Budget Season is Close to a Wrap
On Wednesday my Council colleagues and I put a stamp of approval on the first budget in this new City structure, which will be formally adopted next week!
Vision Zero is in the Budget!
Many amendments and budget notes weren’t heard in this process, but I fought vociferously through the last vote of the night to ensure Vision Zero was fully recognized in our priorities.
We adopted amendments and budget notes that:
- Elevate one of our Vision Zero leaders out of Portland Bureau of Transportation and into the office of the Deputy City Administrator for Public Works to ensure they have full access to critical cross-bureau collaboration and initiatives that are proven to improve transit safety initiatives.
- Increase the frequency of reporting on Vision Zero progress milestones to Council at least quarterly.
- Increase community engagement through participatory development of the Vision Zero Action plan and increased community reporting on progress.
- Improve reporting and disaggregation of data to ensure dynamic understanding of the impacts of traffic violence on the community in line with the PBOT Equity Matrix.
- Direct collaborative service area level work to create a funding and staffing plan for the work of the reinstatement of the Vision Zero Task Force.
Together toward a Safer Future
Vision Zero states, “no person should die or be incapacitated from simply going about their day. Protecting human lives is core to Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on Portland streets.”
As we approach the 10-year anniversary of the first adoption of Vision Zero we see a horrifying and unacceptable 57% increase in traffic deaths on our streets in the past decade.
This is why I am fighting with deliberation and dedication to centering Vision Zero in my leadership at the City.
This budget was a complex process. We all learned along the way, and a lot needs to be improved upon for next year. For now, I’m very proud of the work my colleagues and I did together to bring more values alignment into where the City spends its money! Here are some of my thoughts about how we will continue to work on and improve community engagement in this process.
Constituent Coffee
Our next constituent coffee will be held virtually this Saturday, June 14 from 2-3pm! Attend here
Dragon Boat Races
Last weekend, city staffers and councilors competed in the dragon boat races to kick off the Rose Festival. It was a great opportunity for us to work together as a team! We had so much fun together, and had a great time watching the other teams compete! I can’t wait for next year!
|
SB 684
This week I submitted written testimony in support of Senate Bill 684. This bill directs the Housing and Community Services Department to create low-interest loans for the creation of mixed income public developments. As stated in my joint letter with other members of city council, “This will generate new affordable housing without utilizing limited and over-subscribed Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funds.”
|
SB 238 A
 |
|
This week, I submitted testimony in opposition of Senate Bill 238 A. This bill would allow law enforcement to use drones to surveil Oregonians without a warrant. This expansion of surveillance power risks a chilling effect on First Amendment activities, including peaceful protests. |
|
