BY JACOB PALMER | OB DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
BY JACOB PALMER | OB DIGITAL NEWS EDITORFor those who were working, here are a few highlights of Charlie Hales’ State of the City address.
BY JACOB PALMER | OB DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
Portland mayor Charlie Hales delivered his State of the City address shortly after noon Friday at the City Club.
For those who were working or otherwise occupied during the lunchtime address, here are some of the highlights from the event, courtesy of the city’s best tweeters.
It started with mingling and obligatory seat-location sharing:
Michael Alexander, outgoing Urban League leader, chats with PPS superintendent Carole Smith ahead of #sotc15 pic.twitter.com/tCoHZ0t5bj
— PDX City Hall Watch (@cityhallwatch) January 30, 2015
Back row seats. #SOTC15 #pdxcityclub pic.twitter.com/c0LKHleSe5
— Matt Glazewski (@sentencesrunon) January 30, 2015
City Hall decision-makers assumed their seats:
With my friend, Commissioner Amanda Fritz, for today’s State of the City. #sotc15 pic.twitter.com/eNoeZBZ3mI
— Nick Fish (@CommishFish) January 30, 2015
A surprising twist.
.@mayorpdx is singing “Tis the gift to be simple, tis the gift to be free.” said it’s his favorite song, Appalachian Spring #sotc15
— PDX City Hall Watch (@cityhallwatch) January 30, 2015
Mayor begins with “I love music” theme — and he is now singing. Didn’t see that intro coming. #sotc15 #koin6news
— cwoodardnews (@chriswKOIN) January 30, 2015
You guys! @MayorPDX can kind of sing! I bet his office has the best karaoke team in city hall. #SOTC15
— Denis C. Theriault (@theriaultpdx) January 30, 2015
Now to the serious stuff: Hales started by recounting his last two years in office.
1st 2 years righting the ship; next two years piloting the ship where we need it to go. #SOTC15 #PDX
— Charlie Hales (@MayorPDX) January 30, 2015
Didn’t take him long to get into one of the biggest issues consistently addressed by City Hall in the last few months.
At #SOTC15, @MayorPDX says we need to spend $91M more a year to take care of our streets and get them in better condition.
— PDX Transportation (@PBOTinfo) January 30, 2015
Current Street Fund effort is “on pause” while State Legislature considers funding package, says @MayorPDX during #SOTC15
— PDX Transportation (@PBOTinfo) January 30, 2015
He followed by discussing a subject that has dominated the national dialogue over the past 12 months.
Police reform: the bureau is changing. I’m proud of that! #SOTC15 #PDX
— Charlie Hales (@MayorPDX) January 30, 2015
On Police: “We want to be safe and we want to feel safe when we interact with our police.” #sotc15 said PDX is different than other citits.
— PDX City Hall Watch (@cityhallwatch) January 30, 2015
Housing issues were next on the agenda.
Mayor’s priorities for the coming two years: Neighborhoods, economic opportunity, public safety. #SOTC15 #PDX
— Charlie Hales (@MayorPDX) January 30, 2015
#SOTC15 Portland re-wrote the equation 40 yrs ago, Hales said. Back then urban life was a lesser choice, and suburban flight was the norm.
— Amelia Templeton (@ameliaOPB) January 30, 2015
If we squander the beauty + livability + affordability of neighborhoods for a few more units of housing = bad bargain. #SOTC15 #PDX
— Charlie Hales (@MayorPDX) January 30, 2015
.@Mayorpdx is talking about Lents and Old Town Chinatown finally seeing “long-awaited” development. #sotc15
— PDX City Hall Watch (@cityhallwatch) January 30, 2015
Mayor says MLK Jr Blvd area will soon see results of newly energized housing strategy #sotc15 #koin6news
— cwoodardnews (@chriswKOIN) January 30, 2015
The mayor, to the delight of Internet commenters, then discussed social justice and poverty in the city.
Let’s be honest: Issues of poverty ARE issues of racial justice. #SOTC15 #PDX
— Charlie Hales (@MayorPDX) January 30, 2015
“If poverty was a city, it’d be greater than Portland.” said @MayorPDX at #sotc15 saying more than 600k Oregonians in poverty.
— PDX City Hall Watch (@cityhallwatch) January 30, 2015
Hales says it’s time to ‘Ban the Box’ – working with Urban League, AFL-CIO, ACLU to expand it citywide. #SOTC15 #PDX
— Caitlin Baggott (@CaitlinBaggott) January 30, 2015
$5k per returning citizen”@MayorPDX: Introducing incentives for Portland businesses to hire an ex-offender. #SOTC15 #PDX“
— Walter Robinson II (@ladell45) January 30, 2015
Is this expensive? Compared to funding prisons? Absolutely not! #SOTC15 #PDX
— Charlie Hales (@MayorPDX) January 30, 2015
Hales addressed myriad issues including wages, homelessness and policing.
Introducing $15 minimum wage for all full-time permanent city employees. #SOTC15 #PDX
— Charlie Hales (@MayorPDX) January 30, 2015
On homelessness, @annargriff gets a shoutout for her series on homelessness by @mayorpdx “she lays out the challenge.” #sotc15
— PDX City Hall Watch (@cityhallwatch) January 30, 2015
Big promise. @MayorPDX says “we will house every last one of our homeless Vets by next veterans day.” #SOTC15
— Amelia Templeton (@ameliaOPB) January 30, 2015
Hales says we will house all homeless vets in Portland. Did I mis-hear that?This is a great #sotc15 @pdxcityclub
— Caitlin Baggott (@CaitlinBaggott) January 30, 2015
Mayor: expect to see more walking beats by @PortlandPolice officers. Says it’s a great model and it’s working #sotc15 #koin6news
— cwoodardnews (@chriswKOIN) January 30, 2015
His grand finale revolved around bolstering psychiatric assistance.
Psychiatric emergency center to open in 2015? I believe we can do it. #SOTC15 #PDX
— Charlie Hales (@MayorPDX) January 30, 2015
Hales: Portland found solution to “urban question” that plagued cities for decades, now must answer human question #sotc15
— PDX City Hall Watch (@cityhallwatch) January 30, 2015
A helping of knee-jerk analysis from attendees:
Last year, @MayorPDX marketed himself as boring, but in a good way. #SOTC15 is not a boring speech. It’s blatantly progressive.
— Amelia Templeton (@ameliaOPB) January 30, 2015
Standing ovation for Mayor Hales. The Portland Way speech resonates with the folks in this room. Strong plan for tough issues. #SOTC15
— susanne collins (@SusanneOrton1) January 30, 2015
And to put a cap on the #SOTC15 hashtag, a mayoral selfie.
#SOTC15 is done! #wesurvived @NancyHalesPDX pic.twitter.com/3mt5dCEnes
— Charlie Hales (@MayorPDX) January 30, 2015
