It's been a rambunctious week at Portland City Hall, with huge implications for the direction of Portland's politics for decades to come. Here's what you need to know. 

Is this about the new voting district maps?

Kind of. Last fall, Portlanders voted to increase Portland’s city council members from four to 12, to allow voters to vote for three candidates (ranked in order of preference), and to remove mayoral veto power (though the mayor can still break tied votes). These were the first city charter changes in 110 years. 

What are the proposed voting districts? 

There are four new city voting districts, each with three council members. An independent redistricting commission of citizen volunteers is ironing out the logistics, such as the geographical boundaries of those districts. The three maps below are up for consideration, and they are all similar. The two areas of debate: which parts of the inner east side should join a voting block with residents of northwest and southwest Portland, and where should the the northern line separating the southeastern district lie. The deadline for the public to submit feedback on the maps is Saturday July 22.

What happened this week? 

A lot. Half of Portland's city commissioners (that's Portland-speak for two city councilors) proposed a fall 2023 ballot measure that would undo what voters already approved: mainly, increase council members from four to eight instead of 12, change the style of ranked choice voting, and return veto power to the mayor. 

Dozens of pissed off protesters gathered outside City Hall and made their displeasure with Commissioners Rene Gonzalez and Dan Ryan known. Among city council and those invited to testify, irritated back-and-forths ensued. 

Both Ryan and Gonzalez backtracked Thursday, saying they would no longer pursue the alterations, but might try to restore the mayor's veto power in a ballot measure next spring. 

Why does this matter?

No backsies. Portlanders already decided to change the city's form of governance, with 58 percent of ballots cast in favor of charter reform in the November 2022 election. Voters clearly opted to lessen the individual power of the mayor and councilors.  

What's next?  

The redistricting commission will consider public feedback gathered online and in a series of eight meetings this month. They'll vote on the best map plan in August and submit their favorite to the city council for approval. The approved map will be used to elect 12 members to city council in 2024. We'll be reaching for our popcorn.