Portland city councilor Sameer Kanal talks budget shortfall, cuts to PPB
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — It's now been three months since the new Portland City Council took office.
They've hit the ground running, dealing with a potential $93 million budget shortfall, while working on new Mayor Keith Wilson's effort to end unsheltered homelessness.
Among the 12 councilors elected in November is Sameer Kanal, representing Portland's District 2, which covers North and much of Northeast Portland.
A North Portland native, Councilor Kanal received his B.A. in political science and economics from the University of Washington, as well as a Master's in global affairs from NYU.
Before being elected to the council, Kanal was project manager of the city's Police Accountability Commission.
Kanal joined this week's Eye on Northwest Politics to dive deeper into how councilors are looking to cut the $93 million from the budget. He also shared his thoughts about potential cuts to the police bureau, as well as an anticipated expansion of Portland Street Response.
Watch the full interview in the video above.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Yahoo
Spokane health leaders warn Eastern Washington to face headwinds from medical research cuts
Jun. 14—Many Spokane health care leaders met Thursday to speak out against proposed federal medical research cuts that could risk millions of dollars and thousands of jobs in Eastern Washington. The Trump administration has proposed a 40% cut at the National Institutes of Health. If enacted, the billions of dollars of cuts could have profound impacts on medical research across the nation and in Spokane. The Life Sciences Washington roundtable in Spokane brought together community leaders from Spokane's private medical research industry, medical schools and hospitals to paint a dire picture if Congress approves Trump's proposed cuts. "Other countries have spent three decades trying to recreate what America has created when it comes to our research enterprise, and they haven't been able to do it," Life Sciences Washington President Marc Cummings said. "A 40 to 50% cut means we lose the whole pipeline for the future." University of Washington School of Medicine Vice Dean Suzanne Allen said the school system receives the most NIH funds out of any public medical school behind Harvard. According to Allen, the university has been awarded $1.2 billion in NIH research funding. Since the beginning of the second Trump administration, more than 30 NIH grants to the University of Washington have not been renewed or payment has been delayed. By the end of the month, Allen expects that number of grants to double. The university has laid off dozens of researchers and expects many more jobs will be lost in the coming months, including those in Spokane. The school also is accepting 30% fewer postdoctoral students this upcoming school year because it cannot fund these students' research. Without that training, there may not be enough qualified researchers if the funding is ever returned. "It's easy to tear something apart right now, and it's going to take us years to get back," Allen said. Though the cuts are currently halted by federal courts, the Trump administration also has tried to limit NIH grants' indirect costs to 15%. When researchers receive a federal grant, an additional amount is set aside for the university for building maintenance, equipment and other administrative costs. These funds cover costs incurred because of the research but do not directly relate to the research itself. Previously, each university negotiated with the federal government over the indirect reimbursement rate. The 15% cap would be much lower than the rates most universities have negotiated. Washington State University estimates this change could cost $20 million a year, while UW estimate its losses could exceed $90 million annually. WSU Spokane Chancellor Daryll DeWald said cuts could affect more than 2,000 university employees that rely on NIH funding. "It is affecting us in terms of number of students that we're training in the sciences and postdocs. It is job loss, but it's also affecting the pipeline," DeWald said. That lost funding cannot be replaced by the private sector, said Marcelo Morales, founder of A4 Ventures, a health care investment firm. Research is typically funded by the government early in the process, and private companies only invest in the few years before the research can be Federal Drug Administration- approved and commercialized. "Anything in the life sciences takes 15 years before you get going. It is just impractical for private capital. It's not going to happen," Morales said. One program specifically on the chopping block is NIH Small Business Innovation Research grant. These grants fund private companies to conduct these early stages of research that may not turn out to be profitable. Without that, private investors may see funding research as too risky an investment. "The impact of reductions in SBIR to a community like ours is particularly acute because we're not like Boston. We're not like San Francisco. We don't have massive amounts of risk capital, risk money that's waiting to be put back. We need this money," Morales said. The cuts across medical research also have downstream effects on other areas of the health care system. Jubilant HollisterStier is a Spokane-based manufacturer of sterile medical products. CEO Chris Preti fears cuts to medical research now could affect his company years down the line. "We need every other aspect in that value chain to be able to actually deliver so we can do our work," Preti said. And hospital executives said the fewer funding to Spokane's medical schools, the harder it will be to staff their hospitals. "Providence has about 136 residents who are post-medical school training in our hospitals, training in our rural centers and who are going to be the physicians of the future," Inland Northwest Washington Providence CEO Susan Stacey said. "It is the dominoes of fewer folks coming out of medical school, so funding is cut for residencies. So then there is not a local place to do their residency — so our next generation doesn't stay in Spokane. It's all very intertwined."
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Yahoo
Tens of thousands march to Seattle Center, protesting in ‘No Kings' rally
Multiple protests have commenced in Seattle and surrounding areas Saturday, including one during the University of Washington's (UW) graduation. The 'No Kings' rallies are meant to run opposite of President Donald Trump's military parade in Washington, D.C., according to Axios Seattle. Saturday is also the president's 79th birthday. The Cal Anderson Park protest began its march just after 1 p.m., heading into downtown Seattle. Tens of thousands marched down 5th Avenue, with no reports of property damage, according to the Seattle Police Department. It was over 1.5 miles of people. 'Any concerns for safety today?' KIRO radio reporter Scott Carty asked marching participants. 'No,' a couple from West Seattle responded. 'We want to show with a peaceful protest that this is who we are.' The Seattle Police Department (SPD) and other law enforcement agencies expected thousands of protesters stretching across Capitol Hill, University District, downtown Seattle, and other neighborhoods of the city. 'NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies,' event coordinators stated. In addition to the demonstrations' goal to end U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids ordered by the Trump administration, protesting in solidarity with the movements in Los Angeles, the protests will also focus on what they claim is rising authoritarianism under the Trump administration. The Cal Anderson protest is supported in part by Seattle Indivisible, a grassroots and all-volunteer organization working to create and secure progressive policies. 'In his ruthless pursuit of power, Donald Trump has launched an assault on the American people—destroying livelihoods, dismantling democratic institutions, terrorizing communities, and defying the rule of law,' Seattle Indivisble said in a statement ahead of Saturday's rally. 'He has weaponized our government to silence dissent, seeking to dominate Congress, the press, universities, states, cities, and anyone who refuses to submit to his authoritarian agenda. Now, he has ordered the military to crush protesters in Los Angeles and threatens Seattle—and any community that defies him—will be next.' Katie Garrow, the head of MLK Labor, Noah Purcell, Washington Solicitor General, Palmira Figueroa, a long-time immigrant rights advocate, and U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal spoke at Cal Anderson Park. The protest at UW will also rally over the college's specific ties to Boeing and its response to a pro-Palestine campus protest. After gathering at 12 p.m., like the Cal Anderson Park protest, those at UW began to march just after 1:30 p.m. to downtown Seattle. KTTH stated that Antifa has shown up at the Cal Anderson Park 'No Kings' rally, while KIRO Newsradio saw light Antifa presence at the UW rally. The UW protest has been 'extremely peaceful,' according to KIRO reporter Jonah Oaklief. Similar protests are scheduled all across the state, including Everett, Tacoma, Olympia, Vancouver, and Spokane. A map tracking all the No Kings protests across the nation can be seen here. There are as many as 50-something protests set to occur in the Puget Sound region from Olympia to Bellingham. KIRO host John Curley made his way out to a 'No Kings' rally in Cle Elum to interview participants. The Seattle Police Department said its officers are not looking for confrontations with protesters. They will only engage when public safety is at risk. On the department's police blotter web page, SPD said it is deploying a 'Police Outreach and Engagement Team.' Officials said members of the team are specifically trained to speak with organizers and community members before protests, with a goal of facilitating peaceful protests—and not confrontation. The department said its officers prioritize low-profile tactics whenever possible, and will not interfere or ask a crowd to disperse unless there are immediate threats to the public's safety. Wednesday night, eight protesters were arrested by the Seattle Police Department during an event outside the federal building. The building was tagged with 'Abolish ICE,' and a dumpster fire broke out. Thousands gathered downtown, demanding an end to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids ordered by the Trump administration. Two Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers were injured during the clash with protesters. Last month, at least eight people were arrested at what police called a 'First Amendment event' outside Seattle City Hall. Chaos steadily escalated as opposing protest groups clashed at the scene. The event was spurred after a Christian group's rally at Cal Anderson Park earlier that week turned violent.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
LIVE: Seattle braces for more 'No Kings' protests on Saturday
The Brief "No Kings" demonstrations against the Trump administration are planned throughout the U.S. for Saturday, June 14. The nationwide day of protests coincides with Trump's military parade in D.C. and his birthday. Seattle's protests are set for the University of Washington's Red Square and Cal Anderson Park, with the mayor urging peaceful conduct. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is urging peaceful protests in Seattle, saying violence is what Trump wants to "spin his false narrative" about the city. SEATTLE - Protests against President Donald Trump's administration are set for Saturday in hundreds of cities across the U.S., including several in Seattle and Washington state. What we know The "No Kings" demonstration is a nationwide day of protests challenging what organizers call "authoritarian excesses and corruption" by the Trump administration. The demonstrations emphasize that "in America, we don't put up with would-be kings," highlighting concerns over crackdowns on free speech and defiance of the courts. On Saturday, June 14, scheduled rallies will also coincide with Trump's birthday — and will run counter to Trump's military parade planned in Washington, D.C. Local perspective In Seattle, two separate rallies are set from noon-3 p.m. A protest will take place at the University of Washington's Red Square. A second protest is planned at Cal Anderson Park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell urged protesters to remain peaceful, warning that violence and property damage would reinforce a narrative President Donald Trump could use to misrepresent the city. Below are live updates of the "No Kings" rallies on Saturday, June 14 in Seattle and other cities in Washington state: Similar to Seattle's protests, there will be demonstrations in Everett, Tacoma, Olympia and all across the state, including Vancouver and Spokane. The Source Information in this story comes from the Associated Press, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, "NO KINGS" demonstration organizers and original reporting from FOX 13 Seattle. Travis Decker manhunt: 'Remote' areas of 5 WA counties told to lock doors Former Army squadmate shares insight into Travis Decker's military past Miles Hudson found guilty on 2 counts of reckless driving in Seattle Key figures from Bryan Kohberger's youth summoned to Idaho for student murders trial Rochester dog training facility owner accused of killing employee during video shoot To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.