A recent email from City Commissioner Carmen Rubio’s campaign for mayor confirms that public safety will be a central issue in the upcoming election. Rubio laid out her strategy for keeping Portlanders safe, including increasing first responders, improving police-community relations, and expanding homelessness services.
“As Mayor, I will be committed to greater public safety, not by over-policing our community or implementing draconian measures, but by seizing the commonsense solutions that will break the cycle of crime and addressing its underlying causes,” Rubio wrote, highlighting her support for Portland Street Response, the city’s unarmed team addressing mental health emergencies.
While Rubio did not mention her colleague and mayoral rival, City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, by name, her reference to “draconian measures” presumably referred to Gonzalez, who advocates for stricter enforcement of policies related to public camping and drug use.
