Call to Action: Downtown Portland Clean and Safe Contract--Urgent!

Why is Portland City Council granting a no-bid, 10-year contract that funds big-business lobbying?

Dear Readers,

I’m finishing up the latest issue of Street Wonk, but I want to alert you to an item up for a vote today at Portland City Council. Unfortunately, this is a second reading, so there will be no oral testimony. However, you can still get your voice heard in a few ways.

First, the item:

Item 979 Amend District Property Management License Code to update fees and district boundary to extend Downtown Portland Clean and Safe Enhanced Services District Property Management License Fee for an additional ten years and to align with amended City Charter approved by voters in Portland Measure 26-228 (replace Code Chapter 6.06) (Ordinance)

My two cents: The Portland Chamber of Commerce, AKA Portland Metropolitan Chamber, AKA Portland Business Alliance, AKA Portland Metro Chamber, is a pro-business lobby group. The City of Portland should not grant the Portland Metro Chamber a no-bid, 10-year contract to manage Downtown Portland Clean and Safe when part of the property-owner fees they collect are used to subsidize the salaries of lobbyists who frequently work against community interests. Doubling the term from five to ten years only compounds the issue. The incoming City Council deserves the opportunity to review this arrangement rather than being locked into it for two and a half terms.

Now, the issue:

City Council Urged to Postpone Vote on Controversial Downtown Service District Contract (Portland Mercury)

"A 2020 city audit of Portland's ESDs found "little oversight" of the privately funded public service districts and noted "complicated governance and management systems" that obfuscate public access to basic information such as budgets and subcontracts."

Ethics demand that the next city council decide fate of Chamber’s no-bid cleaning and security contract (Portland for All)

"A forensic accountant from Tacoma, Wash., completed an analysis of the current Chamber contract using its tax records to piece together the following information: His analysis raises several ethical questions that the council should fully explore and answer before extending the contract."

Finally, what you can do about it:

1. Submit written testimony to Portland City Council. I’m unsure when written testimony will be cut off, so the sooner, the better.

2. Contact Commissioner Ryan's office directly (since Ryan is the only returning member of Council).

3. Join four of our new City Council members and dozens of community members and sign this letter.

Sending an enthusiastic shout-out to Mitch Green, Sameer Kanal, Tiffany Koyama Lane, and Angelita Morillo for starting their jobs early and standing with our community to demand a postponement!

Yours Truly,

Chloe

P.S. Better ESD’s are possible—I know because my team helped create one: Eastside district a new template for homeless, housed relations (Street Roots). For a deep dive on Portland Metro Chamber and Clean and Safe, read this issue of Street Wonk: Portland Business Alliance, Downtown Clean & Safe, Enhanced Service Districts, Auditor's Report & the Missing Audit Response.