■ The mayor of Portland, Oregon, wants tougher policing and penalties after a New Year’s Eve riot.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, blaming “violent Antifa and anarchists” for a New Year’s Eve riot in his city, is calling for tougher policing and penalties for people caught engaging in violence and vandalism.

“It’s hard for most of us to even comprehend what goes on in the heads of people who think it’s OK or a good idea to go on a violent rampage through the city on New Year’s Eve and during a pandemic,” Wheeler said Friday afternoon during a news conference, OPB reported. “It’s the height of selfishness.”

The violence on New Year’s Eve did not have a clear political purpose, said Wheeler, who described those committing acts that included the use of commercial-grade fireworks, breaking windows and lighting small fires as being mostly white, younger people.

Wheeler said the city’s police are working with District Attorney Mike Schmidt to file charges against people who are responsible. He is planning a meeting, potentially in the coming week, with federal, state and local law enforcement officials to “develop clear plans to address anarchist violence both here in Portland and throughout the state.”

He further called on state lawmakers to increase penalties for people who commit criminal destruction and vandalism and said he is seeking to allow police more authority to video demonstrators and “gather information” on “small groups of organized criminals.”

The mayor also wants people found guilty of vandalizing businesses to be required to meet with their owners and employees and to be ordered to do community service to repair damage they helped cause.

“These people need to hear and understand the social and human consequences of their irresponsible actions,” Wheeler said.