Pamplin Media Group May 18 2021
A perfect storm of money and creativity is coming together, but we must have solid metrics to measure success.
Clarification: An earlier version of this editorial was unclear on the source of Multnomah County funding for homeless services. The money budgeted for the 1,300 housing placements and alternative shelters is coming from the county s share of the Metro funds, not federal dollars. Federal dollars are supporting motels and other temporary shelters; the continued distribution of food, water, sanitizer and supplies; funding for Portland Street Medicine; funding for new hygiene facilities; and increases in eviction prevention rent assistance.
by Alex Zielinski • May 13, 2021 at 9:30 pm Kathleen Marie / Portland Mercury
Portland City Council voted against including funds in the 2021-22 city budget that would have allowed the city s Portland Street Response pilot program to expand citywide within the year.
Commissioners made the decision during a Thursday council meeting on Mayor Ted Wheeler s $5.7 billion proposed city budget, which Wheeler initially released on April 29. The Thursday meeting focused on amendments city commissioners want to see added to Wheeler s proposed budget. One of those amendments, proposed by City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, focused on putting $3.6 million towards Portland Street Response, a program housed within Portland Fire and Rescue that provides non-police emergency response to 911 calls related to mental health crises or regarding unhoused people. The program is currently operating as a pilot confined to a one-van team of four people, made
Police union blasts proposed Portland budget May 13 2021
The Portland Police Association blames the increase in shootings on the elimination of the Gun Violence Reduction Team.
The head of the union representing most Portland Police Bureau employees criticized the City Council for considering cutting its funding hours before the scheduled vote on next year s budget.
In an email press release, Portland Police Association President Daryl Turner blamed the surge in shootings and killings that began last year on the council s elimination of the bureau s Gun Violence Reduction Team during social justice protests. The team had been accused of disproportionately focusing on the Black community.
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Emotions Well Up in a Debate Over How to Best Help Portland’s Homeless Being flush with money brings problems, and city and county leaders are fighting over how to best use their share of the money that metro-area voters approved last May. Local officials are split on how best to aid people living on Portland streets. (Wesley Lapointe) Updated May 12 By now, no one is surprised when an argument about how to address homelessness in Portland spurs high emotions and harsh words. It’s more unusual for a public hearing to leave an elected official in tears.