Housing and Houselessness

According to the Portland Metro Chamber’s recent survey of 500 registered voters in the tri-county area, 40% named homelessness as the biggest issue facing the region; 10% mentioned affordable housing as their top issue.

This is a multi-faceted crisis that is disproportionately impacting marginalized communities that face more barriers to housing, including BIPOC and queer communities.

Every Portlander, and every person, deserves to have a safe and livable home. This will require increased coordination between our city, metro, and county governments to ensure that the resources and dollars that we already have allocated to fight this crisis can be adequately deployed.

Public Safety

While public safety means something different to everyone, Portland has already begun to make strides in establishing a more connected city with safer neighborhoods for all. With the new city council, we will have the opportunity to carry this momentum forward through continued oversight and codifying the Portland Street Response. The council will also need to work to preserve the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing and its efforts in monitoring the police bureau’s policies and practices.

Addiction

The addiction crisis is an emergency across our city, state, and country that is continually exacerbated by the lack of access to the support and mental health resources needed. While the initial decriminalization of possession and use was a critical step in addressing the problem, that must also go hand-in-hand with establishing safe use centers, implementing drug checking programs, and providing easy access to resources for individuals experiencing addiction.

Embracing these proven steps in harm reduction is imperative as we tackle this crisis as a city. Though barriers continue, I am grateful that Star Bar in District 3’s Buckman neighborhood is one of the two locations in Portland where folks can access FentCheck’s fentanyl test strips (the other is across the river at District 2’s Rialto Poolroom). Access to these life-saving resources aims to decrease the death toll of the ongoing opioid crisis. Beyond drug checking, we must work to expand access to naloxone (Narcan).

Transportation

A city that prioritizes cars and freeways presents tremendous equity concerns around transportation. Portland was once known as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country and also had a history of centering accessible, affordable public transit through initiatives like Fareless Square.

Much of that focus has gone by the wayside, but with citywide collaboration on the new city council, Portland can once again become a leader in transportation. Increase in pedestrian and biking infrastructure, especially in high-traffic sections of District 3 such as Sandy Boulevard, 82nd Avenue, and César E Chávez Boulevard will be critical in improving public safety.

Additionally, there is an opportunity to improve access to the public transportation that is critical to so many Portlanders by making TriMet more reliable, more frequent, and more affordable. Our city council should also explore following the likes of Albuquerque and Tucson, which offer system-wide fare free access.