Stand Up for Portland: Protect Our Police, Fire, and 911 Services!
Our city’s safety is on the line—take action to preserve essential emergency services
Portland is facing significant budget cuts that could severely impact emergency services, including police, fire, and 911 response. KATU recently reported that the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) stands to lose 35 to 45 officers, eliminating specialized units that combat gun violence and human trafficking, Bike Patrol, and Neighborhood Response. Portland Fire & Rescue could lose 66 on-duty positions, further straining emergency response. The 911 center may also cut training, overtime, and staff, worsening already slow response times—currently below national standards.
“As the Executive Director of NWCC, I’ve seen firsthand how vital our police, fire, and 911 services are. These budget cuts would be devastating, jeopardizing lives and setting our city back for years. We cannot risk compromising public safety.” - Chase McPherson, NWCC.
NWCC has been working closely with PPB to improve the safety and security of our Pearl District community. Cutting emergency services will only create more challenges for Portland, putting residents at greater risk. With the city already struggling to meet national standards for 911 response and officer presence, these reductions will make it even harder to keep our neighborhoods safe. While budget cuts must be made, reducing public safety funding is not the answer.
At a time when Seattle and San Francisco are facing budget deficits yet considering increasing their police funding, Portland is reducing funding for essential services.
Now is the time to act!
Contact the mayor and city council today to urge them to protect Portland’s emergency services. Let your voice be heard, and ask them to explore alternative solutions to safeguard public safety. We've included links to contact Mayor Wilson and city council members in District 4, along with a sample email below for your convenience.
Reach out today!
Thank you for your time, your voice, and your support. Please reach out if you have any questions. My email is Chase@nwccpdx.org
Chase
Chase McPherson, Executive Director
KATU: Potential budget cuts threaten to reduce Portland's public safety workforce and resources
https://www.nwccpdx.org/news/your-voice-your-city-portland-city-council-budget
Our leaders need to hear our voices!
Example email for outreach to the Mayor and City Councilors:
Subject: Protect Portland’s Emergency Services
Dear [Mayor/Council Member’s Name],
I urge you to reconsider the proposed budget cuts to Portland’s police, fire, and 911 services. Reducing these essential services will lead to slower response times, increased crime, and greater risks for our community.
Public safety should not be compromised! Please explore alternative solutions to ensure our emergency responders have the resources they need to keep Portland safe.
Thank you for your leadership.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Email]
Portland’s police budget is 3.6% of the city budget, which ranks us last in comparable cities.
“Portland is at a tipping point…the worst thing that can be done is further reducing Portland’s
Police budget, which is already among the LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY OF MAJOR US CITIES for
the percentage of the annual city budget spent on law enforcement. Portland’s Police Budget is
3.6% of the city budget, which ranks us last in comparable cities.” - Brian Owendoff, CEO & Principal, BMO Commercial Real Estate LLC
Chart: Brian Owendoff
