In a move that has stirred the political pot, Portland Commissioner and mayoral candidate Rene Gonzalez is pushing for a hardline approach to the city's homeless camping issue. His proposed ordinance would remove the day-to-day city council's oversight of camping regulations, instead granting sweeping authority to the mayor’s office.

Despite potential legal challenges, Gonzalez is advocating for harsher penalties for offenders, including increased fines and jail time, as reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Running for the Portland mayoral seat, he has asserted that the current system lacks efficiency and that his changes would allow for quicker adaptation to the evolving legal landscape surrounding public camping.

This approach stands in contrast to the policy put forward by current Mayor Ted Wheeler, which focuses on City Council control and lesser penalties for those found camping in prohibited areas. Wheeler’s policy would impose fines of up to $100 or jail time of no more than seven days, as per an interview with OPB. Meanwhile, Gonzalez's counterproposal includes fines of up to $500 and up to six months in jail, if legal changes at the state or federal level permit.

Coming at a time when the U.S. Supreme Court is set to deliberate on the pivotal Grants Pass v. Johnson case, the outcome of which could dramatically impact local governments’ ability to govern public camping, Gonzalez's proposal has gained the attention of those on all sides of the issue. As seen in a heated statement obtained by KOIN 6 News, Gonzalez has vowed to "aggressively protect Portland from the crime, fire hazards, and debilitating drug culture" he associates with homeless encampments. His vision entails marshaling every legal resource to combat what he views as a threat to the community.

On the political chessboard, Gonzalez may find key allies in the City Council who share his view on the urgency of stricter enforcement. If his proposal passes, Portland's approach to managing its homeless crisis could shift significantly, with the mayor's office repositioned as the central command post for related policies and enforcement actions.