Questionable Legacy Rooted in Community Harm

Legacy has a long and painful history in Portland for many Black residents. In the 1970s, more than 300 properties in Albina, a thriving neighborhood that served as a center of Black life in Portland, were razed to make way for the expansion of Legacy Emanuel. Instead of developing the site, the property sat empty for decades.

The sting of Legacy’s past actions has been felt for generations. 

For example, Legacy and the City of Portland filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought against them by the descendants and survivors of families who were displaced by these development efforts. When the judge rejected their motion, Legacy opted to pay the families in a closed-door settlement, while the City of Portland held a public hearing to acknowledge the harms they caused and made binding commitments to address them, including turning over two parcels of land at no cost.   

Similarly, the diverse East-Multnomah-County community surrounding Legacy Mt. Hood demonstrated its distrust of the health system when Legacy attempted to shutter the hospital’s Family Birth Center in 2023. The health system only changed course after widespread community outrage and intervention by state and federal agencies concerned about access to care.

In both its history and its recent actions, Legacy has struggled to earn the trust that underpins long-term community support.