Portland Anti-Gun Violence Pilot Program Shows Results: Hardesty

PORTLAND, OR — Last year, the people who lived in the Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood were increasingly frustrated. And afraid.

They didn't need stats from the police bureau to know that the community was growing more dangerous. They didn't need to be told that shootings had increased 251 percent in the area in 2021 over 2019.

They could hear it every night as they stayed inside as gunfire would pepper the evening.

Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty listened to their concerns and listened as they talked about how cars would speed through the area, sometimes leaving shells behind as they fired at people, building, and cars.

Residents had an idea that really got Hardesty's attention – put traffic barrels around to slow traffic.

Hardesty oversees the Transportation Bureau. She ordered them to start placing large traffic barrels in a 36-square block area by Mt. Scott Park.

On Tuesday, Hardesty and other officials held a news conference to tout the program's initial success, releasing data from its first three months – October through December 2021.

"My office got involved in this neighborhood after a group of community members reached out to my office with an idea in response to the rapid uptick in violence," Hardesty said.

Hardesty said that in addition to the traffic barrels from PBOT, the community got assistance for other bureau as well. Parks & Recreation fixed broken lights in Mt. Scott Park and increased ranger patrols.

The rangers also worked with the police bureau to provide enhanced coverage of the area

The results were noticeable.

The police bureau says that the community saw 64 percent fewer shootings in the first three months compared to the three months before the program started.

Also, the number of shootings involving victims also decreased compared to the rest of the city.

City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, who oversees Parks & Recreation, praised the program.

"I'm open to hearing from other parks-adjacent neighborhoods interested in similar pilot programs," she said.

Hardesty said that while "the early results are promising," they don't have enough data yet to fully assess how successful the program is, if at all.

"I know people are scared," she said. "the amount of gun violence we have witnessed last year and so far in 2022 is unacceptable.

"From the data I have seen and the conversations I have had, I want to continue this pilot in Mt. Scott and beyond."

The city's Community Safety Transition Director, Mike Myers, agrees.

"Continuing this pilot project will allow the team to properly evaluate the program's effectiveness over the next several months," he said.