Question Four: With homelessness increasing citywide, and revenue streams for resources declining — what will the city do differently to ensure Portland’s most vulnerable citizens are prioritized in the future?
Walt Nichols: We have to work with all of the faith-based groups not just the larger ones. We also have to look at ways to spend to get the most for the dollar. The last $47 million should have gotten us about 300 units, not just 130.
Nick Fish: Let’s start with the good news. Last year, the Oregon legislature finally passed dedicated funding for housing (the “document recording fee”). The city received millions of dollars in stimulus funds, and invested over $70 million dollars to build homes for low-income families. And, the Portland City Council increased spending for housing by over 30 percent.
Here are our challenges. In two years, the amount of dedicated funds for housing generated under the 30 percent set-aside will decline by 75 percent. The state, county and city face budget deficits caused by the national recession. The number of people in need keeps growing, outpacing our available resources. Therefore, we must start planning for a new, dedicated source of funding for housing.
County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury and I are leading an effort to develop a new dedicated funding source. We are studying the housing levy adopted by Seattle voters. By laying the groundwork now, we can plan for a successful campaign when the time is right.
Jason Barbour: The systematic de-funding of safety net services at a time they are needed the most is a symptom of a larger overall problem — those with the ability to pay to make sure these services exist, aren’t. The city is currently in the midst of the Portland Plan as well as the “City that Learns” educational opportunity campaign, both discussing topics surrounding the issue. The city should also address “slumlords,” and force them to improve housing quality at no additional cost to their residents. We need to talk to the businesses who have revenues exceeding expenses regarding what they should do to help create the workforces they need and the regional climate needed. We don’t talk about how curbing government executive salaries and expenditures on nonessential services, coupled with innovative sources of funding, could bolster civic revenues. For example, I haven’t heard anyone else suggest we place a tax on political contributions, in a similar manner that we currently tax gasoline or alcohol — if someone contributes $5,000 to a political cause, they have just proven that they could have instead spent $5,000 to fund essential services. Imagine how the state and the region could have improved if the money spent to support or oppose Ballot Measures 66 and 67 were instead donated to support social and charitable causes.
Question five: What are your goals to reinvigorate the city’s small business environment and neighborhood economies?
Jason Barbour: Two words: interpersonal communication. It’s been lost in favor of other methods of communication that don’t involve directly communicating with people. Also lost is ability for many to contribute as more and more residents work nontraditional schedules. Many don’t know their neighbors, and many don’t know their neighborhood businesses. Some neighborhoods don’t even have neighborhood businesses beyond chain convenience stores. Some neighborhood associations struggle with attendance at meetings and involvement at community functions. Business leaders don’t understand how important government services are to the well being of the city and region. Our “me first” society divides us even more, forcing personal desires such as names of streets onto those who don’t need nor want the change. The current city council even limits what citizens can talk to them on. “It’s not my jurisdiction” should not be a phrase in a city commissioners’ personal vocabulary. We need to stop pointing fingers and strive to work together.
Walt Nichols: Cut the cost of fees to update a building and reduce start-up fees to almost zero. We have to stop the taxing on the front end and only tax after the business has made money. Successful businesses provide living wage jobs.
Nick Fish: Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. They generate most of the new jobs in our community. Creating jobs is the best way to give people hope and a path to self-sufficiency.
As City Commissioner, I have worked hard to support our neighborhood small businesses. I co-sponsored a “buy-local” ordinance — to keep our tax dollars in our local economy, creating local jobs. I voted for new funding for small business assistance programs. And, I worked with my colleagues to reform the business license fee and streamline the permitting process.
I am the only candidate in this race supported by local business leaders and unions representing working families. They understand that we cannot fund the essential services people need to live in dignity without a strong economy.
Looking forward, we need to nurture and support the next Paloma Clothing, Widmer Brewing Company, Bike Gallery, and New Seasons Market. These home-grown businesses are the keys to our future prosperity — and quality of life.