Mercury Endorsement: Vote Yes on the Portland Parks Levy

Portland voters only have one decision to make in this November’s special election and it should be a relatively easy one. But that doesn’t mean this year’s special election for a new Portland parks levy is without complexity. We’ll get to those nuances, but first, let’s be clear: the Mercury recommends voting “yes” on the parks levy measure. The main reason to vote in favor? If the levy fails, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) will face a roughly $90 million budget shortfall, forcing major layoffs and service cuts. You’ll likely see neighborhood parks deteriorate as trash collection and bathroom cleanup services are reduced. Community center programming will be slashed. A failure to pass the levy would have long-lasting and far-reaching impacts, putting particular strain on low-income Po