### Portland's Political Crossroads: City Reforms Amid Crisis

Portland, Oregon – Over the past few tumultuous years, Portland has become synonymous with unrest. From enduring over 100 days of protests and grappling with a spiraling homelessness and fentanyl crisis, to weathering the impacts of a global pandemic, this progressive city has faced it all. Now, in a dramatic bid to reset, Portland is overhauling its government structure after voters decided to introduce a weaker mayoral role, a larger City Council, and ranked choice voting.

A major catalyst behind this shakeup was the passage of Measure 110 in 2020, which decriminalized all drugs—a move supported by 74 percent of Multnomah County residents. Unexpectedly, this policy change exacerbated existing challenges: drug use increased, homelessness escalated, and many taxpayers left the city. Long-time City Council member Carmen Rubio, now running for mayor, described the situation as a "perfect storm."

The upcoming election has stirred broad interest, with 19 mayoral candidates and 98 City Council hopefuls, all largely campaigning on left-of-center platforms. Progressive candidates often point to implementation failures and unexpected crises, like the fentanyl epidemic, as culprits for policy setbacks. In contrast, moderates argue that Portland's far-left turn needs significant course correction.

Portland's struggles are echoed by other liberal cities like San Francisco and Minneapolis, but Portland's unique policy decisions have amplified its difficulties. Between 2020 and 2023, nearly 12,000 people left Multnomah County, and an exodus within a single year drained nearly $1.1 billion in taxable income from the city. Once a busy urban hub, downtown Portland now suffers from a tarnished reputation and widespread economic uncertainty.

The competition in the mayoral race has narrowed to four main candidates: Gonzalez, who advocates for law and order; Rubio, who pushes for pragmatic progressivism; Mingus Mapps, who emphasizes mental health and economic revival; and Keith Wilson, a CEO focused on homelessness solutions. A poll from August showed Gonzalez leading by eight points over both Mapps and Rubio, though 40 percent of voters remained undecided.

Adding to the chaos is the new City Council election format, shifting from four at-large seats to twelve district-specific seats, leading to a diverse candidate pool including activists, business owners, and law enforcement officers. As the candidates offer varying solutions to crime, drug use, homelessness, and economic revitalization, the city stands at a pivotal juncture.

The upheaval in Portland’s policies began noticeably during the summer of 2020 with large-scale Black Lives Matter protests that eventually turned violent. The unrest led to significant policy decisions, including a $15 million cut from the police budget and the disbanding of the Gun Violence Reduction Team. These moves, while addressing demands for reform, resulted in unintended rises in gun violence.

Terrence Hayes, running for a City Council seat in east Portland, remarks that policy changes without community input can backfire, exacerbating issues they aimed to solve. Portland's decriminalization policies and lenient camping laws have compounded insecurity, spreading homeless encampments and fueling the fentanyl trade.

The city's new approach is multifaceted, with recent policy shifts seeking to address these crises. Temporary Alternative Shelter Sites (TASS) are being hailed as a progressive step toward housing the homeless, though their high costs and limited capacity pose challenges.

Business owners like Lisa Schroeder, who runs Mother's Bar and Bistro, illustrate the dire need for economic revival. Despite having served the community for over 25 years, her business struggles due to the slow recovery of downtown Portland. The office vacancy rate downtown reached over 30 percent in 2023, and significant companies like U.S. Bank are not renewing their leases.

With new political structures taking shape and candidates promising varied solutions, the next mayor and City Council will play critical roles in determining Portland's trajectory. However, uncertainty remains about whether proposed reforms will effectively rejuvenate this historically vibrant city.