Mayor Ethan Strimling: 2018 State of the City
Embargoed Until 5:30 PM 1/31/18

FELLOW PORTLANDERS, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND
COUNCILORS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME AS I REPORT ON
THE STATE OF OUR CITY AND REAFFIRM OUR VISION FOR A
VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE PORTLAND.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES PORTLAND SUCH A
SPECIAL PLACE, I THINK ABOUT MY JOY IN MEETING PEOPLE
ACROSS THIS CITY WHO, ON A DAILY BASIS, TALK WITH ME
ABOUT HOW TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS. WHETHER YOU ARE
A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNER OR A RESIDENT OF ONE OF
OUR SHELTERS, I ALWAYS HEAR HOW YOU WANT TO MAKE
SURE SOMEONE ELSE IS TAKEN CARE OF. THAT FABRIC IS
WHAT WEAVES OUR CITY TOGETHER AND ALLOWS ME TO
KNOW, WITHOUT STATISTICS OR STUDIES, THAT THE STATE OF
OUR CITY IS STRONG AND GETTING STRONGER.

 BUT I ALSO KNOW OUR CITY IS STRONG BECAUSE OUR
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS AT AN HISTORIC LOW. OUR
ECONOMIC GROWTH CONTINUES TO BE ROBUST AS WE HAVE
RECORD NUMBERS OF PEOPLE STAYING IN OUR HOTELS AND
WE SEE CRANES AND SCAFFOLDING ALL OVER THE CITY. TO
QUOTE OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR, PORTLAND HASN’T ISSUED
THIS MANY BUILDING PERMITS SINCE AFTER THE GREAT FIRE
OF 1866. AND THE STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS ARE
ACHIEVING 5.6 YEARS OF ACADEMIC GROWTH IN ONLY FIVE
YEARS. THAT ACHIEVEMENT IS ONE OF THE MYRIAD REASONS
WE WERE NAMED ONE OF THE TOP TEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN
THE STATE. IMAGINE HOW GREAT WE WILL BE WHEN WE
FINALLY TRANSFORM THOSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS!

BUT ANOTHER INDICATOR IS WHEN YOU SEE A PREMIER
COMPANY LIKE WEX INVEST TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN

 OUR CITY, BRINGING HUNDREDS OF JOBS, WITHOUT NEEDING
ANY TAX BREAKS OR SPECIAL DEALS. THAT’S WHEN YOU
KNOW YOU MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

THAT IS NOT TO SAY ALL IS ROSY. HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS
SIMPLY NOT KEEPING UP WITH OUR RISING HOUSING COSTS. I
HEAR FROM BUSINESSES EVERY DAY THAT THEY ARE
STRUGGLING TO FIND WORKERS AND FROM WORKERS SAYING
THEIR WAGES AND BENEFITS ARE NOT MEETING THEIR NEEDS.
FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE NEED OUR SHELTERS AND SOUP
KITCHENS. AND NOT ALL OF OUR KIDS ARE ENTERING
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS READY TO LEARN AS THEY SHOULD
BE.

BUT TO THOSE WHO LOOK AT THE WORK BEING DONE EVERY
DAY IN THIS BUILDING AND SEE ONLY CONFLICT AND DIVISION,

 I SAY THAT OUR RESULTS SHOW OTHERWISE. FROM TAX
REFORM, TO THE ENVIRONMENT, TO IMMIGRANTS, TO WAGES,
TO OUR HOMELESS, TO THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT,
TO OUR SCHOOLS, 2017 IS MARKED BY THE KIND OF
ACHIEVEMENT THIS CITY HAS NOT SEEN IN YEARS. AND,
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS PROGRESS WAS CREATED WITH
NEAR UNANIMITY BY THIS COUNCIL.

LET ME START WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED BUILD OUR
CITY: OUR SENIORS. NO GROUP HAS BEEN FEELING THE PINCH
OF RISING COSTS MORE THAN THOSE ON FIXED INCOMES.
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND
THROUGH THE UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF THIS COUNCIL, I AM
PROUD THAT WE FINALLY PASSED TARGETED RENT AND
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS. IT HAS BEEN OVER TEN
YEARS SINCE THE STATE AUTHORIZED MUNICIPALITIES TO

 PASS REFORM LIKE THIS AND NOW, NEXT YEAR AT THIS TIME,
OUR OLDER NEIGHBORS WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR
RELIEF OF UP TO $900.

THAT IS $900 THAT WILL GO DIRECTLY INTO THEIR HOUSEHOLD
POCKET TO OFFSET THEIR RENT OR PROPERTY TAX BILL. $900
THAT COULD BUY 300 GALLONS OF OIL IN THE WINTER AND A
FEW EXTRA GALLONS OF MILK. THIS IS REAL MONEY IN THE
POCKETS OF REAL PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR HELP. AND IT IS
MY HOPE THAT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS WE MAY BE ABLE TO
EXPAND THIS RELIEF TO STRUGGLING FAMILIES OF ALL AGES.

THIS IS THE WAY TO DO REAL TAX REFORM. MAKE YOUR TAX
CODE MORE PROGRESSIVE, SO YOU GET THE RELIEF TO
THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST.

 ANOTHER AREA OF PROGRESS HAS BEEN OUR CITY’S
EFFORTS TO SUPPORT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATING IMMIGRANTS INTO ALL ASPECTS
OF PORTLAND LIFE IS CRITICAL TO OUR CITY’S FUTURE. TO
THAT END, THANKS TO A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THIS COUNCIL
LAST YEAR AND THE ABLE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR CITY
MANAGER, I AM THRILLED THAT WE NOW HAVE A FULLY
OPERATIONAL OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY WHICH
SERVES IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OTHER
UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS BY CREATING PATHWAYS TO
OPTIMAL EMPLOYMENT.

