East Portland Neighbors quiz

East Portland Candidates Forum. Below you will find a transcript of the questions that were asked and the answers that Fred Stewart gave. If you click on the title of this posting you will be taken to a complete transcript of the forum which includes responses by the other candidates.


Opening Statement:

Hello everybody, my name is Fred Stewart and like everybody else, I have a website, fredforportland.com. I encourage you to go and learn more about how I approach Portland and how I am going to approach being a city commissioner. I decided to run because I felt I owed it to my city to give back for all the things this city has given me. Those of you that do not know me should know that for almost 15 years in inner north and NE Portland I was a community activist, real estate broker, a bar owner, an entrepreneur. I basically did anything and everything I could to advance north and NE Portland. A good friend of mine out here from the old days, Alison Stohl is out here. She remembers me back when I was about 60 pounds lighter and a couple octaves lower in talking. I have a deep, rich commitment to Portland, to East Portland. When I started my business in real estate, it was out here in East Portland. I know a lot about out here. I went to middle school at Binnsmead Middle School and I attended Washington/Monroe and Cleveland High Schools and I graduated from Cleveland High school. Anyway, I will shut up now so we can get into everybody else, but thank you for having me out here tonight.

QUESTION NO. 1:

Filling in our "open land" has a special impact on our neighborhoods' quality of life and this "infill" often generates unforeseen or unidentified problems -- or -- makes existing problems worse.

Development decisions -- made on a site-by-site basis:

Cut down trees to build more housing units,

Force cars to be parked on neighborhood streets,

Build new buildings that overwhelm older houses right next door, and,

Bring new students to our school systems without resources to maintain the quality education we have always experienced in our area.

Q: Name two specific things you will do when elected, with the resources you personally direct, to work on impacting these results of poorly planned growth.

A: Well the first thing I am going to do is something I feel everybody in Portland desperately needs from a city commissioner. The first thing I am going to do is I am going to listen. The next thing I am going to do is learn because the only way you learn is by listening and the last thing I am going to do is lead. I am not happy with the way we have approached development in east county and beyond. When the discussion in Portland in the late 80s about how we were going to increase density in Portland, North Portland, NE Portland and downtown were mostly the focus and I should also say close in SE. Eastside and central eastside really was not part of the discussion. We have not approached growth and density the proper way. We need to look at it as a city wide consensus. We need to respect what makes the neighborhood work and what does not work and most of all we need to also understand that what we are expecting may not occur. It just may not happen.



Question 2

Lack of infrastructure is real concern in our area, especially in larger sections of outer East Portland that was forcibly annexed into the city about 25 years ago or less. Infrastructure can include sidewalks, adequate water, sewer lines, parks, paved streets, traffic signals, but it can also include police protection, transient and anti-gang resources. Our area has experienced nearly one-half the new development taking place in the city during the years without noticeable city improvement or investment of infrastructure needed to support it. Name two things that you will do when elected with the resources you personally direct to work on impacting the results of these poorly planned growth plans.




A: Well, first off, I do not want to promise you right now that I am expecting the city to be able to pay for many more of the infrastructure because as most of you know, this country and world are facing a credit crunch and that means everything is slowing down, and that includes revenues for our city. I do see an opportunity to develop infrastructure, to develop a revenue source for East County that would help develop infrastructure, infrastructure that it deserved over 25 years ago and that is plant expansion of the airport right now. Those of you that know about the airport and what they are trying to do to expand it know there is not a whole lot we can do to stop it, but maybe we can help it by saying that every time a plane lands or takes off, it is going to put 100 dollars or maybe 200 dollars in our infrastructure kitty fund and use that money to develop the infrastructure in central east side, as well as east county like we have never done before. We need to come up with a stable funding source that is going to allow us to address the needs of this area. We cannot look at it as competing with Pearl District. We have to look at it as an additional important responsibility and come up with the money to fund it.



