THIS IS IT!!!
Some news outlets suggested that the Clean & Safe renewal was a foregone conclusion. But Thursday’s City Council hearing told a different story: activists, ratepayers, business owners, employees, and even a former security guard within the district voiced their concerns over the treatment of houseless folks, how Clean & Safe spends its money, and the program’s lack of accountability and oversight.
In the words of those who testified:
“To simplify: a bunch of businesses got together and said, ‘Let’s do a taxation without representation so that we can pay for violence against people living outside’. . . Who does this system really serve?” - Janna Tessman
“I do not consent to having my tax dollars flow up to the pockets of the wealthiest people in our state. I do not consent to the institutional neglect and resource syphoning off our low-income, disabled BIPOC and houseless community members.” - Lauren Armony
“My biggest concern is about the hired rent-a-cops that patrol around and serve only one purpose: to harass our homeless neighbors or anyone having a mental health crisis. . . We are all aware of the temper tantrums that cops put on when even a tiny amount of accountability is waved at them. The last thing we should do is add even more armed goons to our streets.” - Forrest Perkins
Perhaps Kaitlyn Dey said it best, when summing up the lack of an accountable process and concern from the Council:
“This is f--king shameful.”
This powerful testimony didn’t go unheard, and neither did the many, many emails you sent. Commissioner Hardesty has said that she will introduce an amendment to extend the existing contract for one year — not ten — so that City Council and our community can thoroughly and thoughtfully respond to the City Auditor’s recommendations. Only after that fact-finding period would City Council re-consider renewing the Clean & Safe contract.
In order for Commissioner Hardesty’s amendment to pass, we need to win the support of at least two other commissioners. We need you to do three things by Tuesday to help us convince them:
Tell City Council to support Commissioner Hardesty’s amendment
Ask your friends to do the same
Let’s be blunt: this is Portland’s chance to live up to its reputation as a champion of progressive values. Cities across the United States have business improvement districts like Clean & Safe. New York City bears the burden of 74 BIDs; Los Angeles has 43, with another 10 for our neighbors to the north, Seattle. With our three ESDs (Clean & Safe, CEIC, and Lloyd), Portland is hardly alone in enduring its de facto occupation by business interests. If our stand against Clean & Safe succeeds, we can be a model for other communities to follow. Let’s seize this opportunity to pause the Clean & Safe renewal and build a Portland that treats its residents with dignity, housed and houseless alike.
In solidarity ✊,
The End Clean & Safe Coalition