Ed Baker (running for Commissioner position 3)

Do you support policies that have been passed to ensure every neighborhood in the City of Portland welcomes more neighbors, by allowing middle housing (smaller, denser, lower-cost housing options like smallplexes, cottage clusters, and small-to-moderate-sized apartment complexes), via both the nonprofit and private markets? (e.g., Residential Infill Project and Design Overlay Zone Amendments)?

Yes, and the policies should be strengthened. The wording says "Allowing middle housing..." - I am not for restricting that allowance.

Should close-in, low-density neighborhoods be rezoned to allow mixed-income apartment buildings, in order to increase access to amenity-rich neighborhoods, reduce our auto dependence, and relieve displacement pressure on neighborhoods currently home to higher proportions of communities of color and working class Portlanders?

Yes, everywhere within a certain distance of the city center. Whatever gets us more affordable housing and doesn't punish those who are self-sufficient.

What should Portland do to encourage the development of middle housing (smaller, denser, lower-cost housing options like smallplexes, cottage clusters, and small-to-moderate sized apartment complexes), via both the nonprofit and private markets?

(checklist selections) Incentivize the development of middle housing (e.g., property tax exemptions). Legalize affordable and culturally-responsive sixplex townhomes in lower-density zones. Expedite land division for affordable sixplexes to increase homeownership opportunities. Allow fourplexes to be slightly larger than triplexes, to incentivize more projects that meet accessibility standards.

If elected, I will be interested in hearing from experts in this area. I am for having multiple options for housing people in Portland. I personally live in a fully subsidized studio apartment in Downtown Portland.

Should landowners be able to create historic districts that block lower-cost and below-market homes from high-opportunity neighborhoods without the permission of city council?

Yes, Land owners shouldn't be punished. I am for less government control.

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.

On the one hand I don't want to have more Government dependence or involvement. On the other, rent is ridiculously high. I am for looking at alternative options and thinking big. I am for creating places for homeless people and the lowest of incomes which will help them be more successful.

The City of Portland has a deficit of 19,804 homes affordable to people earning less than 80% Median Family Income (MFI). According to ECONorthwest: “the market has produced little rental or homeownership housing affordable to those below 80% of MFI, and almost no housing below 50% of MFI over the past 20 years. This supports the need for public subsidy to meet the needs of lower-income households.” How would you eliminate the deficit of homes affordable to people earning less than 80 percent of MFI and over what period of time?

It's going to get worse and worse and worse. There was a time that you could own a home and raise a family on one income. Now you need many sources of income to just get by. We need to think big. I don't have the specific answers to these questions. I personally have been homeless and am in subsidized housing. These programs work for some people but not everyone in need. I am for meeting with knowledgeable people and experts on this subject, as well as those in need of this housing. I am very flexible and willing to do what is necessary to address this crisis.

Should affordable housing be equitably distributed across all communities in the City of Portland? In other words, should the City ensure the addition of affordable housing to neighborhoods with a lower than average share of subsidized affordable housing?

Yes. We need more affordable housing. I don't find affordable housing to be affordable enough. I am very fortunate to be in a sliding scale subsidized housing unit.

What actions would you support to address the homelessness crisis in the City of Portland?

(checklist selections) Invest in behavioral health and other supportive services; Invest in capacity of outreach workers to connect with more people experiencing homelessness; Provide supportive services to and support the self governance of self-organized homeless encampments; Remove barriers to extremely-low-cost market-rate options like backyard homes on wheels, rooming houses and vacant-bedroom rentals; Encourage the expansion of sanctioned outdoor shelters; Build new congregant shelters that sleep from 100 to 1,000 people.

I'm creating the best homeless resource and housing megacomplex in the history of homelessness. It will have thousands of beds, medical doctors, dentists, counselors, physical therapists, barbers, education, people to assist with paperwork, mentorship, religious services, recreation, entertainment and food. It will get people to feel loved and worthy of living a good life again. It will bring back their passion for life.

I have been homeless myself. I have overcome this with the help of Transition Projects Incorporated and a federal housing grant. I am currently in a fully subsidized sliding scale studio apartment. I am for thinking big and creating something that will help homeless people find their passion for life again. Every homeless person is different and this cannot be a one size fits all approach.

What policies would you support to advance racial equity in housing access and promote housing stability for all residents and especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color who face disproportionate barriers to housing access?

(checklist selections) Invest in permanent supportive housing for people exiting institutional settings (e.g., criminal justice, state hospital, in patient treatment). Expand investment in affordable housing.

Yikes, what a ton of horrible ideas that is. Good lord. There needs to be consequences. If you don't pay your rent, you should be evicted. If you have a criminal record you should have more struggles than if you don't. I had a felony on my record for 13 years. I became homeless and lost my family home because of it. I was punished for my crimes. There shouldn't be any special treatment based on race. That is racism at its fullest.

What currently proposed tenant protection policies do you support that would protect tenants from unjust eviction or landlord harassment?

I am not familiar with either of these proposals enough to comment. I am not for any special treatment based on race. I don't find a landlord asking for their rent to be harassment.

I would like to know what is being defined as "Landlord harassment". It is insane that landlords are being forced to keep tenants who aren't paying rent.

Optional question: Whose voices should be centered in developing housing and land use policy across the greater Metro area?

(checklist selections) People experiencing homelessness. Homeowners. Landlords.

It is absolutely absurd that the racist option of "Black, Indigenous and people of color" is on this list.

Optional question: What else should Portland's anti-racist, pro-housing, pro-tenant community know about you & your candidacy?

Some of your questions here are racist. Anytime you said "Black" it was racist. It never said include White people. It is absurd to be focusing on any race and not all equally. It is absolutely ridiculous that landlords are having to house people who are in violation of their lease and/or not paid up on their rent. This is just furthering the lack of accountability of people in this community. I am for equality. I am for thinking big and creating housing options that benefit all people in Portland.

Baker received an F overall from our scoring committee. The candidate's answers related to racial equity were contrary enough to Portland: Neighbors Welcome's values that his score was downgraded from a D to an F. See all scores for this primary election and read about our process here.