I wrote for The Nation about CAHOOTS & Portland Street Response

Portlanders, testify tomorrow so city council commits to 24-7 services and community oversight

Today I have an essay in the Nation in which I look at how Eugene’s CAHOOTS ignited alternatives to police across the country — and also, sadly, how its relationship with Eugene fell apart so disastrously (but there’s still hope! I cover that at the end …)

I consider elements that make CAHOOTS so special — 911-dispatched, non-coercive, integrates mental health and medical — and also, the funding challenge it had as a contracted nonprofit.

Portland Street Response owes much to CAHOOTS — including the lesson to bring services into the city for good jobs and stability, rather than contract this out. The budget Portland city council passed last week did a lot to stabilize PSR with ongoing funds. But the next *key* step is a city council vote tomorrow. Portlanders, please testify tomorrow for the PSR resolution —

or show up to city hall in your PSR-blues and greens to signal your support. The session is at 1:30.

Why is this city council resolution so important to pass? It commits to

• developing Portland Street Response 24-7. Crises don’t clock-in, clock-out; they happen around-the-clock.

• a non-coercive response. These are non-criminal crises, and people should not be arrested, forced to move, swept. This is a cornerstone for these programs nationwide, but one that has to be constantly defended.

• community input as well as independent evaluations. A challenge until recently is that Portland Street Response has been far more supported by its community than elected leaders. That, thankfully, is changing. But Portland city council needs to recognize and formalize a way for community to develop what it started. Alternative responses programs are burgeoning across the nation, and it’s an exciting time to learn and grow these programs. That shouldn’t happen behind closed doors.

I hope you read this essay in the Nation. I was happy to take a deep-dive on CAHOOTS and Portland Street Response, programs in my home state, and to contribute an analysis of some of what matters in these programs.

Now I am en route to Rochester, NY, and Dayton, Ohio, to write about significant programs in each of these city (as well as statewide legislation to follow in NY …) . So watch for dispatches soon — my goal is to keep you close to the ground with these vanguard programs.

P.S. Indivisible Eastside has published a new guide to the more than 130 first responder programs nationally.