Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler presented his first State of the City address Friday at a Portland City Club luncheon.
Mayor Wheeler made many big promises during his address. Those promises included creating 1,300 affordable housing units, returning to a community policing model and attempting to reduce racial bias in Portland’s judicial system. Wheeler also touted multiple opportunities for economic development at sites including the Rose Quarter, Zidell’s South Waterfront Property and the Centennial Mills property on the Willamette River.
He also mentioned a new plan to finance road maintenance — which currently boasts a $270 million deficit — by utilizing a municipal bond on urban renewal revenues.
Check out these highlight’s from Wheeler’s speech below:
“By telling our story, the whole story — the good and the bad — we can begin to change society.” @tedwheeler #StateoftheCity
— Oregon Business (@OregonBusiness) March 24, 2017
“Portland has a dark and clouded history when it comes to race. This history must be brought to light,” @tedwheeler says. #StateoftheCity
— Oregon Business (@OregonBusiness) March 24, 2017
“Consider this. Right now, today, unemployment is 3x worse in the city of PDX for black people than it is for white people,” @tedwheeler pic.twitter.com/pWFAqCCWZm
— Oregon Business (@OregonBusiness) March 24, 2017
“I am 100% committed to rebuilding trust between the community and the police who serve that community,” @tedwheeler #StateoftheCity pic.twitter.com/Lpg4UEeUWf
— Oregon Business (@OregonBusiness) March 24, 2017
.@tedwheeler says city needs to form the “New West.” “We (won’t be) an ex. of what the New West embodies, Portland will set the standard.” pic.twitter.com/CtcKo49cyf
— Oregon Business (@OregonBusiness) March 24, 2017
.@tedwheeler says he will work with tenants and landlords to create a system that’s equitable and affordable. #StateoftheCity #housing
— Oregon Business (@OregonBusiness) March 24, 2017
Post Office site comes up during #StateoftheCity: “We have a chance to create a new neighborhood in the heart of the city. From scratch.” pic.twitter.com/yas01dyadR
— Oregon Business (@OregonBusiness) March 24, 2017
.@tedwheeler asks for time check. Out of time at #StateoftheCity, bullet points now. “We’re going to reshape the waterfront.”
— Oregon Business (@OregonBusiness) March 24, 2017
.@tedwheeler‘s final pledge: making #Portland a better place for everyone. #StateoftheCity
— Oregon Business (@OregonBusiness) March 24, 2017
