General:

1.  How many years have you lived in Portland?

6.

2.  What experiences, motivations, and leadership styles will make you an effective City Councilor?

Experiences: My interest in how cities work well was born while living in Europe, where I took a particular shine to the pattern and pulse of cities in the Netherlands.

I came here as a graduate student in planning & development at the Muskie School and quickly became an observer of a planning process of fits and starts at City Hall.

Motivations: I decided to run for office after it had became clear to me that elected officials had little interest involving the public in planning for our collective future.

I am driven chiefly in a belief that citizens, when engaged and listen to know better.  If we ask the right questions of constituents, we are bound to get the right answers.

Leadership: The campaign platform I was elected on has guided me on City Council.  It’s easy to get caught up in controversy or pretend to hold a state or national office, but I have worked on neighborhood problems together with neighborhood partners.

My leadership style is one of substance – of stewarding complicated issues forward in an inclusive and participatory way as well as an analytical and accountable way.

3.  If elected, what will your top three priorities be?  How do they impact Portlanders aged 18-40?

Affordable Housing: District One is populated predominately by renter households.  Maintaining a dynamic housing stock of affordable and ownership opportunities is key to attracting and retaining young people, even when they are no longer young.

Transportation Choice: District One is at the core of regional transportation network, whether it be the trail system, the bus, the ferry, or, indeed, its easy access to I-295.  Strengthening the core of this network provides young people, a mobile workforce, more access to jobs and less expense to themselves by settling in this urban district. 

Community Development: District One is comprised of many diverse neighborhoods.  Whether East End, Downtown, or Islands, each neighborhood has its key amenities, and their own particular investment needs, which I’ll continue to identify and meet.

4.  Please share one positive change you have seen on the City Council and in Portland over the past year?

Portland voted for a Charter Commission, which holds much promise for Portland.  The Charter Commission has in its capacity to recommend a new government form that helps elected officials fulfill a mission that has the full endorsement of voters.

5.  Please share one frustrating change you have seen on the City Council and in Portland over the past year?

The demand for law enforcement has risen while our ability to pay for it has fallen

I believe we cannot allow any reduction in staff strength in the Police Department and must adopt a model of community policing that reaches people where they are.  I’m proud to have worked to establish a community policing office in Kennedy Park

6.  What competing responsibilities do you have professionally and personally?

I am recently married and have a full-time job.  I have shown I can keep up so far!

7.  Are you a homeowner or renter?

Renter.

8.  What do you see the role of the City Council to be?  If elected, how will you govern?

The City Council had a defined set of procedural powers and fiscal responsibilities.  While we are officially a legislative branch, we also wield some executive influence. 

An effective legislator ensures that proposal enjoy wide constituencies in the public.  I am proud to report that nearly all ordinances I have passed, passed unanimously.

An effective district councilor, for example, ensures that city projects and initiatives are responsive to, and, in many cases, driven by, the interests of the neighborhoods.

I believe I have done a good job of both legislating and intervening for District One.

Transportation/Planning:

9.  Please answer and explain the following:

        A.  Do you support reducing the parking requirements for new construction (Y/N)?  Explain.

Yes.  Excessive parking requirements have held back the growth of the city tax base; I have led the way on reforms that support development and transportation choice.  Excessive parking requirements have also, until recently, limited affordable housing.

        B.  Do you support increasing housing density to build more units (Y/N)?  Explain.

Yes.  Portland must restore its residential base to once again be an economic center.  I have led the way on reforms that support development of new affordable housing.  Residential development in the core and corridors promotes transportation choice.

        C.  What are your thoughts and ideas around housing in Portland?

A dynamic housing market is essential to attract young people, retain their families, and integrate generations in a community that is safe, vibrant, and affordable to all.

This sort of community development also depends on key amenities to support it, such as a great nightlife, great schools and green spaces, and accessible conditions.

10.  What is your primary mode of transportation?  How can we improve transportation in Portland?

My modes of are pretty evenly split between walking, bicycling, and public transit.  As it was in 2006, one of my three platform planks remains Transportation Choice. 

We need to plan for a pattern of growth that complements our street infrastructure and support initiatives such as those I championed in city’s Peninsula Transit Study.

I have already been effective in introducing a carsharing program with U Car Share, establishing free long-term motorcycle parking, installing countless new bike racks, striping new bicycle lanes, painting new crosswalks, and building accessible ramps

11.  If elected, what will you do to implement the recommendations of the Peninsula Transit Study?

 As chair of the advisory committee that had developed the Peninsula Transit Study, chair of the Transportation Committee, and chair of the METRO Board of Directors, I’m well positioned to implement recommendations of the Peninsula Transit Study

If re-elected, I will continue my work in these positions to follow through on more complicated recommendations to establish a new Sustainable Transportation Fund, and improve bus headways through a new Congress Street Transit Priority Corridor.

12.  Would you support or oppose community benefits agreements in contracts between the City and developers?  If so, what stipulations will you include in these agreements?

Yes.  Recipients of tax breaks or other city aid should offer a defined public benefit.  Whatever stipulations are considered, I will work to ensure it benefits Portlanders.

We have already stipulated that tax break recipients build to LEED Silver, which, in the case of residential developments will contain the cost of living for its residents.

I am also interested in stipulating that recipients of tax breaks be bound to provide living wage jobs, not just in construction, but, if commercial, for its long-term jobs.

Budget:

13.  Given the state of the economy, continuing cuts will be part of the budgeting process.  What cuts will you make?

If I served on the Finance Committee, I would seek to cut out unnecessary subsidies.

For example, below-market rates are offered to out-of-town landlords at the dump.  As it stands, residential renters have no access to discounted services at the dump, and small-scale homeowners and landlords receive less discount than big landlords.

14.  How will you go about increasing local revenue?

Our primary source of revenue in the city is property taxes and complemented by sources such as building permits, excise taxes, as well as various fees for services.

As a City Councilor, I believe the most important work is in growing the tax base through reforming outdated land use code and promoting business development.

If I were in Augusta, I would certainly work for a municipal meals and lodging tax, but it is essential that we focus on what it is that we have power to do in Portland.

15.  What are your plans for reducing the City's energy costs and consumption?

Along with Councilor Marshall, I worked to establish the Energy & Environmental Sustainability Committee, which was finally created under former Mayor Suslovic.

Already we have created green building standards for publicly-supported projects, ordered energy audits on all city buildings, and we are working to cut vehicle miles.

Community:

16.  How do you think that Portland should cope with the working waterfront/tourist dichotomy?

Tourism is not in conflict with working waterfronts; residential and hotels uses are.  I oppose residential uses on our piers and need to carefully review impacts of hotels.

While reviewing the list of allowable uses, the key ingredient that is missing on our working waterfront is an affirmative plan and policy framework for pier investment.

17.  What do you hope to see come out of the Charter Commission?

 I hope to see a charter that provides a legitimate mayor and is endorsed by voters.

18.  How do you intend to represent the needs of low-income and New American community members?

I have directly engaged neighborhood associations in lower-income neighborhoods.    I have initiated inclusive neighborhood planning efforts in Bayside in Kennedy Park

One frequent challenge has been language and lack of direct support from City Hall.  However, I am very encouraged by my early experience in working with Chief Craig.

19.  If elected, how will you cultivate Portland's blossoming art and music communities?

Along with Councilor Marshall, I worked to establish the Arts District TIF and the Creative Portland Corporation, with work together to finance these communities.

I will also continue to work for affordable housing that is essential for an arts scene as well as monitor zoning to ensure that creative enterprise is not gentrified away.