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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2016)
Page 4 October 26, 2016 Teressa Raiford, founder of Don’t Shoot Portland, speaking last September about the fear and reality of being a person of color in Multnomah County. Photo is from the Multnomah County website. Sweet Street Food Cart New location 15th and Alberta call 503-995-6150 to place order Mon. - Fri., 11:00am - 7:00pm • Sat. - Sun., 11:00am - 5:00pm Wednesday Special: 3 Wings $2.00 Friday Special: Rib Sandwich, Beef or Pork, $4.00 Write-in Campaign for Sheriff C ontinued from p age 2 of department money among other things. Reese’s tenure as chief was per- vaded by a Department of Justice investigation into his bureau’s exces- sive force against the mentally ill. Though late in the game, Rai- Voting Begins C ontinued from f ront Of the more than 10 measures facing voters, much of the media attention has been given to Mea- sure 97 – a testy corporate tax that would be placed on about 1,000 of Oregon’s biggest businesses or “C Corporations.” If it passes, the state’s rocky track record with rev- enue could be set back on track, as the 2.5 percent tax on sales over $25 million has potential to rack in $3 billion for the state, easily surpassing a projected $1 billion shortfall in the state’s 2017-2019 budget. A less contentious proposal comes as Measure 26-180, which is a three percent sales tax on rec- reational marijuana for the city of Portland, expected to bring in an additional $3 million annual- Upholste r y C le an ing • S of a/L ove s e at • Pet St ains • Flo o d R estorat ions 5 0 3 - 7 0 5 - 2 5 8 7 2 Rooms + Hall $ 59 95 Complete House $ 109 95 We Also Do Janitorial Services Licensed • Bonded • Insured Carpet Cleaning Spot/Stain Removal • 24 Hour Flood Service Upholstery Cleaning • Area Rug Cleaning • Dry Time 2-4 Hours With Free Deoderizer Free Estimates • Available Weekends ford’s write-in campaign an- nouncement has already sparked support from other activists. With just two weeks left until Election Day, Raiford is ambitious in be- coming the voice of Portland’s minority, displaced and mistreated communities. “We need a sheriff who doesn’t lie and protect killer cops. We need a sheriff who can provide this county with real leadership and change,” says Raiford. “We need somebody who can change the tox- ic culture in our law enforcement system, somebody who under- stands that brown and black lives matter in Multnomah County.” ly. Proposed by Commissioner Fritz, the measure requires that all of the revenue generated from the tax be put towards drug and alcohol treatment education and programs, focusing support for local women and minority owned businesses, and training for para- medics and cops, while dropping a current recreational marijuana tax by five percent. What seems to address a more poignant issue for Portlanders specifically is Measure 26-179, which could help the city’s current housing crisis. If passed, the mea- sure would allocate $258 million in obligated bonds to go towards affordable housing for low income households. These bonds would be reviewed by an independent oversight committee and used to purchase and renovate existing homes to maintain affordability, build new affordable homes and prevent displacement by helping fami- lies stay in their homes. A mix of housing units would be built and featured, helping senior citizens as well as those with disabilities. “The families who have been on our affordable housing waiting list will be the first to tell you there are not enough homes in Portland that are affordable to low-income families, working parents, and se- niors,” says Travis Phillips, the di- rector of housing and development at Portland Community Reinvest- ment Initiatives, Inc. (PCRI). “We support the affordable housing bond measure because it helps ad- dress this critical shortage.” PCRI has a long record of help- ing Portland’s vulnerable popula- tions, and according to Phillips, the housing measure would direct- ly serve the community. “The bond is an investment in people and their ability to break the cycle of poverty,” says Phil- lips. “We see it every day in the residents who live in PCRI homes, but we know our city needs more homes to give people this oppor- tunity.” A controversial measure fac- ing voters in Multnomah County is Measure 26-183. If passed, it would amend the county charter that allows for the sheriff position to be elected, giving the County Commission the power to hire a police chief much the way it works in Portland city government and for many department head posi- tions at the city and county level. County Measure 26-184 would place a $500 political contribution cap from any individual or polit- ical action committee. The mea- sure would also limit independent campaign expenditures to $5,000 per individual or $10,000 per po- litical committee, as to shift focus from rich donors looking to sway public policy and place it on small donors. Two state measures facing voters will impact students and education. Measure 95 addresses investments, with the passing of it allowing for public universities and schools to invest in equities. Money raised through the invest- ments would go towards increas- ing funds used to help students and reducing financial institution risks. Measure 98, if passed, would require Oregon Legislature to put money into dropout-prevention plans as well as college, vocation- al and career readiness programs, which have high chances of rais- ing high school graduation rates. Oregon currently has the third worst high school graduation rates in the country according to recent reports from the U.S. Department of Education.
