No more Multnomah County?
That's the goal of a campaign that kicks off Thursday
So many people have told Mattt Zmuda that his idea to merge Multnomah County and the city of Portland is a good one, he is launching a campaign to make it happen.
A MultNoMo Kick-Off will be held Thursday, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Lucky Labrador Beer Hall, 1945 NW Quimby St., to begin a petition drive that would put the question on the ballot.
Zmuda will make opening remarks at about 5:15 p.m.
(Register for the event at https://luma.com/719oaqn7.)
“It takes about 22,000 signatures to put the question before voters,” Zmuda said, referring to an Oregon law enacted in 1971.
“If we succeed, a charter commission would spend up to two years studying the question and designing a proposal.”
Under the process, “Nothing happens unless voters in both Portland and Multnomah County approve it,” he said.
A lack of action is the reason the Northwest District resident and software engineer launched the campaign.
“We are running two separate governments that can’t get out of each other’s way,” Zmuda said. “The city handles some things, the county handles others, and when problems fall in between—homelessness, mental health, public safety—they spend years arguing about jurisdiction while conditions deteriorate. … Problems that need a coordinated response get turf wars instead.
“Portland has always been willing to try bold experiments. We tore out a freeway along the waterfront and turned a parking garage into Pioneer Courthouse Square. We invested in light rail and bike lanes while other cities widened highways and welcomed food carts while others banned them.
“That spirit of innovation didn’t disappear. It’s been smothered by a governmental structure designed in the 19th century.”
Comments posted on nwexaminer.com to an October story about the merger suggested many readers agree:
“Fantastic idea,” wrote Linda Witt. “How soon could we make this happen?!!!”
“I’ve said the same for years,” wrote Scott Spencer. “Absolutely no reason for Portland to be part of Multnomah County.”
“A really good idea,” wrote Rich Ovenburg. “Trying to solve problems in Portland with two governments is not working out for anyone. Sooner the better.”
“We don’t need Multnomah County,” wrote Richard Perkins. “They have done a poor job at virtually everything they are accountable for: homelessness programs, behavioral health, public health, animal shelters and ballot accuracy.”
Paul Douglas suggested that a merger alone will not be sufficient, but “I agree wholeheartedly that Multnomah County is redundant and the most poorly governed legislative body in our state.”
Not convinced this is a good idea. We have a major issue with Portland culture that endorses candidates that only serve their specific interests. Until the city reasons, that voting needs to be civic responsibility, predicated on good judgment and wise discernment of policy, any structural issues will remain or get worse. This is a give me what I want city, and do it now, like a child laying on the floor of a grocery store. The city needs a solid critique of this socialist dream, which is in reality, becoming more and more of a nightmare. Until we abandon the idea that political life is some sort of profession, rather than an opportunity for those who have been successful in life in other areas, as a way to contribute, rather than to extract fame and notoriety, and power. The city is deeply unhinged and not operating with a full deck. Portlanders need to remind themselves there is something called reality.
There are precedents for this. Indianapolis, Kansas City, Philadelphia. San Francisco. Jacksonville, Nashville. Miami. All have been city-county consolidations for some of the same reasons being considered here. But in Portland's case, what would happen to the county that is currently outside Portland's city limits? Do smaller incorporated cities like Gresham or Troutdale have a problem with the county existing with their own city governments? What about the unincorporated areas of the county? Is Portland efficient enough to run the county? 40 years after the fact and the part of the city that still has the worst reputation for being mismanaged is the former mid-county areas in outer East that were annexed into the city in the 70s and 80s. I am fine with another study. But I expect these questions and issues to be raised. Efforts to consolidate the two go back as far as 1968.