Portland’s Housing Crisis Intensifies; City Council Calls for Action on ICE Tear Gas Use

Housing Crisis Deepens in Portland

Portland, Oregon, is grappling with a severe housing affordability crisis. A recent analysis reveals that nearly 90% of homes in the Portland metro area are unaffordable to households earning the median income of $95,000. This rate surpasses the national average of 75%, highlighting the acute nature of the problem in the region. Contributing factors include persistently high home prices, elevated mortgage rates, and a significant shortage of housing supply. In response, Governor Tina Kotek set a target in 2023 to build 36,000 new homes annually, particularly in the Portland and Willamette Valley regions. However, the lack of new housing construction continues to exacerbate the affordability gap, making it a pressing concern for both voters and policymakers.

City Council Calls for Action on ICE’s Use of Tear Gas

In a recent development, Portland City Councilors Angelita Morillo and Mitch Green have urged Mayor Keith Wilson to take decisive action against federal immigration agencies, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), for allegedly violating city codes by deploying tear gas in residential areas. The councilors are pressing the mayor to enforce a new city law that allows for the imposition of fees on agencies that use chemical weapons affecting local neighborhoods. This demand comes amid ongoing protests near an ICE facility, which have intensified following recent incidents involving federal agents, including the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and the wounding of two individuals in Portland. Mayor Wilson has yet to publicly respond, but a city spokesperson affirmed the administration’s commitment to community safety and accountability.

Sources

• Portland’s housing crisis squeezes middle-income buyers
• Portland city councilors urge mayor to act on ICE tear gas use