Portland Mayor Keith Wilson talks up Rose City resurgence at State of City speech

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson laid out a rosy vision for Portland’s future in his State of the City address Friday evening.

“Can we all agree that Portland is getting its main character energy back?” Wilson asked an audience of more than 100 seated in Portland State University’s Hoffman Hall Friday night.

“That’s why I’m here to say that Portland is in a state of resurgence and renewal.”

Fourteen months into office, Wilson shared an optimistic, self-assured take on the Rose City’s rebound in response to homelessness, public safety, economic recovery and federal overreach. Yet he painted his first year as “the toughest I have ever experienced.”

“This job demands a lot, and not just of the mind and hands, but of heart,” he said, nodding to business closures, deadly shootings, and President Donald Trump’s attempt to send the National Guard to Portland.

Wilson entered office with lofty ambitions to end the homelessness crisis on Portland’s streets and spur economic growth after the pandemic-era decline. While the number of people experiencing homelessness has increased in the region, Wilson was able to find money to open more than 1,500 overnight shelter beds. The city is still lagging in attracting new businesses and residents, leading to declining tax revenues that have hurt the city’s bottom line.

On Monday, Wilson will release a budget plan to address a projected $169 million budget shortfall.

“We can be afraid of this number, or we can be determined to work together to forge our future,” Wilson said Friday. “The stakes are so high.”

Here’s what Wilson said about the city’s top issues, its future and more.

City budget

Wilson committed to funding several programs and positions in his budget. That includes not closing any Portland Fire & Rescue station, a concern that firefighters have raised for months. He pledged not to cut any officer or investigator positions in the Portland Police Bureau. And he promised to keep “every park and community center” open. Last year, Wilson proposed significant staffing cuts to the Parks Bureau in order to keep community centers open.

Unions representing city staff have spent the past three months urging Wilson to not use layoffs as a tool to balance the budget. On Friday, he made a point to recognize all the city employees in attendance.

“Do you know who keeps those promises of renewal, of prosperity, of safety, and of a better future?” Wilson asked the audience. “It’s not the mayor, it’s not me. It’s City of Portland employees.”

He did not say whether his budget will cut jobs.

Wilson isn’t a stranger to budget crises. He entered office last year with a projected $65 million budget deficit, a gap that ballooned to nearly $130 million to pay for his new shelter plan and unexpected other shelter costs. Last year, Wilson proposed balancing this shortfall with citywide layoffs, program cuts, new fees, and a reliance on temporary outside funding from other governments. City council eventually adopted a $8.6 million budget that preserved much of Wilson’s initial proposal.

Homelessness and housing

Wilson pointed to several numbers that back his homelessness work: a 75% reduction in tents on downtown sidewalks, 100,000 people who’ve used his overnight shelters, 375 people experiencing homelessness that the city has helped connect with family members.

“Drive down Northeast 33rd Drive and tell me what you see,” Wilson said. “Do the same on Foster Road, Marine Drive or Sandy Boulevard. There was once so much suffering. Now, there is a new hope.”

What he didn’t mention is that according to Multnomah County, nearly 3,000 more people are living unsheltered in the county than there were when Wilson took office (the county doesn’t have data for Portland alone).

Wilson also addressed the recent revelations that 7.4% of government-funded affordable housing units sit vacant. He promised that by the end of 2026, that rate will drop to 5.4%.

Economy

Wilson countered the narrative shared by some economists that Portland’s economy is in a “doom loop,” predicting a future “boom loop.”

He pointed to investments from the private sector, like auto magnate Jeff Swickard purchasing the U.S. Bancorp Tower, popularly known as “Big Pink,” and Nike CEO Phil Knight’s $2 billion donation to Oregon Health & Science University.

“If you’re on the fence about economic development in Portland, it’s time to get in the game before you’re left behind,” he said.

Wilson also celebrated his recent pledge to put more than $400 million toward renovating the city-owned Moda Center – a deal made to ensure the Trail Blazers’ new owners don’t relocate the team. The city will soon head into negotiations with Trail Blazers representatives over a new lease agreement for the Moda Center, which will include renovation details and other commitments.

“Portland has a choice for the Moda Center,” he said. “Either we activate it as a world-class facility and a major regional destination, or we let it become an aging, half-used facility in a flyover city.”

“I’m committed to striking the best deal for Moda,” he said, to applause.

Public safety

Various data points indicate that crime is down in Portland, news that Wilson cheered Friday. Homicide rates are down, as are burglaries, car thefts, and shoplifting, he said.

Along with pledging to preserve current police jobs in his budget, Wilson said he intends to add 24 new investigator positions to focus on specific crimes, like human trafficking, domestic violence, vehicular homicides, and more.

He also commended Portland police officers for testifying in federal court against the actions of federal officers against protesters at South Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.

“In one of the most challenging moments in our history, Portland Police took a principled stand against federal overreach,” he said.

He also cheered the public’s response to an October visit by then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“She thought she’d get riots and chaos,” he said. “Instead, she got Portland. She got inflatable animals, naked bike rides, and a public that laughed at her lies and told her to go home.”

New government

Wilson is the first mayor to oversee the city’s new form of government, which went into effect last year. While debate over the way it’s rolled out has been central to discussion in and outside of City Hall this past year, Wilson didn’t spend any time evaluating the new system’s strengths and weaknesses.

He did thank the new 12-person city council for their work, and called out some councilors by name.

Notably, Wilson praised policies by every city councilor who isn’t part of the council’s so-called progressive caucus. (Since that six-person “Peacock” caucus formed last year, some members have stopped attending caucus meetings to avoid critique – but all six remain the most left-leaning voices on council). He did thank two progressive caucus members, Council President Jamie Dunphy, for stepping into the president’s role earlier this year.

The city’s progressive councilors have been consistently more critical of Wilson’s approach to addressing the city’s top issues.

Wilson closed his speech by quoting former Mayor Vera Katz.

“Vera said, ‘When we don’t address the problems in front of us, it sends a message of helplessness,’” said Wilson. “I want you to know, we are no longer helpless in the city of Portland.”