In the second of our two-part series on Multnomah County, we will take a critical look at the overlapping city-county services that regularly rank as the most confusing and frustrating to Portlanders: homelessness, housing, and behavioral health. How do the city’s and county’s approaches to these challenges differ? How is the Multnomah County Homeless Services Department funded and how does it work?What is the practical impact of this dual system on those experiencing homelessness or men...
This webinar clarifies how Multnomah County’s government and programs impact its residents. Multnomah County has been a recurrent topic in local news lately, from homelessness policy to public safety to Preschool for All. But how much do you really know about the county? What are Multnomah County’s structures and powers?What services does the county provide? How does it divide responsibilities with the cities and towns in its jurisdiction? How are county taxes and fees assesse...
Hear from candidate Christy Splitt, running for Portland School District Director Zone 1 in the May 20, 2025 Election. - The League of Women Voters has worked for 105 years to defend democracy and empower voters. We provide voters with trustworthy, nonpartisan information about what’s on their ballot. This podcast comes from our series of candidate interviews for the May 20, 2025 Multnomah County special election. All candidates were invited to record an interview for free and those who chose...
Learn about pivotal changes in immigration policies affecting Americans at the deepest level, in terms of the economy, humanitarian rights, and international relations. What is US immigration policy in 2025 and how is it changing from the past?What is the international border industrial complex, and why should we care?How are students and university campuses being impacted by changing immigration policies?What is Project 2025 and how is it informing the current administration's policy choices...
Listen in on our March event, which provides perspectives on how local immigration enforcement is changing under President Trump. With a strong statement of Portland’s support for its immigrant population, the speakers share about the rights immigrants have and how all of us can support our neighbors. Speakers bring their professional experience and their compassionate hearts to their work with our immigrant neighbors: Portland Police Assistant Chief Amanda McMillanIsa Peña of Innovation Law ...
This fall, Portland is facing big changes. Our election system is shifting to ranked-choice voting for the first time. In January, a new form of city government will be in place. As the ballots are counted and the impacts of this election set in, our panel helps offer perspective, learning, and hope on the other side. How did we do in our city’s first ranked-choice election?What do we expect from this first crop of city officials taking office in the new form of government?What local impacts ...
This fall, Portland’s election system isn’t the only thing changing. Our form of city government is changing, too. In 2022, Portlanders voted for change, and on January 1, 2025, we are getting it. The Mayor will be running the City government, and hiring a City Administrator to get the job done. The Mayor won’t be on the Council any more – Council will pick its own leaders. The new City Council will still be adopting laws and approving the budget, and they will need to colla...
This November, Portlanders will experience a new voting method when the city introduces ranked-choice voting (RCV) to elect its top elected officials. Although RCV is not new — 43 other American cities, two states and, three counties now use it — its unfamiliarity to local voters has raised a number of questions and concerns. Are the voters and the election system prepared for this major change? Can I trust the outcome? What has happened in other cities that have instituted RCV? What will it ...
This episode is a recording of a panel discussion with League of Women Voters (LWV) members who attended the UN International Climate Conference in Glasgow Scotland in November 2021. The UN’s Climate Conference—the “Conference of the Parties” or COP—is the official meeting of member states who signed the UN’s climate treaty. Every year, the parties to the treaty, including the U.S., meet and negotiate various aspects of the treaty. Seven LWV members from around the U.S. att...
The Portland City Charter is similar to a constitution for the city; it defines how Portland is governed. Every ten years, the City of Portland appoints a volunteer Commission to review the City Charter. Over the past year, twenty Charter Review Commissioners have been considering ways to improve the way Portland's government works. They have learned from Portlanders, other cities, and numerous other sources about changes to the Charter that could make Portland's government more effective, re...
Hear from supporters and opponents of the bond measure 26-260 for Portland Parks Levy on the ballot in the November 4, 2025 Election. Measure 26-260 would replace the current property tax levy of $0.80/$1,000 assessed property value, expiring on June 30, 2026, with a new tax levy of $1.40/$1,000 assessed property value, which would apply for five years from July 2026 through June 2031. There is an approximate $600 million maintenance repair and replacement backlog. Three cents of the $1.40 le...
