Cash Blanco Carter (running for Mayor)
Should policies be adopted to ensure every neighborhood in Portland welcomes more neighbors, through smaller, denser, lower-cost housing options like smallplexes, cottage clusters, and small-to-moderate-sized apartment complexes, via both the nonprofit and private markets?
No, only in certain locations. I think placing these style of homes in certain areas will keep property taxes lower and add to more of a community if we group these home together. What you don't want are smaller homes looking out of place.
Should Portland expand transit-oriented development (allowing apartment complexes by-right within a short walk of all major transit lines) as a way to discourage the use of single-occupancy vehicles and reduce our city’s carbon emissions?
Yes. Yes, i believe Portland should expand transit-oriented development and also should add incentives for tenants like reduced bus passes through TriMet.
Should neighborhood associations have less, as much, or more power than other community organizations when it comes to questions of housing, such as whether new apartments or homeless shelters are permitted in a given neighborhood?
More power. Neighborhood associations should have more power because the people know more about what takes place within the neighborhood. With that being said community organizations who are putting up a majority of funding for projects should have equal input with decisions being made while consulting with the members of local associations.
Should Portland dedicate less, as much, or more money to regulated affordable housing? (If you answered "more money," what funding mechanism(s) would you pursue to build this additional housing?)
As much money. The reason why i chose as much money is because i feel that money being spent currently is being misused, and therefor we shouldn't invest more right now. I believe that by keeping the same amount of money being used and putting more focus on building complexes with more apartments (not as fancy) to house people instead of these new fancy expensive complexes with less apartments would be a better way to spend these funds.
Would you support a citywide moratorium on evictions during the three coldest months of the year, as Seattle recently adopted?
Yes. YES,YES,YES.....did i mention yes.
As Portland implements an anti-displacement plan, which policies from the Anti-Displacement PDX Coalition would you support? What additional anti-displacement policies do you support?
Require advance 90-day written notice to a tenant if the owner plans to sell, demolish, or redevelop their home.
Grant a “right to stay” to existing tenants; require landlords to rehouse tenants they displace in their neighborhoods at a rent comparable to what they had been paying, or by helping the tenants to purchase a unit with down-payment assistance.
Implement a Tenant Opportunity to Purchase policy that gives all current renters, and then the city, the first and second rights of refusal to purchase a property at fair-market value before it goes on the market.
Earmark Construction Excise Tax (CET) revenue from construction in single-dwelling zones as a source of subsidy for affordable units in single-dwelling zones.
Charge a fee for any redevelopment of a property in single-dwelling zones that does not include at least two units, unless prevented by site constraints and use the new revenue from this fee to subsidize regulated affordable units in the single-dwelling zones.
Property tax exemption for any regulated affordable units built on-site, for the duration of the affordability restriction.
I will always support ANY logical plan to protect tenants from being treated unfairly and make sure these rules are enforced, if landlords or management groups are caught violating these policies they will face stiff punishment.
What else should Portland pro-housing, pro-tenant community know about you & your candidacy?
First and foremost i don't have any ties to groups which have been involved in local and national protest Antifa (Sarah Iannarone) Don't Shoot Portland (Teressa Raiford) which i see as a major problem if one of these individuals are elected to become Mayor of portland. I have experience with dealing with high level clientele ( Portland Timbers, Portland Thorns, Timbers 2 ) While in that position I was trusted with confidential information on a daily basis, had to deal with a number of business professionals such as sports agent’s, local and national media ( ESPN, Fox Sports etc ) and most importantly the team’s family members. All of these things make me the most qualified candidate to replace Mayor Wheeler. None of the many other candidates can offer nor match this kind of high level expertise and experience which I bring to the table. I come from a familiar place which people can relate to, being homeless with children on the streets, living out of my car, staying in shelters and making it out to become the person i am today. I know that me becoming mayor of portland can become a real game changer on many levels for many people who don't think they can make it out to have an example of inspiration.
Blanco received a D overall from our scoring committee. See all scores and read about our process here.