The Central City recovery is off to a strong start in 2024. Public and private leaders have embraced the Portland City Center Task Force’s (PCCTF) top ten recommendations — making progress in each of the five committee areas: community safety, livable neighborhoods, housing and homelessness, taxes for services, and the Central City’s value proposition.
In the three months since Governor Tina Kotek announced the recommendations at the Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit, state and local governments, together with private partners, have:
• Declared a tri-government fentanyl emergency. The State, City of Portland, and Multnomah County declared a 90-day fentanyl emergency on January 30th. As of February 28th, the incident team reported 81 overdose reversals, 99 Measure 110 tickets issued, and 200 grams of fentanyl seized.
• Banned the public use of controlled substances and reduced barriers to prosecuting drug dealers. The Legislature passed HB 4002, which established a criminal justice framework for the possession or delivery of controlled substances designed to encourage treatment over penalties, such as jail or probation.
• Partnered to create 70 new substance abuse disorder and behavioral treatment beds. The new treatment capacity was facilitated by the purchase of a large building in the city’s inner east side with resources from Central City Concern, the Oregon Health Authority, Multnomah County, and the City of Portland.
• Launched a plan to build more temporary shelters and add behavioral health beds. The joint County-City plan aims to shelter 2,700 individuals by the end of 2025 by adding 1,000 emergency beds and accelerating transitions out of shelters and into permanent housing. The plan also calls for 300 new treatment beds for people with a substance abuse disorder or mental health needs.
• Accelerated the cleanup of Portland-area highways. The Legislature allocated the full amount recommended by the PCCTF, $20 million, to the Oregon Department of Transportation for litter and graffiti removal and prevention.
• Provided critical bridge funding for the Central City’s anchor arts organizations. The Legislature, together with the Miller Foundation and Oregon Community Foundation, have provided multi-year support with a combined $52 million to the Oregon Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theater, Portland Art Museum, Portland Center Stage, and Portland Opera. The funding provides resources and time for the organizations to respond to post-pandemic conditions.
• Called for the delay of scheduled County tax increase. In alignment with PCTFF’s tax moratorium recommendation, County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said she would ask the Board of Commissioners to delay by one year a voter-approved increase in the Preschool for All tax.
This early progress has exceeded expectations, but there’s much more to be done. Community leaders and the public need a deeper understanding of governments’ abilities to fund critical public safety and emergency response services, innovative ideas for Central City development need a place to be refined and championed, private resources must be raised to coordinate volunteers to restore the beauty of a city they love, and numerous plans that are already funded must be well-executed.
The pandemic’s impact on Central City Portland was profound. Rebuilding will continue throughout this year and into the several that follow. The effort is off to a great start. Don’t bet against Portland.