Re: “Commentary: A cautionary tale for Portland about ‘strong’ mayors” (April 15):

Jon Hinck’s “cautionary tale” of the potential perils of electing a strong mayor misses the forest for the trees. The argument for altering the makeup of our city government doesn’t hinge on the belief that doing so will automatically achieve positive reform; rather, it lays the groundwork for the arduous process of instituting and enshrining the policies that Portlanders want. An elected mayor is accountable to the people – an unelected city manager is not.

The charter commission provides us with the opportunity to create political and physical infrastructure that will ensure our future is shaped by the people who live here – not the political and business elites.

To that end: It’s time to institute clean elections and resident voting, so that everyone can fully participate in shaping our city’s future.

It’s time to give communities greater say in their future by instituting participatory budgeting practices and expanding the City Council.

It’s time to take back control of our public utilities from monopoly interests and create a municipally owned broadband and electric utility.

And yes, it’s time to reclaim executive control of this city and make all our leaders democratically accountable to the people who live here: not because we believe that a strong-mayor system is the end-all-be-all, but because we recognize it to be a necessary part of the foundation for positive change.

Glen Gallik
principal officer, DSA for a People First Charter
Portland