THESE COMMUNITIES STILL HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF
POVERTY IN OUR CITY, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE
THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR FUTURE. LIKE THE IRISH, THE
ITALIANS, JEWS AND CATHOLICS BEFORE THEM, THEY FACE

 GREAT HARDSHIP AND DISCRIMINATION WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN
OUR CITY. WE MUST DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO WELCOME
THEM. OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT AND HOPEFULLY
THROUGH THIS YEAR’S BUDGET PROCESS, WE CAN ADD MUCH
NEEDED STAFF TO THIS OFFICE.

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE, AND THROUGH THE UNANIMOUS AFFIRMATION OF
THIS COUNCIL, I AM ALSO PLEASED THAT WE REFORMED OUR
TAX INCREMENT FINANCING POLICY TO ENSURE THAT JOBS
TIED TO CORPORATE WELFARE COMPENSATE PEOPLE AT A
REASONABLE RATE. THIS SENDS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE
THAT WHEN DOING BUSINESS IN PORTLAND, WE EXPECT YOU
TO PAY A LIVABLE WAGE TO YOUR WORKERS. WE ARE THE
FIRST COMMUNITY IN MAINE TO PUT THIS STAKE IN THE

 GROUND AND I AM VERY PROUD THAT WE MADE CLEAR YOU
MAY NOT SPEND OUR MONEY UNDERPAYING OUR WORKERS.

THIS STEP ALSO OPENS THE DOOR TO THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHETHER ALL CONTRACTORS WHO RECEIVE MONEY
FROM THE CITY SHOULD ALSO PAY REASONABLE WAGES. I
BELIEVE THEY SHOULD AND THIS YEAR I PLAN TO BRING THAT
CONVERSATION FORMALLY IN FRONT OF THIS BODY. WE
MUST MAKE SURE THAT ANY TIME PUBLIC MONEY IS SPENT, IT
REFLECTS OUR PUBLIC VALUES FROM GROUNDBREAKING TO
RIBBON CUTTING.

WHILE THE CITY AND OUR MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS
CONTINUE TO WORK TIRELESSLY TO PREVENT
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSE THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, IT
IS CLEAR THAT OUR CURRENT EMERGENCY SHELTER FACILITY

 NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A MORE EFFECTIVE APPROACH.
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE, THIS BODY TOOK THE IMPORTANT
FIRST STEP OF EXPANDING OUR ZONING TO ALLOW US TO
CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR OUR SHELTERS
AND PERHAPS BUILD A NEW FACILITY. IN THE MEANTIME, WE
HAVE ALSO TRANSFORMED THE OXFORD STREET SHELTER
INTO A 24-HOUR FACILITY TO BETTER SERVE CLIENTS AND THE
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE COMPLETED THE
FIRST SUMMER OF THE OPPORTUNITY CREW, PROVIDING
MUCH NEEDED INCOME AND SKILLS BUILDING TO 17 OF OUR
NEEDIEST RESIDENTS. AGAIN, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AND
SUPPORTED BY THIS COUNCIL.

THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SUSTAINABILITY
COMMITTEE, WE HAVE ALSO MADE IMPORTANT STRIDES IN

 OUR GOAL TO MAKE OUR CITY CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2040. BY
APPROVING THE PLAN TO REPLACE ALL EXISTING STREET
LIGHTS WITH NEW, ENERGY-EFFICIENT LED LIGHTS, STARTED
JUST THIS WEEK, WE WILL REDUCE THE CITY’S ELECTRICITY
CONSUMPTION FOR STREET LIGHTING BY 2.7 MILLION KWH
PER YEAR. THIS MOVE ALONE WILL OFFSET THE BURNING OF
MORE THAN 193,000 GALLONS OF OIL.

AND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE NEW RECYCLING CARTS. NOW I
KNOW THERE WAS A LITTLE CONTROVERSY AROUND THIS AND
THE ROLLOUT WAS A LITTLE BUMPY FOR SOME, BUT THIS
MOVE ALONE RESULTED IN A 41% INCREASE IN RECYCLING
THIS PAST NOVEMBER.

AS A SIDE NOTE TO OUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS, I DO WANT
TO COMMEND METRO AND USM FOR PARTNERING TO EXPAND

 AND STRENGTHEN OUR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL PUT BUS PASSES IN THE HANDS OF
7,000 STUDENTS, STAFF AND FACULTY. WHEN YOU CONSIDER
THAT ONE PERSON, WITH A 20-MILE COMMUTE, CAN REDUCE
HIS OR HER DAILY CARBON EMISSIONS BY MORE THAN 4,800
POUNDS IN A YEAR BY SIMPLY SWITCHING TO PUBLIC TRANSIT,
YOU UNDERSTAND THE MONUMENTAL IMPACT OF THIS
CHANGE.

AND FINALLY IN REGARD TO CLIMATE INITIATIVES, OUR
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REPORTED OUT, AND THIS BODY
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED, A BAN ON CHEMICAL PESTICIDE USE
IN PORTLAND. THIS WAS NO EASY CHARGE, AS IT TOOK
ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF FROM WHEN THE TASK FORCE
WAS FIRST CREATED TO BRING THE ORDINANCE TO A FINAL
VOTE. BUT IN THE END, WE CAME TOGETHER ON ONE OF THE

 STRONGEST CHEMICAL BANS IN MAINE. A TRUE TESTAMENT
TO OUR ABILITY TO PERSEVERE AND WORK TOGETHER FOR
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF EVERYONE.

IN THIS DIVISIVE TIME, WHERE CIVIL RIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY
UNDER ATTACK, I AM ALSO PROUD OF THIS BODY’S
CONTINUED AND UNANIMOUS EMPHASIS ON PRESERVING AND
PROTECTING THESE RIGHTS. WE CONDEMNED THE HATEFUL
RHETORIC IN SOUTH CAROLINA. CITY HALL NOW HAS A
GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
ON A PATH TO IMPLEMENTING BODY CAMERAS AND REVISING
OUR CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD. AND WE PASSED AN ORDINANCE
CREATING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY TO ENSURE THAT WE
CELEBRATE THOSE WHO TRULY WERE THE FIRST TO WALK ON
THESE SHORES.

