Business and community engagement steered the council away from damaging policies, toward restoring key funding for downtown recovery—more updates possibly to come.
Thank you to the many business community members and partners for answering our call to action and making your voices heard during this year’s Portland budget process.
Despite severely limited time given the public to review and provide input on the over 50 proposed budget amendments on May 15th, you responded quickly with emails, testimony, and outreach to City Council. Your direct engagement reinforced that community members are paying attention and will show up to support pragmatic progressive policies that strengthen public safety, support economic recovery, and create a more vibrant and economically competitive Portland.
Our collective action supported:
- Passage of Smith Amendment 1, which will help to restore critical investments in communities disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition through the SummerWorks program. A summer job is both a needed economic benefit, and an investment in providing career pathways for communities in need of more opportunities. Thank you, Councilor Smith!
- Defeat of Green Amendment 2, which would have crippled the mayor’s homeless strategy by creating self-governed homeless camps, which Green called “democraticallygoverned micro-villages.” Had this passed, our city would have abandoned the most vulnerable by depriving them of critical services; while simultaneously leaving neighborhoods without partner organizations to minimize impacts to the community.
- Adjustment of Dunphy Amendment 2, which would have cut funding that supports key downtown activation recovery efforts. Through continued advocacy and collaboration, alternative funding was identified for Dunphy Amendment 2, helping preserve important downtown efforts that remain essential to Portland’s economic future and vibrancy. We were grateful to work with the Council President’s office to create a win – win for events, activations, and the arts. Thank you President Dunphy!
We are deeply disappointed that Clark Amendment 1 failed on a 6 – 6 vote. This would have restored investment in public safety. Our gains in safety are fragile, and this was a step in the wrong direction. The Chamber will continue to work with Council Clark on your behalf to find more investment in public safety so all Portlanders can thrive in our city. Thank you, Councilor Clark!
These outcomes did not happen on their own. They happened because Chamber members showed up. This effort demonstrated the power of collective advocacy. When our members speak with one voice, we can shape outcomes and move Portland forward.
We will continue to track for additional amendments, which are expected to be proposed before the final budget is adopted.
Thank you again for your leadership, partnership, and commitment to our city.