Street roots., October 21, 2016, Page 12, Image 12

Street Roots • Oct. 21-27, 2016
ZIMMERMAN, from page 12
3. What are you going to do to curb opiate
deaths and addiction?
I’ve seen firsthand in my family that
dosing policies alone aren’t enough.
Addictions treatment capacity must grow
in our community, and I support funding
that places programs in the community,
in community organizations, with specific
models for different populations. No one-
size-fits-all model works. I find the work of
CODA and others to be promising, and
they are in the trenches on critical work. I
envision addictions treatment access in
nearly every level of county health and
human services. The earlier we provide
intervention, I believe the more lives we
can save.
4. In addition to the issues addressed above,
what do you want to fix in the county?
I am deeply concerned about the needs
of people living on our streets and the
impact that is having on our community. I
support the efforts to provide permanent
housing opportunities to get people into
care, treatment and employment
opportunities. But I also cannot accept
the current policy that does not also
provide a shelter bed available for every
person living outside tonight. We need to
look at all unused county properties to
determine how we can better meet this
need. We must also expand access to
mental health and addiction treatment,
whether it is through shelters, street
teams or permanent housing.
Climate change is the greatest long­
term threat to our future. The county has
a Critical role to play in this work, helping
p u s h la n d use decisions that make it
easier for people to travel for work,
Election 2016 / Commentary
commerce and recreation with a smaller
carbon footprint We also must educate
the public about energy conservation
improvements to homes and buildings in
the community and efficiency practices
that can be incorporated into our daily
lives. Protecting farm and forestland, as
well as our green spaces, serves a critical
role in reducing our region’s carbon
footprint These areas act as critical
carbon capture and storage opportunities
in our urban environment as well as
reducing energy consumption through
better shade, wind reduction, and
extending the life of our transportation
infrastructure by reducing maintenance
costs.
5. Why should people vote for you and not
the other guy?
I am the best candidate to begin
addressing the challenges we face on my
first day in office. Through my time at the
county and in the community, I
understand the work we are doing and
what we are not doing. We need to open
up the way our commission does business
and be more willing to explore new ideas.
In addition, I also believe I have the
ability to bring together the diverse parts
of this community to make lasting change.
There is a reason I have the endorsement
of the county workers, AFSCME Local
8 8 .1 also have the support of Gov.
Barbara Roberts, Commissioner Loretta
Smith, and many other community
leaders. Visit my website,
ericzimmerman.org, to learn more.
Visit news.streetroots.org to see how the
candidates answered other questions in the
Street Roots pop quiz this past April.
Page 13
Election reform for City Council
would make each voice count
BY SERENA CRUZ
or gain depending on decisions Portland City
Council could make in the future.
And while I got to meet many Portlanders
f | Ahe amount was $400,000. In four
in
town halls, candidate forums and house
months. That’s what I had to raise to
parties, I didn’t have .as much time for
run for Portland City Council.
connecting with voters face-to-face as I
Running to be the third person of color
wanted
nor, I felt, any voter deserved.
and the eighth woman ever to
I don’t necessarily think that
serve the city I love was an
taking
big donations from people
incredible experience. And it
means you listen to them more,
taught me that there must be a
but what I like about the Open and
better way. That’s why I’m
Accountable Elections reform is
supporting the Open and
that it treats everyone like a big
Accountable Elections reform th a t
donor, so even small donations
Portland City Council will consider
have a big impact
ort Nov. 3.
When every donation counts,
As a candidate, I spent hours
Serena Cruz is a
then so does every perspective.
each day on the phone or in
former Mutlnomah
County commissioner Candidates áre freer to think about
meetings, trying to raise an
and
former candidate a broader set of issues, and hear
obscene amount of money. I’m
from more of Portland - in
for Portland City
guessing my opponent had to do
Council.
particular those underrepresented
the same.
in City Council: women, people of,
Don’t get me wrong; dialing for
color, LGBT people and east Portlanders.
dollars taught me a lot of important skills. I
There are barriers to running for office, as
became expert in giving a brief but
my experience can attest And those barriers
meaningful pitch. I enjoyed talking to people
about why I was running and how I wanted to don’t end at our city boundaries.
But we can start removing some of them
make a difference. I got to hear their ideas
right here in Portland, giving future
and thoughts on what could make Portland
candidates a different path to local
work better. All of this made me a better
democracy. So I urge Portland City Council,
candidate.
please support Open and Accountable
But if I’m honest, most of the people I
Elections.
raised money from didn’t look like plenty of
Portlanders. They were, more often than not, Learn more about Open & Accountable
men, white and with a vested interest in the
Elections at avoiceforallportland.org.
business of the city. And many stood to lose
C O N T R IB U T IN G C O L U M N IS T
GET YOUR T-SHIRT TODAY!
L A U G H 1 N G P L A N E T .C O M /S H O P