Sean Davis is a Purple Heart recipient from the Iraq War. His experience with disaster and crisis response includes work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and wildland firefighting. He is a community organizer at the American Legion Post 134 and a college professor.
Davis is running for mayor of Portland. Here are his responses to Street Roots' candidates pop quiz — a mix of short-answer, yes-or-no, and multiple-choice questions. (Read other candidates' responses.)
QUESTION 1
You only have $10 million to spend. The fire bureau says that without $5 million, call times for critical services will be hampered, potentially costing people’s lives. Social-service agencies need $5 million because rent increases mean they can’t place people into housing, creating a backlog of people waiting to get off the streets. Both the police and the parks bureaus need critical support for services totaling $7 million. What do you do? (150 words or less)
Poverty creates crime; crime does not create poverty. Among the largest contributors to poverty is home insecurity. Those areas of spending that are immediately related to home security must be prioritized, but public funding is not the only resource the city has available. The Portland Housing Bureau’s 11x13 program provides $4 for every $1 spent by the city from the feds, state and private investment. One million dollars spent on housing may net the $5 million needed for social services, leaving $9 million on the table.
Next, fire and rescue will be covered as they are essential for the preservation of life and property, leaving $4 million.
Finally, on the eve of Portland’s expected growth, we’d propose a municipal bond measure with an expected return of 5 percent over 20 years, which should more than cover the police and parks, and maybe have some money for a publicly funded art project.
QUESTION 2
The Portland Police Bureau’s contract with the city says police officers involved in an incident using deadly force must receive 48 hours’ notice before being compelled to speak to bureau investigators. Average citizens, however, are questioned often immediately on the grounds of capturing the best memory of events. Yes or No: Would you abolish the 48-hour rule?
Yes. Moreover, I am committed to third party investigators retrieving body camera data and conducting an immediate and thorough investigation for the use of force by our police.
QUESTION 3
Yes or No: As mayor, will you end the practice of contracting for military and militarized equipment for use by our police bureau?
Yes. My vision for our police force has nothing in common, in spirit or mission, with our war making apparatus. When you wear the mask too long it becomes your face. We have police officers dressed in all black with weapons I carried during wartime. We need community minded ambassadors to repair our relationship with our police bureau and our neighborhoods.
QUESTION 4
Please place the following items in order of priority as mayor. Note with 1, 2 and 3.
• Increase parking
• Bike infrastructure
• Low or no-fare public transit
1. Low- or no-fare public transit
2. Bike lanes
3. Increase parking
QUESTION 5
Choose the item in each pairing that is more suited to you:
1. Uber or Radio Cab
2. Raincoat or Umbrella
3. Adidas or Nike
4. Maple Bacon Doughnut or Kale
1. Radio Cab
2. Raincoat
3. Nike
4. Maple Bacon Doughnut (honestly I’ve drank the Rogue beer and not eaten the Doughnut)
QUESTION 6
Complete this sentence with the following options: I smoke marijuana ____________
a. For medicinal purposes only.
b. To decompress after a stressful day.
c. Recreationally. Hey, it’s legal.
d. Rarely.
e. Never.
d. Rarely/Recreationally (but when I do it’s with the most interesting people).
QUESTION 7
Make one promise to the city’s people of color that you will deliver on as mayor. Street Roots will check on its status every year.
Our entire platform is focused on this very topic, and I hope you do more than check every year. We need community leaders and publications in the city to hold our elected officials’ feet to the fire. If I win this election it is going to happen because of our redistribution of political power through City Council reform and our “Home Court Advantage” plan that helps residents retain, gain and invest wealth into their communities, and gives them protection from gentrification.
QUESTION 8
How will you ensure young people of color will succeed in Portland?
We will ensure young people of color will succeed by putting their parents into a position for long-term and inheritable success. We will build complete neighborhoods that improve the conditions and quality of life for marginalized residents, and refocus our policing habits and culture away from the targeted law enforcement and over policing of their neighborhoods. We need food, homes, schools, and safe structured opportunities available to all of our young people. They need to live in the same Portland as their white classmates.
QUESTION 9
In one sentence, state something you will do as mayor to ease the burden on Portland’s small businesses.
We are creating a “Home Court Advantage” program that, amongst other things, will make Portland business ownership a reality for a wider range of people.
QUESTION 10
Pair the issue with the sentiment. Use each sentiment only once:
1. Sit-lie sidewalk law
2. Public campaign finance option
3. Expanded light rail transit into Washington St.
4. PPB Horse Patrol
a. Great idea
b. Good idea
c. Needs work
d. Nope
1. Sit-lie sidewalk law – c. Needs work
2. Public campaign finance – a. Great idea
3. Expanded light rail – b. Good idea
4. PPB Horse Patrol – d. Nope
QUESTION 11
Portland is losing significant, large trees at a rapid pace to development. In 50 words or less, what will you do to save these legacy trees?
As a matter of aesthetics, I would seek to support the neighborhood review boards that judge and determine the changing character of their part of the city. However, as an environmental issue our trees are needed to trap pollutants from the air and reduce the effects of urban heat islands.
I would empower the neighborhood design review for these issues. Judging by the air quality from underregulation, we need our trees.
QUESTION 12
Yes or No: Understanding we’re going to have street homelessness, do you support tent cities?
Yes, R2D2 (Right 2 Dream 2) is a model that should be emboldened and supported until our city government catches up to the severity of the situation and begins feeding more than the homelessness industry. R2D2 represents a conduit from the streets.
QUESTION 13
Select a local artist – professional or amateur – to draw your favorite thing about Portland.