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Downtown Portland Vibrancy Tracker

NWNW presents

Meet The Candidates: District One County Commissioner

Date: April 25
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Location: Lincoln High School

Meet Your Candidates:

Kevin Fitts
Chris Henry
Meghan Moyer
Vadim Mozyrsky
Margot Wheeler

RSVP here

Refreshments will be provided.

Have questions for the Candidates? Send them to questions@nwnw.org by 5pm on April 19.

For further details, feel free to reach out to Carl at carl@nwnw.org.

Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to our community’s future. See you there!

Downtown Portland Vibrancy Tracker – Downtown Portland Clean & Safe

The Central City recovery is off to a strong start in 2024. Public and private leaders have embraced the Portland City Center Task Force’s (PCCTF) top ten recommendations — making progress in each of the five committee areas: community safety, livable neighborhoods, housing and homelessness, taxes for services, and the Central City’s value proposition.

In the three months since Governor Tina Kotek announced the recommendations at the Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit, state and local governments, together with private partners, have:

• Declared a tri-government fentanyl emergency. The State, City of Portland, and Multnomah County declared a 90-day fentanyl emergency on January 30th. As of February 28th, the incident team reported 81 overdose reversals, 99 Measure 110 tickets issued, and 200 grams of fentanyl seized.

• Banned the public use of controlled substances and reduced barriers to prosecuting drug dealers. The Legislature passed HB 4002, which established a criminal justice framework for the possession or delivery of controlled substances designed to encourage treatment over penalties, such as jail or probation.

• Partnered to create 70 new substance abuse disorder and behavioral treatment beds. The new treatment capacity was facilitated by the purchase of a large building in the city’s inner east side with resources from Central City Concern, the Oregon Health Authority, Multnomah County, and the City of Portland.

• Launched a plan to build more temporary shelters and add behavioral health beds. The joint County-City plan aims to shelter 2,700 individuals by the end of 2025 by adding 1,000 emergency beds and accelerating transitions out of shelters and into permanent housing. The plan also calls for 300 new treatment beds for people with a substance abuse disorder or mental health needs.

• Accelerated the cleanup of Portland-area highways. The Legislature allocated the full amount recommended by the PCCTF, $20 million, to the Oregon Department of Transportation for litter and graffiti removal and prevention.

• Provided critical bridge funding for the Central City’s anchor arts organizations. The Legislature, together with the Miller Foundation and Oregon Community Foundation, have provided multi-year support with a combined $52 million to the Oregon Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theater, Portland Art Museum, Portland Center Stage, and Portland Opera. The funding provides resources and time for the organizations to respond to post-pandemic conditions. 

• Called for the delay of scheduled County tax increase. In alignment with PCTFF’s tax moratorium recommendation, County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said she would ask the Board of Commissioners to delay by one year a voter-approved increase in the Preschool for All tax.

This early progress has exceeded expectations, but there’s much more to be done. Community leaders and the public need a deeper understanding of governments’ abilities to fund critical public safety and emergency response services, innovative ideas for Central City development need a place to be refined and championed, private resources must be raised to coordinate volunteers to restore the beauty of a city they love, and numerous plans that are already funded must be well-executed.

The pandemic’s impact on Central City Portland was profound. Rebuilding will continue throughout this year and into the several that follow. The effort is off to a great start. Don’t bet against Portland.

 

Join us for a critical and informative District Attorney Candidate Education Forum on Zoom, moderated by Steve Moskowitz, featuring candidates Mike Schmidt and Nathan Vasquez. This event is scheduled for March 27th, from 5-7 pm, offering a unique opportunity for community members to learn more about the candidates’ policies, visions, and how they plan to address the pressing issues facing our community.

To participate, please ensure you register in advance at Zoom Registration Link. Your voice matters, and we encourage you to be part of this vital civic process.

Do you have questions for the candidates? We want to hear from you! Submit your questions in advance to questions@nwnw.org. This is your chance to inquire about the issues most important to you and get direct responses from the candidates. Please note, the deadline for question submissions is Friday, March 22nd, at 5 pm. Don’t miss this opportunity to make an informed decision about your future district attorney. We look forward to seeing you there and hearing your insightful questions!

“It Takes a Village” with Portland Street Response, Project Respond, and Portland Police

Please use this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/it-takes-a-village-mental-health-conversation-series-tickets-858989529807?aff=website

Everyone experiences fluctuations in mental health, regardless of their background or circumstances. That’s why it’s essential to educate our entire community on how to recognize when someone is facing challenging times and how to support them.

In City Club’s “It Takes a Village” speaker series, organized by our Health & Public Safety Issue Committee, you’ll hear from a variety of community mental health workers about their collaborative efforts to address the current gaps in mental health care, and learn how you can contribute.

This event will feature speakers from Portland Street Response, Cascadia Health’s Project Respond, and Portland Police.

Arrive at 6:00 for a chance to meet, greet, and eat before the program starts promptly at 6:30 PM. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Seating is limited to 100 attendees, and we’re unable to offer a livestream option. Secure your spot today by registering for a free ticket!

When	Wed Apr 10, 2024 6pm – 8pm Pacific Time – Los Angeles
Where	Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub, 112 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97204