Newly elected District 2 City Councilors Sameer Kanal, Dan Ryan and Council President Elena Pirtle-Guiney visited campus on Monday, April 7, to discuss their objectives for the upcoming term and respond to campus and Portland community members' concerns.
The panel was hosted by Anne Santiago, the Dundon-Berchtold faculty fellow for constructive dialogue and a professor of political science and global affairs, in partnership with Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN).
Held in the Brian Doyle Auditorium, the event marked the council members' first visit to The Bluff following the city’s transition from a commission form of government. In the new structure, the city council is divided into four districts, each with three representatives. The council’s focus is now on developing laws and policies instead of their previous role as bureau managers.
While Portland Mayor Keith Wilson can set the city’s agenda, it is the city council members who collaborate to fund and implement those initiatives, according to Santiago.
“In this new model of government, the city councilors together have more power than the mayor does,” Santiago said. “In the past, we haven't had a dedicated set of city council members representing North Portland, so that’s [one] reason we wanted to bring them to campus.”
For Santiago, the event was organized to bridge the gap between the city government and students and increase civic discourse among the community.
“I know that as a university, President Kelly has said [that] we want to be the university in and for Portland,” Santiago said. “I feel like this is one step in the direction of getting us to know who represents us and then get them to know us.”
Community members listen to the councilors disuss their term goals in the Brian Doyle Auditorium.
At the event, students and Portland community members alike filled the seats of the auditorium. Prior to opening the floor for attendees' questions, the councilors briefly introduced their goals for their terms.
Ryan, a North Portlander born and raised, expressed gratitude for the city he grew up in and discussed methods he hopes to implement to improve its reputation.
“We need to spend more time grounding ourselves in what success looks like based on data [and] community feedback, and less on trying to find the latest policy that just might pass for the sake of passing,” Ryan said. “We have to spend more time being honest about the fundamental problems in our hometown and then taking a long time to discuss the complexity of how to get to a solution.”
Council President Pirtle-Guiney shared some of the tangible ways the newly formed team of 12 council members and the mayor have begun making changes in the last 100 days in office, such as launching committees for the first time.
There are 8 committees dedicated to recommending legislation in areas such as homelessness, climate, public safety, the arts and the economy.
Councilor Kanal greets the crowd.
During the panel, city councilors commented on a variety of community concerns, including rising fears about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
Kanal emphasized that Oregon is a “Sanctuary State,” which means that local law enforcement is not permitted to share information with federal law immigration enforcement. As such, the Portland community should feel empowered to protest ICE without fear of law enforcement prevention, according to Kanal. He referenced the recent "Hands Off Our Democracy" protest in downtown Portland as an example of safe activism.
In regards to ongoing homelessness in Portland, Pirtle-Guiney spoke about Portland Street Response, a city-funded de-escalation program that assists people experiencing mental and behavioral health crises in Portland.
However, according to Pirtle-Guiney, disagreement with Multnomah County officials can make it difficult to reach a “joint strategy.” She hopes solutions can be reached through open communication between the city and county.
“The more we are honest with each other about [our] priorities, the more we can find a path that uses our limited resources effectively and also provides clear answers for the folks who are affected by our policies,” Pirtle-Guiney said.
As for student engagement, Stephanie Vasquez, a senior political science and economics major, asked the councilors for specific opportunities for students to collaborate with council members outside of this event.
“UP students are really passionate about advocacy, and just like the greater North Portland area, we really care about our community here,” Vasquez said.
While the councilor’s offices do offer internships, which are listed on their website, Ryan encourages students to get involved in their university community before entering the political sphere.
A UP student asks a question during the panel.
“I wish people were also considering volunteering at an organization that really makes your heart sing,” Ryan said. “Get on the ground and experience what's really so. Grow where you're planted, and you're planted at a wonderful place right now.”
In addition to UP students, local community members beyond The Bluff came eager to hear about the newly elected councilors’ progress.
Paige Common and Nathan Miller, a couple from North Portland, decided to attend the event after reading about it in Kanal’s informational newsletters. Common appreciated how the councilors addressed the struggles that they were facing while navigating a new form of government.
“I enjoyed the transparency between the three of them,” Common said. “You can tell that they're not all on the same page, but working through it, and it’s kind of nice to see being closer to the government.”
Kalena O’Connell is a News Reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at oconnell27@up.edu
Kaylee Monahan is a News Reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at monahan26@up.edu
