Portland is at a crossroads. The sale of Portland’s most prominent building at an 80% discount made Portland’s crime, homeless drug addicts and 35% downtown vacancy rate national news again.
Not a good look for such a beautiful city.
Can anything be done to stop Portland’s decline? Yes.
On the All-In Podcast, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez recently explained how Miami went from being a very dangerous city to being ranked among the happiest and healthiest cities in America.
The Mindbody Wellness index ranks big cities from healthiest to unhealthiest. In 2023, Miami was ranked No. 2, while Portland came in at No. 32. For 2024, Miami remained No. 2, while Portland comes in last, at No. 44. No surprise when people are afraid to walk the streets, ride the bike trails or hang out at the parks.
Listen to Mayor Suarez’s words of wisdom:
The formula for success is simple.
1. Keep taxes low.
2. Keep people safe.
3. Lean into innovation.
I lowered taxes to the lowest level in history, and we’ve seen 140% growth in nine years. … So the economy is robust. We have the lowest unemployment in America; we have the highest median wage growth in America.
Frankly, if you’re happy, you’re healthy, and if you’re working, you’re probably not homeless.
I took the city in 2009, as a councilman, out of bankruptcy. … We decided not to raise taxes. We cut costs. We didn’t let anyone go, but we had tiered salary cuts, pension reform, and we balanced our budget.
And we had 10 years of prosperity. That prosperity led to a tripling of the size of our government. So we went from a $500 million government to a $1.5 billion government while lowering taxes.
When you have a place where there’s prosperity, and where people are investing, and where people are employed, there’s not as many social problems. So they’re not out there killing people.
In the 1980s, we were one of the murder capitals of America, and we’re now one of the safest big cities in America.
This formula for success would seem simple. Other cities are getting it wrong. Completely backwards, right? Their taxes are high, it’s not safe, and they’re rejecting innovation.
The mayor’s diagnosis fits Portland today. This will be hard to accept by many, but reality is reality. What should Portland leaders do now?
1. Cap and reduce Portland’s high income taxes and property taxes to stop the exodus of businesses and jobs from the downtown area. High property development charges and regulations should be reduced.
2. Fully fund the Portland Police Department to provide more law enforcement in high-crime areas to make the city safer for workers and residents. Use Portland’s political clout to push the state legislature NOW to pass HB 2432 to repeal HB 3115 and its vague “objectively reasonable” standard on homelessness. Next on the list is a full repeal of Measure 110.
3. Accept that old solutions which no longer work won’t solve Portland’s problems in the future. Instead, seek out and embrace innovation in government operations, and look to privately funded private solutions to local social problems.
What is the alternative to following Miami’s formula for success?
Let’s consider Detroit.
During the first half of the 20th century, Detroit’s was an economic powerhouse. The city’s population rose from 500,000 in 1910 to 1.8 million in 1950. Sadly, union dominance and heavy-handed state and local government caused Detroit to collapse.
By 2020, Detroit’s population had declined 65% to 639,000. Poverty increased from 15% of the population in 1970 to 33% in 2021. After amassing $13 billion in debt, Detroit declared bankruptcy in 2013.
Look out 10 years: Is Portland more likely to look like Detroit or Miami?
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and the Portland City Council would be wise to hear and heed the Miami mayor’s words of wisdom.
Otherwise, Portland’s current reality of high taxes and regulations, unsafe streets and parks and economic stagnation point the city in the direction of Detroit.
Portland leaders and citizens need to make a choice about the future of Portland.
Miami or Detroit? I choose Miami.
When politicians feel the heat, they see the light.
It’s time for the people of Portland to apply some heat.
Richard Emmons is the publisher and editor of the Oregon Eagle.