This week, Mayor Wilson went on television and fundamentally mischaracterized my and my colleagues’ record and commitment to community and public safety. He is free to endorse other candidates in the race, but his distortion deserves a response, and Portlanders deserve a Mayor who leads with honesty and integrity—not someone who relies on fear tactics to scare voters.
As a mom, public school teacher, and Portlander, nothing matters more to me than keeping everyone in our city safe. Public safety is bigger than any single bureau. It means having trained first responders ready when people call for help, responding effectively to violence and dangerous driving, and investing in disaster preparedness, prevention, and root-cause solutions.
Let me be clear about my record:
- While the Mayor proposed millions in severe budget cuts to our city’s core safety bureaus, I stepped up to defend these critical programs and fight for the funding our communities need.
- When the Mayor proposed cuts to Portland Fire & Rescue, I fought to protect our fire engines, stations, and emergency response teams.
- When frontline emergency dispatch and 311 services at the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC) faced reductions from the Mayor, I stood up to ensure that when Portlanders call for help in a crisis, someone answers.
- When the Mayor targeted the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) and the Office of Violence Prevention, I championed restoring those funds so our city remains prepared for emergencies while investing in community-led strategies that stop violence before it starts.
- I have pledged to fully fund Portland Street Response and supported legislation to make it a co-equal first responder— giving people in behavioral health crises specialized care while freeing up police officers to focus on violent crime.
- I have led the entire council in recommitting Portland to Vision Zero because whether you are walking, biking, driving, or taking transit, everyone deserves to get home safely.
None of this is a rejection of public safety. It is my vision for how we create more of it.
Our neighbors in Linnton, St. Johns, and throughout the city are all at risk from the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub and deserve safety, too. It’s why I stood against transferring the Zenith Franchise without accountability measures—and why I was so disappointed that the Mayor voted against accountability for Big Oil and the risks it poses to Portlanders’ safety.
Keeping our community safe matters deeply to me. I will continue to lead with integrity, compassion and accountability. People can disagree with me about that vision, and I welcome an honest debate. But Portlanders deserve an accurate account of what I actually believe and vote for—not a political caricature designed to scare people.
I have kept my promises on public safety. I encourage the Mayor to focus on fulfilling his own promise to end unsheltered homelessness in Portland rather than misrepresenting my record.
I will always fight for you and the safety of everyone who calls this place home. The fact that these attacks are coming from the most powerful people in Portland means that our vision of a city that works for everyone is threatening a broken status quo.
Chip in here to keep building a movement that fights for a more expansive view of what is possible.
