Mayor Appoints 13 Members To Racial Equity Steering Committee In Portland

Press release from the City of Portland:

September 10, 2020

Mayor Kate Snyder announced the appointment of 13 members to the Council’s newly formed Racial Equity Steering Committee during its September 9, 2020 meeting. The Council established a Racial Equity Steering Committee as part of a resolution that it passed at its July 13, 2020 meeting. The Committee will be tasked with developing recommendations to the City Council regarding the ways in which city government should address and respond to institutional racism and structural inequities.

Mayor Snyder is thankful to those who applied to be part of the Committee. Twenty-nine applications were received, and each applicant offered a unique voice and perspective.

“I’m grateful to everyone who raised their hand for this service to our community," said Mayor Kate Snyder. "The Steering Committee is comprised of 13 talented individuals who will bring valuable experience and perspective to the goals laid out in the resolution.” The members include:Abul AliPious AliLeila DeandradeKate KnoxMerita McKenziePeter ODonnellJonathan SahrbeckNiky Dwin Watler AmarisLado LodokaSuheir AlaskariDeborah IbonwaJerome BennetteLouis Pickens

The Racial Equity Steering Committee is charged with reviewing the City’s approach to public safety, including but not limited to:

• an examination of the ever expanding role we, as a City, have asked the police to play in our community — ranging from responding to noise complaints, traffic violations, and violent crime to conducting wellness checks and responding to behavioral health calls and drug overdoses — and whether we have provided them with the appropriate resources to accomplish this work;
• the way in which the City interacts with area agencies, organizations, and non-profits in the name of public safety and how these partnerships can best work to enhance public safety in the City; and
• recommending changes, as necessary, to various policies, structures, and procedures related to public safety that may disproportionately impact Black people and other persons of color with the specific aim of improving community relations, establishing mutual trust and respect, and rooting out and ending systemic racism.

This press release was produced by the City of Portland. The views expressed here are the author’s own.