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Posted inNews

City Council Hears Public Feedback on Proposal to Criminalize Unsheltered Homelessness

City commissioners will hold a final vote on the proposal on Thursday, November 3.
Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

City Commissioners heard loud opposition and support Wednesday to a proposed city policy that would ban homeless camping across Portland. The seven hours of testimony, provided by more than 200 Portlanders, painted a clear picture of who stands to benefit from the plan—and who could be harmed by the ordinance as proposed.  “I can tell […]

Posted inHousing

Wheeler, Ryan Unveil Unfunded Proposal to Criminalize Homelessness

The proposal lacks significant funding, clear support from other government agencies, and interested contractors to carry it out.
Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

Mayor Wheeler announced a much-anticipated proposal to ban homeless camping in Portland at a Friday press conference. This idea, which has been hinted at in various forms for more than a year, follows a growing drumbeat of vitriol from upset Portland property owners, businesses, and other members of the public about the impact that visible […]

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Tenants, Elected Officials Call on City to Close Loopholes in Affordable Housing Program

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

Dozens of Portlanders gathered in North Portland’s Overlook neighborhood Monday morning to decry a sweeping rent hike for low-income tenants at a city-subsidized apartment complex.  “The rents are too high across this city,” said one rally-goer named Anthony. “If we show up for one, we show up for all.”  The group gathered at the corner […]

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Commissioner Mapps Reveals Alternative to Charter Reform Measure

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

City Commissioner Mingus Mapps has released a much-anticipated charter reform proposal to serve as an alternative to the charter reform measure headed to the November ballot. The proposal, first reported on by the Oregonian, was shared with the Mercury Sunday. Mapps chose to propose alternative adjustments to the city charter—via his political committee, Ulysses PAC—after […]

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First Case Against Portland Police Officer Violence from 2020 Protests Goes to Trial

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

The first lawsuit against Portland police officers for their treatment of protesters in 2020 has reached its day in court.  The case comes from Erin Wenzel, a care coordinator at Oregon Health and Science University who attended a racial justice protest with her husband on August 14, 2020. Wenzel, who lives in Beaverton, attended the […]

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Council Candidate Rene Gonzalez Asks City to Reconsider Historic Campaign Finance Penalty

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

City Council candidate Rene Gonzalez has asked the city reconsider the $77,000 fine levied against his campaign for allegedly violating the city’s small donor election laws. The Gonzalez campaign called the penalty “unjustified” in a letter sent to the city Tuesday, accusing the city of attempting to undermine Gonzalez’s campaign for council a month before […]

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Wheeler Moves Forward with Controversial Gunshot Detection Technology

Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office will develop a pilot program for the controversial gunshot-detection technology ShotSpotter, according to an announcement at a police oversight meeting Thursday evening. The pilot will need to be voted on by City Council before being adopted by the city. ShotSpotter uses microphones placed on telephone poles, street lights, and other tall […]

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Why Are Portland’s Leaders Opposing Proposed Charter Reforms?

Hint: It might be because the reforms dilute their power.
Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

Portland hasn’t felt like “The City That Works” for all of its residents for quite some time. Whether it’s coming from business owners forced to call five different bureaus to report trash dumped on their property, or people waiting hours to speak with a police officer after someone’s broken into their house, the level of […]

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Fire Bureau Critically Lagging in Emergency Response Times, Report Finds

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

Portland Fire & Rescue’s (PFR) response times to fires and medical emergencies are lagging behind national standards, placing Portlanders’ lives at risk daily, according to an analysis of the department presented to City Council Tuesday morning.  Without a permanent increase in staff, the construction of new fire stations, and organizational restructuring, analysts say the city […]

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City Raises Concerns about ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection Technology

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

The city office focused on surveillance technology and public data ethics, Smart City PDX, isn’t certain that a technology used to monitor gunshots is the right tool to address Portland’s gun violence problem. In a report prepared for City Council, staff with Smart City PDX explain that the technology—called ShotSpotter—could open the city up to […]

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Judge Hears Arguments Against Legality of Proposed City Charter Amendments

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

A Multnomah County judge heard arguments Thursday on why a proposed ballot measure to amend Portland’s city charter may be unconstitutional.  “Political expediency does not override voting rights,” said attorney Steve Elzinga, representing the Portland Business Alliance (PBA), one of the groups challenging the ballot measure.  The decision addresses a ballot measure proposed by Portland’s […]

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