 AND SPEAKING OF CIVIL RIGHTS, THIS PAST FALL, I SPENT A
COUPLE OF HOURS IN A WHEELCHAIR NAVIGATING OUR
SIDEWALKS WITH A MAN NAMED MICHAEL. HE INVITED ME TO
TAKE THE TOUR SO THAT I MIGHT UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT
A BUMPY SIDEWALK MEANS TO SOMEONE WHO MUST RELY ON
WHEELS. LAST YEAR, WE UNDERTOOK A FULL ADA
ASSESSMENT OF THE CITY. ONCE THESE RESULTS COME
BACK, I HOPE AND BELIEVE THIS BODY WILL DEDICATE THE
RESOURCES NECESSARY TO PUT PORTLAND ON THE PATH OF
BEING THE MOST HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE CITY IN MAINE
AND ONE OF THE MOST IN THE COUNTRY.

AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IS PASSAGE OF THE
BOND TO REPAIR OUR FOUR CRUMBLING ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS - PERHAPS THE SINGLE MOST SIGNIFICANT
ACCOMPLISHMENT THIS BODY HAS MADE IN YEARS. NOTHING

 HAS MORE BEARING ON THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY THAN HOW
WE EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN. AND WHILE IT WAS CERTAINLY A
LONG HARD FOUGHT STRUGGLE TO BUILD THE NEAR
CONSENSUS NEEDED, WE DID IT.

AFTER THIS BODY BUILT A COMPROMISE THAT GAVE THE
VOTERS A CHANCE TO SUPPORT THE LARGEST SCHOOL BOND
IN OUR HISTORY, THE VOTERS THEN PASSED IT WITH 65% OF
THE VOTE. NO OTHER POLICY CHOICE FOR THE CITY PASSED
(OR FAILED) WITH SUCH A LARGE MARGIN IN YEARS. NOT THE
DEFEAT OF RENT STABILIZATION, THE VIEW CORRIDOR,
MINIMUM WAGE OR EVEN THE PASSAGE OF CONGRESS
SQUARE PARK.

 HOWEVER, BEFORE WE COULD BRING PORTLAND TOGETHER
AROUND THE LARGEST BOND IN CITY HISTORY, WE IN THIS
BODY FIRST HAD TO WORK OUT OUR DIFFERENCES.

AND WE DID. LAST MARCH, WHEN THE 4-SCHOOL BOND FELL
ONE VOTE SHORT OF THE 7 NEEDED TO GET TO THE VOTERS,
SOME THOUGHT THAT THOSE OF US WHO SUPPORTED THE
FULL BOND SHOULD FORGO OUR PRINCIPLED STANCE TO
CREATE AN EASY COMPROMISE. THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE OUR
LIVES EASIER ON THIS COUNCIL, BUT IT WOULD HAVE ENDED
UP FRACTURING OUR CITY BY PITTING ONE COMMUNITY
AGAINST ANOTHER, TELLING SOME KIDS THEY MATTER NOW
AND OTHERS THAT THEY HAVE TO WAIT. DODGING HARD
ISSUES DOESN’T BRING PORTLAND TOGETHER.

 WE WERE EACH ELECTED TO LISTEN, IN FACT IT WAS ONE OF
MY CAMPAIGN THEMES, AND WHEN VOTERS LINED UP UNTIL
THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING TO TELL US THEY WERE
FED UP WITH 23 YEARS OF WAITING, I AM GLAD WE HEARD
THEM AND REFUSED TO GIVE UP.

THROUGH CONTINUED HARD WORK, WE BUILT A COMPROMISE
THAT ALLOWED THOSE WHO FELT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT
WAY FORWARD TO BE HEARD, BUT ALSO ENSURED THAT THE
PUBLIC WOULD FINALLY HAVE HAVE A SAY ON WHETHER THEY
WANTED THE CERTAINTY OF FUNDING ALL FOUR SCHOOLS
NOW.

AND THEN THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND CHILDREN OF
THIS CITY GOT TOGETHER AND RAN A CAMPAIGN THAT
KNOCKED ON TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOORS. IN FACT, I

 MYSELF JOINED HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND KNOCKED
ON OVER 1,000 OF THOSE DOORS AND I KNOW OTHERS
AROUND THIS DAIS ALSO DID THEIR PART. WE HAD
ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH THOUSANDS OF VOTERS
IN EVERY PART OF THE CITY, ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS.
IT WAS A CAMPAIGN THAT STOOD UP IN DEBATES AND BEAT
BACK MISINFORMATION. AND THAT EVEN WITHSTOOD AN
ELEVENTH HOUR FLIP-FLOP BY THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD
EDITORIAL BOARD DESIGNED TO DEFEAT THE BOND.

BUT, IN THE END, THE PEOPLE WON A VICTORY THAT WILL
IMPACT ALL OF US FOR GENERATIONS. A VICTORY WHICH
ENSURES THAT IN THE CITY OF PORTLAND, A CHILD’S
ADDRESS WILL NEVER DICTATE HIS OR HER EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCE.

 THAT IS SOMETHING FOR THIS BODY AND THIS CITY TO BE
VERY PROUD OF.

SO THAT IS A LIST OF SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN
THE PAST YEAR. TAX REFORM. SCHOOL REPAIRS. LED LIGHTS.
BODY CAMERAS. LIVABLE WAGES. BANNING CANCER-CAUSING
PESTICIDES. INCREASED RECYCLING. AN IMPROVED SHELTER
SYSTEM WITH A BRIGHTER FUTURE. ALL WITH A GROWING
ECONOMY. AGAIN AND AGAIN, THIS BODY ACTED IN A WAY
THAT PUT OUR RESIDENTS AND THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY
FIRST. AND OTHER THAN A SINGLE NO VOTE ON THE FINAL
SCHOOL BOND COMPROMISE, WE DID IT UNANIMOUSLY.
EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

SO, TO THOSE WHO SAY THIS BODY IS DIVIDED AND GETTING
NOTHING DONE, THE EVIDENCE SHOWS OTHERWISE. IT’S NOT

 THAT IS WAS EASY. IT’S NOT THAT WE DON’T DISAGREE,
ARGUE AND SOMETIMES GET ANGRY WITH EACH OTHER. WE
DID AND WE WILL IN THE FUTURE--BECAUSE WE ALL CARE
PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS CITY AND THINK BIG DECISIONS
ARE WORTH BEING PASSIONATE ABOUT.

