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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2017)
T.K.: First and foremost, we have to protect our current investments in mental health services and substance abuse treatment during this difficult budget environment. That includes keeping people on the Oregon Health Plan so they can access mental health care. I support increasing the integration of mental health services in the Oregon Health Plan, as well as House Bill 2675, which requires mental health integration in community health improvement plans. Finally, I support Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer’s work on requiring hospitals to improve their discharge procedures for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. KO TEK, from page 3 affordable housing policy or investments. When it comes to policy changes, I think the road block has more to do with the influence of special interest groups rather than a lack of leadership. When it comes to investments, our road block is the longstanding, structural revenue problem in our state. Again, if you want the state to prioritize investments in emergency housing assistance, homeless shelters, preservation of affordable housing, foreclosure counseling, Legal Aid Services to help low- income Oregonians deal with housing- related issues, or construction of new affordable housing - please tell your legislators that you want them to support revenue solutions that would allow adequate, stable investments in these areas. If we can figure out how to raise additional revenue, I will be asking for $250 million in additional state support to help local communities. This includes $100 million for LIFT to help finance the construction of more affordable housing for low-income households; $100 million for preservation for existing affordable units; and $50 million for emergency housing and shelter assistance. 1,B.: Talk to us about tenant rights and what the Oregon legislature needs to do? T.K.: I’m going to work very hard to help us build our way ou£ of this crisis, but that solution will take time and that’s iiot enough every day. That’s why the Legislature will also need to discuss stronger protections for tenants in order to provide some immediate relief and stability for the 40 percent of Oregonians who are renters. I will focus on three key tenant protections: lifting the statewide ban on rent control so local governments can pass rent stabilization ordinances designed to meet their community’s needs; implementing a one-year, statewide moratorium on rent I.B.: There’s clearly an urban-rural divide in America. Oregon is no different. How do we collectively bridge the urban-rural divide? P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F T IN A K O T E K Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek increases; and ending “no cause” evictions to provide more predictability for renters. I.B.: Talk to us about mortgage interest deduction. As I understand it, it allows homeowners who itemize their taxes to deduct from their taxable income the interest paid on mortgages up to $1 million. The deduction is expected to cost the state an estimated $1 billion in forgone income tax revenue for the 2017-19 budget. In some cases, Oregonians are receiving a housing subsidy on their second and third homes. Given that so m any people are facing a housing crisis.^what’s the T.K.: We are certainly in a crisis, so I believe every possible solution needs to be on the table. I would refer your readers to House Bill 2006, which reforms the mortgage interest deduction and allocates savings to affordable housing. I.B.: What’s the answer to solving our mental health crisis in Oregon? the federal government and draconian policies under the current administration? T.K.: We will not allow our immigrant neighbors to be criminalized, nor will we allow families to be cruelly torn apart. We stand strong with Oregon’s immigrants and refugees and will use every tool at our disposal to protect them. In fact, a few specific policies have already been introduced that will keep Oregon moving ahead on building an equitable state. Cover All Kids would extend the Oregon Health Plan to all children residing in Oregon, regardless of immigration status. The Reproductive Health Equity Act would improve access to reproductive care in several ways, including extending coverage to the 48,000 Oregonians who currently rely on emergency programs for their reproductive care. T.K.: Here in Oregon, there’s more that unites us than divides us - and I will try to focus on th at We all want better schools, " I w ill locus oa litres key leaaal affordable protoclloass llflia g the statewide baa health care, a oa real eoalrol so local gow ram eale strong economy, and caa pass seat sfiabllisatlaa ordlaaaees good paying d e s lf aed to meet tbelr o o a ia ia a lt/s jobs. We’ll needs; liapleateatlag a ©ae-year, state» debate the best wide aioratorlaia oa real increases; way to achieve aad eadlag "a© eaase" evictions to those goals, but we’ve got to provide more p redicta bility lo r keep re n te rs ." I.B.: Anything I ’m not asking? T.K.: I wiU continue working to make Oregon a state that ensures equal justice, equal opportunity : and equal dignity in our neighborhoods, i TIRIA KO TEK our schools communicating and figuring o u r taMwa- —*R---R* R - • • ^{£GON HOUSE SPEAKER and dur places ways to move of work. To the whole state that end, this forward session we will together. We can’t succeed as a state if our be working on the next steps to reduce rural communities are left behind, so I profiling and improve equal justice under always keep that in mind. the law. FinaUy, I want to thank everyone who I.B.: Is there legislation in the works to further supports Street Roots - including aU of the protect undocumented immigrants in both vendors - for everything you’re doing to sanctuary cities and communities throughout fight for Social change. Oregon that may be more inclined to work with ACROSS K>OUCH N U T CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1. 4. 6. 7. 8. 9. 14. Fermentation agent Have a bite Tree, fluid Cake ingredient Three-ply cookie Hook's henchman Ground grain The gift o f ___11 là . Î7 . Tease or ridicule Francis or Kevin? 12. DOWN 22 SW 3RD AVE, / 1501 NE DAVIS ST. PORTLAND, OR 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 8. 10. 11. 13. -15. Affirmative! Type of fritter Analyze or try Cake ingredient Très Deal Potter's practice Nosh! Late rapper; abbr. appétit n 5 ñ n • • u L All Profits to Social Justice Cannabis with Benefits Panacea is a non-dividend, triple-bottom-line company. We commit 100% of profits to affordable housing and social justice. Everyone else is just sellin'weed. 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