Progress Portland

Hey everyone, this is a re-play of our interview with Steph Routh, City Council candidate for District 1. She was our very first interview, and with her campaign launch happening today we thought it was worth a re-listen.

We talk about what makes the East Side different, building consensus when things are contentious, and, of course, housing and houselessness. 

"I'm not sure if people realize this, but East Portlanders have about 10 years lower life expectancy than the rest of the city. And that's due to traffic crashes, gun violence, historic disinvestment. And one of the reasons I jumped in this race is this is the first time we will have politically drawn boundries that are accountable to those health outcomes." - Timur Ender

Through his experience working with PBOT and his years of living there with his family, Timur has an intimate knowledge of the streets of the Eastside. He would clearly be a passionate advocate for his community. Our conversation ranged from supporting small business owners to kids walking in ditches, Timur's year living in Turkey and defending immigrants along the Texas border.

"What I want to do is bring a new attitude to how we think about government. It starts with who we are, who the people are we're electing. Ideas are great, but ideas don't always pan out. Definitely come with practical ideas that can make a real difference, please do and I want to offer those, but it depends on who you are as a person too. That really matters. I want to make sure we're electing people that really and truly can connect with all kinds of people, everyday Portlanders, the disenfranchised." - Christopher Olson

Christopher Olson came to our studio wearing his trademark "Practice Radical Empathy" sweatshirt. Olson is newish to Portland, but he sees that as an asset. Our conversation ranged from the secret City Hall bunker, embracing data, and thinking long term on police reform. Find out more at www.olsonforpdx.com. 

"What I want to do is represent those in our community that need it the most. The folks that are in the tents, the folks that are in the throes of their addiction, folks that are having a mental health crisis. We don't have the resources we need as a community, and it's a shame because we have the resources financially to do what we need to do. We've had leadership that has not performed at a level that I think is acceptable at the City or County level." - Jesse Cornett

Jesse Cornett has a fascinating career path, from his early days as a member of the National Guard and a county sheriff to being Bernie Sanders' "body man" during his run for President. He's also been an HR manager, a veterans' caseworker, and a yoga teacher, as well as a variety of roles in politics. In this freewheeling conversation, Jesse talks about Portland's lost history as a climate leader, keeping our music culture flourishing, and the long, slow process of truly reforming the police. 

"This shelter is opening, that shelter is opening, is this the answer, is that the answer?' My answer is always "Yes, and." There are so many different needs out there. There are people struggling with substance abuse, there are people who are struggling with mental health, there are some people who just aren't making enough money. And if we're trying to throw a one-size-fits-all solution on any of that, then we are missing the point." - Jon Seibert

Housing, homelessness and hunger are on everyone's mind here in Portland. Jon Seibert, Director of Programs at Blanchet House in Old Town Portland, says that one of the best ways they're tackling the issue is communication and cooperation between the different non-profits taking on different aspects of the problem. Kip and Tim talk to Jon about the importance of data and also the pitfalls inherent in those numbers, and provide advice for today's City Council and our batch of candidates for 2024.

"When you have more people living in a place, it has this huge lift. The small businesses downtown are struggling. It is so hard. And a lot of it is a perception issue. If you go to the Park Blocks District and it is empty except for six people who all look like they are probably suffering from addiction and probably don't have a place to live. Now you think this is a city under distress. If those same six people are there, but also 600 people are gathered there for Art in the Park, then you see a thriving city. The same problem is there, same need to be addressed, but the perception is very different." - Chad Lykins, District 4 candidate

Chad Lykins is big into chess - he's the Founder of Rose City Chess, President of Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation, and Oregon’s Scholastic Coordinator and State Delegate to the United States Chess Federation. He also has a PhD in Leadership and Policy Studies from Vanderbilt University, so he knows a thing or two about how city government works. In this episode, Chad talks about being the "evidence-based candidate" and how arts and culture pay back big on small investments. 

We thought it would be good to sit down without a guest this week and check in. We hash out the latest news, like the current City Council's recent decision to gut the Independent Police Commission. Tim asks the tough question: why is Portland's current government such a mess?

We also put out the call to Mike Schmidt to come on the podcast...

Kip and Tim welcome Chris Flanary to the podcast. Chris is uniquely strong on the intricacies of housing policy in Portland, as they work for the city as a Housing Program Specialist. 

"One of the things that I've learned in my time in both the non-profit world and government service for low income folks: The number one intervention for poverty is cash. Give people money, they will spend it wisely. I know it is very unpopular to think of just handing someone money and letting them do what they think is the right thing to do with it, but it is effective. And living wage is one way (to do that.)" - Chris Flanary

David Burnell is running in District 2, the North district stretching from St. Johns out to NE 82nd St., and includes most of the historically Black Albina neighborhood. Tim spoke with him about his priorities, his history as a drug and alcohol counselor, and how he addresses his lack of political experience with Portlanders. 

"Housing is public health and public safety, adequate investment in mental health, adequate investment in drug treatment is public safety."

Angelita Morillo has been appealing to the younger voters for the last couple of years with her TikTok videos exposing the inner workings of City Hall. Now she's running for City Council to represent the Southeast. Kip and Tim talk to Angelita about what she learned working under Joanne Hardesty, how the new City Council will work, and her love of infrastructure investment.