Committee hears debate on $750,000 Portland Downtown ambassador proposal amid concerns about effectiveness and overlap

Portland Downtown presented a proposal on May 8 to fund an ambassador program intended to increase outreach, cleanup and safety-focused engagement in downtown Portland. The Finance Committee heard the proposal and extensive public comment both in favor and opposed.

Carrie Tyson, executive director of Portland Downtown, said the program would add staff to perform outreach, trash and needle pick-up, graffiti abatement on private property (with a waiver), and coordination with social-service partners. Tyson said the ambassadors would be non-police, trained staff who will report interactions via technology and partner with social-service providers. She said the organization has contracted with Street Plus for program operations and that the pilot is expected to start in July.

Tyson described the program as adding about 352 staff-hours per week of outreach and operating a roster of ambassadors, a special projects person and an operations supervisor; Portland Downtown also plans to pay 50% of two additional public-works team positions that will remain city employees. Tyson said the program will allow Portland Downtown to operate on private property (with a signed waiver on file) and perform services that city public-works crews cannot, such as private-property trash removal.

Portland Downtown said the program would be funded by the downtown district assessment — a special assessment paid by property owners in the downtown district — and that the proposed ambassador budget increase is about $750,000 for the district. Tyson and board members present described ambassadors’ duties as focused on cleaning, outreach and connecting people to services; they also said ambassadors will not replace current public-works staff but will fill service gaps, especially later in the day.

Councilors asked for performance metrics and data collection plans. Tyson agreed to provide peer-city data and frequent reporting; she said Portland Downtown will produce regular reports and can provide monthly updates during rollout, and that peer programs often lead to reductions in police calls in other cities by emphasizing engagement versus displacement.

Speakers at the public-comment period expressed sharply divided views. Annika Moore of Preble Street and a licensed social-services commenter recommended the council decline funding for the ambassador program and instead direct money to evidence-based homelessness solutions (shelter beds, housing navigation, day shelter and substance-use interventions). A licensed clinical social worker testified that the program risks displacing vulnerable people and that Portland needs more housing and evidence-based interventions. By contrast, Jillian West, a member of the Portland Downtown board and a downtown property representative, said the assessment funds are the property owners’ funds, that property owners are willing to pay, and that downtown businesses are losing tenants because of perceived safety issues.

Other public commenters asked for more transparent budget backup and outreach to property owners explaining the assessment increase. Steven Scharf and others raised concerns that the Downtown Portland materials and budget detail were not provided to the public before the presentation and urged more outreach to district property owners about assessment impacts.

No formal appropriation was taken at the committee meeting. Tyson said the organization would welcome partners (such as Visit Portland or the Chamber) to expand the program and anticipated providing performance metrics and monthly reporting during the pilot.