Newsroom

---

• "Records show City Ombudsman received 'unprecedented' volume of employee complaints about Office of Community and Civic Life." Willamette Week. August 31, 2020.

• "Whistleblower reveals serious injuries lax oversight at Central City Concerns Sobering Station." The Oregonian. June 27, 2020.

• "City of Portland sent evicted homeowner to collections over unpaid water bill, sued him twice." KGW 8. January 27, 2020.

• "City leaders call for review of debt collection practices after KGW investigation." KGW 8. December 17, 2019.

• "'It's not a humane system': City of Portland sending low income and homeless to private collection agency." KGW 8. December 16, 2019.

• "Portland has broken its promise to keep neighborhoods safe from demolition contaminants." Willamette Week. November 12, 2019.

• Steve Duin: "A cheap shot from the City of Portland." The Oregonian. November 8, 2019.

• "City investigating Portland firm over possible $2 million fraud." The Oregonian. April 19, 2019.

• Press releases

  • June 7, 2017: Ombudsman Report: 911 Hold Times Longer Than Reported

  • December 21, 2016: Ombudsman Report: Problem with City's Emergency Communications System

  • August 24, 2015: City of Portland Ombudsman Hires New Deputy

  • June 18, 2015: Photos from ceremonial bill signing

    On Wednesday, June 17, 2015, Auditor Mary Hull Caballero and Ombudsman Margie Sollinger were honored to attend Governor Kate Brown's ceremonial bill signing for Senate Bill 584

  • June 18, 2015: Governor Brown Holds Ceremonial Bill Signing for Senate Bill 584, a City of Portland Initiative

  • May 27, 2015: Auditor’s Access to Administrative Justice Ordinance Passes with Unanimous Council Vote

  • April 20, 2015: Auditor to Ask City Council to Remove Barriers to Administrative Justice

  • March 30, 2015: Ombudsman Investigation Leads to Oregon DOJ False Claims Settlement

• News from 2018 and older

  • "'Predatory' parking fines at private lots and garages get closer City scrutiny." The Oregonian. December 19, 2018.

  • Steve Duin: "Waterboarding and the Water Bureau." The Oregonian. September 7, 2018.

  • "Portland 911, at rock bottom, looks to reach the top." The Oregonian. August 25, 2018.

  • "Portland slapped with lawsuit over failed move of homeless camp to Central Eastside site." The Oregonian. August 16, 2018.

  • "Portland demolition rules targeting lead dust, asbestos take effect." The Oregonian. July 12, 2018.

  • "City watchdog says Portland demolition policy undermined by bureaucratic errors." The Oregonian. July 12, 2018.

  • -- Ombudsman's letter referenced by the Willamette Week, June 13, 2018.

  • "Portland's failed homeless camp move to Central Eastside threatens longtime business." The Oregonian. June 13, 2018.

  • "City regulators let developers use fake names." Willamette Week. June 13, 2018.

  • "Calculated Risk: A New Chapter of Accountability at City Hall." The Portland Mercury. May 23, 2018.

  • Articles following Ombudsman and Office of Equity and Human Rights Letter of Concern regarding Local Transportation Infrastructure Charge (LTIC) - December 2017

    Article as recent as December 20, 2017.

  • Articles following Ombudsman's Response to West Quadrant Stakeholder Advisory Committee Complaint. October 21, 2015.

    Article as recent as September 2017.

  • "Proposed city rules could change demolition of old Portland homes." Portland Tribune. September 15, 2017.

  • Steve Duin: "A 'silent coup' at City Hall." The Oregonian. August 25, 2017.

  • Articles, videos, and radio interview in response to Ombudsman Report: 911 Hold Times Longer Than Reported. June 7, 2017.

  • "City government's culture of dismiss and deny in the face of criticism: Editorial Agenda 2017." The Oregonian: Editorial Board. March 31, 2017.

  • "Portland homeowners could have to cut down city's trees." The Oregonian. March 1, 2017.

  • Articles and videos in response to Ombudsman Report: Problem with City's Emergency Communications System. December 21, 2016.

  • "Downtown Property Owner Greg Goodman is Getting the Right to Build Taller - From a Planning Committee He's On." Willamette Week. December 9, 2015.

  • "Ombudsman's report finds citizen advisers should have declared their financial interests." The NW Examiner. November 2015.

  • "Can you still fight City Hall? Well, yes, but almost nobody knows how; ombudsman wants to change that." Portland Tribune. October 29, 2015.

  • "Park Bloc: A City Ranger's Private Security Firm is Being Paid to Patrol a Park." The Portland Mercury. August 24, 2015.

  • "Park Rangers Supervisor on Paid Leave After Ombudsman Opens Investigation: Questions concern a contract awarded to the employee's private company." Willamette Week. August 24, 2015.

  • Access to administrative justice: Ombudsman recommendations leads to City Council approval of changes to City Code in order to eliminate barriers to accessing administrative appeal processes. April - May 2015.

    Links to ordinance, media releases, related articles, and City Council meeting videos

  • "Two Cale America executives on leave pending investigation of Portland parking-meter emails." The Oregonian. May 28, 2015.

  • "It just got easier to fight Portland City Hall, and City Council is thrilled." The Oregonian. May 27, 2015.

  • "Portland fee reform; Beaverton medal misstep: Editorial Peaks and Valleys." The Oregonian: Editorial Board. April 24, 2015.

  • "Should it be easier to fight City Hall? Portland officials propose changes." The Oregonian. April 23, 2015.

  • "You Can Appeal Most City Decisions! Chances Are You Either Don't Know That Or Can't Afford It." The Portland Mercury. April 22, 2015.

  • "Smoke Screen: Why won't the Portland Fire Bureau give a whistle-blower documents that have already been made public?" Willamette Week. April 8, 2015.

  • "Claim Dumpers: A Decades-Old Law Says City Hall Should Do the Right Thing. No One Remembers It." The Portland Mercury. April 8, 2015.

  • "State punishes Portland contractor for minority contracting claims." Portland Business Journal. March 30, 2015.

  • "City Investigation of Minority Contracting Fraud Yields Results." Willamette Week. March 30, 2015.

  • "Service with a smile." Willamette Week. November 19, 2014.

  • "Hot Tip: A top city fire official is under investigation for turning a blind eye to safety violations at a sex club." Willamette Week. August 20, 2014.

  • "The Golden Fleece? A Recent Investigation Raises Questions About the City's "Expert" Spending." The Portland Mercury. June 11, 2014.

  • "Ombudsman investigates city contracting, plans whistleblower reform." The Oregonian. May 14, 2014.

  • "Portland Ombudsman's report offers glimpses into residents' gripes." Portland Business Journal. May, 14, 2014.

  • "Portland's 'phantom' parking ticket case: City, court apologizes; readers respond." The Oregonian. March 24, 2014.

  • Gay men blood donations: Ombudsman recommendation leads to City Council resolution. September 2013.

  • "State dismisses City complaint about minority contractor." Willamette Week, June 19, 2013.

  • "Ombudsman finds 'unsupportable explanations' in contract process for parking meter paper." The Oregonian. March 13, 2013.

  • "Portland collects nearly $17,000 for disputed work." The Oregonian. March 6, 2013.

  • "Portland fraud hotline nets tip that recoups $17,000 in city money." The Oregonian. January 9, 2013.

  • "We have your dog...Towing company delivers ultimatum it's not allowed to make." The NW Examiner. August 2012.

  • "Whistle-blowers made parking manager prosecution possible." Letter to The Oregonian. September 11, 2012.

  • "Portland's new Ombudsman will enter political mix as landscape shifts." The Oregonian. November 9, 2011.