Wyden, Blumenauer endorses full funding of Portland Street Response program
May 06 2021
The Oregon U.S. senator tweets his support the day after a public hearing on Mayor Ted Wheeler's proposed budget.
Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden urged the City Council to fully fund the Portland Street Response program Thursday, May 6.
Wyden tweeted that he had met with Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who favors full funding, and said he supports federal funding for such non-police crisis response teams nationally.
Portland's program pairs Portland Police & Fire paramedics with mental health professionals to respond to 911 calls that do not require a police response. The program started as a pilot in Lents in February. Mayor Ted Wheeler has proposed spending nearly $1 million in next year's budget to fully fund the pilot. Hardesty wants to spend at least $3 million more to expand the program citywide.