Question 3

Central and outer East Portland includes very desirable natural living areas that are being destroyed by the manner in which growth is taking place. Trees are being cut down to develop flag lots with large houses without front or back yards. Light, air and privacy are being sacrificed to build second housing units, sometimes more. Cohesive single family neighborhoods are being disrupted by adding additional housing units with no size or design relationship to the existing houses in the neighborhood and there is no transition to the surrounding neighborhood. Little if any small business development is created to help make neighborhood connections between old and new residents and cultural differences and language barriers are not being adequately addressed to help rebuild a sense of neighborhood. Name two specific things you will do with resources under your control to impact the results of poorly planned growth.



A: First off, I will go back to what I said in the first question. The first thing I will always be doing is listening, learning and leading. Those are the first things I will do every time we communicate or work with each other. Going back to your question here, essentially the further you get away from 30th, some people say 60th, others say 80th the less intensity there was on the planning of how it is going to fit in the future of Portland. I was involved for six years in the 1990s with the development of the Albina Community Plan and a few other plans for inner NE Portland and downtown. I am amazed that has never been done out there and that was the opportunity for the city council, for the city itself to come out here to listen, learn and lead. We need to do something more comprehensive on that level. If you guys want to get an idea on that, understand that the Pearl District was planned over 20 years ago. The development which you have seen where I live in inner north and NE Portland, 20 years ago we were working on that. Have we been doing the same thing out here? If you elect me, I will do that.



Question 4

The continuing disparity between wage levels and housing costs has special impact on our area. New jobs are seldom created in central or East Portland and when they are they are they tend to be retail employment, at the same time housing costs continue to escalate. Affordable housing is not measured by median income for the area. Land prices are rapidly escalating. A small house on a large lot has become merely an opportunity to fill that same piece of land with one or more new structures. Name two things you will do when you are elected with the resources personally that you direct to work on impacting the results of this poorly planned growth.



A: Well affordable housing is something I am very familiar with. Over in inner north and NE Portland I sold nearly 700 homes and here in Portland, I probably funded close to or just over 2500 loans in Portland, so I am very familiar with what is affordable and what is not affordable and believe me, everything is about ready to get affordable because right now in this city, 1/3 of everybody could afford a loan and qualify for a loan a year ago cannot qualify for one this year. That means housing prices are going to drop. I do not know how much, I do not think it is going to be too much, but I do not think we will be seeing too much escalating in houses or land locks anytime in the near future. To me this is a great opportunity for us to sit down and do what I said in my previous questions. I do not want to just say lets increase Lentz as an urban renewal district by 20%, which I think is a good idea. I want a comprehensive plan for close in east county, mid county and outside county so that we can decide what is the best way to incorporate this part of Portland into the future of Portland, unlike what we have done for the last 25 years.



Question 5

Central and outer East Portland has a large older population – many of whom have lived here for decades. New, more expensive housing units diminish the value of their lifetime investment unless they choose to sell. For many, leaving a previously stable neighborhood where they have lived for many years will also disrupt support and social systems they have established. Escalating sewer bills, lack of transit as a transportation option, and the special financial demands of property maintenance in a gentrifying area with newer housing has brought special problems for older long time residents. Name two specific things you will do when elected, with the resources you personally direct, to work on impacting these results of poorly planned growth.


A: First, I gotta tell you we recognize in this city that the population is getting older and what we are having is a lot of older people are relying on the equity in their real estate to help them through their retirement years. I do not know why it is so hard for this city to allow people to develop adult foster cares or other similar type housing so the older adults can stay in their communities and take the benefit of the equity they have helped create. Some of my friends that are in that industry are desperately looking for locations to place these properties and I do not know if any of you are in the industry, but you understand it is always best to try to locate people close to where they lived before. I other words, it does not make sense to have somebody live way out on the other side of town when thier home and their legacy is over here and vice versa, so that is something that I would advocate and I would work with all of you to help plan and involve that. As far as gentrification coming in, we have seen the worst for a little while of gentrification. What we have to worry about more is rent going up so fast that older people are going to be pushed out of their homes they are renting right now, not so much that they are owning and I will make sure there is some sort of rent stabilization to make sure that does not occur.

