Metro's Justice Vision: Safety, Belonging, Restorative Justice.pdf

Metro's vision for justice and belonging in the greater Portland area involves reimagining policing, security, and incarcerated labor. The goal is to create a public safety system that de-centers police and prioritizes community relationships, mutual respect, and trauma-informed approaches. This system would be accountable to Black and brown communities and work to reduce harm and promote belonging.

In this vision, safety and security are relational, created through community relationships rather than intimidation. Safety personnel reflect and are accountable to the diverse communities they serve, and all staff share in the responsibility for promoting belonging and reducing harm.

The use of incarcerated labor is also reimagined, with a focus on restorative justice and healing. Metro would provide opportunities for economic stability and agency to people exiting incarceration and others impacted by the criminal legal system. The region would de-criminalize poverty by minimizing the use of fines, tickets, fees, displacement, and other unjust enforcement tools that disproportionately harm people experiencing poverty.

The vision also emphasizes building prosperous and stable communities through transportation, housing, parks, and economic justice. Metro would use its influence to dismantle historic and ongoing tools of oppression, such as policing transportation and fare enforcement, and discriminatory code enforcement and unfair housing practices. The region would center community stability, healing, and generational joy for Black, trans, and other marginalized communities in its plans, policies, and investments.