Nov 1, 2024 - Politics

What Mingus Mapps would do first as Portland's next mayor

Meira Gebel

A photo of a person wearing a blue button down short and black-rimmed glasses crossing their hands and smiling. — Mingus Mapps' campaign has focused on providing basic services to residents. Photo: Courtesy of Kat Berbari/Street Roots

Mingus Mapps, who sits on the Portland City Council, was the first candidate to announce their bid for the city's next mayor — weeks before even Mayor Ted Wheeler said he wouldn't seek reelection. But that doesn't mean he's ahead.

State of play: Mapps' campaign to paint himself as a practical, moderate choice focused on providing "core services" to residents has largely played in the background compared to his more well-funded rivals.

Some downtown business associations and labor unions who supported his run for City Council in 2020 have also slipped away.

Axios asked the five candidates for mayor who've qualified for public matching funds the same question: What's the first policy you'd enact or change in office?

Here's what Mapps said.

Top issue: Homelessness

What he's saying: "I would direct the city administrator to develop a citywide plan within 30 days for how to eliminate street camping in my first year as mayor."

He said that this could be made possible if Multnomah County provides rental and housing vouchers for people living in safe rest villages to move into more permanent housing.
"This will allow us to have SRV vacancies and continue to help people off of the streets and into support services."

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What Mingus Mapps would do first as Portland's next mayor

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