A budget is a moral document and this budget has no soul. Full statement below.

This morning City Council held a work session to discuss the Mayor’s proposed budget package for the Fall Budget Monitoring Process (a.k.a. the Fall BMP), which council will vote on next Wednesday, October 28th.

Since this morning was the first time anyone learned the details of the Mayor’s proposal, I want to share where I stand with the proposed budget package and a few things discussed during today’s work session.

First, I reject the notion that now is not a good time to discuss the police budget. I’ve heard this before, namely last year when I first proposed cutting the Gun Violence Reduction Team to save 50+ Parks jobs and our community centers.

If these budget votes and work sessions are not the proper time to discuss PPB’s budget, then we need to make the time – the nightly protests and tens of thousands of constituent emails and phone calls demand it.

Not only have we been told now is not the time, but the proposed package itself does not include any funding reallocation from PPB to community investments as advocates have called for.

Frankly, it is insulting that this package assumes reinvesting $3 million in the BIPOC community and making no cuts to the police budget is remotely enough to address the decades of disinvestment in those communities.

Additionally, I’m alarmed that the work session offered little to no time to discuss the very serious warning from the Budget Office regarding the police budget.

With the police bureau facing millions in overtime and the range of concerns over police conduct and funding, I find it negligent that we are glossing over this bureau’s budget.

Which brings me to my next point: I was incredibly concerned to hear that in the Mayor’s package, some COVID relief funding was to be supported by re-allocating dollars from the Portland Street Response program.

The audacity to move dollars from a non-police response program during a time calling for police alternatives is astounding to me.

This program was only possible because so many advocates and community members called for it, and I believe taking any funding away from this program sets a tone that diminishes just how vital getting a program like PSR up and running is for our city.

Lastly, we know the rippling effects of COVID will carry on for years to come, and we know that right now the most critical thing for people struggling is to make sure their most basic needs are met. That means tackling housing instability and food insecurity.

I’m disappointed that the proposed package does not include enough rent assistance and has no for rent assistance and has no food security funding as recommended by the Emergency Coordination Center during this time of emergency.

Ultimately, this budget package preserves the status quo and fails to reflect the reality many Portlanders face and the demands of the moment.

Budgets are moral documents and this budget has no soul.

We must do things differently because Portlanders can’t afford the status quo. We need a people-centered budget, where we invest in our communities, in community safety, and in keeping Portlanders housed and fed during and after the worst of COVID.

This Thursday, October 22 at 6pm, I will be hosting a livestream conversation to discuss the city budget and my Fall BMP budget amendment proposals.

Joining me will be representatives from Unite Oregon, Imagine Black (formerly PAALF), and Portland Metro People’s Coalition to present their own budget priorities.

In addition to many others, these 3 organizations have been vocal about the need to reinvest a bloated police budget into community resources and safety alternatives. I hope you will join us in rethinking community safety and rethinking Portland.