There is a small but earnest group of folks who live in the Portland neighborhoods east of 82nd Avenue who are calling for the area to secede from the city.

Last month, an initiative petition to de-annex east Portland from the rest of the city was filed with the city auditor’s office. Petitioners need more than 31,000 signatures by July 2016 to qualify for the November 2016 general election ballot.

Since annexation by Portland back in the 1980s, residents of what was largely unincorporated Multnomah County have seen their neighborhoods deteriorate as gentrification of inner-city neighborhoods pushed lower income residents east.

According to Hazelwood resident Collene Swenson, she and others are working on a ballot measure that will allow these east Portland neighborhoods to choose to sever ties with the city of Portland and create a new city with local control.

She cites crowded schools, lack of sidewalks and paved roads, increased crime and lack of interest from city leaders as reasons to break away and create a more unified city with a shared vision.

To qualify for the Nov. 8, 2016 general election ballot, petitioners need more than 31,000 valid signatures by July 8, 2016 .

Click here to read the text of the petition.

To learn more or to join the cause, visit www.facebook.com/EastPortlandSecession or call 503-253-8094.