City boosts settlement for displacement of Black Portlanders
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City councilors voted unanimously on Thursday to more than quadruple a settlement payout to Black Portlanders who were displaced from the Albina neighborhood over the last six decades.
Why it matters: The settlement comes after a federal lawsuit filed by descendants of residents who were displaced by urban renewal policies dating back to the 1960s.
Catch up quick: The lawsuit, filed in 2022 by 26 descendants of those who were displaced, alleged that the city, its economic development agency, and Emanuel Legacy Medical Center systematically drove more than 150 Black residents from their homes in the name of urban renewal and hospital expansion.
The latest: The city originally reached a settlement of $2 million last month and agreed to return two parcels of land to the plaintiffs. Councilor Loretta Smith on Thursday proposed increasing that settlement to $8.5 million.
- "We have a new council today. We have new ears. We have new eyes. And our response must be deliberate, comprehensive, and rooted in fairness and justice," Loretta said at the meeting, noting Portland's new system of government.
- The lawsuit will be dismissed as part of the settlement.
Between the lines: Several parties to the lawsuit testified to the council on the importance of the settlement, OPB reported.
- "What we are here for is redress, the acknowledgement of harm that includes a reversal from that practice and includes the true and proper compensation for that victimization," said Royal Harris, who was born near the hospital.
What they're saying: Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney, who represents the neighborhood, acknowledged that the settlement was only a small step in making amends for the damage caused by urban renewal.
- "If we're serious about rebuilding trust in this city, we can't stop here," she said in a statement. "We must continue to act — with transparency, with accountability, and with urgency — to repair the harm and co-create a stronger, more just future."
What's next: The city will pay $7.5 million of the settlement. Prosper Portland, the economic development agency, will pay the remainder.
- The city's portion of the payout will be distributed across all bureaus, but it was unclear when the payouts would be made. A press release said the city will "assess financial options and explore potential pathways forward.
- The city will also declare a Descendants Day starting this year and for at least the next five years, per a clause in the settlement.