Street Roots asked Portland’s 2016 City Council candidates 13 questions
Steve Novick is a Portland city commissioner. He was an environmental law enforcement attorney at the U.S. Justice Department.
Novick is running for re-election to commissioner position No. 4 on the Portland City Council. 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)
The question is both vague (police and parks need money for critical services – which ones?) and unrealistic – social service agencies need a hell of a lot more than $5 million. I’ll respond by referring to this budget: In ongoing money, we’ve committed $5 million in new money to housing, I need $1 million to help the way overworked 911 staff, the police say they absolutely need $1.8 million to do background checks, and we need $1.3 million to avoid laying off firefighters – but if we fund all those, parks will take big cuts. We’re not going back on the $5 million, my top other priorities are 911 and fire, but I hope we can get more money for parks and police.
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 vote to abolish the 48-hour rule?
Yes.
QUESTION 3
Yes or No: As commissioner, will you end the practice of contracting for military and militarized equipment for use by our police bureau?
I’d like a definition of militarized equipment, but instinctively, yes.
QUESTION 4
Please place the following items in order of priority as commissioner. Note with 1, 2 and 3.
• Increase parking
• Bike infrastructure
• Low or no-fare public transit
1. Bike infrastructure
2. Low- or no-fare public transit (note: Tri-Met is the responsible government entity)
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. (I don’t eat bacon, but a Maple Doughnut sounds delicious.)
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.
QUESTION 7
Make one promise to the city’s people of color that you will deliver on as commissioner. Street Roots will check on its status every year.
I will work with my bureaus to ensure that in recruiting for city jobs and seeking input on city projects, we make an extra effort to reach people of color in as many languages as possible. We have taken steps restructure our outreach on PBOT projects with the help of my East Portland liaison, Andrea Valderrama.
QUESTION 8
How will you ensure young people of color will succeed in Portland?
By working to improve transportation infrastructure in east Portland, where many of our people of color live, so that they can get to jobs or school even if they don’t have cars. By working to ensure that the city itself employs young people of color. By carefully monitoring city bureaus (including but not limited to the police bureau) to guard against discriminatory conduct.
QUESTION 9
In one sentence, state something you will do as commissioner to ease the burden on Portland’s small businesses.
I will support improved transportation infrastructure to help their customers and employees get to and from their businesses. I’m not sure what “the burden” means – what burden are we talking about?
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 – d. Nope
2. Public campaign finance – b. Good idea
3. Expanded light rail – a. Great idea
4. PPB Horse Patrol – c. Needs work
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?
I support strong measures to protect trees greater than 48 inches in diameter, as recently proposed. I think we may need stronger protections in areas of the city which do not have good tree canopy, and should make it harder to remove trees to build McMansions than to do so to add density.
QUESTION 12
Yes or No: Understanding we’re going to have street homelessness, do you support tent cities?
I’m not sure anyone “supports” tent cities except as a last resort, but we have seen that there are models that work like R2D2 and Hazelnut Grove. While still looking for solid long-term solutions to our homelessness problem, we should also support those in the homeless community that are working within the law to make a safe place with minimal negative community impacts.
QUESTION 13
Select a local artist – professional or amateur – to draw your favorite thing about Portland.
