[READ ALL OF THE MERCURY’S 2020 ENDORSEMENTS HERE!—eds]
Portland Parks and Recreation Levy, Measure 26-213: Vote YES
It may have come to your attention that the city and state are asking for a lot of money this election cycle—but to be fair, the decimating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have left the city with a lot of holes to fill. But one of those holes, the Portland parks system, needed help even before coronavirus was on our radar. Portland Parks and Recreation funding has been lacking for years, and thanks to COVID-19, they’ve been dealt a crushing blow that closed community centers, canceled recreational classes for kids, laid off much of the parks’ workforce, and canceled the regular upkeep needed to keep the parks running safely.
And don’t forget this irony: Thanks to the coronavirus, one of the safest places to be right now is outside—at a park! Since the lockdown, parks have become a de facto refuge, not only for children whose school hours have been significantly shortened, but for communities who are in desperate need of connection.