Multnomah County Comissioner Loretta Smith first suggested police officers move into abandoned Portland houses earlier this month, at the first candidate forum for Portland’s general election. Smith, who is running against JoAnn Hardesty to replace outgoing Comissioner Dan Saltzman, specifically suggested this as an incentive for the many Portland police officers who live outside of the city limits. She said that city council could essentially use the so-called “zombie houses” —long-abandoned homes foreclosed upon by the city—as bait.
The idea seemed half-baked at the time—maybe something Smith was just trying out with the audience early in the race. Suggesting out-of-town police officers be incentivized to take over abandoned homes during the midst of a major homelessness crises seemed too tone deaf to be an actual campaign platform.
And yet, two weeks after announcing this plan at the Crystal Ballroom forum, Smith has issued a formal list of housing policy proposals that relies heavily on the giving-houses-to-law-enforcement model.
“Smith proposes that the city buy these houses, rehab them and then sell them to teachers, firefighters and police officers who can’t afford to live and work in Portland,” reads a press release sent by Smith’s campaign this afternoon. “Home buyers would receive low-interest loans that would remain in place as long as they are employed in one of the designated fields within the city.”
Including public school teachers in this plan was a nice touch—but isn’t enough to hide the fact that Smith believes out-of-town law enforcement should be prioritized for housing over actual Portland residents. Based on her earlier explanation of this policy, it also comes with the assumption that the only reason police officers don’t live in Portland is because of the city’s high cost of living. While it’s surely a piece of the equation—there’s no evidence pointing to this being the case.
According to the Portland Police Bureau’s recruitment site, an entry-level annual salary at PPB is more than $64,000—which is $8,000 more than Portland’s average median income for a one-person household in 2018. Meanwhile, the most recent census data shows that around 18 percent of Portland residents are living below the federal poverty line (or, for an individual, making less than $12,000 a year).
In the same press release, Smith reminds voters that she still really wants to turn the abandoned Wapato Jail into a homeless shelter. Just to be clear: Portland’s homeless are allowed a prison-like shelter while law enforcement are offered discounts on actual homes?
“My proposals give the city more options to expand the number of affordable housing units and speed up the process,” Smith said in the press statement.
We’re not holding our breath.
@what?! You haven’t got the slightest fucking idea what you’re talking about.
One major reason why chronic homelessness is challenging to solve is that fools and liars like what?! always seem to be doing all the talking.
Completely tone deaf. Police don’t need housing subsidies. This just strengthens my support for Jo Ann Hardesty.
God forbid someone proposes that subsidized housing actually goes to people who work for a living! Apparently some people believe it’s much better that we (taxpayers) provide foreclosed homes to vagrants that would rather sit around, do drugs, and live off the charity of this city rather than get a 9-to-5 job to pay for their needs.
Mr. Zielinski apparently believes the homeless are too good to spend their evenings in the Wapato facility. Why not give them the choice? Surely it’s better than living on the streets, unless that’s what you want to do. No, Mr. Zielinski would much rather the taxpayers of Portland give each vagrant a house. Despite the ridiculous economics of that proposition, there’s no way that these people can independently maintain a residence. I live next to a homeless encampment. The first they do upon moving in is spread graffiti far and wide. Then they dispose of their voluminous trash throughout the adjoining areas and streets. Then they break into cars throughout the neighborhood. As I pass them during the day, they’re either sleeping or sitting around talking with their buddies. Some seem crazy, most are on drugs, it’s hard to tell which is which. The point is, they can’t maintain a campsite, much less a subsidized house. Quick way to rehab a “zombie house”: give it to someone that has a job. Quick way to turn a “zombie house” into a drug den: give it any of the vagrants moving to the Portland area for the free handouts.
Sorry, Mr. Zielinski, your fantasy world may entail giving houses to every vagrant lounging around the streets of Portland, but the reality is that most of them wouldn’t want that and couldn’t handle it if they did. They need to get off meth and heroin and have supported living in a shelter such as the Wapato. Maybe one day they can straighten out their lives, but that’s going to take a whole lot more than giving people abandoned houses.
Say what you will about Loretta Smith’s politics, but she has it right on this one. More homes for those that work and can upkeep a home. And the Wapato (which is already built and can shelter hundreds of people) to help those that want help transition to a better life.
Just clucking WOW! Ms Zielinski, your past articles already signaled you as being even more wacky than your predecessor but this is just taking opining to another level. Obviously you’d liek to see Portland to not only drink the wacky cool-aid but bathe in it as well, with a Hardesty victory. Come on, at least pretend that you are attempting to not be a hypocrite when this paper slams Fox News, unless of course you are taking your cue from them to get the extremists all jizzed-up.
PLEASE OPB, do not take on anyone from this rag if you want to maintain what reputation you’ve had in the past.
I have nothing against this proposal. If we want police more in tune with Portland values, they need to live in Portland. I suspect the realistic alternative is not giving these homes to the homeless, but auctioning them off to the highest bidder. Frankly, I’d rather have them going to cops, teachers, and firemen. The city might be leaving some money on the table, but it doesn’t cost us anything, and unlike a zombie house, it will actually generate property tax payments.