www.portland.gov/ryanhttps://www.instagram.com/commissionerdanryan?igsh=eDhzbmM3Ynd6Z3Vjhttps://www.instagram.com/danryanforpdx?igsh=MWVwYmV5YXFmeDU3bA==https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2020/11/06/portland-protesters-vandalized-commissioner-dan-ryans-house-after-he-voted-against-an-18-million-cut-to-the-police-budget/https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2024/09/06/47392396/after-years-of-grant-discordance-portland-adopts-centralized-policy-for-doling-out-funds

Kezia Wanner is a lifelong Democrat who is running for Portland City Council in District 3. Kezia's experience in public service and public safety is extensive. She has served as the: grants coordinator for Portland Police Bureau; budget and policy analyst for the City of Portland; program manager for Portland Police Bureau; parking enforcement and transportation division manager for Portland Bureau of Transportation; deputy director for the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office; Assistant City Manager for the City of Newberg; deputy director for Portland Fire and Rescue; and business and compliance director for the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.https://www.keziaforportland.comhttps://www.instagram.com/keziaforportland?igsh=MWV6NHR1MzFsZXRtNg==The City Is Inching Toward a New Carbon Tax Even as the Portland Clean Energy Fund Is Awash in Cash

In 2022, Portland residents voted to drastically change the city’s form of government. That includes using ranked choice voting to expand the city council from five seats to 12. Another change is the creation of four geographic districts, with voters in each district electing three candidates to represent them on the new council. District 1 is in the far east side of Portland, including neighborhoods such as Hazelwood, Mill Park, Centennial and Parkrose to name a few. On Sep. 30, “Think Out Loud” convened a District 1 candidates forum at Von Ebert Brewing. Candidates were invited to participate based on the number of individual donors that contributed to their campaign. They include: Candace Avalos, Doug Clove, Jamie Dunphy, Timur Ender, Noah Ernst, Terrence Hayes, David Linn, Steph Routh, Thomas Shervey, Loretta Smith and Cayle Tern.

Mariah Hudson is a solo parent, a Senior Communications Specialist for OHSU, and has a Master's Degree in Economics. She is running for Portland City Council in District 2. https://www.mariahforportland.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mariahforportland?igsh=MW1pdzJvOGwwNTVodg==https://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1795318576049795471?s=46https://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1791349459030515776?s=46https://www.wweek.com/news/2023/02/01/they-left-portland-is-losing-some-of-its-biggest-fans/https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/hrac_pub/45/

Harrison Kass is a policy advisor for Portland City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez. He is also a lawyer, and received his JD from the University of Oregon School of Law. He also has an MA in International Relations and Global Journalism from New York University. Harrison also serves as a journalist for The National Interest, where he covers politics and national security. He has a Private Pilot License and was selected as a Pilot Trainee and Officer Candidate with the US Air Force before being medically discharged.Home - Harrison Kass For Portland City CouncilHarrison Kass | The National Interesthttps://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/portland-mom-has-long-road-in-icu-after-horrendous-attack-from-pack-of-dogs/amp/https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/02/as-homicides-of-homeless-portlanders-rise-city-mulls-gun-violence-prevention-strategy.htmlhttps://www.opb.org/article/2021/04/05/oregon-lawmakers-close-in-on-new-police-oversights/?outputType=amphttps://www.wweek.com/news/city/2024/02/23/a-ballot-initiative-crafted-by-the-portland-police-union-seeks-to-alter-function-of-future-police-oversight-body/https://www.wweek.com/news/city/2021/08/11/black-portlanders-are-more-likely-to-be-murdered-than-their-peers-in-cities-better-known-for-crime/https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/03/27/can-clinton-triangle-the-mayors-first-large-shelter-site-offer-a-new-beginning-for-portlands-homeless/https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/portland-mom-has-long-road-in-icu-after-horrendous-attack-from-pack-of-dogs/amp/https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/02/as-homicides-of-homeless-portlanders-rise-city-mulls-gun-violence-prevention-strategy.html?outputType=amp

Eli and Tim discuss the Iran/Palestine/Israel conflict.  Tim wonders if the Portland City Council will make an official statement about denouncing the inhumane actions of Iran?    Also, Portland Ed Techs are working without a contract...still.   Why are we letting this happen?

