Look at all these Portland Street Response Champions sporting their Friends of PSR buttons 🩵💚🩵

Did we mention we have buttons? See you at the East Portland People’s Picnic!

Excited to be in East Portland today at the @counciloravalos.bsky.social D1 People’s picnic! Come by and say hello, and learn how you can get involved in our efforts to expand Portland Street Response!

PSR's highly skilled first responders – experts is utilizing de-escalation tactics to resolve behavioral health crises – are finally getting the support they deserve from City Hall, which recently proclaimed PSR Appreciation Week. Let us know in the comments: Why do you appreciate PSR?

This Tuesday, August 12 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m, the City of Portland is hosting a virtual Community Town Hall on Portland Street Response. We encourage supporters to emphasize the need to grow to 24/7 coverage under the policy guidance recently provided by the City Council. Sign up ⬇️

Marc, as always, with some key insights in his 🧵-> The collective bargaining agreement for the police union has a chokehold on public safety policy in the city.

Let’s be clear: it’s the police pushing this false choice between Portland Street Response and law enforcement. No one else is doing that. We've been incredibly clear about the need for a stronger public safety continuum. PSR is saving lives. Why does the PPA keep trying to discredit them? 📰🔗

When City leadership is finally catching up to public demand for an expanded Portland Street Response — it’s unfortunate the Portland Police Association is attacking some of PSR’s biggest champions on Council. Every 911 call does not require a police response, and PSR is part of the solution.

The latest controversy on Councilor Dan Ryan — the only current elected official who has voted against the expansion of Portland Street Response multiple times. We believe District 2 wants to invest more in PSR and less on controversial right wing podcasters.

Today, I joined a Portland Street Response ride-along in District 1 to see firsthand the vital work this team does every day—responding to mental health crises, supporting unhoused neighbors, and offering compassionate care where it’s needed most.

🩵😍💚

This is phenomenal! 🎉 Portland street response is being made into a co-equal branch of public safety, fully funded and 24/7 city wide response, a community advisory committee, and expansion of covered services. This is critical in reducing the load on fire, ambulance, and police services.

"The Portland City Council approved a resolution Wednesday to strengthen the Portland Street Response (PSR) program. The resolution will support and provide policy guidance to establish PSR as a co-equal branch of the city's modern public safety system."

The adopted PSR Resolution: 💚 Establishes PSR as a Co-Equal Branch ⌚ Commits to Expanding PSR 24/7 🔍 Establishes Community Committee 💙 Re-establishes Access to Supplies 📞 Expands Exploration of Call Types ❌ Ensures PSR is Not Used in Enforcement Activities 📈 Re-establishes Independent Evaluation

The resolution to affirm and expand Portland Street Response as a co-equal branch of our first responder system has passed! 🎊 Proud to co-sponsor this with Councilors Kanal and Morillo. #PortlandStreetResponse

PSR couldn't be up on the dais with us, but their colors could be. Thank you to colleagues for a good discussion on the Portland Street Response resolution, and for passing it - TEN TO TWO!

Incredible news! The resolution in support of Portland Street Response passes with robust support in a 10-2 vote! With a recently increased budget, support from @mayorkwilson.bsky.social and the vast majority of the Portland City Council — the future of Portland Street Response is looking bright!

Update: Council hasn’t got to the PSR resolution yet, but it’s next up and should begin soon.

Here we go! We are hoping Council will demonstrate strong support for Portland Street Response today. Let’s get this resolution — committing to co-equal first responder status, expansion, and community engagement — so we can fulfill the promise of PSR! Tune in ⤵️

“We have this game-changing resolution that will be a defining moment for Portland to change what community safety looks like,” said @counciloravalos.bsky.social, who co-sponsored the resolution w/ @councilorkanal.bsky.social & @councilormorillo.bsky.social The vote will be close.

If you care about alternative public-safety models that don't involve the police, read this excellent piece by @mkaiasand.bsky.social on what these models need to thrive. Vital reading as Portland's City Council votes this week to strengthen Portland Street Response www.thenation.com/article/soci...

Today is a big day for the future of PSR. Please come out and support the resolution at 1:30pm at City Hall, wearing PSR blue & green!

95% of Portlanders submitting comments have expressed support for tomorrow's resolution in support of Portland Street Response – which provides the policy guidance & community input that will re-establish trust & 24/7 commitment. Take a moment and add your support: www.portland.gov/council/writ...

