Portland Ballot to Have 13 Referendum Questions this November

This fall, Portland voters will be asked to support or oppose 13 referendum questions. As recently noted by our friends at the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce (PRCC), these 13 questions will include provisions that would:

• Institute the 3rd highest minimum wage in the country, behind only two communities in California.

• Eliminate the tipped credit, which would imperil Portland’s world-renowned food and beverage industry by dramatically increasing restaurant prices and harming employees that currently make over $40/hr in tips.

• Double down on the failed rent control policy, which has invited the largest rent increases in our city’s history while discouraging investment in our city’s housing stock.

• Eliminate cruise ships from Portland, threatening the revenues that make our small business community and working waterfront viable.

• Drastically reduce the number of short-term rentals in Portland, punishing local homeowners trying to make ends meet and pay ever-increasing property taxes.

• Install a boss mayor in Portland, who could override the democratic will of our elected City Council with a veto pen, hire and fire city staff, issue executive orders, all while receiving a double-digit pay increase over the current mayoral salary.

MEREDA is working closely with the PRCC and other allies to build opposition to the proposals and begin getting out the word to voters. With early voting taking a more prominent role in the election process, we will need to move quickly and collectively if we are to succeed in defeating this radical agenda, and in building momentum against referenda as a governance method – it’s bad for Portland, and it’s bad for Maine.

The order and language of the questions has not yet been set. Members will receive more information very soon. Please keep an eye on your inboxes for ways you can help get involved in this fight.