WHEN I RAN FOR THIS OFFICE, I PROMISED THE PEOPLE OF
THIS CITY THAT I WOULD WORK TIRELESSLY TO BRING
PORTLAND TOGETHER TO TACKLE REAL SOLUTIONS TO BIG
PROBLEMS THAT HAD BEEN SET ASIDE FOR FAR TOO LONG.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE DID IN 2017 AND IT IS WHAT I WILL
CONTINUE STRIVING FOR FOR AS LONG AS I HOLD THIS
OFFICE.

WHILE WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES, WE OBVIOUSLY STILL
HAVE GAPS THAT THIS BODY MUST CONFRONT. GAPS IN

 EDUCATION. GAPS IN OUR PLAN TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE.
GAPS IN OUR HOUSING NEEDS. AND GAPS IN EMPLOYMENT.
THESE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES AND THEY WILL TAKE A LOT OF
CONTINUED HARD WORK. WE CANNOT TAKE OUR FOOT OFF
THE PEDAL, JUST BECAUSE WE HAD ONE STRONG YEAR.

LET’S START WITH THE EMPLOYMENT GAPS. TODAY, IN THE
CITY OF PORTLAND, OVER 70,000 PEOPLE FROM ACROSS OUR
STATE COMING HERE TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE ARE
THE CITY WHERE MORE WEALTH CHANGES HANDS EVERY DAY
THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN MAINE AND WHOSE OVERALL VALUE
HAS INCREASED FOR FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS AND IS NOW
PROJECTED TO BE OVER $9 BILLION DOLLARS.

WE ARE A POWERFUL AND WEALTHY CITY IN SO MANY WAYS.
BUT WITHIN THIS WEALTH, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORST FLU

 SEASON IN YEARS, WE ESTIMATE THERE ARE MORE THAN
25,000 WORKERS WHO CANNOT TAKE A SINGLE PAID DAY OFF
FROM WORK IF THEY GET SICK OR NEED TO CARE FOR
SOMEONE THEY LOVE.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE SIMPLY CANNOT ALLOW TO
CONTINUE. NOT IF WE WANT TO CALL OURSELVES A
COMPASSIONATE CITY. NOT IF WE WANT TO CALL OURSELVES
A CITY THAT CARES ABOUT ITS WORKERS. NOT IF WE WANT TO
BE A CITY THAT PROTECTS PUBLIC HEALTH.

LAST YEAR DURING THIS SPEECH I PROMISED TO PROPOSE AN
ORDINANCE THAT WOULD GUARANTEE EARNED SICK TIME FOR
EVERY WORKER IN PORTLAND. AND LAST FALL, AFTER
WORKING WITH THE MAINE WOMEN’S LOBBY, THE SOUTHERN
MAINE WORKERS CENTER, AND A NUMBER OF SMALL

 BUSINESS OWNERS, WE BROUGHT FORWARD AN ORDINANCE
THAT IF PASSED WILL ENSURE EVERY WORKER EARNS A
MINIMUM OF SIX DAYS OFF A YEAR THAT THEY CAN USE TO
CARE FOR THEMSELVES OR A FAMILY MEMBER.

THE EMPLOYEE WILL BE ABLE TO EARN THE TIME OFF OVER
TIME, JUST LIKE ONE EARNS PAY OR VACATION, AND THEY
WILL BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR ANYTHING HEALTHCARE
RELATED, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH OR
TO PROTECT ONESELF WHEN DEALING WITH A DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SITUATION. THIS ORDINANCE WILL ENSURE THAT A
SINGLE PARENT WHO HAS A SICK CHILD WILL NOT HAVE TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN MISSING THEIR RENT PAYMENT AND
TAKING THEIR KID TO THE DOCTOR. THEY WON’T HAVE TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN MAKING THEMSELVES MORE SICK BY
WORKING WHEN THEY NEED REST AND HAVING THE MONEY

 THEY NEED TO BUY GROCERIES. THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT CHOOSING BETWEEN MONEY AND SAFETY,
WHEN THEY ARE FEARFUL THAT GOING TO WORK MAY
PROVIDE SOMEONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VIOLATE A
PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER.

BUT THIS IS NOT SIMPLY AN ISSUE OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, IT
IS ALSO AN ISSUE OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THIS IS ABOUT THE
WAITER WHO IS OBLIGATED TO HAND YOU YOUR MENU AND
DELIVER YOUR PLATE WHEN THEY ARE SICK. IT IS ABOUT THE
CAREGIVER TO YOUR CHILD UNINTENTIONALLY SPREADING
GERMS AT THE DAYCARE, BECAUSE THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO
MISS A DAY’S PAY. IT IS ABOUT SOMEONE WHO CARES FOR
THE ELDERLY, ACCIDENTLY INFECTING YOUR PARENT
BECAUSE THEIR EMPLOYER DOES NOT PROVIDE PAID TIME
OFF FOR ILLNESS.

 AND IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE PEOPLE IN THESE INDUSTRIES
WORK WHILE SICK, IN A RECENT STATEWIDE STUDY, IT WAS
DETERMINED THAT 90% OF RESTAURANT WORKERS ARE
WITHOUT PAID SICK TIME. THE SAME STUDY DETERMINED
THAT 70% OF THOSE WORKERS ACTUALLY WENT TO WORK
WHILE SICK, AND HALF OF THEM SAID THEY DID IT BECAUSE
THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO TAKE A DAY OFF.

AND IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE THAT PROVIDING PAID SICK TIME
PREVENTS THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, JUST LOOK AT THE
NUMEROUS STUDIES PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS SHOWING
THAT PAID SICK LEAVE INDEED LEADS TO THE DECREASED
SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

 IN SHORT, ACCESS TO PAID SICK LEAVE IS BOTH A HUMAN
RIGHT AND A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE FOR PORTLAND. I AM
LOOKING TO 2018 AS THE YEAR PORTLAND JOINS SEVEN
OTHER STATES, INCLUDING MASSACHUSETTS, VERMONT AND
CONNECTICUT, AND 30 MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, TO BECOME THE FIRST COMMUNITY IN MAINE TO
ENSURE THAT EVERY WORKER WHO CLOCKS INTO A JOB IN
THIS CITY WILL HAVE TIME OFF TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES OR
THEIR LOVED ONE. EVERY. SINGLE. WORKER.

BUT MAKING SURE OUR WORKERS ARE ABLE TO TAKE TIME
OFF IS ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE EQUATION. THE OTHER IS
MAKING SURE OUR EMPLOYERS HAVE THE WORKERS THEY
NEED TO DO THE WORK. RIGHT NOW, WITH UNEMPLOYMENT
AT 2.3%, I HEAR FROM BUSINESSES ALL THE TIME THAT THEY
ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING QUALIFIED PEOPLE. ONE PIECE

 OF THAT EQUATION IS THE WORK WE ARE DOING WITH THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. CONNECTING OUR
NEWEST MAINERS WITH EMPLOYERS HELPING TO FILL AN
IMPORTANT ECONOMIC GAP.

ONE QUICK EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THAT WITHIN THE FIRST
MONTH OF THE OFFICE OPENING, READY SEAFOOD CALLED
ASKING IF WE COULD HELP BUILD A BRIDGE TO SOME
WORKERS. AS A RESULT, 11 WORKERS WERE HIRED AND
SEVERAL HAVE BEEN PROMOTED.

ANOTHER PIECE IS PAYING HIGHER WAGES. PUT SIMPLY,
EMPLOYERS, IF YOU WANT TO ATTRACT EMPLOYEES, THOSE
OF YOU WHO CAN, MUST PAY MORE. PORTLAND’S QUALITY OF
LIFE WILL ONLY GO SO FAR IN ATTRACTING THE EMPLOYEES
YOU NEED.

 THAT SAID, I DO KNOW THERE IS MORE OF A ROLE FOR THE
PUBLIC SECTOR IN ASSISTING BUSINESSES. WE HAVE A
VIBRANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE LED BY GREAT
STAFF. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE OFFICE HAS THE
RESOURCES TO SPREAD THE WORD ON HOW WE CAN HELP.
FROM LOANS TO BUSINESS PLANNING TO GRANTS AND
NETWORKING, WE DO A LOT.

AND WE NEED TO DO MORE TO ASSIST WITH TRAINING THE
WORKERS BUSINESSES NEED. THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM BOND FOR $75M NOW IN
FRONT OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE. IF SENT TO THE VOTERS
AND PASSED, THIS WILL BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR USM BEING
ABLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SKILLED WORKERS FOR
BUSINESSES ALL AROUND THIS REGION.

 SPEAKING OF USM, I ALSO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION
OF THE MUSKIE SCHOOLS TO CREATE A WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT USM. AS RECOMMENDED, THIS
CENTER WOULD CONVENE EMPLOYERS AND EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS TO MARRY NEEDS WITH TRAINING.

NOTHING WILL STIFLE OUR ECONOMY MORE THAN NOT
HAVING THE EDUCATED WORKFORCE NEEDED FOR GROWTH
AND PRODUCTIVITY.

AND FINALLY, WE NEED TO COMPLETE THE DISPARITY STUDY
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REQUESTED LAST
YEAR, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE GROUPS ON THE EDGES OF
OUR ECONOMY, WOMEN, MINORITIES, VETERANS AND OTHERS

 ARE NOT BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN HIRING.

NOW LET US TURN TO OUR HOUSING GAPS. AS EVERYONE IN
PORTLAND KNOWS, HOUSING COSTS HAVE RISEN
EXPONENTIALLY IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. FROM RENT
INCREASES, TO CONDO CONVERSIONS TO SHORT TERM
RENTALS TO HOME PRICES, OUR WORKING AND MIDDLE CLASS
ARE BEING SQUEEZED OUT. YOUNG FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS
ARE HAVING TO LOOK TO SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES TO
PURCHASE THEIR STARTER HOME. LONGTIME TENANTS ARE
SEEING THEIR RENTS RISE BEYOND THEIR MEANS, OR THEIR
BUILDING IS BEING SOLD RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER THEM TO
BE TORN DOWN AND TURNED INTO A LUXURY UNIT FOR A
PART TIME RESIDENT.

 NATIONAL STANDARDS SAY THAT A HOUSEHOLD SHOULD NOT
SPEND MORE THAN 30% OF ITS INCOME ON HOUSING. BY THAT
STANDARD, LATEST DATA IN PORTLAND SHOWS THAT AN
ASTOUNDING 62% OF OUR RENTERS CANNOT AFFORD A 2
BEDROOM APARTMENT IN THE CITY, AND 74% OF OUR
HOMEOWNERS CANNOT AFFORD THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE.
THAT IS SIMPLY NOT SUSTAINABLE IF WE WANT TO HAVE A
MIDDLE CLASS LIVING IN OUR CITY.

NOW, WE HAVE PROPOSED A FEW WAYS TO CONFRONT, OR AT
LEAST EASE, THE CRISIS, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY TRY TO
BUILD ON THOSE. WE CAN EXPAND OUR SENIOR RENT AND
TAX RELIEF POLICY AND EXTEND IT TO MORE FAMILIES. WE
CAN REPLICATE THE DENSITY INCENTIVES WE ADDED TO OUR
CORRIDORS FOR OTHER ZONES AROUND THE CITY. I BELIEVE
WE SHOULD ALSO RE-LOOK AT SOME OF THE TENANT

 PROTECTIONS WE VOTED ON TWO YEARS AGO LIKE 90-DAY
NOTICE ON EVICTIONS AND REQUIRING LANDLORDS TO
ACCEPT HOUSING VOUCHERS.

