Portlanders praise food cart aid, demand public safety reforms during budget hearing
Updated 5:04 PM;
Today 5:04 PM
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Calls for Portland to aid struggling food cart vendors, bolster neighborhood business districts and quicken the pace and scale of non-police alternatives to public safety dominated a hearing on the city’s proposed budget.
About 70 residents spoke during the three-hour virtual hearing Wednesday night, marking one of the few opportunities for the public to weigh in on Mayor Ted Wheeler’s proposed $5.7 billion spending plan for next year.
The mayor unveiled a budget last week that he says is focused on spurring the city’s economic recovery, cleaning trash and graffiti and stemming the growing homelessness crisis.