There are a record four open seats on city council this year, including for mayor, and we interviewed almost every candidate running to fill them. This is one in a series.
NOTE: all of these interviews were conducted before the Covid-10 outbreak.
Chloe Eudaly, running for City Commissioner, Position 4
Votechloe.com
“A successful term in office includes creating, passing, and implementing meaningful policy solutions.“
What’s the most pressing problem facing Portland and what are you going to do about it?
Climate catastrophe is our biggest global challenge and something that I’m actively addressing–but I was inspired to run for office by Portland’s rent crisis and affordable housing remains by highest priority. Housing is a basic need and a human right. A safe, stable, affordable place to live drives outcomes in health, education, and economic opportunity. Mass displacement has had significant impacts on traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
High rents are a detriment to our local economy. Addressing the impacts of the housing crisis after the fact is exponentially more expensive than keeping people housed. And gentrification has robbed entire communities–in particular Portland’s African American community–of cultural ownership and the ability to live in their chosen communities. I have advanced historic tenant protections in my first three years in office. We are currently working on locating additional alternative shelter sites on city owned property, as well as developing meaningful anti-displacement measures.
How would you define a successful term in office?
A successful term in office includes creating, passing, and implementing meaningful policy solutions, representing the interest of the people of Portland in every decision we make, delivering better protections, services, and programs to the public, working to solve structural and systemic issues in our bureaus and programs, and improving the work cultures within our bureaus.
When I’m pursuing policy solutions I begin with the question: How can I do the most good for the most people, in particular underserved or vulnerable communities? And as we develop policy, I ask myself whose voice is missing from these conversations and who needs to be at the table? How will this policy or project advance racial justice? And how (if applicable) will it help us achieve our climate goals? A willingness to not shy away from difficult conversations, act with urgency, and deliver effective and legally defensible policy solutions is critical to success.
What’s something that people would be surprised to know about you?
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