If you’ve been following the latest on Portland’s homelessness response, you’ve likely heard the sharpest criticisms yet of Multnomah County's leadership on homelessness response in our region. In particular, leaders across regional and state government have expressed major criticism about their recently-reveiled budget shortfall.
OPB’s recent story lays it all out: elected officials across the region are openly expressing frustration, disappointment, and even disbelief at the lack of transparency and planning.
“Jarring,” “Dismayed,” “Deeply Disappointed”
On Monday, regional leaders didn’t hold back.
Metro Council President Lynn Peterson: “To me personally, it wasn’t just disappointing, it was actually quite jarring.”
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson: Said he was caught “flat-footed” by the news.
Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards: “Surprised.”
Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West: “Deeply disappointed.”
Governor Tina Kotek: Told reporters she was “dismayed” by the apparent lack of transparency.
Peterson didn’t mince words: “We can’t keep telling the voters of the region we can do big things and then let them down.” President Peterson further told a Feb. 24 Metro meeting “I want you all to know that I was shocked by her request and by the depth of the budget hole that the Joint Office finds itself in. County staff and county commissioners have worked so hard to get to this point, only to be undermined by this admission of negligence.”
Kotek added: “I don’t think it’s appropriate to come out of the gate and ask for an amount of money without previous conversations.”
Mayor Wilson put it plainly: “We do not believe this is how partnership and collaboration should be forged.”
The RPC Board of Directors continues to push for accountability. All the way back in 2023, RPC called for a programmatic audit of the County’s expenditures and demanded the County use a by-name list approach to improve and track homeless services. We never received a response from the Chair, but here's further background:
City & County Joint Hearing: What's the Plan?
With all this pressure mounting, Chair Jessica Vega Pederson is leading a joint hearing of the Multnomah County Commission and Portland City Council today. Given the mood among elected officials, expect tough questions and sharper critiques.
JOINT Session of the Multnomah County Commission & Portland City Council: http://www.youtube.com/live/VbXwmA9 from 10:30am to 1pm or available on-demand. These joint meetings are one of the only ways the public can gain some transparency on the services, shelter, & housing delivery system. Can be the ONLY outside look into budgetary and program decision-making. Here's the agenda, presentation, & report: multnomah.granicus.com/GeneratedAge....
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