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The Oregon governor thinks a task force to clean up the city would be a good idea. But Portland may instead need to see policy changes since it’s well known for progressive policies. Governor Tina Kotek put out a press release stating her office is partnering with the Oregon Business Council to create the Portland Central City Task Force. Kotek only thinks her city is hurting due to “growing pains” and COVID.
Can the governor look at herself
Maybe not. “It’s no secret that downtown Portland has faced an onslaught of challenges in recent years that have tarnished some of the characteristics that people love about Oregon’s largest city. Growing pains turned into crises, exacerbated by a global pandemic, and now concerns about Portland have become a statewide economic issue.”
Her task force though is focusing on social justice values. Their guidance would be “diverse voices” looking for “equitable solutions”.
The governor put together
The task force consisting of five committees: Vision & Value, Clean Streets, Crime & Vandalism, Unsheltered Homelessness, and Tax Competitiveness. No members have been announced yet.
Both the governor and Dan McMillan, President and CEO of both StanCorp Financial and Standard Insurance Company will chair the committee. Meetings will be held once a month from August through October. Findings will be presented to the Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit in December.
McMillan won’t relocate
He won’t come to Portland. “Frankly, the reputation through the last two-and-a-half years of the city make it very hard to bring people here.” The city’s population shrank for the first time in 30 years costing the county $30 billion. Maybe through McMillan’s guidance the governor can get help.
Crime statistics declined slightly but by and large Portland has stayed consistent there. A female doctor recently complained that the “defund the police” movement left her bloodied and unconscious from a random attack. There’s also an alert for a suspected serial killer out that was pardoned by previous governor Kate Brown.
