Featured

Learn about the Special Election Measures

Event on Monday October 21

Get info on the November 5 Special Election measures re: water issues, bonds, levies and emergency aid.

To help voters understand the issues for the November 5 Election, the League presents an Informational Program on the four measures that will be on Portland ballots.

WHEN: Monday, October 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm

WHERE: Multnomah County Boardroom, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Portland

WHAT: Explanations of Measures 26-203, 26-204, 26-205, and 26-207

  • Metro Speakers: Laura Oppenheimer, Parks and Nature Communications Manager, and Dan Moeller, Conservation Program Director for Metro’s Parks and Nature Department, explaining M 26-203. This measure would allow Metro to issue bonds to purchase land, restore fish and wildlife habitat and complete trails through Metro’s parks and nature system.
  • City of Portland Speakers: Gabriel Solmer, Deputy Director of the Portland Water Bureau, and Michael Stuhr, Bureau Director/Administrator, explaining City of Portland Charter changes – M 26-204 to protect the Bull Run watershed and M 26-205, to authorize city participation in emergency mutual aid agreements.
  • PPS Speakers:Scott Bailey, Board of Education Director, and Claire Hertz, Deputy Superintendent of Business and Operations, explaining M 26-207.  This would continue the current tax levy for teaching positions in Portland Public Schools.
This program is free and open to the public.

Recordings of this event will be posted on vote411.org and on this website a few days later. Funding for the recordings is provided by the Multnomah Bar Foundation and the Carol and Velma Saling Foundation.

Find written explanations of All six measures on Vote411.org and on this website!

In addition to reports on the Portland and Metro measures, we have information on a bond measure for Troutdale voters and a levy for Sauvie Island voters. We thoroughly researched the measures and checked our reports with government officials, supporters and opponents. Take a look!

New Study of Portland’s Government!

Just Released: Restudy of City government

In September 2019, the League of Women Voters of Portland  completed our city government study, “The City that Works: Preparing Portland for the Future.”

Portland League members voted to conduct this two-year restudy of city government in May 2017. Members realized that Portland’s voters needed more up-to-date and complete information to decide on possible changes to the City Charter.

The restudy looks closely at many parts of our current government. It examines strengths and weaknesses of the government’s structure and then explores different options for changing it. The goal is to provide useful ideas for how to improve the government so it serves the people of Portland as well as possible.

Read the study

You can read full text of the study report here.

Come to the panel Discussion

Please engage with us on the results of this thorough analysis. We will present a panel discussion about Portland’s government on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 7-8:30 pm. The event will be in the Multnomah County Boardroom, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. (map)

This panel discussion will provide additional information about our city government. MetroEast Community Media will record the event, and you can watch it online from a link on this website a few days later. The Multnomah Bar Foundation and the Carol & Velma Saling Foundation donated funding for the recording.

Police Bureau Community Engagement

On October 2, 2019, LWVPDX Action Chair Debbie Aiona testified to the Portland City Council and Portland Police Chief Danielle Outlaw.  She suggested ways to improve the Police Bureau’s Community Engagement Plan. She urged the PPB to be proactive in its attempts to engage the public. In addition, she offered ideas for improving the Bureau’s outreach to citizens. You can read all of her suggestions here.

Innovations in Education – Watch the Video!

Click the arrow below to see the video on Innovations in Public Education. The Portland LWV presented this program in September 2019. Four leaders in public education explain what they are doing to improve equity  for students in our schools.

You can also watch this program on your cable channel. See the schedule below.

We thank the Multnomah Bar Foundation and the Carol and Velma Saling Foundation for giving us the funding to pay for this video. The video was recorded by MetroEast Community Media.

Education Innovations Panel

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Guerrero visits with students

Join us September 16!

Come learn about “Innovations in Public Education,” in Portland area schools.  On Monday, September 16, we’ll hear from an exciting group of dedicated educators, who have found innovative ways to foster learning and equity for students. The panel discussion will be  7 – 8:30 PM on Monday September 16, at the Multnomah County Boardroom, 501 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland. (See map.)

The panel will include:

  • Guadalupe Guerrero, Superintendent of Portland Public Schools, the largest and most diverse school district in Oregon. Guerrero was a leader in large urban school systems in San Francisco and Boston.
  • Matthew Utterback, Superintendent of North Clackamas School District, who was recognized nationally as Superintendent of the Year in 2017
  • Kevin Bacon, Director of “3 to PhD,” who leads an innovative collaboration between Concordia University and Faubion Public School
  • Lisa Collins, a consultant at Education Through Engagement, LLC, with expertise on equitable practices for students and educators

The Portland League’s Education Interest Group has helped organize this panel and plan the program.

Director Kevin Bacon explains the Faubion School to the LWVPDX Education Interest Group

Free and open to the public

The League of Women Voters Civic Education programs are free and open to the public. Programs are designed to inform our community about current issues. Please join us for this program and the next program in October on local ballot measures for the November 5, 2019 Special Election.

Parking is available on the street. The Multnomah County Board Room at 501 SE Hawthorne Boulevard also is easily accessed by public transportation. TriMet options include bus lines 4, 6, 10, 14, 15, and the Portland Streetcar.

MetroEast Community Media records these programs for rebroadcast and online streaming from www.lwvpdx.org. The Carol & Velma Saling Foundation has provided funding for the recordings.