Mayor Charlie Hales of Portland, Oregon

6/8/2016

Mayor Charlie Hales

c/o Portland Mayor’s Office

Room 340

1221 SW 4^th Avenue

Portland, OR  97204

Dear Mayor Hales,

My name is Matt Winick from Ann Arbor, Michigan and I have a strong interest in studying history including public policy.  The reason I have a strong interest in these subjects is to learn the need to advance on Civil Rights to help protect people who are different from being discriminated, protect the environment from pollution, need to improve transportation to make public safety better for people, and many others. The main reason I’m writing you a letter is I find your role as Mayor of Portland, Oregon to be very inspiring to me.

In your current role as Mayor of Portland, I like on how you continue to support advancing on Civil Rights to help protect women, minorities, and people with disabilities from being discriminated.  On criminal justice reform, I liked on how you implement community policing to help improve police relations with citizens, have treatment programs to help drug users or victims of crime get the treatment they need, and expand protection on victims of domestic violence.   Your commitment to improve public safety by funding constriction projects to fix sidewalks including fill pot holes to help protect pedestrians from danger or an accident is common sense.  I was amazed on how you worked the Government of Portland, Oregon to pass a resolution to oppose expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in local areas to reduce addiction to oil with gas. Also on the environment, I’m proud on how you support funding renewable energy like wind, solar, clean biofuel, and energy efficient products to help reduce pollution and high energy cost.

Mayor Hales, I have Autism with a learning disability. Having Autism is difficult for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different subjects and sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts.  Your commitment to be a strong supporter of protecting Civil Rights and be an advocate for people with disabilities’ rights really inspires me to work hard on Autism. Your work as current Mayor of Portland on different issues inspires me to continue my interest in history. My future goal is someday to use what I learn from history to teach people about the need to improve society or work in public policy to help create good ideas to help shape society.  Another thing is your commitment to protect the environment and implement renewable energy really inspired me to be a volunteer at Ann Arbor Hands On Museum, a science children’s museum in Ann Arbor, Michigan since 2013- currently.   In my role as a volunteer at the children science museum I work with other volunteers to help teach children about science through different science demonstrations, explain to them about the benefits of the environment, and  help engage children on how to protect the environment.  My letter is also a gift to you for working hard to make a great difference.

I recently heard that you decided not to run for re-election for the Mayoral election. However, I strongly believe that you made a great difference as Mayor of Portland, Oregon on different issues. You have inspired me to work hard on Autism, be interested in continue learning history, and be a volunteer to help teach children the need to protect the environment from pollution. Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, working hard to make great achievements, and inspiring me. I wish you well on continuing your current role as Mayor and to continue on advocating for great ideas.

Sincerely,

Matt Winick