The Council's message when it ignores the custom of member deference seems to be: See? We're not provincial, turf-protecting insiders! We act in the interest of the whole city! But we're talking about four instances in two decades, if not longer. The Council has considered thousands of land use applications in that time, and in 99.9 percent of them, the local member has decided the result. Make no mistake: Member deference is alive and well.
"I think some people only look at the numbers and see the number of deaths are not going in the right direction. It's important to explain that Vision Zero is not a model, it's a goal," Koyama Lane told the Mercury. She says Portland should remain steadfast in its belief that no one should die while trying to get around the city. "Getting to that number zero is a holistic goal that we can never give up on," Koyama Lane said.
Kern County Grand Jury indicated that while bicycle lanes have safety and environmental benefits, they are deemed a waste of money due to extreme heat and poor air quality.
The Central Park Conservancy opposes horse-drawn carriages due to safety concerns, road damage, and incompatibility with the park's increasing visitors. They support a City Council bill to ban the industry.
The mayor is expected to veto a Council bill that would expand the restaurant delivery worker minimum wage to grocery delivery workers. This bill aims to achieve the goal championed by the mayor in a 2022 report.
The bill would prohibit cars from parking within 20 feet of intersections to improve visibility where pedestrians cross from behind parked cars.
Council Member Robert Holden has criticized Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Finance Chair Justin Brannan for not allocating extra funds for veterans in the FY2026 Budget, despite increased funding for other city services.