Election Security: NWCC Recommendations
Dear NWCC Community and Pearl District Businesses and Residents,
My name is Chase McPherson, and I am the Executive Director of Northwest Community Conservancy (NWCC), a nonprofit in the Pearl District. NWCC has been working for the past two years on the safety, liability, and business development and advocacy of the Pearl. With the election quickly approaching, I am reaching out beyond our membership—our whole community could be affected. For the past month, I have been meeting with various city employees, PPB officers, DA, OSP, and others on potential issues related to our election on Nov 5th and beyond.
I first want to point out that we are not dealing with the same issues that happened in 2020. We are not in a worldwide pandemic that locked people in their homes with nothing else to do and nowhere else to go. We are not dealing with the summer of 2020 protests that rocked the trust of police to an all-time low.
Also, the election results will likely take time, giving people a better chance not to have an instant gut reaction that they would later regret. We are all preparing for the worst but very hopeful for the best.
The outreach presentation by the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) was part of a meeting I attended, where we discussed “next steps” to address potential issues surrounding the elections.
A few key points:
The DA elect was in attendance and adamant that anyone breaking the law will face consequences.
All PPB officers are on call, and 911 operators will be staffing up for the coming week.
Oregon State Police is on call, and the city finally reached agreements with several surrounding cities to allow those police to take over the day-to-day 911 calls should protests take up PPB's force.
The city also created a website, Business Preparedness Resources, to help businesses prepare for any issues. I highly recommend reviewing the website, which includes a way to sign up for alerts, best practices, preparation tools, and contacts after something happens. Both businesses and residents will get a lot of good information. Link to website: https://www.readypdx.org
Member Action Steps
If you are a member, please call the hotline for help.
Add the hotline number as a contact in your phone.
Echelon is adding more patrols during that week. However, during any protest or march, our team (Echelon/NWCC) is not the police; they can only observe and report.
If you see any crime in process, call 911!
While the PPB is working to prevent problems, the city is prepared to assist with cleanup and do so promptly. No one wants to reverse the progress made in the Pearl District, downtown, and the city to improve its image. There is still much work to be done, and we certainly do not want to return to the days of boarded-up buildings and a desolate landscape.
Thank you to all who make the Pearl District a wonderful, diverse, and welcoming community!
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Thank you,
Chase
Executive Director
NWCC Recommendations:
Basic principles regarding security for condo HOAs for management company employees and owners/renters.
Normal Daily Operations:
1. Be sure all doors are secured 24 hours a day and all cameras are functioning properly; the management company employee is responsible for this action.
2. Never open the doors for someone you don't know who lives here, or allow them to follow someone in, and require them to communicate through the call box.
3. Call the hotline when you see inappropriate activity around the building, including sidewalks and commercial spaces. If it's serious, first call 911 and then the hotline. Try to capture video or camera shots of the person(s) creating the issue.
4. If a non-resident person tries to get in, even if they fail, file a police report using the Intrusion Summary created by NWCC. Link to Intrusion Summary
5. Regularly communicate with residents on how to use the hotline and online tent reporting form and not to leave keys or fobs in their cars
Escalated Events such as Marches:
1. Create an on-site team of volunteers working with E-Prep leadership and the Management company employees to have a center of command.
2. Secure all loose items outside the building inside, such as A-signs, rocks, newspaper stands, etc.
3. Inform residents that 2-3 people will make hotline calls so we don't overload the system.
4. Post a person at the garage door to prevent intruders and notify residents to minimize ingress and egress from the building.
5. Have a plan in place if windows are broken to ensure they are boarded up promptly.
Building Intrusions and Related Vandalism/Crime:
1. Call 911 and then the NWCC hotline.
2. Follow the procedures in the Intrusion Summary created by NWCC.
3. Have a plan in place if windows are broken to be sure they are boarded up promptly.
Emergencies such as Fire, Flood and Earthquakes:
1. Call 911 and the hotline and then the NWCC hotline.
2. Inform residents that 2-3 people will make hotline calls so we don't overload the system.
3. Create an on-site team of volunteers working with E-Prep leadership and the management company employees to have a center of command.
4. Assess the extent of damages with photos and a summary report.
5. Notify insurance broker immediately.
About Northwest Community Conservancy (NWCC)
NWCC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization formed to address the Pearl District’s growing challenges and enhance safety and livability for all who live, work, play, and learn in the Pearl District neighborhood. NWCC’s humanitarian first provides essential services to help individuals transition from living on the streets to shelters. NWCC partners with the Pearl District Neighborhood Association and Adopt One Block, keeping the neighborhood clean. For public safety, NWCC collaborates with the Portland Police Bureau and Pacific Echelon to further enhance security in the community.
For more information, contact Chase McPherson: chase@nwccpdx.org
