Oregonian Readers respond: Protect the services working families depend on

As a longtime advocate for working people, I believe city government should make the lives of all our families better. That means safe neighborhoods, reliable emergency response, well-maintained parks and community centers and essential services that are there when people need them.

Portland just went through an extraordinarily difficult budget year. The city faced a $170 million general fund shortfall. Millions were cut from police, fire, parks, homelessness services and other city operations. Even after the city council restored some positions, about 70 city workers lost their jobs.

That should put Measure 26-267 in perspective, (“Who should decide how Portland spends $16 million a year? Voters will weigh in,” Sept. 23).

Read the rest at oregonlive.com.