Portland City Club Members Endorse GMO Labeling, Legal Weed

Email to a friend Permalink

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Shelby Sebens, GoLocalPDX Reporter

The City Club of Portland announced Tuesday its membership is endorsing five measures for the November ballot in Oregon, including proposals to legalize weed and require the labeling of genetically engineered foods. 

“These recommendations are some of the earliest and highest-profile endorsements about measures that Oregonians will vote on in November,” Greg Wallinger, city club research director, said in a press release. 

Over 1,900 city club members voted online. The voting kicked off during the club’s first ever Ballot-Pallooza on Aug. 20. All five measures, prompted by recommendations from city club committees, received over two-thirds majority support and they include: 

Measure 86 Post-secondary education bonds: 81 percent

Measure 88 Driver cards for undocumented residents: 95 percent

Measure 89 Equal Rights Amendment: 67 percent

Measure 91 Legalize recreational marijuana: 83 percent

Measure 92 Label GMO foods: 77 percent

Committees made up of 94 City Club volunteers, studied proposed and possible ballot measures. Their recommendations provided the foundation for City Club’s endorsements.

“City Club of Portland is excited to engage with all Oregonians this year prior to the election,” City Club President Karen Kervin said in a press release. “We hope to help inform the debate about these important measures that could reshape our state.”

The City Club endorsements will show up in the November voters' pamphlet. 

The club took no position on another high profile ballot measure, the top two primary, which would open up the primary election all voters regardless of party affiliation. 

Advocates of the GMO labeling initiative lauded the support. 

“We’re very pleased to get this strong and unequivocal endorsement from the City Club of Portland,” said Sandeep Kaushik of Yes on 92, the group advocating for the GMO labeling initiative. “They really took the time to study the issue and saw right through the cynical and misleading claims put forward by the opposition. Instead, they agreed with us that labeling will benefit consumers by providing important information they want and need.” 

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink