City Of Beaverton: Beaverton Mayor Beaty Marks 100th Day In Office

Press release from the City of Beaverton:

April 8, 2021

(Beaverton, OR) – On April 10, 2021, Lacey Beaty marks her 100th day as Beaverton’s Mayor. In just over three months, she established herself as a regional convener, held her first State of the City and Town Hall events, convened a COVID-19 Summit, received approval for a Climate Change Task Force, co-authored an Op Ed in the Oregonian, and testified at the Oregon State Legislature on several important issues.

With Beaverton’s new form of government, the role of the mayor has shifted from a focus that was primarily internal (City administration) to primarily external, focusing on relationships with constituents, regional leaders, business owners, legislators, and representatives. Within City Council, Mayor Beaty sees her role as team captain and advocate. In the region, Mayor Beaty’s role is to be a convener. “It’s more important than ever that we work together across the region in collaborative efforts to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine quickly, safely, and efficiently; reimagine public safety; and address climate change, housing affordability, and transportation,” said Beaty.

Mayor Beaty convened a COVID-19 Summit to discuss partnerships and opportunities for a mass vaccine clinic within Washington County. Less than one week later, the Mayor was instrumental in piloting a public-private partnership that has become one of the largest drive-through vaccine clinics in the county. “I’m grateful that so many are being vaccinated, and for the impacts on our community’s health and economy,” said Beaty. To date, more than 9,000 vaccinations have been distributed through this site. After several years of Beaty’s advocacy for such a group, City Council approved a new Climate Action Task Force that can provide critical feedback to staff based on lived experiences and related to the Beaverton Climate Action Plan. “We are actively recruiting community members who can provide diverse perspectives, social networks, and expertise around the City’s climate action work,” said Beaty. “We are especially looking for people who are under the age of 30, and/or from traditionally underrepresented groups.”

The Mayor is working with Council, staff, the Human Rights Advisory Committee, the Beaverton School District, and others to reimagine public safety. “One of the major considerations in the public safety conversation is the reality that we are part of a region where we depend on each other across city lines,” said Beaty. “Late at night, first responders are called to where the needs are across the county, regardless of jurisdiction. We do not and cannot operate in silos – we must work together to adapt and adopt necessary reforms to our practices.”

As the City looks toward recovery, Mayor Beaty wants to keep inclusivity and equity front and center. “Here in Beaverton, we’re taking a hard look at our practices and policies,” said Mayor Beaty. “We're looking through a lens of equity and making changes to remove barriers and dismantle harmful systems.”

Mayor Beaty prioritizes community engagement and transparency. “During my campaign for Mayor, I heard from many people who felt disconnected from government,” said Beaty. “One of my priorities is to foster reconnection so that elected leaders and their constituents are having a two-way conversation.” Rather than being deterred by the unique challenges presented by the pandemic, Mayor Beaty embraces creative solutions to accomplish her goals. This year of “firsts” includes a pre-recorded State of the City, a live Town Hall via Zoom Webinar, establishing constituent response and engagement processes, and seizing opportunities to testify in Salem virtually. And when asked about one of these “firsts,” Mayor Beaty is quick to respond, channeling Vice President Harris, that “it won’t be the last.”

For more information, contact the Mayor’s Communications Officer at jchristy@BeavertonOregon.gov.

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