PORTLAND, Oregon — With just over two months left in office, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler gave his final State of the City Address, Thursday. The Portland Metro Chamber hosted the event at the Hilton Portland Downtown, a chance for Wheeler to reflect on eight years as mayor.
"Honestly I feel like I was made for it," said Wheeler. "It wasn't always fun, it wasn't always easy, I wasn't always successful, I did something right, I did some things wrong."
Wheeler leaves office as the first Portland mayor since Vera Katz to have served more than just one term. Katz left office after three terms in 2005. Wheeler noted the city faced "unprecedented" challenges during his tenure: Months of civil unrest, weather emergencies both hot and cold, the COVID shutdown and record homelessness and crime.
"We leaned into those challenges," said Wheeler. "I like to think of it as a Judo maneuver; we saw an opportunity to pivot and improve our services to the community."
The Portland Metro Chamber honored Wheeler by declaring every Oct. 24 as Mayor Wheeler Day in Portland. After Wheeler's address, chamber President and CEO Andrew Hoan, said he appreciates where the city is now.
"We cannot go backwards," said Hoan. "It's not perfect but there is steady progress. There are more people on our streets, it feels safer, there's less litter, there's less crime, there's big announcements like the WNBA."
Adding his own Portland sports news, Wheeler announced that next week he would be asking city council to approve a resolution, committing the city to partnering with the Portland Diamond Project in bringing a Major League Baseball team to Portland.
"These sports franchises can bring billions of dollars into our community," Wheeler said.
Vanessa Sturgeon, President and CEO of TMT Development, was also in the attendance to hear Wheeler.
"I'm really happy for him personally because this job has been so hard," Sturgeon said.
As Sturgeon looks ahead to next year, new city leaders and a new form of city government, she said her mind rests on Portland's economic health and recovery.
"It's become very clear what Portlanders are focused on," said Sturgeon. "We're focused on housing, homelessness and public safety. That's what the constituents care about, it's what the elected officials need to focus on and at least now we're all rowing in the same direction."
Wheeler finished his address to a standing ovation.
"Let us move forward with hope, determination and with a shared vision for a prosperous Portland," said Wheeler, in closing. "Thank you."