Portland council declares climate emergency, puts ranked-choice voting expansion on ballot
Although they deferred action on several items, Portland city councilors unanimously backed a resolution on climate change that was supported by a large contingent of young people who spoke out at a meeting on Monday.
They passed a resolution declaring a climate emergency, with a demand that the state and federal government end greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. South Portland passed a similar resolution in October.
Councilors also placed an amendment to the City Charter on the March 3, 2020, ballot that would extend ranked-choice voting to City Council and School Board elections. Ranked choice has been used to elect the city’s mayor since 2011.
Public comment on recommended policy goals for a new shelter took up the bulk of the more than five-hour meeting, but the council deferred action on that until Dec. 16. It also postponed discussion of a proposed ban on facial recognition software until Jan. 6, 2020.
Read more: https://portlandphoenix.me/council-declares-climate-emergency-puts-ranked-choice-voting-extension-on-ballot/