Closing Statement:

We have got an incredible opportunity here to decide what kind of leadership we want in Portland here. We have four great candidate right here, me included, and one that was not able to make it tonight for a 5th. I think what Portland has to decide when it comes to district commission #2 is whether or not you want somebody that is for Portland and because of Portland and when I say that, if you look at my history and everything I have done going all the way back to when I was 18 and joined the Marines, it has never been just for self. It has been for my community, it has been for my family, it has been for my friends. Tonight when I walked in once again, I see somebody, Alison back there, from my past, somebody who I have worked with and I understand just how important it is, my actions and my words, so understand this. Everything I say to you, everything I promise, everything we discuss I am committed to because this is my home town. This is not just where I live, this is where I spend my life, just like all of us.

Portland City Club Questions

The City Club did not invite me to speak at their recent debate involving City Commissioners running for Position 2. They only extended their interest to Jim Middaugh and Nick Fish. What you will see below are some of the questions the city club asked Jim and Nick and what my answers would have been had I been extended and invitation.


Question 1 to Nick Fish: According to the city of Portland’s 2007 Resident and Business Survey”, the residents of ten east and southeast neighborhoods consistently rate their neighborhood livability and local governments overall performance lower than do residents of the rest of the city. These ten neighborhoods include Argay, Brentwood-Darlington, Centennial, Lents, Powellhurst-Gilbert, Parkrose, Mill Park, Parkrose Hieghts-Woodland Park, Pleasant Valley, Russell and Wilkes-Glenfair. Why are these neighborhoods dissatisfied with their livability and the performance of local government? And what if anything, should the city do in response?



These neighbors have every right to be disappointed in the City of Portland. Much of Portland has not been included into the future plans of Portland. Areas that offer greater opportunities for social and economic growth that we are have dreamed of. There are many reasons why we have walked down this path….few of them are important at this time. What is important is what we are going to do to correct our error and move forward.

I will work with the other members of the council, community’s members, business leaders and labor unions to develop a city wide economic and growth plan that will allow Portland to move the entire city forward. We are gaining some 400 to 500 new residents per week in the Portland market and those residents are chasing the same dreams we all are chasing and that is a better life and a better world for our families.




Question 3 to Nick Fish: Mayor Potter recently released his proposed budget for the next fiscal year. Please give us your analysis of the proposed budget and explain any changes you would make.



I am delighted Mayor Potter has placed the surplus in reserve. It is important the City Council practices fiscal responsibility when using or planning for the use of city revenues. We do not know what our budget situation will look like next year. We just know our economy is not as robust as it has been in years past. The reflection of our current economics could mean a shortfall in the city budget. Setting aside the surplus means Portland has some ability to absorb the shock of this reality and move forward on important agenda items that will allow Portland to grow thought this down cycle.



Question 4 to Jim Middaugh: Portland’s Mayor will reassign the city’s bureaus among the five council members. Which bureaus do you want in your portfolio and why?
My dream situation would be to have Housing, PDC, Planning and Police. However, I doubt the Mayor would be so generous.


I want to be the new Fire Commissioner, The Bureau of Housing and Development Commissioner and the Bureau of Planning Commissioner and the Office of Neighborhood Improvement/Development



Question 5 to Nick Fish: Our infrastructure needs for maintanance and new projects far exceed our current revenue sources. Commissioner Same Adams has proposed new tax increases totaling approximately half a billion dollars to help pay for deferred maintanance and new projects. Would you support such a tax increase? Why or why not?


I am not a fan of this tax. I feel Portland needs to be more creative and develop a tax that is not a burdensome on small businesses. I will work with the other City Commissioners to develop a stable and fair funding source that will have a lower impact on small and medium businesses. I will also look for ways in which the city effort to improve our infrastructure can support local business and local employment. Whatever tax is developed will have this goal in mind.


Question 6 to Jim Middaugh: The Center piece of many economic development strategies in cities around the country are major league sports facilities and convention centers with hotels. Portland has only one major sports facility and no convention hotel. Comment on your support or lack thereof for public funding of professional sporting facilities and convention center hotels.


Portland needs to have at least one more professional sports team. I feel the city needs to be a partner in this goal becoming a reality. The city council needs to be open minded as to where this team and the infrastructure to support it will be placed. Locating this advantage in the inner core of Portland might not be in the best interest of the city in the log run.

