Though well intentioned, these referendums will not accomplish what they claim. They will, in fact, do the opposite: make it more difficult to develop affordable housing; lead to job losses and local business shutdowns; and make it harder for the City to enact its plans to combat climate change. Let’s take them one by one.
I’ve voted in favor of citizen initiatives in the past: ranked choice voting, marijuana legalization, and protections for Portland’s parks. But this year, I am voting NO on Questions A-E. Here’s why.
Though well intentioned, these referendums will not accomplish what they claim. They will, in fact, do the opposite: make it more difficult to develop affordable housing; lead to job losses and local business shutdowns; and make it harder for the City to enact its plans to combat climate change. Let’s take them one by one. It's not easy running a business in good times, let alone during a pandemic requiring so many shops, stores, restaurants, and offices to shut down their public facing facilities. Here in Portland, our small businesses--the shops and restaurants, bars and bookstores, artist studios, coffee roasters, yogis, makers, retailers, and manufacturers--are the lifeblood of our city. Here's how you can support them in this era of social distancing.
As if it's not bad enough to be termed "non-essential," businesses in Portland--from book stores to art shops to music purveyors and more--have been faced with local restrictions that have prohibited them from pursuing any form of revenue stream during the COVID-19 pandemic. I've been hearing from A LOT of folks on this one over the last few days, and here's the gist of what I've been writing in response.
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