This morning, six mayoral candidates participated in a public forum on housing conducted by local housing and homelessness organizations. The candidates — Jefferson Smith, Shonda Colleen Kelley, Josh Nuttall, Loren Charles Brown, Charlie Hales and Eileen Brady —tackled topics from gentrification to budget cuts in the two-hour-long discussion. Most candidates presented polished, on-topic responses to the six questions, but some answers came out a bit rocky and unprepared.
Charles Brown pushed a clear agenda: with him as mayor, homelessness would be a distant memory. “I want everyone to sleep on the street with me as the new mayor. We gotta get better. With me, there will be no homelessness,” he said.
The participants proposed innovating low-income housing plans, work integration programs for the homeless and shared their views on Occupy Portland.
“I think the city handled the occupation very well,” said Hales. “Maybe a little less riot gear next time.” Smith echoed Hales’ perspective, adding that the public shouldn’t have given Mayor Sam Adams so much flack for his Occupy actions.
Said Brady: “We saw some of the best of Portland when we transported them from the parks. That is all.”
Colleen Kelley seemed a bit new to the Occupy idea. “I don’t really know what happened there,” she said.
Back to the housing issues. When faced with increasing budget cuts (up to 8 percent this coming year), the candidates were asked where they’d cut and what they’d keep.
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Hales and Smith both agreed that they’d like to see the city audit major projects to conserve funding. Additionally, Hales said he wants to work with the county to hash out which body deals with which part of the city (he used streets vs. bridges as a clear example). Charles Brown straight up rejected cuts, while Brady focused on conserving public safety and other basic services.
While some clashed on their views of the government’s role in the housing department (Nuttall called the local bureaucracy “shoddy”, followed by Smith avidly supporting government workers), many agreed that community outreach and participation is key when faced with housing changes. “I believe in a shared sense of public interest,” said Smith. “As mayor I can’t do it all, I need you as partners.”
No more homelessness huh? So I guess those apartments on Pettygrove aren’t going to be 2000 per month?
“With me, there will be no homelessness”
This has to rank as this years most idiotic and imbecilic promise by a politician this year. That also makes Charlie Brown the front-runner for mayor. Get a life, Charlie Brown!
“As mayor I can’t do it all, I need you as partners.”
Hey Jefferson Smith Davis, a mayor can’t do it all. You have a limited role as mayor. Get back on the short bus with Charlie Brown!
Aren’t there any adults running for mayor?
Can someone else please confirm for me that Andy from Beaverton actually changed his avatar to “Optimus Prime as a kindergartner”? I feel like I’m going insane.
Erik, it was by request. http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/Blogto…
If you feel insane, maybe you are insane. Got something against the OP or are you a Starscream type of guy?
“As mayor I can’t do it all, I need you as partners.”
Hey Jefferson Smith Davis, a mayor can’t do it all. You have a limited role as mayor.”
Isn’t that basically what he said? That his role is limited, and he needs help from others?
Hardly mentioned at all. Proposed a simple system that would allow the city’s trade workers to all become self employed virtually overnight, pointed out that the cost of a single building proposed by Charlie Hales could buy enough tents, blankets, and space heaters for all the homeless in the city, and attempted to point out that the city having two bureaus of technology is probably a waste of city resources. My only quote, “shoddy”
To be fair though, this was the image I requested:
http://www.thoughts.swalrus.org/wp-content…
“Isn’t that basically what he said? That his role is limited, and he needs help from others? “
A mayor shouldn’t even be involved in these things.
If I was running this pathetic city, I would cut one third of the following: http://www.portlandonline.com/index.cfm?c=… I bet you wouldn’t notice any difference at the resident level.
the point of Jefferson’s remark is that people can’t expect elected leaders to do everything. but many people expect exactly that. it’s one of Obama’s biggest problems: “yes WE can” became “yes HE can” — and when it turned out that in many places he could not, in large part because the “we” never bothered to show up, well then bad stuff happened. snarking at Smith for reminding people of a fact they never seem to remember doesn’t help things get any better. but i suppose your friends think you’re cool.
I’ve met Loren Brown. He is a devious person who convinces an 85 year old widow, who he sees on a semi-regular basis, to drive him around Portland and buy him steak dinners. He also let her buy christmas gifts for him to give to his son. He is taking advantage of this poor woman, who just needs a friend and not a leech. This woman just started receiving in-home care, and he is trying to convince her that she doesn’t need it. The entire family has made it clear that he makes us uncomfortable, but he continues to come around, but with the blatant intent of not being seen. What kind of 45 yr old hangs out with an 85 yr old anyway!? He has a p.o. box at the airport, and goes to church near the woodstock neighborhood. he couch surfs at other old ladies homes, doesn’t have a car (or an education, apparently). there’s a reason he wants to end homelessness so very badly – because he IS homeless. I can’t believe this piece of garbage has the audacity to run for mayor. He is a bad human being.