I am all for the city supporting the development of a convention center hotel. Up to the point of bank rolling the development of this project. This project will need some support from the city and it should be given, but it has to be a market effort and not one funding by the public.



Question 7 to Jim Middaugh: What if anything, do you feel City Hall should do to make Portland a more business friendly place to do business.



The city of Portland has to reach out to existing small and large business that are located in Portland, hire mostly residents of Portland and pay a living wage jobs. We have to tier our business license /taxes to support Portland business and labor. We have to market Portland to the world so existing businesses that offer an opportunity for living wage jobs that are looking for new markets to develop in can learn of Portland and hopefully will consider Portland in their next business move.

Portland will have to also consider instilling a flat fee/tax for new and small business. Businesses that have an annual sales of less than $500,000 and less than 5 employees.



Question 8 to Jim Middaugh: The Portland Police Association which is the union representing police officers refutes accusations that Portland Police Officers engage in racial profiling. The association further claims that those who make such pronouncements have misconstrued data collected by the police bureau. How do you respond to concerns about racial profiling by Portland police and what if anything would you do as a city commissioner to address these concerns.



I know first-hand that racial profiling exists and the Portland Police Department has to accept there is a significant problem that hampers their ability to protect the residents of Portland. As a City Commissioner, I will first make sure any one in the leadership of the Portland Police Department that does not accept there is a problem with racial profiling is relieved of their leadership duties. Those individuals are part of the problem. I will then reach out to the Union that represents the Portland Police officers and enlist their support in addressing their problem. This problem will be resolved and I am committed to making sure the civil rights of all Portlanders are protected and respected at all times.



Question 9 to Nick Fish: So far Portland’s system of publicly financing campaigns-known as “Voter Owned Elections” has been marred by controversy. Explain why you think Portland’s system of publicly funded campaigns ought to continue as is, be eliminated or be reformed.


I waited late to participate in VOE. However, I leanered a lot and I am a passionate supporter of this tool. VOE means we will have an opportunity for better leadership in Portland. People that have the skills and passion for city leadership will have those skills and develop a deeper passion by this process. Opening the doors to city hall in a manner not seen anywhere in the world.


Question 10 to Jim Middaugh: Both you and your opponents have strong credentials when it comes to promoting affordable housing. Do you differ on housing policy in any material ways? Please explain.



No one running for any of the city council positions has been more involved in getting people into homes or building community. I understand what it takes and what means for someone to have a home is. I am not limited in my knowledge base of understanding as I am equally able to articulate public financed housing as well as privately securitized housing. This means I can and will develop efficient opportunities for public/private partnerships as well as develop secure opportunities for stand alone public and or private ventures. I identifying long term sustainable solutions to our housing responsibility is central to my approach.

My background as a real estate broker in Portland and passionate public advocate makes me the clear choice for anyone that feels quality housing opportunities in Portland are a right and not a privilege.



Question to Jim Middaugh 12: One would think that Portland being the largest city in Oregon and the economic engine for the state would wield considerable power in state politics. But is the opposite true? Has Portland become the “kiss of death” in the halls of the state capitol? Comment on your understanding of Portland’s role n state politics and explain what you would do to strengthen Portland’s influence in Salem.



Of course there is an Urban/Rural divides between Portland and everywhere else in Oregon. It is a responsibility of the city council to resolve this problem and improve our relationship with the state of Oregon.

I commit that before each legislative session I will sit down with the lobbyist that represent Portland and the legislators that represent Portland before each legislative session and go over with them the priorities of the city of Portland and make sure there are no ambiguities. I will also commit to spend time in Salem to build a relationship and resolve any miss understandings that might come up of course address anything from the past.

Blueoregon.com Post: You have a choice for Position 2, Portland City Council

Portland needs diversity on the City Council, not just of color but more importantly, diversity of priorities and life experiences. The sum of my experiences makes me, Fred Stewart, the best candidate for Portland City Council, Position 2.

Six things that make me uniquely the best choice For Portland City Council are:

· As a real estate broker I sold about 700 homes in North/Northeast Portland, saving homes from foreclosure, keeping properties from going derelict and keeping families together.

· As a banker I tore down barriers to financing for minority homebuyers throughout Portland. I have called out lenders who were red-lining and worked to secure stable financing for our minority communities.

