Starting in the 1980s, Portland annexed unincorporated Multnomah County—from 82nd Avenue east to Gresham and from the Columbia River south toward Clackamas County.
City leaders promised residents again and again this new part of Portland would not be neglected. That the full range of Portland’s world-renowned services would be provided, just as other swanky neighborhoods received. That the vaunted neighborhood association system would be added to give residents a voice in city hall. Don’t worry, we got you, city leaders told residents, and they weren’t wrong. They got us good.
Instead of embracing east Portland in a hug, they put their hands around our throats and squeezed. Portland inserted more housing and then took out millions in property taxes…