Letter from the editor:
It's getting to be that time again.
The time when people throughout the state argue (or alternatively agree) with their extended family about whether teachers' unions serve an elite cabal of communists (they don't) or if climate change is a conspiracy to keep us sheep scared and docile (it's not).
It is, of course, election season.
With that being the case, and Street Roots being an outlet with an unparalleled focus on housing and homelessness reporting, we felt readers would be best served by coverage of candidates' housing and homelessness proposals.
We're not just talking about candidates for local office, either. Over the next four weeks, Street Roots will publish four election-related special editions examining the housing and homelessness policies of every candidate for a city, county, state and federal office that is relevant to Portlanders.
Street Roots will also break down each relevant state, local and county ballot measure.
With that, welcome to Issue #1.
In this issue, freelance reporter Mia Ryder-Marks and staff reporters Piper McDaniel and Melanie Henshaw give a rundown of the four state ballot measures. Three of the measures would amend the Oregon Constitution, while the fourth would introduce voter-supported reforms of state gun laws.
Henshaw also covers the two candidates for Oregon Labor Commissioner, an office with an understated but important role regarding housing. (It's their job to ensure landlords aren't discriminating against tenants.) And, with all the recent and ongoing unionizing efforts taking place throughout the state, the labor commissioner figures to be more frequently discussed in the coming years.
This issue also features a look at the housing and homelessness policies for each of the three candidates in Oregon's gubernatorial race, courtesy of me.
What you'll find in this issue and those going forward is honest, critical journalism about candidates' proposals and policies. When a candidate ducks a question, we're going to say so. When a candidate fails to provide a clear and specific plan to meet one of their goals, we're going to say so. When a candidate says something false, inaccurate or otherwise nonsensical, we're going to say so and provide the facts to back it up.
There's also the matter of candidates who choose not to interview with Street Roots or, at the very least, don't check their emails or voicemails often enough. Street Roots has a reputation for asking tough questions, and that isn't for everyone. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Street Roots also doesn't endorse candidates, which can influence whether or not a candidate feels their time is well spent talking to us.
In such instances, we'll still try to summarize everything we do or do not know about that candidate's policies while noting we didn't get a chance to ask them the questions we were hoping to.
Street Roots will approach each candidate, regardless of party or background, with the same level of scrutiny. Now, that "same level of scrutiny" doesn't mean each article will look or feel the same. Candidates are different, opinions are different, policies and proposals are different, and so too are the articles that cover these things. But, facts are facts, and Oregonians deserve to know when a candidate doesn't seem to have or acknowledge all of the facts. Oregonians also deserve to know when a plan or proposal has obvious gaps, and Street Roots won't allow candidates to pass platitudes off as plans.
Street Roots' goal isn't to sway voters one way or another but to ensure,that to the best of our ability, we've provided voters with the information they need to evaluate a candidate's policies, proposals and attitudes toward housing and homelessness.
Sincerely,
K. Rambo
Street Roots editor in chief