· I have built businesses from scratch. I converted a strip bar into a neighborhood gathering place and built a real estate business during the most difficult real estate market in Portland since before WWII (even worst than today). I struggled to meet payrolls. None of the other candidates for this position can say the same.

· I was a Labor Union member while I was a baker at Franz Bread.

· I was President of King Neighborhood Association from 1990 to 1999.

· I served our country for six years as a US Marine.

The sum of these experiences has also given me a vision of the future for the Portland I think we want.

Portland faces a tough time ahead, both for the City budget and for the economic well-being of our citizens. The only way out of this down cycle is to create more living wage jobs. I will work with the other members of the Council to support small and large businesses that pay their full time employees $19.00 per hour or more. I will work to tier the business tax/licensing fees to favor businesses that hire people who live in Portland. I will also work with the other members of the Council to market Portland to established businesses from around the country looking for new markets to develop and move into. I will make sure minority owned businesses are approached and encouraged to consider Portland in their future.

For our long term economic vitality, I will make sure the children of low income people and minorities are given every opportunity to be fully educated. I am for establishing a new funding source that will allow the city to provide services and learning opportunities for low income children to ensure their learning day does not end at 3:30 PM.

Finally, I want a green Portland, but to get there we have to have public ownership of all of the utilities, including PGE. I am the only candidate who promises to continue to work to bring PGE under public ownership. I have worked on this issue through my former bank and will continue to seek creative ways to bring the utilities under public ownership.

As my long history in Portland shows, I have the ability, skills and vision to continue to build the community we call Portland. I ask for your vote.

You can find more of my ideas on my website: http://www.fredforportland.com

Thank you,

Fred Stewart
Candidate for Portland City Council, Position 2

PS: Please go to http://wweek.com/wwire/?p=11504 and watch the Willamette Week interview or go to http://kboo.fm/node/7283 to listen to the candidates for Position 2 on KBOO.

Community Alliance of Tenants, a 501(c)3: People of Color Survey

1. What do you propose as a solution to the disparities in employment and economic security between people of color and the majority population in Portland?


Portland has to grow through the down cycle we are in right now. The only way out of this cycle is through creating more living wage jobs. I will work with the other members of the council to support small and large businesses that are paying their full time employs $19.00 per hour or more. I will work to tier the business tax/ lincensing fees to reflect favorably toward businesses that hire people that live in Portland.I will also work closely with businesses that want to mentor low income people and people of color to help them learn trades or skills to lead to robust careers.I will develop partnerships with local unions every bit as sincere and deep as those we have currently with some businesses and developers. I see unions as important assets to our effort to grow through these economic times.

2. Many low-income people who work in Portland can no longer afford to live within the city. This situation severely impacts low-income people's ability to commute to work, obtain services and participate in the civic fiber of the community. What is your proposal to fix this inequity?


First, we have to make sure the children of low income people and minorities are educated fully. I am for establishing a new funding source that will allow the city to provide services and learning opportunities for low income children to ensure their learning day does not end at 3:30PM. In addition, the city has to work to bring more established businesses to Portland, businesses that pay a living wage job of $19.00 per hour or more. We need to increase support for small business, through the Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business program. Finally, it seems obvious, but we have to support close-in mixed housing, for both social and economic reasons. In addition to some rent stabilization measures and other supports for renters, I propose that the Portland Housing expand its mission to include helping current homeowners keep their homes.

3. In January, Portland's City Council approved four recommendations from the City's Immigrant and Refugee Task Force. These recommendation include creating an office of immigrant and refugee affairs, establishing a multicultural community center, funding civic engagement training and support for immigrant and refugee communities, and evaluating the City's human resources efforts to improve hiring and retention of multi-lingual and multi-cultural staff. Do you support these recommendations? Why or why not? If you do support them, what do you see as the best path towards their implementation?


Of course I support it. We have needed a structure in which it is somebody's job to look out for safety and fairness for all in Portland. I believe that the recently established Office of Human Relations, and the Human Rights Commission that will be housed in it is the best place for ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force. I also think that it would be best housed outside of City Hall, in an accessible, welcoming environment in a neighborhood with a high concentration of minorities and immigrants.I also believe that particular support for minority and immigrant businesses is a vital part of this effort.