https://ez4pdx.comhttps://www.instagram.com/ez4pdx?igsh=c2hwNTQ5dzlhM2Fhhttps://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/behavioral-health-resource-center-allegations-closure-back-open/283-0007dbbf-d603-49a9-af6c-0808024b33d9Oregon ranks last in the nation providing addiction treatment | kgw.comhttps://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/multnomah-county-sobering-center-deflection-commissioner-brim-edwards/283-fb867544-c1ad-4f0d-ad17-961e082175adA New, Cheaper Form of Meth Is Wreaking Havoc on America - The Atlantichttps://www.wweek.com/news/2023/06/21/portland-street-response-futilely-sought-authority-to-hold-distressed-people-against-their-will/https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2024/09/portland-mayors-longest-serving-chief-of-staff-to-depart-city-hall.html?outputType=ampPortland Police Bureau Faces Wave of Retirementshttps://www.instagram.com/p/DAHsKu2vhGC/?igsh=NmEyeXdxeWRnYmhx

Bob Simril is running for Portland City Council in District 2. Bob grew up in Compton with a black father and a white mother. His family moved to Portland, and he graduated from Grant High School. Bob worked for Tony Robbins doing sales. He has a homeless family member who is addicted to drugs.https://www.votebobpdx.comhttps://bikeportland.org/2024/08/12/more-problems-on-paths-as-driver-smashes-onto-springwater-and-man-slashes-trail-user-388980/amphttps://x.com/votevadim2024/status/1823480755730964892?s=46https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/01/portland-homicides-dropped-in-2023-after-record-breaking-years-but-death-toll-still-hair-raising.htmlhttps://www.koin.com/news/portland/new-survey-reveals-portlanders-thoughts-on-police-accountability-12122023/amp/https://x.com/joannpdx/status/1273414384799211520?s=46https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Men-Modern-Struggling-Matters/dp/081573987https://www.instagram.com/ppbcentralbikesquad?igsh=Y3NucGdxc2xrOXE=Portland teen dies of an overdose; suspected dealer charged | kgw.comhttps://www.pdxmonthly.com/home-and-real-estate/2023/10/property-watch-portland-oregon-school-bus-conversion-skooliehttps://www.koin.com/news/politics/portland-police-association-proposes-ballot-measure-with-sweeping-oversight-board-changes/https://www.koin.com/news/civic-affairs/portland-city-council-vote-joint-office-of-homeless-services/amp/https://hopecenterrecovery.com

Portland voters will decide 12 city council races and choose a new mayor this November. Willamette Week’s Sophie Peel found that some of the candidates running agreed to swap campaign donations in order to qualify for the city’s system of matching funds. That practice violated campaign finance law, according to attorneys and experts quoted in the stories, although the secretary of state’s office had declined to weigh in without having done its own full investigation. After inquiries, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has now directed the Elections Division to open an investigation. We talk with Peel about what she found and why it matters as Election Day approaches.

Eli goes off and rightfully so.  Portland City Council wastes more time and UNANIMOUSLY alienates the Jews of Portland.  

Tony Morse is running for Portland City Council in District 4. He has been a lawyer, a realtor, and a recovery advocate.https://tonyforpdx.comhttps://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1795318576049795471?s=46https://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1795330785081532431?s=46https://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1791331734573011279?s=46https://x.com/danrayfield/status/1804303228512948673?s=46https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2024/06/caught-with-street-drugs-in-multnomah-county-post-measure-110-plan-will-offer-drop-off-center-or-arrest.html?outputType=amp

Terrence Hayes is running for Portland City Council, District 1 in East Portland.. After serving 13 years in prison for attempted murder, Terrence works with the Portland Police Bureau to prevent gang and gun violence, is married with children, and runs a graffiti removal business.https://teamhayesforportland.comhttps://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1664330255044349953?s=46https://www.wweek.com/news/city/2021/08/11/black-portlanders-are-more-likely-to-be-murdered-than-their-peers-in-cities-better-known-for-crime/https://www.oregonlive.com/data/2022/10/is-portland-still-the-whitest-big-city-in-america.htmlhttps://www.colorado.edu/center/benson/glenn-loury-unspeakable-truths-about-racial-inequality-america-transcripthttps://glennloury.substack.com/p/the-truth-about-roland-fryerhttps://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2022/08/more-black-men-are-dying-in-portland-homicides-than-anyone-else.html?outputType=amphttps://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2023/01/portlands-101-homicides-in-2022-set-new-record-at-some-point-we-have-to-be-tired-of-burying-our-children.html?outputType=amphttps://www.oregonlive.com/news/2022/02/gov-kate-browns-historic-push-to-release-prisoners-surpasses-1200-but-not-without-backlash.html?outputType=amphttps://thehill.com/opinion/education/4288044-oregon-just-dropped-all-graduation-standards-failing-all-of-its-students-in-the-name-of-equity/amp/https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2023/10/oregon-again-says-students-dont-need-to-prove-mastery-of-reading-writing-or-math-to-graduate-citing-harm-to-students-of-color.html?outputType=amphttps://open.spotify.com/episode/5yM25TWZY4kLvhjR79fURu?si=hEzgXpo1T2KOE6xmNAhmfw