Hear from candidates running for the Portland Public Schools Board in the May 20, 2025 Election: Ken Cavagnolo, Zone 1 Rashelle Chase-Miller, Zone 4Herman Greene, Zone 4Jorge Sanchez Bautista, Zone 5Virginia La Forte, Zone 5Rob Galanakis, Zone 6Stephanie Engelsman, Zone 6Simone Crowe, Zone 6- The League of Women Voters has worked for 105 years to defend democracy and empower voters. We provide voters with trustworthy, nonpartisan information about what’s on their ballot. This podcast co...
Hear from supporters and opponents of the bond measure for Portland Public Schools on the ballot in the May 20, 2025 Election. This measure would authorize up to $1.83 billion in bonds for facilities and education investments. If approved, these funds would go toward capital costs, including repairing elementary and middle schools, renovating two high schools, updating security systems, and upgrading curriculum materials. Speaking in favor of the bond: Portland School District board member Ch...
Hear from candidate William Mohring, running for Centennial School District Director Zone 3 Position 3 in the May 20, 2025 Election. - The League of Women Voters has worked for 105 years to defend democracy and empower voters. We provide voters with trustworthy, nonpartisan information about what’s on their ballot. This podcast comes from our series of candidate interviews for the May 20, 2025 Multnomah County special election. All candidates were invited to record an interview for free and t...
Hear from candidate Virginia La Forte, running for Portland School District Director Zone 5 in the May 20, 2025 Election. - The League of Women Voters has worked for 105 years to defend democracy and empower voters. We provide voters with trustworthy, nonpartisan information about what’s on their ballot. This podcast comes from our series of candidate interviews for the May 20, 2025 Multnomah County special election. All candidates were invited to record an interview for free and those who ch...
Hear from candidate Stephanie Engelsman, running for Portland School District Director Zone 6 in the May 20, 2025 Election. - The League of Women Voters has worked for 105 years to defend democracy and empower voters. We provide voters with trustworthy, nonpartisan information about what’s on their ballot. This podcast comes from our series of candidate interviews for the May 20, 2025 Multnomah County special election. All candidates were invited to record an interview for free and those who ...
Hear from candidate Simone Crowe, running for Portland School District Director Zone 6 in the May 20, 2025 Election. - The League of Women Voters has worked for 105 years to defend democracy and empower voters. We provide voters with trustworthy, nonpartisan information about what’s on their ballot. This podcast comes from our series of candidate interviews for the May 20, 2025 Multnomah County special election. All candidates were invited to record an interview for free and those who chose t...
Hear from candidate Rob Galanakis, running for Portland School District Director Zone 6 in the May 20, 2025 Election. - The League of Women Voters has worked for 105 years to defend democracy and empower voters. We provide voters with trustworthy, nonpartisan information about what’s on their ballot. This podcast comes from our series of candidate interviews for the May 20, 2025 Multnomah County special election. All candidates were invited to record an interview for free and those who chose ...
Hear from candidate Rashelle Chase-Miller, running for Portland School District Director Zone 4 in the May 20, 2025 Election. - The League of Women Voters has worked for 105 years to defend democracy and empower voters. We provide voters with trustworthy, nonpartisan information about what’s on their ballot. This podcast comes from our series of candidate interviews for the May 20, 2025 Multnomah County special election. All candidates were invited to record an interview for free and those wh...
Hear from candidate Pam Shields, running for Centennial School District Director Position 7 at Large in the May 20, 2025 Election. - The League of Women Voters has worked for 105 years to defend democracy and empower voters. We provide voters with trustworthy, nonpartisan information about what’s on their ballot. This podcast comes from our series of candidate interviews for the May 20, 2025 Multnomah County special election. All candidates were invited to record an interview for free and tho...