The Progress Portland Platform

Our platform is an ongoing work in progress. We aim to be both general and specific in the goals we set, elevating issues that are non-negotiable for our support while leaving room for innovation in the approach.

A critical aspect of the issues below is recognizing the disproportionate impact on all Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color living in the Portland region. To design effective and sustainable solutions, it is necessary to take an intersectional approach to address the systemic marginalization of BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, disabled, and migrant persons suffering from poverty, hunger, unstable housing, addiction, and/or struggling with mental health issues.

For decades, Portland government has failed to serve these historically excluded populations. It is with this understanding that we aim to be better informed so the candidates we support can become stronger advocates for meaningful change. 

We encourage people to reach out and suggest ways we can continue to polish and improve these goals as we build a platform that is designed for an inclusive and equitable Portland.

In no particular order of importance, we believe our candidates should aspire to:

FIGHT POVERTY, SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS, UNIONS, PRO-LABOR

• Raise Portlanders’ incomes by (ocpp.org):
  • establish a Guaranteed Income program
  • make the minimum wage a livable wage
  • Increase taxes on the rich, lower for the poor 
  • Make Oregon’s ‘kicker” work for all Oregonians

HOUSE THE HOUSELESS AND CREATE EQUIATBLE HOUSING POLICIES FOR ALL

• Centralize all activities to one command team that brings everyone to the table
• Create a city office for Landlord/Renter complaint and issue resolution
• Stronger Portland specific rent control to keep people in their homes
• Comprehensive, real-time, by-name data (https://community.solutions/built-for-zero/methodology/)
• Limit the number of luxury development and focus on ultra-affordable housing stock until the affordable units are on par with the population
• Focus on immediate, transitional, and no-cost housing to get people into a housing trajectory and provide wrap-around services to prevent people from becoming unhoused again.

CREATE A POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PEOPLE

• End the use of tear gas and riot tactics of all kinds on protesters
• End qualified immunity and prosecute cops who abuse power
• Dissolve or disempower the Portland Police Association
• Increase # of Public Safety Support Specialists
• Decrease communications (propaganda) staff, increase transparency
• Rewrite the police charter to reflect a human-centric focus over property and business
• Make all PPB Settlements come from Police budget and retirement funds.

PROVIDE FOOD FOR ALL

• Enact SB 610 for Portland, guaranteeing federal SNAP benefits to those who would qualify but for immigration status or lack of Social Security number.
• Strengthen and support local food systems like Oregon Food Bank, PDX Free Fridge, etc.

IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE

• Restore/Expand Portland’s bike culture
• Change many of downtown’s one-way streets back to two-way streets
• Make public transit free!
• Build sidewalks, crosswalks, and other safety measure in known problem areas with immediacy
• Improve the tree canopy and other livability infrastructure improvements for livability and equity to combat climate catastrophe

SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH/SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES AND ENCOURAGE EMPATHY AND COMPASSION

• Fund Portland Street Response for 24/7 coverage and expand the number of teams available
• Route 911 calls to PSR and other specialized interactions as needed to the right agency
• Have alternatives to calling 911 for getting help to people who are needed
• Use proven data driven methods to address the greater needs of Portland

FIGHT EXTREMISM

• Task force to root out and expose militant extremists who foment violence
• Ensure transparency in city government organizations