Street roots
Feb. 17, 2012
‘We’ll have
to come
together
and do
our best’
A conversation with
City Commissioner
Dan Saltzman
BY ISRAEL BAYER
S T A F F W R IT E R
an Saltzman is a veteran Portland
city commissioner who has been
around the block. During his 12-year
stint on city council, he has, at various
times, taken heat on both sides of the
political spectrum for a variety of issues.
People closest to Saltzman say he’s a
hard-working, detail-oriented individual that
isn’t afraid to buck the system to create
change. During his tenure as city
commissioner, he has taken on the fire and
police disability retirement system and led a
successful and on-going children’s levy, to
name a few.
Street Roots recently sat down with
Saltzman to talk about city politics and the
future of Portland.
D
PH O TO C O U R T E S Y O F D AN SA LTZM A N
dire budget year. Saying that, I also want to
add that every time, as long as I’ve been in
government, going back to my years on the
county commission that the forecasts always
start off more dire than they actually end up
around April or May. Admittedly, we’ve
never been in economic conditions like this
a real issue.
Of course, making sure that we keep jobs
in Portland and try to attract more. I think
most of the focus is on keeping the
businesses we have and nurturing small
businesses so that they can achieve their
next level of growth in the region. We can’t
T h erers re a lly n o t a i a re a th a t doesn^t n e e d support? from
s h e lte rs to t r a n s it io n a l h o n s in g to s p e c if ic a lly ta r g e te d n e e d s
th a t are fo c a s e l on honslag s p e c ific a lly fo r In ner-
g e n e ra tio n a l needs? sealers and k id s com ing o a t o f foster
I s r a e l B a y e r : You have been one o f the
’SSz yse-SK 5JW vsSY as
most quiet, yet productive, commissioners over
the past 12 years. What have been some o f yo u r
most challenging times as a commissioner,
a n d some o f yo u r proudest m om ents?
D a n S a l tz m a n : I probably would say that
this upcoming budget year and soft economy
and how that impacts city governance is
probably going to be one of the most
challenging. The years I have been on the
City Council, it’s not to say we haven’t gone
through cuts in the past, but if everything
holds up this could be the most dire.
Some of the best times are getting
council to support things - working through
two efforts to get voters to reform the
Charter successively. One was to revamp
the fire and police disability and retirement
system, which was largely the fox guarding
the henhouse, before all the trustees were
either fire or police related. Now it’s a five-
person board with two union representatives
and three citizen representatives. I’m also
very proud of being able to be a part of the
Children’s Levy and all that has
accomplished.
I .B .: With such a tough budget cycle coming
up, a n d know ing that a lot o f people and
interests are going to be hurt. H ow do you as a
com m issioner form ulate yo u r priorities this
year?
D .S .: It’s always a struggle, and it’s up to
the council to think globally. We have to
think beyond just our own bureaus. I think
we’ve done that in the past, but it can still
get in the way with a silo mentality. I do
think we try as best we can to rise above all
of that in the end.
Like I said before, this is going to be a
the entire time I’ve been in government, but
we’ve been in similar ones. We’ll have to
come together and do our best.
I .B .: K now in g the city is experiencing
economic difficulties - like most urban
environments. What do you see as some o f the
biggest challenges facin g the city over the next
decade?
D .S .: In terms of what the City Council
will look like next year, it’s going to be a
whole new game whether it’s two or three
new electives. So I’m looking forward to
getting the ground laid and for a new city
council to begin in January 2013.
I think the big issues continue to be
affordable housing. We have to work more to
make sure our young people are finishing
high school. I’ve been part of the efforts of
Children’s Levy. It’s going to take all of us
working together from different groups,
including businesses, labor, and elected
officials to focus on the issue. If we don’t
have a local citizenry trained for a worldwide
economy, then we’re not going to have
people being successful and contributing
and being a part of government.
Issues around sustainability are very
important. We have to make sure our built
environment is more in sync with the
natural environment. One of the things
hanging over our heads is going to be the
Superfund clean up and what amount of
money the city is on the hook for this. We
are a potentially responsible party. By the
time the next council convenes, this will be
just be a stepping-off point for software
companies that then have to move to Palo
Alto, or Seattle to a lesser extent. So we
want companies that are going to grow and
stay here.
I .B .: H a vin g been a M ultnom ah County
Com m issioner fo r five years, you know how
difficult it is to raise revenue and keep the
safety net intact while m aintaining day-to-day
operations. H ow do you feel the city and county
are working together, and what more can be
done to make the region the most efficient it
can be?
D .S .: I always think the relationship could
be better. There’s always a certain amount
of buzz and talking points that we use about
working closer with the county. Supposedly,
the relationship with the county and the city
has never been greater. I don’t know if I buy
that. I do think we should be doing more
talking together and creating joint
commissions. There’s a lot that can be done.
then, lastly, investing in as many key
intervention points in school — things like
after-school programs, mentoring programs,
housing and foster care programs along with
child abuse invention. It’s very hard for
children to be successful if they are growing
up in a house filled with violence. There’s a
full spectrum of things to do.
I .B .: How do you feel like we could be more
effective on the affordable housing front?
D.S.: Obviously, we need more affordable
housing and more affordable rental stock in
our community. I’m very diligent about
supporting rental-housing inspections with
council’s support. It’s absolutely ridiculous
some of the conditions people are forced to
live in.
There’s really not an area that doesn’t
need support, from shelters to transitional
housing to specifically targeted needs that
are focused on housing specifically for inner-
generational needs, seniors and kids coming
out of foster care. How is it possible that
someone who is 18 years old has the
knowledge and resources to survive on their
own coming out of the foster care system?
Housing is key to a healthy community.
I .B .: Tell us more about how y o u ’re
approaching the R ight 2 Dream Too situation.
D .S .: I’m basically approaching it is as the
commissioner in charge of the Bureau of
Development Services. From what I have
heard and seen they are behaving
responsibly. I don’t have anything against
what they are doing, but as commissioner I
have a responsibility to enforce building
codes, etc. There is a path for the group to
be able to obtain legal status, but I won’t be
waiving fines. It’s not about Right 2 Dream
Too, it’s attached to the property owner who
is responsible.
I .B .: What can the city an d comm unity do
to improve the opportunities and the quality o f
life fo r kids who are trapped by poverty?
D .S .: The thesis behind the Children’s
Levy is to focus on our children and to find a
way to support young people experiencing
poverty. We have to constantly be looking at
best practices and key points that tell us to
invest in organizations and institutions that
have a track record of success. Second, is to
invest in early childhood education. And
I .B .: H ow do we change the way people
think about government, m oving it from being
a negative to being a positive thing in people’s
lives?
D .S .: I’m not sure I have an answer for
that. (Laugh). It’s clear that our federal
government is out of touch and we have to
work locally to the best we can to get people
involved and to do the right things for our
community.
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