The Portland Ombudsman’s Office is looking for anyone who has had their vehicle towed by the city and suffered hardship as a result. The Ombudsman’s Office operates within the Portland Office of the Auditor and was created to assist the public with complaints or concerns regarding city agencies. Deputy Ombudsman Tony Green is investigating the city’s towing policies and practices. Collecting community experience is essential to the investigation, which aims to produce recommendations that will reduce the potential harms of government-initiated towing.
Last week, the Office of the Ombudsman posted a request seeking emailed stories from people who suffered financial hardship because of a City-ordered tow. “Our office regularly receives complaints from economically vulnerable community members who struggle to pay for the towing and storage costs to recover their vehicles,” wrote the Ombudsman’s Office. “This investigation is part of our ongoing efforts to identify and investigate systemic issues when the City’s actions may result in unfair treatment and harm.”
The Ombudsman’s Office conducts independent investigations based on complaints received. People should first seek help from the city agency where the problem occurred, but the Ombudsman’s Office wants to hear about experiences where the city’s process is unfair. Those reports sometimes lead to an investigation like the towing one underway now. The Office’s staff handles complaints against the City of Portland but has no jurisdiction over police or elected officials, including City Commissioners, the Auditor, and the Mayor.
People willing to share their stories of financial hardship caused by city-ordered towing should contact Tony Green at tony.green@portlandoregon.gov. Information provided could help the Ombudsman’s Office in its efforts to ensure city agencies treat Portlanders fairly.