DOUBLING THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING REQUIREMENT IS STILL
MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH OUR PLANNING BOARD AND
HOPEFULLY WILL BE BEFORE THIS BODY BY THE SPRING FOR
OUR CONSIDERATION AND, I HOPE, PASSAGE.

MAYBE WE CAN ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE RENT
STABILIZATION INITIATIVE BROUGHT TO US BY FRUSTRATED
TENANTS, BUT DEFEATED AT THE BALLOT BOX AFTER THE
REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.
MANY IN THE COMMUNITY SAID THE PROPOSAL HAD SOME
GOOD IDEAS, BUT OVERALL WENT TOO FAR. PERHAPS WE CAN
FIND A WAY TO UNITE BEHIND ITS BETTER IDEAS AND SEE IF

 WE CAN PUT SOME PIECES IN PLACE TO FURTHER PROTECT
OUR TENANTS.

BUT WHAT CAN WE DO THAT MIGHT HAVE BROAD SUPPORT
FROM THE COMMUNITY?

WHAT I HEAR MORE THAN ANYTHING FROM BOTH
DEVELOPERS AND TENANTS IS THAT IF WE WANT MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO
PROVIDE FUNDING. WHILE I DON’T AGREE THAT THIS IS THE
ONLY PATH, I DO AGREE THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE NEARLY
ENOUGH TO INVEST OUR OWN RESOURCES INTO THIS CRISIS.

RIGHT NOW OUR HOUSING TRUST FUND HAS JUST UNDER A
MILLION DOLLARS AND SINCE ITS INCEPTION, 15 YEARS AGO, IT
HAS BARELY SPENT $600,000. THAT IS LESS THAN $50,000 A

 YEAR. THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DROP IN THE BUCKET OF WHAT
WE NEED. THE HOUSING COMMITTEE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZES
THIS GAP, AS THEY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING, FOR SOME TIME,
HOW WE COULD CAPITALIZE THE FUND. SO, TODAY, LET ME
PROPOSE A GOAL AND A POSSIBLE PATH FOR THEIR
CONSIDERATION.

THE GOAL? INJECT $10M DOLLARS INTO THE FUND BY THE END
OF 2019.

YES, $10M DOLLARS. WHY? BECAUSE AN INVESTMENT OF THAT
SIZE COULD LEVERAGE UPWARDS OF $50-$60M IN ADDITIONAL
MONEY TOWARD OUR HOUSING CRISIS. IT CAN BE USED FOR
SMALL INVESTMENTS TO FILL A FINANCIAL GAP IN A HOUSING
PROJECT. IT CAN MAKE A LARGE INVESTMENT, WHEN A
DEVELOPER PLEDGES SUBSTANTIAL RETURN FOR THE

 COMMUNITY. IT CAN HELP WITH MUCH NEEDED UP-FRONT
DEVELOPMENT COSTS OR IT CAN HELP ON THE BACK END OF
BUILDING THE UNITS THEMSELVES. IT COULD HELP KICKSTART
MORE HOUSING FIRST PROJECTS, A GOAL THIS COUNCIL HAS
BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS.

AND IF WE DIDN’T WANT TO PUT ALL OF THE MONEY IN THE
HOUSING TRUST, SOME OF IT COULD BE USED TO HELP WITH
SOME OF THE GREAT IDEAS THE HOUSING COMMITTEE IS
CURRENTLY LOOKING AT. ONE WOULD BROADEN THE INCOME
GUIDELINES OF OUR TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. ANOTHER WOULD CREATE A FIRST TIME
HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THOSE JUST
STARTING OUT. YET ANOTHER WOULD CREATE A
FORECLOSURE PREVENTION PROGRAM TO KEEP PEOPLE IN
HOMES DURING ROUGH TIMES.

 THESE ARE SMART IDEAS THAT COULD HAVE A REAL IMPACT,
BUT THEY NEED MONEY. A PORTION OF THE $10M COULD GET
ALL THESE PROGRAMS OFF THE GROUND AND STABILIZED
FOR YEARS.

SO, THE TEN MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS HOW
DO WE FIND THE MONEY? FIRST, I PROPOSE WE START OUT
WITH THE $3M WE RECEIVED FROM THE SALE OF THE WEX
PROPERTY ON THE WATERFRONT. NEXT, BASED ON OUR
INCLUSIONARY ZONING REQUIREMENTS, I BELIEVE ANOTHER
MILLION WILL COME IN BY THE END OF 2019, BRINGING US TO
$5M WHEN YOU INCLUDE WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE
FUND. FOR THE REMAINING $5M, I WOULD ASK THIS BODY TO
SEND A BOND OUT TO THE VOTERS. BORROWING RATES ARE
STILL AT ALL TIME LOWS AND THE VOTERS OF PORTLAND

 HAVE CLEARLY SHOWN THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO INVEST IN
OUR CAPITAL NEEDS.

WILL $10M IN OUR HOUSING TRUST FUND COMPLETELY SOLVE
THE HOUSING CRISIS? OF COURSE NOT. BUT USING THAT TEN
MILLION TO LEVERAGE TENS OF MILLIONS OF STATE, FEDERAL
AND PRIVATE MONEY WILL HAVE A DEEP AND LASTING IMPACT.
AND WITH THE INCREASED REVENUE FROM THE PROPERTY
TAXES GAINED BY THESE INVESTMENTS, I BELIEVE WE WOULD
MORE THAN OFFSET THE INTEREST EXPENSE FROM THE
BORROWING.

BUT EVEN IF THE INCREASED TAXES DIDN’T COVER THE COST
OF THE BOND, THE FACT THAT WE WOULD BE PUTTING
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF NEW UNITS ON THE MARKET,
AND CREATING HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF NEW

 CONSTRUCTION JOBS, IS WELL WORTH THE PRICE. THIS IS
WHAT WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR MIDDLE CLASS AND
WORKING FAMILIES. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP
PORTLAND FROM BECOMING A CITY OF HAVES AND HAVE
NOTS.

