This week on Your Voice Your Vote, Multnomah County Commissioner Dr. Sharon Meieran joins KATU News. This past week, Meieran announced that she's running for a new job on the Multnomah County Commission--she hopes to become the next County Chair.
Last month, Meieran penned an opinion in the Oregonian that was critical of how the city and county have handled the homeless crisis.
In a one-on-one interview, Meieran talks about how she thinks local government should be responding to the current crisis. The emergency room doctor says as a volunteer with Portland Street Medicine, she's seen the conditions first-hand.
“I think we need to be responding to a crisis with urgency. As we’re looking toward long-term solutions we need to be concurrently addressing the short-term crisis as well," she said.
Meieran also says she has proposed a six-month framework for "reducing harm and providing alternative shelter for people."
Beyond the homeless crisis, Meieran is asked what she thinks the biggest issues are that county residents face right now.
Click above to watch the full interview.