This is the third in a new series of monthly emails from Mayor, Kate Snyder

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March 21, 2021

Dear All,

Hello again. The days are longer, the sun is higher and stronger, the temps in Portland, Maine are warmer, and since I'm over 50, I have an appointment for my first Covid-19 vaccine shot next week. There is light...
But there is darkness, too. Too much of it. This past Tuesday, eight people were killed in Atlanta and nearby Cherokee County, Georgia. Six of the victims were of Asian descent. Seven were women. ([link removed])
My friend and colleague, Portland City Councilor Tae Chong, a longtime public servant, advocate for marginalized communities, an Asian American himself, shares his thoughts, reactions and feelings. Click here to get to his Facebook page. ([link removed]) Please take the time to read his posts. Suffice it to say, he's mad...because there's too much racism, too much injustice, there's too much discrimination, in too many directions and by too many. Tae is right. (And, If you’re interested in seeing the Council's press release issued on the heels of this horrific event, click here ([link removed]) .)

Expo becomes Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic:
If you didn’t see the news coverage of the James A. Banks Sr. Exposition Center becoming a Covid-19 vaccination site, here you go. ([link removed]) These days there are well over 1,000 people being vaccinated each day of operation, with continued ramp up expected. Many thanks to the State of Maine, Northern Light/Mercy, and the City of Portland for making this resource available and accessible to so many people in Portland, and in the region.

Biden's American Rescue Plan - what will it mean for Portland?
We are still learning more each day about the ARP and what it means specifically to individual Maine individuals, Maine families, businesses, our state, towns, and cities. There will be a discussion item on this Thursday's City Council Finance Committee agenda entitled: CORONAVIRUS LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. (Agenda link later in this email.)
There's so much within the ARP, way too much for my monthly email (which has already become quite long as I draft...). Among many, one element of particular interest is a guaranteed universal income for families with children. I encourage you to listen to The Daily from March 9th entitled: A Safety Net for American Children ([link removed]) . "The child tax credit is an income guarantee for American families with children. It will provide a monthly check of up to $300 per child — no matter how many children. This kind of guarantee had long been dismissed by many American lawmakers as European socialism. It would cut the child poverty rate nearly in half, and by more than half for African-American children. It’s a universal benefit, but it disproportionately helps families at the bottom."

Monthly Zoom:
Please join me at my Monthly Zoom #3 - Monday, March 29, 2021 at Noon.
March 29th Zoom Meeting Link Here (Join%20Zoom%20Meeting%20https:/us02web.zoom.us/j/87861507949?pwd=SjFnS0ZiUTd4RWovL1VDRnU5eGVaUT09) .
In addition to opportunities to engage at Council meetings, Council Committee meetings, via email, phone, through the Portland Alliance of Neighborhoods, etc., my Monthly Zoom is a way that I am available to hear from and talk with anyone who wants to join me.
The meeting is scheduled from Noon-1pm. Please feel free to drop in and drop out as you're able. However, if the meeting comes to a natural end before the full hour, we will end the meeting early.

Here are some quick City of Portland, and City Council updates.

Munjoy Hill Historic District Designation
The MHHD will be reconsidered at the City Council's upcoming Monday, April 5th meeting. A PPH article on the reconsideration of the proposed designation. ([link removed])

Fiscal Year 2022 Budget (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022)
The City Council unanimously passed the FY22 Capital Improvement Plan budget on March 15th.
FMI see CIP agenda documents here. ([link removed])
This Thursday, the City Council's Finance Committee will meet jointly with the Portland Public Schools regarding their FY22 budget development process.As mentioned above, there will also be a discussion of the ARP and its impacts to Covid-19 relief efforts. Agenda for this Thursday's Finance Committee Meeting is here. ([link removed])

Portland and South Portland Police Undertake Proactive Comprehensive Analysis of Policing Activities ([link removed])
The cities of Portland and South Portland have embarked on a comprehensive and historical analysis of their respective police departments’ arrests, summonses, citations and uses of force to ascertain whether either of the departments have engaged in disproportionate enforcement activities. The cities are contracting with the University of Southern Maine’s Cutler Institute and Northeastern University’s Institute on Race and Justice in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. The project will be funded by the two cities and Northeastern University’s Roux Institute based in Portland.

Revalue Portland! (link to page on City of Portland website) ([link removed])
The City Council held a Workshop on March 8th regarding property revaluations. To watch the Workshop, click here. ([link removed])
Discussions about the Reval will be ongoing - and I will likely be sending some emails specific to news on this front; it will have significant impacts.

Charter Commission (link to resource page on City of Portland website) ([link removed])
Nine people will be elected to the Portland Charter Commission on June 8th. Please plan to vote that day!
Information about taking out Nomination Papers is here. ([link removed]) The deadline to become a candidate is March 29th.
To check in on who has taken out papers so far, go here. ([link removed])

Thank you for your continued diligence to Stay the Course ([link removed]) . While the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter, Maine is experiencing an uptick in the number of cases - especially among younger people.
Please continue to physically distance and wear masks. And, please schedule your vaccination as soon as you're eligible. The State of Maine's website is a good source for up to date vaccination eligibility info, vaccine clinic locations, and appointment portals. ([link removed])

We're in this together, Portland.
Kate Snyder

Some Basics:

Council Meetings: The Portland City Council meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month. In the case of a Monday holiday, we typically meet the next Wednesday. In the case of school vacation weeks, we typically push the meeting by a week. Agendas and Info, go here. ([link removed])

Council Committee Meetings: There are five Council Committees: Finance, Health & Human Services & Public Safety, Sustainability & Transportation, Housing & Economic Development, and Legislative & Nominating. For Committee Meeting Info, go here. ([link removed])

Racial Equity Steering Committee: Established in August, 2020, the RESC typically meets weekly. For more information, click here ([link removed]) .

On July 14, 2020 Election, City of Portland voters approved creating a Charter Commission to open up review of the City’s Charter (think: Portland’s Constitution). The election of members will be in June, 2021. Up to date info is here ([link removed])

To sign up for the City’s Weekly E-Newsletter, the Friday News Round Up, please click here ([link removed]) and subscribe to the ‘City News’ group.


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Mayor Kate Snyder . 389 Congress St . Portland, ME 04101-3566 . USA

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