We’ve heard some Councilors are concerned about the resolution establishing a *long promised* community advisory committee. PSR was created by community for community, and lost trust as they moved decision making behind closed doors. Let’s restore trust and establish this overdue oversight!

ACTION ALERT! Council will meet this Wednesday, June 25 at 1:30 p.m. to vote on a key resolution regarding PSR. We need you to testify and write in support! If you are able to show up to City hall at 1:30pm please wear PSR 🩵 blue and 💚 green! Visit linktr.ee/friendsofpsr to take action!

IMPORTANT: We need to show our fellow councilors how much support we have for Portland Street Response! 👇🏾

Big update on the resolution to support & expand Portland Street Response as a co-equal branch of our first responder system + provide community oversight. It comes to a vote before Council this Wed, June 25 at 1:30pm. Please show up wearing PSR blue 🩵 & green 💚 Sign up to provide testimony ⬇️

History of Portland Street Response July 2023: KOIN | Petition urges city leaders to fully fund Portland Street Response program

History of Portland Street Response July 2023: KATU | Community groups petition for increased support and expansion of Portland Street Response

History of Portland Street Response July 2023: OPB | Dozens of organizations urge Portland City Council to reinvest in Street Response

History of Portland Street Response July 2023: Oregonian | Portland Street Response supporters petition city to prioritize program

History of Portland Street Response June 2023: Willamette Week | Robyn Burek Steps Down From Leadership of Portland Street Response

History of Portland Street Response June 2023: OPB | Portland Street Response, despite successes, faces an uncertain future

The thing that irritates me most about the "we have slow response times so we need more police" line is that yes, people need help quicker, but do they need an ARMED OFFICER? Most of these calls are medical in nature, physical or mental, so what we need is MORE PSR & MORE CHAT actually!

History of Portland Street Response June 2023: Oregonian | Portland Street Response’s future hangs in balance: ‘I feel like it’s about to implode’

History of Portland Street Response May 2023 - Willamette Week | A High-Ranking Whistleblower’s Complaint Lays Bare Issues at Portland Fire & Rescue

History of Portland Street Response April 2023 - Oregonian | Portland Street Response worker put on leave after talking to media

History of Portland Street Response April 2023 - Oregonian | Portland Street Response staffer resigns amid sweeps directive

$7.4 million was PSR's entire budget last year. Part of the solution to saving taxpayer dollars is fully funding PSR in this year's budget. This should be an easy decision that will modernize public safety, streamline effectiveness, free up additional first responders, and is cost effective.

The discussion on budget amendments, including 3 related to Portland Street Response, is about to get started. Tune in! www.youtube.com/live/N0MKwyl...

Another budget amendment we are watching comes from Councilor Steve Novick. This amendment has a "goal of re-assigning welfare checks from Police Officers to unarmed responders like Public Safety Support Specialists and Portland Street Response."

Late night update! We have learned that @councilorgreen.bsky.social has also proposed a budget amendment to re-establish an independent evaluation of PSR. Independent evaluations helped guide PSR in it's early years, providing expert recommendations that helped guide the programs early success.

Tomorrow City Council will host a marathon session to discuss amendments to the Mayor's proposed budget. One amendment we are closely watching is this proposal by @councilorgreen.bsky.social that could provide an avenue for PSR to access more funding so they can staff up to a 24/7 service level.

“Last year [PSR] budget was cut from $10.1 million to $7.4 million…The limited hours keep it from qualifying for Medicaid funding, which requires 24-hour operations” “…instead of a badge and a gun, I need a calm and soothing voice.” capitalbnews.org/police-socia...

The safest communities often have the most resources. People experiencing addiction and mental health crises need strong community support programs — not incarceration.

“Last year [PSR] budget was cut from $10.1 million to $7.4 million…The limited hours keep it from qualifying for Medicaid funding, which requires 24-hour operations” “…instead of a badge and a gun, I need a calm and soothing voice.” capitalbnews.org/police-socia...

Mayor Wilson's proposed budget includes exciting news for the future of PSR, funding 14 new positions! 👏 We are still pushing to fulfill the promise of PSR with ongoing funding needed to expand 24/7 while preserving PSR's original values. Tomorrow you can provide testimony in support of a 24/7 PSR

History of Portland Street Response March 2023 - KGW | Portland Street Response looks to provide 24/7 service

History of Portland Street Response February 2023 - Oregonian | A Portland city commissioner banned tent, tarp distribution. Then it snowed 11 inches. www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...