Portland, OR – At the Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit, Governor Tina Kotek shared an optimistic outlook for Portland, reflecting on a year of focused efforts and tangible progress in the city’s recovery. Speaking to a gathering of business, community, and civic leaders, Kotek highlighted the work of the Portland Central City Task Force, a collaborative group of stakeholders that developed recommendations aimed at addressing the city’s most pressing issues.
“Here in Portland, it’s been a busy, very focused year of success,” Kotek said, pointing to key improvements, including a decline in crime and a rise in cooperation among local leaders. “Collaboration is up, and crime is down,” she added, underscoring the positive momentum the city has experienced over the last 12 months.
Kotek also expressed confidence that Portland is on the rise, noting several promising developments on the horizon. Among the most notable is the arrival of a new WNBA team, which Kotek described as a sign of the city’s growing appeal. “The signs of progress are more prominent than ever,” she said, adding that Portland could also be in the running for a Major League Baseball team in the future. “Who knows, maybe a Major League Baseball team as well,” she quipped.
Despite these positive indicators, the governor made it clear that Portland’s recovery is far from complete. “The work is not done,” Kotek remarked, stressing that the city’s success is critical not only for Portland’s residents but for the state of Oregon as a whole. “We all need to stay the course,” she said, calling on continued collaboration and dedication to sustain the progress that has been made.
The governor also emphasized the importance of maintaining ongoing dialogue and cooperation between city and county leadership. Kotek, who began holding twice-monthly meetings with local leaders two years ago, reiterated her commitment to these regular discussions in the coming year. “I will continue into the new year my twice-monthly meetings with city and county leadership,” she said. “That’s something I started two years ago, and I plan to keep it going.”
While Kotek’s remarks were filled with optimism, they also served as a reminder that the path to full recovery for Portland will require sustained effort from all sectors of the community. The governor’s message was clear: Portland’s resurgence is a collaborative effort, and the city’s future success depends on continued focus, cooperation, and commitment to overcoming the challenges that remain.
As the city moves into the new year, the stakes are high for Portland’s future, and Kotek’s call for unity and perseverance signals that the work of rebuilding the city’s vibrancy and stability is just beginning.
