Portland ombudsman flags fire-safety gaps, predatory towing and persistent homeowner liens in midyear report

City Ombudsman Jennifer Croft told the Portland City Council on Sept. 4 that her office’s midyear work documented lapses in fire-safety plan documentation at the Cherry Blossom Townhomes, widely disparate private-request towing charges, and continuing liens on owner-occupied properties that remain at about $11 million.

"I am the city ombudsman and I am glad to be here today to talk about what we've been up to in the first half of this year," Croft said during the presentation delivered with City Auditor Simone Reddy. Croft said the office is an independent, impartial advocate that takes complaints from anyone who feels the city has harmed them or treated them unfairly and that it sometimes elevates findings to deputy city administrators.

The ombudsman’s investigation of Cherry Blossom Townhomes, an affordable southeast Portland complex built by Habitat for Humanity, found that Portland Fire & Rescue poorly documented decisions during the plan-approval process and sent mixed messages to homeowners who raised fire-safety concerns. Croft said residents’ practice of…