Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 2018)
Page 4 November 14, 2018 Mayor’s Protest Curbs Draw Fire Broadway Corridor Project C ontinueD froM p age 3 Let Your Voice be Heard Letter from Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Kimberly Branam, executive director of Prosper Portland: Dear Community: More than a year ago, the city of Port- land and Prosper Portland embarked on a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop the 34-acre Broadway Corridor site in North- west Portland. The location, size, and scale of this property present a rare chance to build in a way that puts people first, particularly those who traditionally have not benefited from past development projects. As a Portlander, you have a stake in this neighborhood, its planning and development. You have a right to participate in the jobs and economic prosperity generated by the neighborhood that will be transformed by the Broadway Corridor project. The city’s future is yours as well. On Wednesday, November 28, you are in- vited to the Broadway Corridor Open House at the Asian Health & Service Center in Lents Town Center, from 5-7:30 p.m. You’ll be able to view and comment on three refined design concepts and share your ideas, questions and concerns. There are additional opportunities to participate including: An online Open House available until Dec. 9: www.broadwaycorridorpdx.com/openhouse Mobile open houses: Nov. 30 at the Union Station lobby from 4 – 6 p.m., and Dec. 6 at the Hollywood Library from 5 - 7 p.m. Four million square feet of development is possible on the Broadway Corridor site, which includes the downtown Portland U.S. Postal Ser- vice property. That’s more than 3 times the com- bined square feet of the US Bancorp Tower and the Wells Fargo Center and has the potential to add 4,000 jobs and 2,400 new households. We are asking for your feedback on what should be built and experienced in the Broadway Corridor so that its development includes the right mix of uses, activities, programs and public spaces. We’re calling on residents from all corners of Portland to participate in this project and we want to hear from you, your family, and your communities. The door is open for your involvement. Let your voice be heard on how you and your fellow Portlanders will live, work, and play in this new development. taxpayers over $440,000. Hardesty, who became the first black woman elected to Portland City Council just two days prior to the City Hall hearing on the issue, and will succeed Saltzman, testi- fied that Wheeler’s curbs would disproportionately be enforced against people of color. “We don’t all experience po- lice the same way,” Hardesty said. “We cannot have a police force for white people, and then a po- lice force for everybody else.” She added she’s been “extremely disappointed” how Portland police have responded to “out of town hate groups who show up and take over our downtown streets.” Though Hardesty said she trusts in Portland Police Chief Danielle Outlaw, the city’s first female black chief, she said that the former Oak- land, Calif. police officer “is abso- lutely mistaken that we should give the police chief the power to decide who protests and how.” Hardesty urged postponing de- ciding on the proposal until after she’s sworn in, in January. She also criticized police for not telling the truth about why they resorted to using force against left-wing antifascists in response to an Aug. 4 protest in downtown Portland. The police response was also ref- erenced by City Commissioner Eudaly in her line of questioning about past police action. The protest in question saw multiple injuries of leftist protes- tors, but few reported actions tak- en against right-wing group Patriot Prayer, despite a report more than a month later that some members of that group held weapons on a rooftop. That protest was one of many in the past two years in which right- and left- wing groups have clashed, some of which re- sulted in violence. “How many lawsuits is the city fighting related to police use of force against demonstrators, and how much money has defending these suits cost Portland?” Eudaly asked. Deputy Attorney Robert Taylor replied, “Thirteen, but the suits don’t cost anything to defend be- cause the city has staff attorneys.” (Eudaly responded that had the lawsuits not been filed, the law- yers could spend their time work- ing on other things). When Eudaly asked why po- lice used exploding munitions and pepper spray against non-violent protestors who disobeyed disper- sal orders, Assistant Chief Ryan Lee responded that disobeying such an order is breaking the law. Eudaly also wanted to know why police kettled and photo- graphed the IDs of more than 300 left-wing protestors in July 2017; why some police told Independent Police Review investigators that far-right extremists seemed “more mainstream;” and whether any of the Patriot Prayer protestors had been injured by crowd-dispersal munitions, as Antifa protestors had on Aug. 4. Officials said pend- ing lawsuits prevented them from commenting directly on many of the issues raised. Eudaly said she’s going to vote “no” on the proposed ordi- nance. While the measure was first referred to the council as an emergency, the mayor pulled the emergency clause just before its hearing and as a result, the mea- sure could go into effect 30 days after it is passed, instead of right away, and does not require unani- mous approval by the council. The measure will be taken up again on Thursday. Commissioner Amanda Fritz said she’s against the proposal. Commissioner Nick Fish has not voiced a position. Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer Call 503-288-0033 or email ads@portlandobserver.com Sundays @ 11:00 a.m. • Wednesdays @ 7 p.m.
