The mayor of Portland, Oregon wants to invest over $7 million towards public safety, including rehiring recently retired police officers, as the city deals with a spike in shootings and murders. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler laid out his proposal in a press conference this week. Wheeler, a Democrat who also serves as police commissioner, voted with other Portland City Council members last year to cut funding to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) and dismantle the bureau’s team that focused on stopping and responding to shootings. But he now says shootings have gotten so bad—recently topping 1,000, including 70 murders—that additional money should be allocated for the PPB. “Many Portlanders no longer feel safe in their city. Business owners have closed-up shop for fear of doing business in high-risk areas. Commuters fear for their safety whether taking public transit or by foot. Parents are scared to let their children play outside. …