My answer to another previous week's Mercury Blogtown question, which I only now have time to post here:

(other candidates' responses here)

"On Wednesday night, January 16, Police Chief Rosie Sizer presented a report on the Racial Profiling Task Force, a group charged with working toward the elimination of racial profiling. Has Portland seen progress in this area? What can be done to further improve police-community relations?"

The Racial Profiling Task Force has not yet completed its work, and the Mercury's own Matt Davis has been asked not to report on its discussions. The very fact that police officers and citizens are sitting in the same room talking about sensitive, important issues shows progress. One thing that can be done to improve police-community relations is for politicians, candidates, and reporters to honor the committee's work by not posturing in the media before their report is completed.

Relationships require mutual respect. In over 20 years of active participation in important Portland issues, I have talked with and listened to many people, both officers and neighborhood folks, all over the city. I have yet to hear anyone say, "Having politicians and candidates make sweeping feel-good or adversarial statements about how to fix society's problems is a really great way to address them". We need only remember the recent controversy over renaming Interstate Avenue to realize that calling people racists is not a good strategy to promote dialogue, understanding, or change in attitudes.

As your City Commissioner, I will respect the work of citizens and staff. I will wait for final reports and public testimony before making decisions, vote to fund and implement actions called for in adopted policies, and demand accountability to make sure the planned improvements are happening. In 2000, when the Council adopted the current structure for processing citizen complaints regarding police performance, an evaluation was promised in one year. That review is only now under way, after repeated reminders by the League of Women Voters and other community groups. If you elect me, I will continue to track pledges made by the Council, and I will be your voice calling for promises to be honored.

Every Portlander deserves basic services, including high levels of public safety for all, provided by adequate numbers of well-trained officers. If elected, I will ensure that the adopted recommendations in the final report of the Racial Profiling Task Force are implemented. Further, I will challenge discrimination and public policies that have led to a decrease in home ownership by African-Americans, inequity in our public schools, and fewer amenities in neighborhoods welcoming minority residents displaced from their homes in "revitalized" Urban Renewal Districts. Racism and prejudices exist in many, even most areas of life in Portland. That is wrong.

I will work for real change throughout the system to eliminate all types of discrimination. Justice must be justice for all, for every person in every part of our city.