Several public comment periods are closing soon, so make your opinion known!
- The City of Portland’s Open and Accountable Elections program has new administrative rules going into the 2022 election. Comments are due today (December 8) by 5 p.m. PST. Here’s a comparison of the 2020 administrative rules (in orange) and 2021 administrative rules (in green).
- The City of Portland’s Charter Review Commission has closed signups for public testimony at their December 13 meeting, but will give attendees time to speak if anyone scheduled to give testimony doesn’t make it. They also welcome written testimony, especially covering forms of government and city elections.
- Multnomah County’s comment period for changes to the plan to upgrade Burnside Bridge closes December 14. The changes include “cost-saving refinements.”
- Metro’s comment period for the use of federal transportation funds for 2021 through 2024 closes December 28. Planned projects include the Interstate 5 bridge replacement, a safety project for 82nd Avenue from NE Killingsworth to SE Clatsop Streets, and I-205 tolls.
Portland Public School Board Member Julia Brim-Edwards left her job as a senior director at Nike in November. Brim-Edwards was elected to the school board in 2017 and reelected in 2021. She also served a term on the school board from 2001 to 2005. Brim-Edwards’ career at Nike include working on public engagement and government affairs, as well as cofounding the Nike School Innovation Fund. Brim-Edwards’ political involvement has reached far beyond the PPS board: In 2012, she negotiated favorable tax treatment for Nike from the state of Oregon. In 2018, she convinced Nike to back a corporate activities tax to fund Oregon schools. In 2019, Brim-Edwards helped Bev Clarno transition into the role of secretary of state. In 2020, Brim-Edwards worked to defeat Metro’s proposed transportation tax.
Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty is officially the first candidate to qualify for Portland’s public campaign financing through the Open and Accountable Elections program.
Congrats to @JH4PDX for getting Certified! Commissioner Hardesty has met the requirements to qualify for matching funds. Now our program will start matching her campaign’s small donations from Portlanders. This is how we centralize everyday PDXers in our democracy pic.twitter.com/E3zC5oTIeA
— Portland Open and Accountable Elections (@OpenPortland) December 3, 2021
