Stop Portland City Council from Ignoring Neighborhood Associations

As Michael Mehaffy of LiveablePortland.org warns, all groups, including neighborhood associations, need to be included in discussions about increasing density and maintaining livability for all. Portland should not just be for developers! https://kboo.org/media/73257-rethinking-housing-crisis

I would like to know the origin of this proposal. Although I may find the neighborhood associations to be less than perfectly representative of the residents of their neighborhoods from time to time, it is a structure that I know of, and one I can avail myself of. Without the neighborhood associations, I would be on my own to navigate the city government, and would have to create an ad hoc movement for each issue I want to mobilize support for. Let's leave a representative structure for giving voice into the city government in place, at least until we are able to articulate what's wrong with it and/or come up with a replacement. If you seek a seemingly mindless government action without transparency, this proposal is it. Apparently there is not a proposal to actually disband the neighborhood associations, just make them "nonentities" and send them into the Gulag.

Please do not eliminate the role NAs play in our City's discourse and decision making. I rely on my NA to represent me and my concerns...and I value the voice that it has. I don't understand why people think that "volunteers" are not accountable. Volunteers take time out of their busy lives to be part of city's progress...they care enough to be there and participate. I'm pretty sure this is where many of our elected officials begin their political careers...such as Commissioner Amanda Fritz. Do not silence our Neighborhood Associations.

Taking away the voices of the people who are so deeply affected by decisions made by the city council is wrong. This decision allows developers and big business to decide what will affect the very neighborhoods we live in, raise our families in and are committed to.

Neighborhood Associations add to the stability and quality of life of our city. Support them!

Neighborhood associations reflect the voice of the people and represent local interest in the absence of having city council members representing specific areas of the city

In this era of shrinking and imperiled democracy, why do more harm????

Outrageous that the City wants to remove the voices of citizens.

It is written into the State Constitution that Portland have Neighborhood Associations. I see this as a move to weaken citizens voices about our community and in the end allow the city council more power to empower developers rather than citizens. STOP THE NONSENSE AND LIES!!!

By the neighborhoods, for the neighborhoods. Portland is a city of neighborhoods. We need more neighborhood representation. Not less.

I do not understand why you cannot recognize everyone AND neighborhood associations. Stop your either or thinking!

We need transparency, this directly impacts OUR neighborhoods.

This change has not been well communicated nor vetted and raises suspicions about its true intent. Most importantly, removing standards of transparency and process will allow for more concentration of power and money to drive agendas not necessarily reflective of most neighbors concerns

Quit taking our voices from us. It’s rampant in government and it needs to stop. Please don’t try and tell me , “what best” for me.

Remembers the free services NA's do for the city - park maintenance, tree inventories and health fundraising, cleanup, traffic analysis, minor argument mediation, emergency preparedness, school support, community building, communication about city code and policies, etc. You do not need to remove Neighborhood Associations from code to be more inclusive - just add more words for the Office of Community and Civic Life feel that you want. Why do away with the good to add more good?

We should have a voice

Keep the NAs alive!

There is absolutely NO reason we are having to deal with this bureaucracy! It is difficult to live in a city where the City Council does not put public interest first. Simply have their own agenda! Meetings behind closed doors, SHAME ON YOU! Not exactly new news though! I have had meetings with folks with the City and they give you either no advanced warning or say oh by the way the meeting is in 30 minutes. It is simply disgusting and disrespectful.

The lack of transparency in Portland city government is appalling. Rampant lack of respect for constituents is glaring.

We need neighborhood representation.