While some may bristle over scrutiny of the Portland Clean Energy Fund, the program's missteps show why such scrutiny is merited for this first-of-its-kind program, the editorial board writes. Credit the program's overseers for understanding the need for public trust and taking steps to show the city can do better.
A survey of city workers revealed significant opposition to returning to the office more than twice a week. While employees' preferences must inform the city's strategy on how much hybrid work to allow, the city must also assess how well the public is served by the current mostly-remote arrangement, the editorial board writes.
The 10-day World Athletics Championships Oregon22 is set to kick off on Friday , the editorial board writes. But while significant both economically and sports-wise, Oregon22 also offers Oregonians the chance to reacquaint themselves with the state's rich heritage of track and field.
The decision not to renew a contract with Friends of Trees to organize community planting events makes little sense, the editorial board writes. Considering the nonprofit's success, the climate crisis and the urgent need to add trees in "heat islands," the city should keep restarting the street-tree contract among its options.
More than two years after sweeping tenant protections went into effect, the housing bureau still has not conducted an annual audit of their effectiveness and impacts, despite a requirement by City Council to do so, the editorial board writes. That lack of data – and the inability to say whether such protections have helped or harmed the rental market – represents a massive shortcoming in the city's ability to address its seven-year-long housing crisis.
While long overdue, Congress' passage of gun safety legislation is a significant step forward, the editorial board writes. But Oregon must continue to focus on a comprehensive strategy to address gun violence and should look to legislation passed by neighboring states as leaders look ahead to 2023.
A mega-measure going before voters in November would overhaul Portland's form of city government, triple the number of commissioners and change how they are voted in with November 2024 targeted as the first election. With so many unanswered questions, the city should create a work group to explore the logistical, financial and legal issues raised by the measure and give voters in November a clear picture of whether these changes can work, the editorial board writes.
A systemic risk report issued by Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan outlines the weaknesses that pose a threat to the effectiveness of new investments and strategies envisioned for K-12 education. The call for accountability and attention now to such problem areas is a message leaders should heed, the editorial board writes. It's time for Oregon to break the cycle of delivering accountability only after a failure.
A proposal to license paralegals who meet educational and experience requirements to represent Oregonians in a broad array of family-law and landlord-tenant cases is a pragmatic approach to helping low-income Oregonians connect with legal assistance at critical moments of their lives, the editorial board writes. The proposal reflects years of research and careful planning that should make the decision to move forward an easy call.
The killings of 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school were preordained by a gutless Congress that has failed to take even modest measures to protect Americans from these infuriatingly routine tragedies, the editorial board writes. While we should continue to press our leaders to enact gun measures, Oregonians can also support gun reforms here by signing Initiative Petition 17, which would require permits for gun owners and ban the sale of high-capacity magazines.
Clackamas County Clerk Sherry Hall's profound mishandling of the May election and her deflection of accountability show why the elected official should step down, the editorial board writes. If she refuses to do so, voters should oust her themselves by voting her out in November.
Read the responses submitted by three of the top candidates running for Portland City Council Pos. 3 to a question asked by The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board as part of its endorsement process.
Ad Choices