Tell Multnomah County to prioritize public safety

Dear Chair Vega Pederson and Multnomah County Commissioners,

I am writing to express my concern over proposed cuts to the District Attorney’s budget and urge you to support fully funding DA Vasquez’s requested budget.  Our community has faced record crime in nearly all categories during the last decade. Since 2024, Multnomah County is finally starting to see crime decrease and livability increase.

The proposed county budget threatens to derail these efforts.

Nearly 11,000 vehicles were stolen in 2020. It was the most stolen cars in a single year in Oregon history. The Auto Theft Task Force, which was started by the former DA, has helped lead to the lowest number of car thefts in the past decade.

I urge you to restore the proposed cuts to the DA budget and add an additional position within the DA’s budget to continue and grow the critical work of the task force. When someone’s car is stolen, it isn’t just an inconvenience – it is often a life altering event. When people can’t get to work, or get to their children, life stops.

Thank you again for standing up for local government’s basic responsibility to protect public safety and keep our communities safe. Once again, I urge you to support the District Attorney’s requested budget. Nothing less than our future is at stake.

Sincerely,

I am here today to express my concern over proposed cuts to the District Attorney’s budget and urge you to support fully funding DA Vasquez’s requested budget.  Our community has faced record crime in nearly all categories during the last decade. Since 2024, Multnomah County is finally starting to see crime decrease and livability increase.

The proposed county budget threatens to derail these efforts.

Nearly 11,000 vehicles were stolen in 2020. It was the most stolen cars in a single year in Oregon history. The Auto Theft Task Force, which was started by the former DA, has helped lead to the lowest number of car thefts in the past decade.

I urge you to restore the proposed cuts to the DA budget and add additional funding to grow the critical work of the task force. When someone’s car is stolen, it isn’t just an inconvenience – it is often a life altering event. When people can’t get to work, or get to their children, life stops.

Thank you again for standing up for local government’s basic responsibility to protect public safety and keep our communities safe. Once again, I urge you to support the District Attorney’s requested budget. Nothing less than our future is at stake. 

Thank you for your time today.

Dear Chair Vega Pederson and Multnomah County Commissioners, 

I am writing to express my concern over proposed cuts to the District Attorney’s budget and urge you to support fully funding DA Vasquez’s requested budget.  Our community has faced record crime in nearly all categories during the last decade. Since 2024, Multnomah County is finally starting to see crime decrease and livability increase.

The proposed county budget threatens to derail these efforts.

During the past four years, shoplifting and other retail theft was at its highest in over a decade. DA Vasquez, and the Organized Retail Theft Task Force are working hard to protect our retailers and hold shoplifters accountable. Yet after years of free reign, it will require tremendous effort to turn the tide. Now is not the time to cut this critical component of our public safety system.

DA Vasquez is asking for additional funding to hire additional prosecutors for the Retail Theft Task Force. It was not included in the Chair’s budget. I urge you to fund these new positions on behalf of our community and ensuring we build on the progress we have made in this area.

Thank you again for standing up for local government’s basic responsibility to protect public safety and keep our communities safe. Once again, I urge you to support the District Attorney’s requested budget. Nothing less than our future is at stake. 

Sincerely,

I am here today to express my concern over proposed cuts to the District Attorney’s budget and urge you to support fully funding DA Vasquez’s requested budget.  Our community has faced record crime in nearly all categories during the last decade. Since 2024, Multnomah County is finally starting to see crime decrease and livability increase.

The proposed county budget threatens to derail these efforts.

During the past four years, shoplifting and other retail theft was at its highest in over a decade. DA Vasquez, and the Organized Retail Theft Task Force are working hard to protect our retailers and hold shoplifters accountable. Yet after years of free reign, it will require tremendous effort to turn the tide. Now is not the time to cut this critical component of our public safety system.

DA Vasquez is asking for additional funding to support the Retail Theft Task Force and other critical programs in our public safety budget. I urge you invest in the DA’s budget, not cut it.

Thank you again for standing up for local government’s basic responsibility to protect public safety and keep our communities safe. Once again, I urge you to support and grow the District Attorney’s requested budget. Nothing less than our future is at stake. 

Thank you for your time today.

CHAIR

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