This Day in Maine for Thursday, September 5, 2024.

Portland’s government makeover will fundamentally alter how things work inside City Hall. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Alex Zielinski and Dirk VanderHart go deep into how the City Council will introduce legislation, engage the public and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts

In May, the Portland City Council approved an ordinance that would allow homeless people who camp on public property and reject offers of shelter to be fined up to $100 or sentenced to up to seven days in jail. That ordinance went into effect at the beginning of July, but was put on hold because of extreme heat. At the same time, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities have the right to penalize people for living outside. Then a few weeks ago Portland police made their first arrest under the new rule, but county deputies at the Multnomah County Detention Center refused to process the man. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler joins us to talk about how the city is addressing unsanctioned camping.

For the first time since Portland City Council passed a new prohibited camping ordinance in early May, police on Friday arrested a homeless person for refusing to move or take an offer of shelter. However, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office declined to book the person in jail, KGW reported. Willamette Week was first to report on the arrest Monday. Portland ostensibly began enforcement of the new ordinance at the beginning of July, but this arrest marked the first time that the more drastic consequences of the ordinance have come to bear. According to a statement from the Portland Police Bureau, officers arrested a man identified as Alasdair Macdonald around 9:15 a.m. on Friday for unlawful camping near Northeast 28th Avenue and Alberta Street. Both police and city outreach workers had spoken with Macdonald "several times" prior, PPB said, and he refused to accept shelter or any other services.

This episode examines the connections between schools and the families and neighborhoods they serve. Tiffany Koyama-Lane, a third-grade teacher at Sunnyside Environmental School in Portland, discusses place-based and environmental education, using students' local communities as educational resources. Part of the learning experience happens beyond the walls of the actual school building. Natural spaces and gardens, local neighborhoods, even the students' own school yard - these locations provide a context for the core curriculum and help children make meaning of the world and environmental concerns around them.  As an educator with fifteen years of experience, Teacher Tiffany, as she likes to be called, realizes that the challenges of the surrounding community also show up in the classroom. She extends her role beyond traditional education to support families in the often-complicated processes of life in America. She feels lucky to live in the neighborhood where she teaches, but she suggests ways for all educators to communicate with families and discover how best to meet their needs. Teacher Tiffany is taking her passion for engaging the community to a new level this year by declaring her candidacy for Portland City Council.    Resources -  Sunnyside Environmental School Place-Based Learning: A Multi-Faceted Approach Close Your Textbooks and Go Outside OEA Grow is a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network

Amanda Fritz was first elected to Portland's City Council in 2008. Prior to being elected, Commissioner Fritz was a neighborhood activist and seven-year member of the Portland Planning Commission.  Upon moving to Portland from New York, Fritz began working at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) as an inpatient nurse in the hospital's psychiatry department.  She was also the first candidate to win public financing under Portland's Clean Elections system in 2006, though she lost to incumbent Dan Saltzman in the first round of that year's election.  Fritz won re-election in 2016. During the city's fiscal year of 2017-2018, she cast the deciding vote on the Council to adopt the campaign financing reform program "Open and Accountable Elections," which would award public matching funds to candidates who agreed to not take large contributions, or any contributions from corporations and PACs. The system was launched in the 2020 election cycle.  On April 5, 2019, Fritz announced that she would not seek re-election to Portland City Council, saying that she hoped a larger field of candidates would run for her seat using the Open and Accountable Elections system. She retired in January 2021.

