The Portland City Auditor found that Portland had limited oversight of its ESDs and zero guidelines for ESD formation and governance. This leads to over-policing and prevents community members from monitoring or having a say in ESD activities. The draft recommendations from BDS Planning do little to meaningfully address these problems.

The Downtown Clean & Safe ESD subsidizes significant portions of Portland Business Alliance salaries, including half of its chief lobbyist’s salary and nearly half of the president’s salary. This means ESD dollars — including taxpayer dollars — subsidize corporate lobbying whether you like it or not.

City Council has blatantly ignored significant public pushback to ESDs, especially during the Clean & Safe contract renewal in 2021 where hundreds of residents testified against the renewal.

All ratepayers, including the public as taxpayers, have a right to transparent information about ESDs, particularly their budgets and governance. At this point, nobody except the board is able to see board meeting notes and priorities.

The people of Portland deserve fair, transparent, and public processes when the City contracts with external organizations.

Portland needs and wants leaders who do not bend to the will of corporate lobbyists.

The City must invest in public institutions — not private organizations — to carry out essential public services, including sanitation, behavioral, and mental health services.

19% of the Downtown Clean & Safe budget comes from public institutions, which are funded with taxpayer money.

Since public institutions are ratepayers, the public should have clear visibility into ESD budgets and how ESD funds are spent.

City Council should hold private contractors accountable for their use of public funds.

City Council should invest in public institutions rather than contracting out essential services to private organizations.

Donors expect their donations to fund your mission, but as ratepayers nonprofits are forced to use donations to pay for ESD services, which may contradict your mission.

City Council must require that ESDs open their governance bodies to all ratepayers, including nonprofits.

City Council must require that ESDs provide transparent information about governance, decision-making, and service provision to all ratepayers, including the public.

Ratepayers should have visibility into ESD budgets as well as a voice in how funds are spent considering you are funding the district’s activities.

City Council must require that ESDs open their governance bodies to all ratepayers.

City Council must require that ESDs provide transparent information about governance, decision-making, and service provision to all ratepayers, including the public.

Are you as frustrated as we are that Portland Metro Chamber only represents businesses that are able to pay for a seat at their table?

Portland Metro Chamber is the largest lobbying entity in Portland, who is looking out for the needs of your business if you can’t afford their membership?

As a taxpayer, your taxes are funding this district, and business lobbyists that may not be looking out for your best interests.