4. Portland Police Bureau's own data shows that African Americans and Latinos are stopped and searched by Portland Police at significantly higher rates than the white population. Do you believe racial profiling exists within the Portland Police Bureau? If so, what is your remedy to eradicate racial profiling?


I know first-hand that racial profiling exists and the Portland Police Department has to accept there is a significant problem that hampers their ability to Protect the residents of Portland. As a City Commissioner, I will first make sure any one in the leadership of the Portland Police Department that does not accept there is a problem with racial profiling is relieved of their leadership duties. Those individuals are part of the problem. I will then reach out to the Union that represents the Portland Police officers and enlist their support in addressing their problem. This problem will be resolved and I am committed to making sure the civil rights of all Portlanders are protected and respected at all times.


5. Presently there is limited regulatory oversight of the auto tow industry. Do you believe more regulatory oversight is necessary to protect community members? If so, how would you regulate the industry?


I believe there needs to be more oversight and if I am elected I will make sure this happens. Senate Bills 116 and 431, passed in 2007, give local governments the authority to regulate involuntary towing. I believe that Portland should regulate towing operations to the full extent now allowed by State law, and that should begin as soon as possible.

6. How would you improve relations between the community (especially people of color and low-income people) and the Portland Police Bureau?


I will work closely with the other members of the city council to ensure we hire more minority Police Officers and more bi-lingual personnel. I will make it a priority to recruit from Portland first.I will also work with the other members of the city council to develop recruitment strategies and policies to attract people that come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. I plan to work with the other members of the City Council to market Portland to established businesses from around the country looking for new markets to develop and move into. I will make sure minority owned businesses are approached and encouraged to consider Portland in their future. Lastly, I will be in the community. I will be a visible example of the City's commitment to serving all citizens. My own staff will be diverse, and my activities will reflect my personal multi-cultural background.


7. Often times lower income communities and/or communities of color are burdened by disproportionate exposures to toxins and pollutants which can adversely impact their health. These exposure sources may include pollution from highways, industry emissions, as well as substandard housing conditions. How do you foresee working with communities to assure everyone has the opportunity to live in healthy homes and neighborhoods?



I will make sure we place low income housing in areas that are safe. I will advocate new industrial areas are not placed near dense residential housing areas. In addition, there are numerous small properties, especially in N and NE Portland, that are designated brownfields due to previous use as service stations, dry cleaners or other businesses. These sites remain undeveloped because of the cost of cleanup. It is appropriate for public funds to be dedicated to assist in cleaning these sites up so that they can again be part of the economy.I will work with the other members of the city council to ensure lead and radon contamination is measured and addressed by landlords and assist low-income homeowners to do the same. I will work with the other members of the city council to develop clean and sustainable green business and residential policies that apply to all neighborhoods.

Questions for the Housing Opportunity Candidate Forum

1) The 30% Set Aside policy requires that 30% of all TIF funds (projected as $163 million over the first 6 years) will be allocated to affordable housing below 80% of MFI (100% MFI for Family Housing). In its first year of implementation two out of nine districts have met the minimum requirements. Do you support the 30% Set Aside? If you do support the set aside, how will you assure the minimum requirements are met in the first five year implementation period?

I need to learn more about this. I support the 10 year plan and its priorities. Executing this plan will be a priority. What I bring to the city is a history of understanding how to address housing with both private sector and public sector resources. I believe the city of Portland has to subsidize low income housing.

2) What impact do you see the low homeownership rates for people of color having in our city? What role if any should the city play to address homeownership rates for people of color?

The city of Portland should develop partnerships with private sector resources to help all Portlanders realize their dream of owning a home. As low as it is, the city of Portland has one of the higher property ownership rates among people of color in the country. This can be improved, but we need to understand that Portland is a unique opportunity for everyone….including people of color. Building on the success we have thus far will come from developing the right relationships in the community in both the public and private sectors. Home ownership increases along with the percentage of people that are able to obtain and hold living wage jobs. Part of the city’s role should be to ensure businesses invest during this down cycle so the local economy can resist the economic forces that will affect low income people and thus their ability to obtain and hold housing.


