In October of 2022, Brett Zimmerman reached out to Oregon Walks in search of an organizational host for his capstone project at Simmons University. As a firefighter/EMT with Portland Fire & Rescue, Brett is all too familiar with the reality of traffic violence. After years of responding to crises that often felt evitable, Brett wanted to be a part of the preventability of such tragedies and delved into the data analysis that would serve as his final project for the Master’s of Public Health he was pursuing. Over the next year, Brett worked tirelessly to understand the relationship between encampment sweeps and pedestrian fatalities in Portland. Whether searching the depths of the city of Portland’s databases or having thoughtful conversations with housing advocates and city employees, Brett showed unwavering commitment to shedding light on an issue that begs for creative solutions. Please take a moment to read his engaging article that was originally published in Transportation Alternatives’ Vision Zero Cities Journal as part of the 2023 Vision Zero Cities conference – it is a piece you won’t want to miss. Thank you, Brett, for your service in our community and for advocating for safety and livability in Portland and beyond.
