Statement Thread 2

...Let’s also confront a hard truth. Peaceful means of protest & civic engagement have not produced the desired outcomes of our community. It’s not shocking that the unresolved trauma inflicted on so many by the police manifests into more aggressive action.

Just a few days ago, 3 of the 11 members of IPR’s Citizen Review Committee resigned. This quote from one resignation letter says it all: “The events of this past weekend were a tipping point for me...

"...We continue to witness excessive force used by officers on the streets. Members of the media continue to be threatened. Armed Trump supporters are allowed to parade through downtown Portland while pointing guns at people that aren’t wearing Trump gear..."

"...These are just a few examples of a failed system with failed leadership. I can no longer support this system in any way. I believed real change could occur in the current system. I no longer feel that way.”

I am doing everything in my power to make that real change. Working with outside advocates and utilizing the momentum generated by protests, here is just some of what I have done in the last 100 days.

- After 2 unsuccessful attempts in previous budget votes, I successfully convinced my colleagues to reinvest $15 million from PPB directly into our community.

- We eliminated the rebranded Gun Violence Reduction Team (formally the Gang Enforcement Team) that was revealed by audits to have racist outcomes and ineffective at curtailing gang and gun violence.

- We eliminated student resource officers that enforced the school to prison pipeline as students have asked for years.

- We eliminated PPB’s transit police that have been caught racially profiling Portlanders, including well known community leaders.

- We stopped the flow of cannabis tax dollars to PPB.

- Reinvestment went to expanding the Portland Street Response pilot, a non-police first response option that will respond to 911 calls involving those in mental distress and/or those living on our streets to lend a compassionate, helping hand.

- Additional reinvestment created participatory budget funds for our Black youth and our Houseless neighbors.

- My office worked closely with community advocates to write and pass a ballot referral to voters this November that will change the city charter to establish a truly independent, empowered civilian police review board that can provide real police accountability.

- As the Commissioner of Portland Fire & Rescue, I directed the bureau that federal occupiers and collaborating PPB could not stage at fire stations during the height of the federal brutality waged outside the Justice Center.

- I joined Governor Kate Brown’s DPSST task force to influence police training policy at the state level.

- I was the lone no vote against re-establishing legal communication between PPB and Federal forces.

- I led a candlelight vigil that partnered with Hip Hop Stands Up and have joined the protests multiple times to hear directly from those on the ground and talk about my ideas for moving forward.