3) The Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness is going into its fourth year. The numbers resulting from the investments that the City has made suggest that we are making significant progress moving chronically homeless individuals and families into permanent housing. But achieving the goals of the Ten Year Plan will require significant additional financial investments. How would you propose to generate the funding required to fully achieve these goals for both singles and families?

I have some ideas as to how the private sector can invest in this goal. These ideas will be vigorously pursued. Housing is not a luxury. It is a right and what I take from the 10 year plan is a framework on which the city of Portland can build to ensure future residents of Portland will have the needed infrastructure to ensure housing for everyone, regardless of income.

4) The City of Portland recently convened a Quality Rental Housing Workgroup to address issues of substandard housing in Portland. Representatives from landlord associations, tenant advocates, public health officials, and community nonprofits have are serving on the QRWH. The QRWH is exploring the issues of substandard housing, housing habitability, and environmental hazards in rental housing in Portland. The QRWH will follow up by suggesting policy and program strategies that could be used to increase compliance with existing habitability laws and support the maintenance of quality rental housing for low-income households. What do you see as the best strategies to address issues of substandard housing in the City?

The City of Portland has never approached the landlords as a partner in the quest to improve the livability of the city in a substantive and sustainable manner.
Because of that we have not had any substantive changes in how we address substandard housing. There is an opportunity here and I have the leadership skills, the knowledge and the relationships to develop this partnership. There should be a framework plan developed that will prioritize the responsibilities landlords have toward tenants. This priority list should be a supportive document with the state of Oregon’s landlord and tenant rights statutes. This priority list could help guide future changes to the statutes to ensure the relationship between landlord and tenant is respectful of the rights of the tenants as well as the right of the landlords to see a return on their investments.

5) There are a number of laws currently in place that are enforced against homeless people. What if anything would you do to address the civil rights of people experiencing homelessness?

I will be one of the people that will help end homelessness in Portland, Oregon. That is a commitment I make to the city I have lived in most of my life. I will lead the city where needed in order to make sure the right of a livable space is supported for all. Any ordinance or law that needs to be altered or removed in order to reach the goal of ending homelessness in Portland will be addressed.

6) Tenants with Section 8 vouchers are finding it increasingly difficult to find landlords willing to accept their vouchers. What do you think are the best strategies to increase Section 8 recipients' ability to find housing where they can use their voucher?

When I was a landlord, I had many section 8 tenants. The section 8 program is a good program but one that needs more oversight on both the public and private aspects of the relationship. The city can play a big role in this and I feel with the development of a sustained relationship with the landlords of Portland will help resolve many of these issues on the private side. On the public side more resources have to be applied to addressing the social issues many of the people on section 8 have that are either the cause or the symptom as to why they need public assistance in obtaining housing.

7) The City of Portland has an opportunity to obtain free land on an army base in Southwest Portland that could be used for affordable housing to the benefit of homeless families and individuals. How would you propose this land be used and what would your role be in its development?

I would work with all stakeholders to identify the highest and best opportunity for this land. Looking at everything from development, to land banking to land swapping with property owners to ensure the product we develop is a resource for low income and homeless people. Efficient use of real, social and equality resources to make sure the project will address the goals in the 10 year plan and be sustainable regardless of the political or economic swings in the future.

8) Affordable housing for the city’s lowest income populations requires an ongoing commitment from nonprofits that manage them, the city and a range of community partners. Often the rents alone aren’t enough to manage properties and provide important resident services. What are the best strategies to support projects when rents alone are not enough to manage properties, provide important services, and ensure affordability and stability of the projects over time?

Develop a yearly funding source that is dedicated toward housing that will ensure there will be a yearly investment in the development of housing for the homeless and low income residents of Portland.

Multnomah county Democrats Survey

1. How do you foresee resolving the imbalance between individual and corporate tax contributions to generate revenue for your jurisdiction?

The City of Portland needs a tiered business tax, giving some relief to large and small businesses that employ Portland residents, and increasing the taxes required of businesses that are located in Portland, yet employ few if any Portland residents.

