Newsletter: How We Can Save Basic City Services and Jobs Now

In this article

Neighbors,

City Council has another opportunity to save basic City services and jobs. I'm introducing the Services First amendment with my co-sponsors District 1 Councilor Candance Avalos and District 3 Councilor Angelita Morillo. The amendment would restore cuts in the Mayor's proposed budget for FY 2026-27 and protect essential City services like public safety and parks maintenance. The amendment proposes using the interest income already accrued in FY 2025-26 from the Portland Clean Energy Fund, and using PCEF interest here does not impact our adopted Climate Investment Plan nor has it been spoken for or allocated to any current or future programs.

Our Services First amendment would save more than 100 City jobs - many of them union represented - that are currently slated for elimination. We're proud to have the backing of Portlanders, labor unions, and workers across the city, and they've shown up for us at two rallies at the steps of City Hall this past week.

Watch the videos from the rally and press conference on YouTube and Instagram.

We hope you will weigh in by giving written and/or verbal testimony (online or in person) by Wednesday, June 10. See sample testimony below. If you'd like to see these vital services and jobs restored, we want to hear from you:

Register for testimony or submit written testimony to Council | Portland.gov

"Please vote yes on the Services First amendment (Green-Avalos-Morillo 1). We need to save jobs across City bureaus that the Mayor cut in his realignment approach. I support restoring Advanced Life Support (ALS) Teams, Public Support Safety Specialists (PS3s), Parks and Recreation maintenance and programming, Relay Janitorial services, and PDX 311. This amendment also reserves funding for the creation of the new Office of Immigrant Affairs."