Portland City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez has come under fire for using more than $6,000 in taxpayer funds to favorably edit his Wikipedia page. The edits include mention of his law degree and efforts to pass a public drug use ban in Portland.
Portland City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez has sparked controversy by using more than $6,000 in taxpayer funds to favorably edit his Wikipedia page. The revelation, uncovered through a public records request by OregonLive, has drawn criticism from critics who question the propriety of using public resources for personal gain.
According to OregonLive, Gonzalez's office hired WhiteHatWiki, a New York City-based company, in March to oversee his desired changes to his Wikipedia profile. The company, which describes itself as a "leading 'white hat' ethical provider for Wikipedia strategy and problem solving," reviewed and processed eight edit requests made by Gonzalez.
Portland City Commissioner Uses Taxpayer Funds to Alter Wikipedia Page
However, only four of the edits were approved by Wikipedia, as indicated by the website's edit history. The approved edits include mention of Gonzalez's law degree at the top of his Wikipedia profile and an additional line on his efforts to help pass a public drug use ban in Portland in 2023.
Other proposed edits were denied by Wikipedia. For instance, a request by Gonzalez to highlight his father's "Mexican American" heritage in the "Early life and career" portion of his profile was turned down by a volunteer editor, who noted that his father's ethnicity was already mentioned in the personal life section of his profile.
Portland City Commissioner Uses Taxpayer Funds to Alter Wikipedia Page
Gonzalez's chief of staff defended the $6,400 price tag, arguing that it was a necessary investment in managing the commissioner's public profile and educating staff on how to handle future edit requests. "Political opponents working against change are sophisticated and look to distort events and their significance," he told OregonLive.
However, critics have questioned the appropriateness of using taxpayer funds for personal Wikipedia edits. "This is an outrageous use of public money," said one Portland resident. "Wikipedia is a free and open platform. He should have made these edits himself if he felt they were necessary."
Portland City Commissioner Uses Taxpayer Funds to Alter Wikipedia Page
Gonzalez's Wikipedia controversy comes amid a broader debate about the role of Wikipedia in shaping public perception. The website, which is edited by volunteers, has been criticized for allowing biased or inaccurate information to remain online. In recent years, there have been efforts to improve Wikipedia's reliability, including the creation of a team of volunteer editors dedicated to monitoring and correcting misinformation.
Gonzalez, a self-described "lifelong Democrat," is one of eight candidates running for mayor of Portland in November's election. He has branded himself as a centrist and supporter of law and order, and has been a vocal critic of the city's progressive leadership.
Portland City Commissioner Uses Taxpayer Funds to Alter Wikipedia Page
Portland has faced a series of challenges in recent years, including skyrocketing homelessness and violent crime. The city also became a nationwide focal point for racial justice protests and riots, including months of nightly, sometimes violent demonstrations, and the rise of Antifa.
A poll released in May 2024 found that a whopping 70% of Portland area voters disapprove of their city's progressive leadership in city council members and Wheeler. The poll also found that homelessness and crime are the top concerns of Portland voters.
Gonzalez has not directly addressed the controversy surrounding his Wikipedia edits. However, his chief of staff's defense of the expenditure suggests that he believes it was a worthwhile use of public funds. Whether the voters of Portland agree is a question that will be answered in the upcoming mayoral election.