Secondly, the City of Portland should lobby the State Legislature to allow a transfer tax be levied on commercial and residential real estate transactions and some long term leases. By doing this, the City of Portland will gain a greater contribution from large companies.

This transfer tax should be levied on residential and commercial real estate transactions.

2. What solutions do you propose to counter skyrocketing energy costs, not only for your jurisdiction but for the citizens that reside there?

Public Ownership of PGE, PP&L and Northwest Natural Gas. If I am elected, I commit public ownership of these utilities will be a goal I will pursue until success. I do not feel the city of Portland and the Metro area around it can continue to support big, private utilities, with rates that support private profit. Under public ownership, costs will decrease. Equally important, the City will be able to advance a green energy agenda that will start with ensuring that utilities are running as efficiently as possible.

The City has to also seek opportunities to partner with green energy companies, or to invest outright in green energy development.


3. Given the current environment of constrained budgets in your jurisdiction, what are your top five priorities and how do you foresee funding those priorities?

The City of Portland has to develop new sources of revenue. These sources cannot interfere with the growth of family wage jobs. That means that the tax should be structured to provide a break for businesses that are full participants in the local economy, employing local residents in family wage jobs and doing business with local or regional suppliers.

4. What is your plan to create affordable housing that is properly constructed and that preserves the health and safety of the inhabitants?

First, I support the City of Portland’s 10 year plan. I intend to push this plan forward. To support the 10 year plan, the City of Portland should work with Multnomah County and lobby for the right to levy a real estate transfer tax. This tax would be held in trust, and the income developed from this trust would be dedicated to education, housing and infrastructure development.


5. How will you ensure that all contractors and subcontractors who are awarded contracts on public projects pay a living wage and provide benefits to their workers?

The City has to ensure that the businesses it enters into contracts with fairly compensate their employees and provide safe environments in which to work. A balanced approach that takes into account the size of the contract, the scope of the contract and the size of the business is called for should be incorporated into every RFP issued by the City.

Family wage jobs will be a focus for me and all who work with me, along with safe work environments and affordable medical insurance. Every business the city contracts with that has employees will have to meet expectations on these values.

Portland Mercury Weekly Question

From the collapse of Bear Stearns nationally, to news that home values locally are now dipping, it's no secret that the economy's in bad shape. What would—or could—you do as a city commissioner to protect homeowners from foreclosures, keep citizens employed, and generally strengthen Portland's economy, both in the short and long term?



Oftentimes when hard working people face losing their homes, they become isolated, and tune out. There are not many credible resources in the marketplace for a home owner to work with to get useful advice and assistance, and they are often approached by groups or individuals who want to acquire property rather than assist the homeowner to keep it.

I would propose that the Portland Housing Center, founded in 1991 to assist first-time buyers, expand its mission to include helping homeowners keep their homes. Mortgage and housing professionals know how financing and real estate work, and can provide real assistance to homeowners facing risk of foreclosure. Community advocates can help them negotiate with lenders.

Portland is so stable and beautiful today because so many people have literally bought into Portland. They own a piece of the Portland rock and we need to do all we can to make sure this does not change.

Second, we need to become a more business friendly and labor friendly city. If a city is not business friendly then they cannot be labor friendly because without business there are no jobs. Portland has to depend on its relationships with both the business community and labor unions to make Portland a location of choice to start a business or locate an established business. We have to compete with other cities and the only way to grow through this down cycle is to actually grow living wage jobs. This increases the tax base for the city and the county and it stabilizes neighborhoods. We have to look at how we support businesses that employ Portlanders, keeping money circulating in our own local economy.

The City also has to develop partnerships with the five school districts that educate and nurture our children. Recognizing that the learning day doesn't end when the school day ends, we have to provide the resources for kids to grow into roles in the industries we want to be part of our economy.

Finally, we need a city wide economic plan that ties directly to our values and goals, and provides a framework for local budget and policy decisions.

Portland has the tools it needs to soften the blow of the credit crunch, and we can grow through this. This downturn is in part due to the behavior of financial institutions and markets, and I can bring a deep understanding of how they work. We need leadership on the Portland City Council that understands the magnitude of what we are facing and has the ideas and vision it will take to lead the city through these uncertain times.