Portlanders hold opposing protests over funding parks vs. police

It’s the latest fallout after Portland City Council voted to shift $1.9 million dollars slated for the Portland Police Bureau in Mayor Keith Wilson’s budget to fund Parks and Recreation maintenance instead. 

The last-minute amendment passed by a slim 7-5 vote, but the move has not been without controversy. 

Hosted by Future Portland, the event brought Gresham City leaders, neighborhood association members, and former police officers together to oppose the decision at the intersection of 122nd Avenue and East Burnside Street — a longtime hotspot for crime. 

“I think the Mayor, very wisely, chose to try to address the staffing issue -that took us three decades to build. The city grew but the number of police officers serving it declined,” said Eli Arnold, a former Portland police officer. “So, I think we should follow his lead. I think it’s a shortcoming that needs to be addressed because one of the fundamental tenets of community is that when you need help, there are people around you to offer it.”

Just as speeches started, counter-protestors quickly filed in to support the move by city council. Holding signs in favor of funding parks and “uncreasing police,” behind the speakers — many of them also stepped up to the microphone.

“Every year, Portland police, and police departments across the country keep asking for more and more money. The United States has the highest number of people in our jails and prisons of any country in the world,” said Sandy Chung, Director of the ACLU of Oregon. “If funding our police made our communities safer, we should be the safest city and country in the world… But that has not been the answer.” 

Despite opposing voices (and a few harsh exchanges), both sides told KOIN 6 News public safety was at the forefront of their argument. 

“This is a dangerous area in our city. Shootings, stabbings, robberies -they happen here and we need to be honest about that reality,” explained Terrence Hayes, a former Portland City Council candidate. 

A longtime resident of the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood, Hayes works with youth violence prevention programs. 

“If something happens, we do expect police to show up. It doesn’t matter if you like police or not – they are the answer,” he added.

Hayes ran for District 1 Portland City Council, representing East Portland, and was endorsed by the Portland Police Association. However, he ultimately lost out to councilors Candace Avalos, Jamie Dunphy, and Loretta Smith.

“Parks are also part of public safety,” said Liz Knapp, a counter-protestor. “The solution to our crime is not more police, it is funding our community and giving them the programs they need to thrive and that includes parks.” 

According to Mayor Keith Wilson, the money was earmarked to help boost police recruitment. 

“We’re looking at how the decision to remove $1.9 million in proposed PPB funding may impede our efforts to recruit a next generation of law enforcement first responders who will represent and serve our community,” Wilson wrote in a statement last week. “As well as the critical missions that get pounds of fentanyl and human trafficking victims off our streets.” 

When asked if the Mayor has explored options with council to come together on the issue since, a spokesperson with Wilson’s office said the former statement still stands. 

However, councilors Angelita Morillo and Avalos, who led the amendment, claim the shift was meant to offset nearly $7 million dollars in cuts to parks and recreation proposed in the Mayor’s budget.  

As the debate continues to draw heated reactions, Portlanders on both sides of the argument told KOIN 6 News they wish this wasn’t an issue of funding “either or,” but rather, “both.”

“I don’t think parks should’ve been pitted against policing,” Hayes said. “Usually when you underfund parks, it’s Black, Brown, and immigrant communities that suffer the most. If we make it about police, we spit on the issue and we don’t really get the results we need — which is a healthy police force and parks that are funded the proper way.”

The City Council is set to vote on a final budget in late June.