Mayor Keith Wilson: I haven’t seen you testify yet. (Budget hearings start soon)

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I see a lot of familiar faces in City Council public testimony. No matter what the subject, the same lobbyists and special interests show up in the same T-shirts. Their voices are heard by legislators… but what about yours?

Here’s the problem. The “pros” have gotten very good at gaming the public testimony system. They know just when to sign up to testify, take up as many slots as they can, push rigged constituent surveys, and coordinate on messaging. It’s not very democratic to drown out, shout down, or intimidate everyday Portlanders who are just there to get local government to listen.

It’s time for you to get involved. We knew these cuts were coming, and they’re painful for everyone. My proposed budget, which I urge Council to adopt, is a balanced, shared-sacrifice approach where everyone must give up something to keep us on a path to revitalization. (Read my budget message here.)

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Sign up to testify at a budget hearing on May 18^th, May 19^th, or May 20^th. (The sign-up links won’t be available until the agenda officially posts a few days ahead of time.)
• If you can’t come in person, submit written testimony for the record.
• Find your district so you can write your district representatives
• Find any council meeting and sign up to testify when the agenda posts.

It’s okay if you’re not an amazing public speaker or confident writer. You don’t need to get “political.” Just show up or write in to tell your representatives what you’ve experienced in your life, your business, in your neighborhood, or on your streets. Tell them what you need to feel safe and supported. You deserve to be heard.

If you can’t get a slot to testify or a response from your representative when you write in, don’t take silence for an answer. You shouldn’t have to game the system to get a voice, so speak up until you’re heard.

Mayor Keith Wilson