Terrence Hayes is running for Portland City Council in District 1. He grew up with drug-addicted parents in the Chicago projects, and his sister is still suffering from active drug addiction. Terrence moved to Portland with his father and graduated from Jefferson High School. As a former gang member who spent 13 years in prison for attempted murder, Terrence now works to help young men avoid a lifetime of violent crime and turn their lives around. He owns a graffiti removal business and is married with children. His cousin was shot and killed by a Portland police officer. As a city council candidate, Terrence's priority is public safety. He is endorsed by the Portland Police Association. https://teamhayesforportland.comhttps://www.cesystems.tech/campaign/friendsofterrencehayeshttps://x.com/Hayes4Portlandhttps://www.instagram.com/teamhayes4portland?igsh=bHN6c2dnNXFtNmRuhttps://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1664330255044349953?s=46 https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/1648409/a-murder-in-portland/https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7osi7kRg9T/https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/07/10/city-council-entrance-interview-terrence-hayes/

This month on City Cast Portland, we're interviewing candidates running to be the next mayor of our city. And today on the show, we're talking to our fifth candidate, Commissioner Mingus Mapps. Since joining the Portland City Council in 2020, he's overseen the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the Portland Water Bureau, and the Bureau of Environmental Services. We're talking to him about why he thinks he's fit for the job.  Events: Cathedral Park River Fest Zoo Nights at the Oregon Zoo  Maria Bamford at Helium Comedy Club Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 27 episode: Cake Hoopla Babbel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eli Arnold is a Portland police officer and a member of Portland's Instagram-famous Portland Police Bureau Central Bike Squad. He is running for Portland City Council in District 4. He stopped back in to tell us why Multnomah County's plan is just an effort to avoid the Oregon legislature's reforming of Measure 110 and the legislature's recent re-criminalization of drugs; a beautiful moment involving his son at the Portland Pride Parade; solutions for homelessness; and what he loves about Portland, including a new food truck. https://www.eliforportland.comhttps://www.instagram.com/ppbcentralbikesquad?igsh=Y3NucGdxc2xrOXE=https://www.instagram.com/eliforportland?igsh=djRxcGYydHdjNDZuhttps://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2024/06/top-broker-of-measure-110-changes-unhappy-with-multnomah-county-deflection-plan.html?outputType=amphttps://public.substack.com/p/why-we-must-arrest-drug-addictshttps://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1677793165238222850?s=46https://www.wweek.com/news/2022/10/05/we-tried-to-imagine-how-voting-would-work-under-portlands-proposed-charter-reforms/https://rosecityreform.substack.com/p/puppets-take-over-rose-city-reform

This month on City Cast Portland, we're interviewing candidates running to be the next mayor of our city. And today on the show, we're talking to our third candidate, Commissioner Rene Gonzalez. Since joining the Portland City Council in 2023, he's been a vocal advocate for public safety and has attracted support from the law enforcement and business communities. He's also generated controversy with his hard-line stances on stronger penalties for drug offenses and unsheltered homelessness. We're talking to him about why he thinks he's fit for the job.    Events mentioned in today's episode: Tigard Festival of Balloons Risk/Reward Festival of New Performance Strawberry Day at the Hollywood Farmers Market Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsor of this June 20th episode: Cake Hoopla Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike DiNapoli is an employee owner and lead engineer for People's AV Company who is running for Portland City Council in District 4.https://mikedinapoli.orghttps://www.portland.gov/elections/city-office-candidacy#toc-city-districtshttps://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/03/portland-ritz-carlton-tower-nears-completion-with-few-apparent-hiccups-defying-odds.htmlhttps://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1047&context=hrac_pubhttps://www.wweek.com/news/2021/09/22/the-saga-of-the-joyce-hotel-shows-the-difficulty-of-producing-affordable-housing/https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/02/28/new-figures-show-multnomah-county-still-isnt-using-the-homeless-services-tax-money-metro-covets/https://www.instagram.com/ppbcentralbikesquad/?hl=enhttps://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2023/04/portland-police-body-camera-policy-wins-unanimous-support-from-city-council.html?outputType=amphttps://open.spotify.com/episode/5yM25TWZY4kLvhjR79fURu?si=Nc1sz9GMRxuuMsBMCsEdwAhttps://www.wweek.com/news/2021/06/07/oregon-legislature-passes-senate-bill-that-paves-the-way-for-portland-to-implement-police-oversight-board/https://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1795318576049795471https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/31/us/pandemic-learning-loss-recovery.htmlhttps://www.wweek.com/news/2022/10/05/we-tried-to-imagine-how-voting-would-work-under-portlands-proposed-charter-reforms/

