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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2018)
2018 ELECTIONS Page 10 W ÏF M y W Street Roots • a BB vt ftffi housing crisis , revenue , climate chan © Street Roots asked the candidates for Oregon governor to respond to five questions in 1,200 words o r fewer. A ll candidates were asked the same questions, with the exception o f the final two, which were specific to them. PATRICK STARNES KATE BROWN DEMOCRAT INDEPENDENT ■ Assumed the office in February 2015, completing the term of John Kitzhaber who resigned ■ Cabinetmaker for 30 years ■ Elected twice to Douglas Education Service District and once to McKenzie School Board ■ Won a special election to the office in 2016 ■ Former Oregon Secretary of State, 2009-2015 1. This past year, we’ve been reporting on the housing crisis across the state, with a focus on rural areas. While each community faces unique challenges, we found several reccurring themes. We’d like to know how you would address each of the following issues we found tohavea 1. This past year, we’ve been reporting on the housing crisis across the state, with a focus on rural areas. While each community faces unique challenges, we found several reoccurring themes. We’d like to know how you would address each of the following issues we found to have a significant impact on housing insecurity in our state: significant impact on housing insecurity in our state: (a) What would you do to support communities that are finding licensed and unlicensed vacation rentals are contributing to low vacancy rates among rentals and rising housing insecurity in their area? BUEHLER? (a) What would you do to support communities that are finding licensed and unlicensed vacation rentals are contributing to low vacancy rates among rentals and rising housing insecurity in their area? I know this is an issue in cities across Oregon, including on the coast I’m watching closely how cities like Portland are regulating this emerging industry and if state law is presenting barriers to their efforts, I look forward to working with communities around Oregon to address them. (b) The only houses being built in rural areas are luxury homes that most community members cannot afford. How will you spur construction of workforce housing in rural areas to correct shortages? I have been working for the past three years to improve housing affordability in rural Oregon. I launched five housing pilot projects throughout Oregon in conjunction with Future Ready Oregon. This Workforce Housing Initiative creates partnerships between local communities, the business sector and private developers to tackle the housing shortage for working families and vulnerable communities in Oregon. We must stabilize existing affordable housing so it remains affordable into the future, as well as generate more affordable housing options for communities across our state, and enable local governments to streamline housing development (c) From skyrocketing rents and substandard housing to rashes of no-cause evictions, tenants across the state are crying foul. What new tenant protections would you champion as governor? I want to end unreasonable nocause evictions, ensure renters have relocation assistance so they stay in housing and provide technical support for renters. By empowering renters, we can ensure they have the ability to save for college, for a down payment or for retirement I am proud to have received the endorsement of the Community Alliance of Tenants Action Fund. 2. Oregon is already seeing the impacts of climate change. As governor, how will you prepare Oregon’s infrastructure and emergency systems so See BROWN, page 11 BUEHLER? Republican candidate Knute Buehler did not respond to Street Roots’ questionnaire, which was sent to all three gubernatorial candidates. Despite multiple emails and phone messages, we did not receive any reply from the Knute Buehler campaign. This is the first time in Street Roots’ histoiy a major candidate for public office declined to acknowledge our election questionnaire. See my Oregon Shelter Fund, page 11. (b) The only houses being built in rural areas are luxury homes that most community members cannot afford. How will you spur construction of workforce housing in rural areas to correct shortages? See Oregon Shelter Fund, page 11. (c) From skyrocketing rents and substandard housing to rashes of no-cause evictions, tenants across the state are crying foul. What new tenant protections would you champion as governor? As one who rents a home to a family in Eugene, I do not support no-cause evictions, and support lifting the statewide ban on rent controls. For more details see the Oregon Shelter Fund attachment on page 11. 2. Oregon is already seeing the impacts of climate change. As governor, how will you prepare Oregon’s infrastructure and emergency systems so that we are better prepared for the increasingly disasterous effects of climate change? Revenue from fossil fuels can be shunted to a Climate Disaster Fund. 3. From foster care and education to housing and PERS - Oregon needs more money. How will you get it? See my Grand Bargain. This will free up more money for classrooms, etcetera. 4. You’re running on a platform focused almost entirely on campaign finance reform. Why is this your No. 1 priority when there are so many other issues facing Oregonians? See STARNES, page 11
