Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good (MACG) is an alliance of faith, labor and community groups in the Portland Metro area promoting leadership development and citizen action on equity issues of concern to its members. Over its 12 years of existence MACG has built lasting public relationships among individual participants and scored victories in a multitude of areas such as domestic violence, health care, sustainability, neighborhood safety, and jobs.
In 2012, with funding from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, MACG began training and organizing its Latino members to address issues affecting their families. Passage of the 2013 driver card legislation was their top priority. The law did pass (SB 833), but implementation (scheduled for January 2014) has been put on hold pending the November 2014 General Election outcome of Ballot Measure 88.
Many members of our MACG and greater Portland community are affected by this issue. Those whose licenses have expired face a dilemma: not driving and struggling for ways to get to work, school, church and other family responsibilities, OR continuing to drive without a valid license and insurance, fearing legal consequences.
