File Photo / Tim Greenway
Quincy Hentzel
July 2, 2025
Portland chamber urges 'immediate action' on downtown cleanup, safety measures
Photo / Renee Cordes
An online petition from the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce calls on city officials to restore safety, cleanliness and vitality to the downtown Congress Street/Arts District corridor.
Sounding the alarm about a “crisis” in Portland’s Congress Street corridor and Arts District, the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce is circulating an online petition demanding that the city take steps to make the area cleaner and safer.
The petition, addressed to Mayor Mark Dion and City Council members ahead of two regularly scheduled meetings on July 14, demands “swift, coordinated action to restore safety, cleanliness and vitality" for the well-being of all those who live, work and spend time in downtown.
“This critical part of our city is facing significant challenges — public drug use, unsanitary conditions and disorderly behavior that put people at risk, strain small businesses and erode trust in the health of our public spaces,” the petition notes. The chamber emailed it to members along with a photograph of discarded drug needles and other trash on the ground.
As of Thursday morning, 450 people had signed the petition, according to Quincy Hentzel, the chamber's president and CEO.
She said the initiative was sparked by deep concerns from members about the growing impact of drug-related activity and crime downtown and the lack of meaningful action to address those challenges.
“Congress Street has long been the beating heart of a vibrant, safe and thriving city,” she said in a statement emailed to Mainebiz. “Today, that is at risk as public safety concerns and rising vacancies create real hardships for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
“We believe this is a pivotal moment for Portland — one that calls for thoughtful, compassionate and coordinated leadership,” she continued. “We know that lasting solutions require collaboration, and we are committed to working alongside our community partners to ensure that all voices are heard. Together, we can support a downtown that is safe, welcoming and thriving for everyone.”
Demands
The petition is intended for Portland residents, workers, business owners and visitors alike.
It calls on city officials to increase foot patrols and community policing and to fund expanded sanitation and maintenance, including evening cleanup and better restroom access; and support Portland Downtown’s Ambassador Program launched this week to remove graffiti and assist locals and tourists who may feel unsafe.
To implement these efforts, the petition asks the Council to establish a task force to set measurable goals and provide regular public updates during City Council meetings.
“We need to ensure Congress Street works better for everyone: residents, business owners, workers, visitors and our most vulnerable neighbors,” the petition says.
City's goal's
The City Council is scheduled to hold two meetings on one day to accommodate summer vacation schedules, though the agenda has not yet been finalized.
At a heated City Council meeting in April, business owners and local residents called attention to a downtown crime wave, with longtime restaurateur David Turin lamenting the "hostile and expensive environment in which to operate a restaurant."
File Photo / Courtesy of City of Portland
Danielle West
A proposed ordinance recently approved by the Council's Housing and Economic Development Committee aims to promote the use of vacant storefronts for locally sourced art.
The City Council also recently approved a recommendation to create an interest-free loan product aimed at supporting investment in downtown storefronts.
"When issues related to safety and quality-of-life issues on Monument Square were raised by local business, we took those concerns seriously," City Manager Danielle West said in a June 24 press release. "Together with Portland Downtown, our goal is that Monument Square and Congress Street are safe, clean and an attractive destination for workers, residents and visitors."
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