Portland observer., July 24, 2024, Image 1

Volume LII • Number 14
‘City
of
Roses’
www.portlandobserver.com
Wednesday • July 24, 2024
Committed to Cultural Diversity
Biden Drops Out of 2024 Race
VP Harris
Gets His Nod
(AP) President Joe Biden dropped out of
the 2024 race for the White House on Sun-
day, ending his bid for reelection after a
disastrous debate with Donald Trump that
raised doubts about the incumbent’s fitness
for office. The unprecedented announce-
ment, delivered less than four months be-
fore the election, immediately upended a
campaign that both political parties view
as the most consequential in generations.
The president — intent on serving out
the remainder of his term in office —
quickly endorsed Vice President Kamala
Harris to take on Trump and encouraged
his party to unite behind her, making her
the party’s instant favorite for the nomina-
tion at its August convention in Chicago.
The announcement is the latest jolt to a
tumultuous campaign for the White House,
coming a week after the attempted assas-
sination of Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.
A party’s presumptive presidential nom-
inee has never stepped out of the race so
close to the election. President Lyndon
Johnson, besieged by the Vietnam War,
Continued on Back
Vice President Kamala Harris embraces President Joe Biden after a speech on healthcare in Raleigh, N.C., March. 26, 2024.
President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, July 21, ending his bid for reelection
following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the
election. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley, File)
Loretta Smith Runs for City
Council for 3rd Time
Director Long Joins City
Parks Alliance Board
One of Three Black
Women in the Race
Expertise Brought
to Organization
By Beverly Corbell
Loretta Smith, former Multnomah
County Commissioner from 2010 to
2018, is running for Portland City Coun-
cil for the third time. But with 13 oth-
er contenders for the new East Portland
District 1 seat, she may be facing an up-
hill battle. Under the city’s new plan for
the council, however, each district will
be represented by three people.
Previously, all Portland city council-
ors were “at-large” and did not represent
a specific area of the city. This is the first
election where councilors will be elected
to represent four geographic districts, in
a voter-approved plan.
Portland’s reorganization of the city
council expands the council to 12 mem-
bers who will represent one of four geo-
graphical districts. Voters will be able
to rank candidates in order of prefer-
ence, using ranked-choice voting. Three
city council members will represent
each district.
The City Parks Alliance (CPA) elect-
ed Portland Parks & Recreation Direc-
tor, Adena Long, to its Board of Direc-
tors at the board’s June 21 meeting in
Seattle, WA. The City Parks Alliance
board brings expertise from the public,
private, and non-profit sectors to sup-
port the CPA’s vision that everyone in
urban communities will have access to
high-quality parks and green spaces that
are clean, safe, and vibrant.
“I am honored to be selected to serve
on the Board, says Director Long.
“And excited to contribute to the ad-
vocacy efforts and vital resources the
City Parks Alliance brings to urban park
systems across the country.”
“City Parks Alliance’s Board of
Directors represents the diverse per-
spectives of the organizations and indi-
viduals working to create sustainable,
equitable, healthy parks in our cities. We
are thrilled to add Director Long to our
Board of Directors and for bringing their
Loretta Smith, photo by Brooke Herbert,
courtesy of the Oregonian
District 1 has one of the highest pop-
ulations of Black residents, and Smith
told Oregon Public Broadcasting that
she is eager to represent that historically
underrepresented population.
Continued on Page 9
PP&R Director Adena Long. Photo cour-
tesy of Portland Parks & Recreation
expertise and leadership to our organiza-
tion,” said City Parks Alliance Executive
Director Catherine Nagel.
City Parks Alliance is the only in-
dependent, nationwide membership
organization solely dedicated to urban
Continued on Page 7