By Brian Hoop
Plans by Verizon’s subsidiary Skyward to test drones along the Willamette River from a seven-acre riverfront property in St. Johns were cancelled November 3 in response to organized community opposition. The company had sought to lease land within Terminal 4 from the Port of Portland to test drones on Verizon’s 5G network. The company says it is looking at other locations after the Port announced it would cancel a pending lease. Opponents hailed the decision.
Linnton neighborhood leaders Sarah Taylor and Darise Weller were active in efforts to mobilize community opposition. They, along with others, raised objections about noise, potential privacy concerns, disruptions to peregrine falcons nesting under the St. Johns Bridge and other birds in this key migratory corridor, and Verizon’s role with military contractors.
Art McConville (he/him), NiiMiiPuu (Nez Perce/Cayuse), who serves as a volunteer on the executive steering committee of the Portland Harbor Community Coalition, speaks at the last protest before the lease was denied. (Credit: Braided River Campaign)
“Personally, I think the Port was not aware of nor transparent about the extensive use of the community space centered around Cathedral Park,” said Taylor. “The company had no idea Linnton existed as far as I could see. This win clearly indicated the benefit of an organized coalition and neighborhood land use committee.”
“I would like to believe past neighborhood efforts to oppose Port plans to site a toxic waste dump at Terminal 4 – as part of the Superfund project – might have had something to do with their increased sensitivity to the public’s needs,” commented Weller. “I think the most significant faux pas on Verizon’s part was indicating that no one used this part of the river.”
“We appreciate the Port responding in support of community members and organizations who organized quickly to oppose this facility,” said Cassie Cohen, Executive Director of the Portland Harbor Community Coalition. “It’s now time for impacted communities to determine a more appropriate purpose for this sacred land, and other river-front parcels like it — including potential zoning changes. There should be a community-centered process moving forward in land use decisions so that this level of conflict does not resurface again.”
According to DroneXl.co News, Skyward is a software company that provides solutions for drones to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and to perform specific tasks for commercial drone clients in the construction, energy, and mining industries. Verizon bought the company in 2017.
Without public notification to the North Portland Neighborhood Office triggered by a land use proposal within Portland’s Greenway Overlay Zone, neighborhood and community activists would never have heard about the development until construction began. Leaders with the Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association were the first to sound the alarm. Soon a broad coalition coalesced including the American Indian Movement, Audubon Society of Portland, Green Anchors – the business complex next door to the site, Portland Harbor Community Coalition, Braided River Campaign, and others.
It’s important to recognize this win was the result of strategic planning by opponents. Sarah Taylor led two tours to help educate community members. Protest rallies were held both downtown and at Cathedral Park. Opponents packed online listening sessions with the Port of Portland and Verizon/Skyward.
The Oregonian reported Skyward President Mariah Scott apologized to neighbors for not recognizing the depth of community concern and for not moving faster to explain its plans.
“We are a software company. We are not accustomed to how and when we should be doing this kind of community outreach,” Scott said at a community listening session. “It’s new to us. We are learning we should have been engaging sooner and more proactively.”
For more information: Contact Lia with Fight for the Future at lia@fightforthefuture.org.