Portland, Oregon, is known for its vibrant food cart scene. More than just places to eat, these hubs serve an important social purpose, uniting neighborhoods and helping minority small businesses get off the ground.
Gov. Tina Kotek and members of her Portland Central City Task Force say the city needs more police officers on the ground, tax breaks for businesses and a ban on public drug use.
Cleaning up Portland also requires more public restrooms and trash receptacles, Kotek said, adding that she sees a role for volunteers in helping keep the city clean.
Tents and trash line streets, public drug use has skyrocketed since the state decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs in 2020 with the city experiencing record-breaking numbers of homicides in the past three years.