Accomplishments

Public Safety and Livability 

  • Initiated the use of innovative new technologies to reduce 911 wait time. - LINK

  • Called for real accountability in how our homelessness dollars are spent by the Joint Office of Homeless Services. The only member of Portland’s city council to never approve a contract extension. Demanding accountability and clear roles instead. LINK

  • Initiated transition of non-emergency calls to 311, reducing call volume to the 911 call center.

  • Initiated one of the largest hiring classes in the history of the Bureau of Emergency Communications (911).

  • Grew training pipeline to increase the speed of certification of new operators at the Bureau of Emergency Communication.

  • Spearheaded PBOT parking enforcement overhaul - LINK - (VIDEO)

  • Secured funding to hire 22 new parking enforcement officers. LINK

  • Pushed enforcement teams to remove more RVs than ever, while also moving many into supportive shelter and housing. LINK

  • Began a city-wide parking enforcement push bringing much-needed enforcement response to the entire city, not just the central city. LINK

  • Rebuilt PBOT’s relationship with the court system, allowing staff to begin using the boot, and other immobilizing devices to hold bad actors accountable. LINK

  • Brought major changes to some of the deadliest roads in Portland with the establishment of the Rest on Red Program – LINK

  • Delivered dozens of new traffic safety cameras across Portland. - LINK

  • Fought for and secured increased funding and staffing for the Police/Clinician response team, the Behavioral Health Unit - LINK

Economic Recovery and Vitality 

  • Started PBOT food truck pilot to connect small business owners with customers downtown, growing the next generation of small business owners. - LINK

  • Began Parking Garage Promotion Program - making rates more aggressive, and increasing security staff present onsite.

  • Oversaw restoration of Mt. Tabor Reservoir- LINK

  • Advocated for funding set-aside, and dedicated bureau staff resources, for the rebuilding of the Thompson Elk Fountain - LINK

  • Pushed procurement to treat COBID (minority contracting) as a requirement, not a checkbox. Urging bureaus to max out capacity of our local contractors, especially firms owned by contractors of color, and women - pushing to create true intergenerational wealth, and keep infrastructure jobs and dollars in Portland.

  • Helped secure tens of millions in funding for the i5 rose quarter project. LINK


Bureau Management and Good Governance 

  • Closed an over $32 million PBOT budget shortfall, saving over 100 jobs. LINK

  • Improved labor relations and championed safer working conditions for city employees.   

  • Reduced forced overtime for essential workers - LINK

  • Was the most productive commissioner on Portland’s city council, having brought over 400 successful items, with the majority passing unanimously.

  • Bucked the trend of commissioners making direct appointments to bureau director positions, instead spearheading new and comprehensive recruitment processes to ensure his bureaus had strong and qualified leadership. LINK and LINK

  • Led the effort to identify and hire the first Deputy City Administrator for the new Public Works service area - the only office that sought an outside candidate. LINK

  • Established the Safety Department reporting directly to the bureau director, and appointed the first overseer of that department (Laura Wilcox).

  • Addressed and cleaned up toxic asbestos from the wastewater treatment plant. Protecting the health and safety of hundreds of employees.

  • Provided critical PPE and safety equipment for staff working in the field.

  • Restarted the Bureau Labor and Management Committee.

  • By increasing staffing at 911, heavily reduced the reliance on forced overtime.

Infrastructure improvements 

  • Brought forth the SMART discount program that automates up to 80% discount on sewer and stormwater bills, eliminating hard cutoffs for financial aid. – LINK

  • Championed advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to increase efficiency, detect leaks faster, and bring our water meter infrastructure into the 21st century.  

  • Lead the effort to pass the Fixing Our Streets measure by over 70% – LINK

  • Secured millions in federal and state grants and began the process to repave and increase safety on 82nd Avenue. LINK

  • Helped secure more than $1 billion in federal grants for the construction of a newer, stronger, and safer I5 bridge across the Columbia River. LINK

  • Pushed for a return to stewardship of our assets with events like “Pothole March Madness” LINK

  • Successfully fought to protect funding set aside for ADA infrastructure. LINK

Equity

  • Helped ensure $100 million of the Water Filtration Facility contracted work was awarded to black and minority contractors. 

  • Brought budget amendment to maintain LGBTQIA2S+ position in city equity office.

  • Secured Pregnancy Loss/Chosen Family Bereavement Leave for city employees-Advocates say Portland is first in nation to provide bereavement leave for employees after abortion - OPB

  • Fought for and secured PPE for women and petit employees that actually fit.

  • Converted 32 contract-only positions to full-time permanent city union employees with benefits.

  • Hired the first black woman to serve as director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

  • Pushed for increased compliance with ADA standards at intersections across the city. Ensuring that infrastructure is not a barrier to access for disabled Portlanders. LINK

  • Worked with leaders at every level to secure the future of capping i5. This project will reconnect the Albina neighborhood that was cut in half decades ago, displacing dozens of black Portlanders. LINK

Environment

  • Fought for ecologically sensitive and valuable lands to be returned to a natural state and preserve watershed health. - Destruction at Big Four Corners Natural Area as Portland clears camps: 'It's devastating' (katu.com)

  • Helped push for City Fleet Electrification on track with the 2030 timeline. (Approved $10m Federal grant, over $400k for charging infrastructure). - LINK

  • Fought to keep management of natural resources in the hands of experts.

  • Pushed for clearer and more aggressive environmental targets for the City. Using cost per ton of carbon reduced as a metric.