NEXT, LET’S TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. LAST YEAR, IN
THIS SPEECH, I CHALLENGED US TO MAKE 2040 OUR GOAL FOR
BECOMING CARBON NEUTRAL. I APPRECIATE THE
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE FOR TAKING THAT CHALLENGE
SERIOUSLY AND PASSING A RESOLVE, UNANIMOUSLY
AFFIRMED BY THIS BODY, THAT PUTS US ON A PATH TO DO
JUST THAT. BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE SET THE GOAL, WE MUST
CONTINUE PUTTING THE PIECES IN PLACE TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN.

 TO ENSURE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND
SUSTAINABILITY, WE MUST TAKE THE FIRST STEP OF
UPDATING OUR DECADE-OLD CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. THIS WAS
A GOAL FOR THE LAST COUNCIL YEAR, BUT WITH ALL THEIR
OTHER WORK, THE COMMITTEE SIMPLY RAN OUT OF TIME. BUT
THIS YEAR I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THEY WILL TAKE IT UP.
IT WILL ALSO TAKE RESOURCES TO GET THE HELP WE NEED
TO DO THE ANALYSIS, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND THOSE
MONIES IN OUR BUDGET.

BUT WHILE THEY WORK ON THAT PLAN AND ITS
RECOMMENDATIONS, THERE ARE SOME STEPS THAT WE AS A
CITY COULD TAKE TO CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY TOWARD A
CLEANER MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. FOR INSTANCE, AS
ELECTRIC VEHICLES BECOME MORE AFFORDABLE, IT IS

 IMPORTANT THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BE IN PLACE TO
SUPPORT THEM.

CURRENTLY, THE CITY HAS PUBLIC EV CHARGING STATIONS IN
THE ELM, TEMPLE AND SPRING STREET GARAGES, BUT ONLY
ONE FUELING PUMP PER GARAGE. IN OTHER CITIES SIMILAR IN
SIZE TO US, THEY DEDICATE ENTIRE FLOORS. AND MANY
CITIES ALLOW PEOPLE TO PARK ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AT BOTH
PUBLIC GARAGES OR AT METERS, FOR FREE. WE SHOULD
CONSIDER DOING THE SAME.

AND WHILE WE’RE AT IT, LET’S PUT FREE CHARGING STATIONS
AT ALL OUR SCHOOL PARKING LOTS, SO TEACHERS CAN DRIVE
ELECTRIC TO WORK AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS CAN
CHARGE THEIR CARS OVERNIGHT WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN
SESSION.

 AND WHILE WE ARE PUTTING IN ALL THESE EV STATIONS, WE
MUST ALSO START REPLACING ALL NEW VEHICLES
PURCHASED ANNUALLY FOR THE CITY, WITH EITHER ELECTRIC
OR HYBRID. THEY EVEN MAKE ELECTRIC POLICE CRUISERS
NOW.

ANOTHER EASY STEP WE CAN TAKE IS TO SWITCH THE CITY’S
ELECTRIC PLAN OVER TO RENEWABLE. AND MAYBE WE CAN
EVEN ALLOW PEOPLE IN THE CITY TO OPT INTO OUR PLAN, AS
A WAY TO CROWDSOURCE FOR BIGGER SAVINGS.

I KNOW WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT NEW RULES FOR
BIKESHARE PROGRAMS. LET’S GET THAT DONE THIS YEAR, SO
WE CAN HELP DE-CONGEST DOWNTOWN.

 AND FINALLY, WE MUST UP OUR GAME IN REGARD TO
INCREASING OUR SOLAR ENERGY EFFORTS. WE ARE STILL
BEING LAPPED BY NEW ENGLAND NEIGHBORS FROM
BURLINGTON TO MANCHESTER TO BOSTON TO PROVIDENCE IN
PER CAPITA SOLAR POWER PRODUCTION. A ​SOLARIZE
PORTLAND​ PROGRAM IS ONE WAY TO BEGIN TO CATCH UP,
ACTING AS A BULK BUYING CLUB FOR SOLAR PANELS. TOWNS
AROUND US LIKE BRUNSWICK, BATH, AND FREEPORT ALREADY
HAVE SOLARIZE PROGRAMS AND PORTLAND SHOULD TOO.
ANOTHER IS TO BOND SOLARIZATION OF MORE PORTLAND
BUILDINGS. EXEMPTING SOLAR UPGRADES TO PRIVATE
HOMES FROM VALUATION OR PROVIDING REBATES WOULD
ALSO INCENTIVIZE MORE SOLARIZATION ACROSS THE CITY.

 ALL OF THESE ARE EASY, LOW-HANGING FRUIT THAT WILL
ALLOW US TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT AND MEASURABLE STRIDES
TOWARD OUR GOAL OF BEING CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2040.

AND FINALLY, LETS TALK ABOUT EDUCATION. AS MENTIONED
EARLIER, WE TOOK A TREMENDOUS STEP FORWARD LAST
YEAR WHEN WE PASSED THE FOUR SCHOOL BOND. CREATING
EQUITY IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERY
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KID WAS ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING THE
KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY CHILD CAN LEARN. THIS
YEAR, LET’S TAKE THE LOGICAL NEXT STEP.

IT IS TIME FOR PORTLAND TO FINALLY ACHIEVE OUR SCHOOL
BOARD’S 2010 STATED GOAL OF UNIVERSAL, ALL DAY, FREE
QUALITY PRE-K FOR EVERY FOUR YEAR OLD IN THE CITY OF
PORTLAND.

 I AM SURE I DON’T HAVE TO GO INTO ALL THE RESEARCH ON
WHY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT FOR
LEARNING. BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU BOIL IT
ALL DOWN TO WHAT THE EXPERTS UNDERSTAND. WHAT
TEACHERS UNDERSTAND. WHAT PARENTS UNDERSTAND. IT IS
SIMPLY THAT THOSE STUDENTS WHO GO THROUGH QUALITY
PRE-K PROGRAMS ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR
KINDERGARTEN THAN THOSE WHO DON’T. AND WHEN YOU
START KINDERGARTEN BETTER PREPARED, YOU ARE MUCH
MORE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL
SUCCESS. AND WHEN YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE
LONG TERM EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY
TO ACHIEVE LONG TERM SUCCESS IN LIFE.

 ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS,
IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL PRE-K RESULTS IN A 23%
REDUCTION IN THE MATH ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND A 43%
REDUCTION IN READING ACHIEVEMENT GAP FOR STUDENTS
WHO BENEFITTED FROM HIGH-QUALITY PRE-K EXPERIENCES
VS THOSE WHO DIDN’T.

THINK OF HOW MANY PARENTS WILL WANT TO MOVE HERE, IF
WE HAVE FREE UNIVERSAL QUALITY PRE-K? THINK OF HOW
MANY PARENTS WILL WANT TO STAY. THINK OF HOW
BUSINESSES WILL WANT TO EMPLOY OUR GRADUATES IF THEY
KNOW EVERY KID IN OUR SYSTEM HAD AN ADDITIONAL YEAR
OF EDUCATION?

I APPLAUD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION’S LEADERSHIP IN
ADDING PRE-K CLASSROOMS OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS.

 CURRENTLY, 120 OF OUR 4 YEAR OLDS ARE BEING SERVED
EACH YEAR. EVEN SO, WE ARE STILL ONLY MEETING 25% OF
THE NEED.

THANKFULLY, IN THE PAST YEAR, AT THE DIRECTION OF OUR
SCHOOL BOARD, OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS BEEN
ANALYZING THE PROGRAM AND PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN
TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING UNIVERSAL WITH THE HIGHEST
STANDARDS. WHAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE NEEDED TO MAKE
THIS A REALITY, ARE THE RESOURCES.

AND THAT IS WHERE THIS BODY COMES IN. THE SCHOOL
BOARD WILL FINALIZE THE DETAILS OF THE HIGH QUALITY
CURRICULUM, THE PUBLIC/PRIVATE STRUCTURE NEEDED TO
SERVE EVERY KID, AND THE PROGRAMMING TO ANNUALLY
SERVE ALL 500 4-YEAR OLDS IN THE CITY. BUT I WILL LOOK TO

 THIS BODY TO ASSIST WITH COMING UP WITH THE RESOURCES
NEEDED.

THE TOTAL COST TO HAVE UNIVERSAL PRE-K IS ESTIMATED TO
BE UNDER $2 MILLION DOLLARS. WE ALREADY HAVE HALF A
MILLION BUDGETED FOR THE PAST PROGRAMMING, LEAVING
US WITH LESS THAN 1.5M TO RAISE.

SO, LET ME BE CLEAR. YES, I AM ADVOCATING THAT WE
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. NOT FOR THEM TO CUT ELSEWHERE
AND ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL. I DO NOT BELIEVE OUR SCHOOL
BUDGET IS FAT OR WASTEFUL. IN FACT, I BELIEVE JUST THE
OPPOSITE. THIS STEP MUST BE SEEN AS A REQUIREMENT FOR
STUDENT SUCCESS, NOT A LUXURY THAT WE CAN ONLY
AFFORD IF WE CUT SOMETHING ELSE.

 THAT IS WHY I WANT US, IN 2018, TO SEND TO VOTERS A
REFERENDUM ASKING IF THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR A
HIGH QUALITY UNIVERSAL PRE-K PROGRAM THAT WOULD
BEGIN IN THE FALL OF 2019. PUTTING IT TO A VOTE OF THE
PUBLIC IS NOT REQUIRED AT THIS STAGE OF THE PLANNING,
BUT I BELIEVE THAT IF WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING THIS
SIGNIFICANT, WE SHOULD GIVE OUR RESIDENTS A DIRECT
VOICE. AND IF THEY VOTE IT DOWN, THEN SO BE IT. BUT I AM
CONFIDENT THAT WHATEVER THE SHORT-TERM COST, OUR
COMMUNITY WILL PUT KIDS FIRST.

LET’S MAKE 2018 THE YEAR WE VOTE YES TO ACHIEVE
UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR OUR GREAT CITY.

 SO, THOSE ARE THE POLICIES I AM PROUD WE PASSED IN 2017
AND THE POLICIES I BELIEVE WE MUST FOCUS ON IN THE YEAR
AHEAD. WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES AS A CITY, AND AS A
COUNCIL. AND WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD. BUT WE STILL
CLEARLY HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO ENSURE OUR
PROGRESS CONTINUES.

WE GOVERN AND LEAD THE GREATEST CITY IN MAINE. THE
ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL ENGINE OF MAINE. WE WILL BE
DOING PORTLAND A DISSERVICE IF WE REST ON OUR
LAURELS, AND I WOULD BE DERELICT IN MY DUTIES IF I DIDN’T
CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR US TO DO OUR BEST.

YES, THIS BODY WILL HAVE MORE DISAGREEMENTS IN 2018.

 YES, THESE DISAGREEMENTS MAY SELL PAPERS AND
INCREASE CLICKS.

BUT YES, WE ALSO KNOW DIFFERENTLY ABOUT WHAT HAS
BEEN HAPPENING IN THIS CHAMBER AND IN THESE HALLS.

WE HAVE BEEN ACHIEVING RESULTS BY WORKING TOGETHER.
BY LISTENING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND BY BEING WILLING
TO PUSH EACH OTHER TO EXCELLENCE.

BUT WE ONLY ACHIEVED AS MUCH AS WE DID BECAUSE OF
YOU WATCHING TONIGHT. YOU WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THIS
CITY. YOU WHO COME TO THIS CHAMBER AND TESTIFY. YOU
WHO SEND EMAILS AND CALL. YOU WHO STOP EVERY ONE OF
US ON THE STREET AND TELL US WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR
FUTURE.

 I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WHEN I RAN FOR THIS OFFICE I
WOULD BE YOUR LISTENER IN CHIEF. THAT REMAINS MY
FOCUS. WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO WHISPER, TALK OR YELL, I
WILL LISTEN. BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE WILL
CONTINUE BRINGING PORTLAND TOGETHER. NOW, LET’S GET
TO WORK.

THANK YOU.