Dunphy 1: Civic Life Realignment and Neighborhood Prosperity Network Funding Preservation (ADOPTED)
Neighborhood Prosperity Networks help support economic development at the neighborhood level by supplying grants, training, and support to its districts. These networks are some of the strongest tools we have to keep Portland equitable, connected, and resilient. By providing direct support to the areas that need it most, Neighborhood Prosperity Networks are an amazing example of equity in action throughout Portland.
At a time when many neighborhood business districts are still recovering from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, our priority should be supporting the organizations already doing the work, not expanding City bureaucracy. The Dunphy 1 amendment eliminated a Coordinator III position within the Office of Civic Life to free up nearly $200,000 for our Neighborhood Prosperity Networks.
Portlanders want to see investments that show up in their neighborhoods, on their streets, and in the local community they interact with everyday. This amendment prioritizes community partnership over administrative growth by keeping resources flowing to the people already helping Portland from the ground up.
Dunphy 2: Save the Arts (ADOPTED)
When budgets get tight, arts programs are often some of the first things put on the chopping block. I don’t think that’s the right approach for Portland, where much of our economy depends on artists and live entertainment.
In the Mayor’s proposed budget, Arts & Culture’s Small Grants Program faced a 7% reduction, and summer programming at Community Music Center sites faced significant cuts.
My Save the Arts amendment helped fill these gaps by routing $156,932 to preserve summer programming at the Community Music Center and partner sites like Midland and Kenton Libraries and to fill a reduction to the Arts & Culture Small Grants Program that would have resulted in approximately 45-55 fewer performances, exhibits, and works of art in the community.
Arts and culture are not extras reserved for people with money and free time. They are part of what makes Portland feel like Portland. They create community, support local artists, give young people creative outlets, and help neighborhoods stay vibrant and connected.
I am grateful for my colleagues who voted in favor of this amendment. Thanks to you, Portland’s arts economy will survive another year.
Dunphy 3: Hold East Portland Harmless (FAILED)
For years, East Portlanders have watched their neighborhoods fall behind while City Hall has continuously invested in the West. I hear from folks constantly about dangerous potholes, dark streets, and neglected parks. This amendment was rooted in the simple idea that East Portland deserves the same level of service, safety, and care as every other part of the city.
Part of the reason why our roads are in such disrepair is because City bureaucrats put a cost multiplier on top of maintenance for repairs in East Portland. The reason? Simply because of how far our potholes and streetlights are from where they store the trucks.
To balance this, I proposed an amendment that moved $480,000 directly to District 1 road repairs to tackle the growing and unsafe backlog of streetlight repairs and potholes across our communities.
And while this amendment failed, that doesn’t mean I’m giving up on East Portland. In the coming weeks, I will be working with PBOT directly to collaborate on meaningful ways to bring down the backlog of repairs out East.
District 1 families pay taxes. They deserve streetlights that work. They deserve roads that are safe to drive on. And mostly importantly, they deserve investments that actually reach their community.
Dunphy 4: Pause COLA and Merit Pay for high-earning employees (ADOPTED)
As Portland faces difficult budget decisions, I believe we need to be honest about where sacrifice should begin. Working families across the city are tightening their belts, and City workers should be willing to do the same.
That’s why I proposed an amendment to limit cost-of-living adjustments and merit pay increases for non-represented City employees earning $100,000 or more annually.
This proposal is not about demonizing public employees. Portland depends on talented workers across every department, and many City staff are doing incredibly difficult jobs with fewer and fewer resources. But at a time when we are discussing cuts to community programs, youth outreach, and parks maintenance, I believe we need to prioritize protecting frontline services before increasing compensation for already high-earning administrative positions.
The savings from this amendment would go to restore five desk clerks in the Portland Police Bureau at the North and East Precinct as well as one police administrative support specialist position. It would also restore a full-time at-risk youth outreach recreation coordinator position within Portland Parks & Recreation’s Teen Force program. That’s seven frontline jobs restored thanks to this trim.
Portlanders expect us to make responsible choices during difficult financial times. Increasing executive-level compensation while communities are being asked to do more with less is bad governance. I believe leadership starts with making sure our limited public dollars are focused on the services taxpayers rely on everyday.
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