Daniel DeMelo is running for Portland City Council, District 3. He is focused on unsheltered homelessness and data-driven solutions. https://demelo4portland.comhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HLelR8IstvUhttps://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2023/09/opinion-i-chair-the-advisory-committee-for-multnomah-countys-homeless-services-office-i-cant-vouch-for-its-effectiveness.htmlhttps://x.com/brimjulia/status/1783915421277819071?s=46https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/multnomah-county-budget-audit-funds-spending-system/283-42c4ad51-8948-4102-8ae8-2e598b3fe578https://www.portlandmaps.comhttps://www.wweek.com/news/city/2023/05/10/homelessness-rises-20-in-multnomah-county-annual-count-shows/https://www.aclu.org/bio/paul-rummell-and-benjamin-westhttps://www.wweek.com/news/2023/02/01/they-left-portland-is-losing-some-of-its-biggest-fans/https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/Docs/commission_agendas/2023/CPOT-Presentation.pdfhttps://www.portland.gov/civic/news/2022/8/11/cannabis-empowerment-dayhttps://www.oregon.gov/olcc/Docs/commission_agendas/2023/CPOT-Presentation.pdfhttps://www.wweek.com/news/city/2023/03/30/office-of-civic-life-looks-to-reroute-500000-from-five-nonprofits-to-neighborhood-based-grants/https://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1633960793652985856https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2024/05/the-nonprofit-industrial-complex-and-the-corruption-of-the-american-city/

Erica Gustavson is a hair stylist who owns a small business in Portland. She gave testimony at Portland City Council regarding her concerns about charter commissioners who designed the system of government running for city council and the potential for conflicts of interest. She is involved in leadership with Future Portland, a centrist grassroots organization that provides opportunities for civic involvement. She talks about how she became civically involved and how she educated herself about critical issues so that she could be an informed voter. https://futureportland.orghttps://www.portland.gov/omf/charter-review-commission/news/2020/11/25/city-council-poised-appoint-20-community-leadershttps://wweek.app.neoncrm.com/forms/support?utm_source=header&utm_medium=wweek&utm_campaign=support_ushttps://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1658944569084641280?s=46https://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1745871725093683328?s=46https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2020/10/editorial-endorsement-2020-vote-no-on-multnomah-countys-preschool-tax.htmlhttps://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1685547342471323648?s=46https://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1685542859058094081?s=46https://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1685548567975649280?s=46https://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1685550749110136832?s=46https://www.wweek.com/news/2023/02/01/they-left-portland-is-losing-some-of-its-biggest-fans/https://x.com/choeshow/status/1661219672434302976?s=46https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/01/31/why-local-leaders-cant-seem-to-clean-the-graffiti-off-portland/https://www.multco.us/board/testimonyhttps://www.portland.gov/council-clerk/engage-council

 Last week, Portland City Council unanimously approved new regulations for camping on public property. Effective immediately, the proposal allows people to camp on public property if there are no shelter beds available and also puts more restrictions on what is allowed while camping. This new ban limits the use of propane heaters, selling bicycle parts and blocking access to private property to name a few.  The new ban replaces one that was introduced last year, but has been put on hold due to a judge’s order. Service providers say they are concerned about the impacts these new regulations might have. Lauren Armony is the systemic change program director for Sisters of the Road. Sandra Comstock is the executive director of Hygiene4All. They both join us to share their concerns.

Portland city officials are currently considering what to do with one of downtown’s largest venues. The Keller Auditorium is more than a century old and was last renovated in the 1960s. A 2020 analysis found that the building needs a seismic upgrade and a number of accessibility improvements to bring it up to modern standards. Some are arguing for an extensive renovation of the current space, while others are pushing for a new auditorium to be built on the Portland State University campus or as part of a redeveloped Lloyd Center. The City Council is expected to take up the proposals this spring. Brian Libby, a freelance architecture and design journalist, recently wrote about all of this for Oregon ArtsWatch. He joins us with more details on the pros and cons of each proposal.

Elizabeth Capone-Newton made a sizeable impact at the Portland City Council meeting when she rolled around on the table shrieking about the upsides of homeless encampments. Howie's listeners from Maine do not hesitate to call in and disagree.