Like many other cities in the U.S., Portland is being called to consider what kind of city it is and what kind of city it wants to become. There is mounting pressure on our elected and appointed officials to consider significant, structural, and in some cases, radical changes to the way public safety is fostered and maintained.
City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty put forth a vision for community safety in Portland that acknowledges, "Not everyone has the same view or experiences of safety, and that’s where we must start." In June Commissioner Hardesty is hosted a series of community meetings to discuss what community safety looks like and potential pathways to get us there.
The result of those conversations is ballot Measure 26-217, an amendment to the city charter, establishing a new, independent civilian oversight board with the power to discipline and fire police officers and to make police policy recommendations to the City Council.
Measure 26-217 is a direct response to the interests articulated by our community members through protests, public comment, and community meetings. This measure is the first of many steps on the path towards making our police accountable to all of us. I hope you will join me in voting yes for this important step towards reconciliation for our black and brown neighbors who have been unjustly policed for too long.
