About structural racism at the City of Portland

On October 3rd, Portland Mercury published a story which repeated unfounded allegations from a complaint filed with the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). This is an ongoing investigation about claims that have not been substantiated, which the Portland Mercury did not fact-check. Portland Mercury confirmed in an email on October 5th that they did not review public records to verify the complaint’s allegations.

I am glad that someone is reporting on racism at the City of Portland. We need to talk about these difficult issues.

My hope is this story from Portland Mercury can spark deeper conversations about how we move towards the City’s core values of anti-racism and equity. I welcome questions about this story. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to talk about this.

Transparency is critical, especially in times of uncertainty like this, so you can find more information on a new page on my website. It covers details about the BOLI complaint, racism at the City of Portland, and the leadership and management skills our new City Councilors will need to exhibit.

Bottom line: I welcome the conversation about these topics. They have never been more important, and we only move things forward by addressing them openly.