Portland to Vote on 13 Questions in November - Doubling Down on Failed Policies and Boss Mayor Politics

Last month, we updated you on four referendum questions that were filed for the November ballot by the Democratic Socialists of America. We now have confirmation that these questions have made the ballot, and will appear alongside one other referendum question and 8 questions from the Portland Charter Commission for a total of 13 questions on Portland's municipal ballot in November:

• Institute the 3rd highest minimum wage in the country, behind only two communities in California.

• Eliminate the tipped credit, which would imperil Portland's world-renowned food and beverage industry by dramatically increasing restaurant prices and harming employees that currently make over $40/hr in tips.

• Double down on the failed rent control policy, which has invited the largest rent increases in our city's history while discouraging investment in our city's housing stock.

 

• Eliminate cruise ships from Portland, threatening the revenues that make our small business community and working waterfront viable.

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• Drastically reduce the number of short-term rentals in Portland, punishing local homeowners trying to make ends meet and pay ever increasing property taxes.

 

• Install a Boss Mayor in Portland, who could override the democratic will of our elected City Council with a veto pen, hire and fire city staff, and issue executive orders all while receiving a double-digit pay increase over the current mayoral salary.

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We know from the last several years that governing by referendum does not work for Portland. The referendums pushed by the Democratic Socialists of America and Ethan Strimling in 2020 invited numerous costly lawsuits, increased the cost of living, decreased housing production, and even led to the inability of our city to provide shelter to our most vulnerable neighbors. We stand ready to work with our City Council, other stakeholders, and the whole community to move workable policies through our public and democratic process at the City Council, but passage of these referendums would make that all but impossible.