Tim DuBois (running for Commissioner position 1)
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?
Yes, everywhere. Compact and denser housing is both more affordable and better for the environment. Because they are more accessible to low-income communities it is particularly essential to legalize them in high-opportunity neighborhoods so that public amenities such as better schools and better transit is accessible to more people.
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. This idea should not even be limited to transit because when done right we can create communities that provide housing, employment, and entertainment all within walking distance and reduce long distance commuting period.
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?
Less power. Neighborhood associations have a role in making sure community events occur and major polluters are given pressure to clean up, but when it comes to housing they become a powerful force of resistance. We need a dynamic real estate market, one that can adapt to changing needs such as climate change, and can be accessible to low-income communities that cannot afford to buy a home.
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?)
Less money. This answer is complicated. Generally speaking I believe we absolutely should be dedicating more funds to housing assistance. Right now, the cost of construction and regulations make producing affordable housing a terrible investment. When Portland can begin to bring down the cost of producing units I believe then we should increase funding. Better even yet, is using funding to strengthen and expand housing vouchers. Giving people mobility in their housing choices is more powerful than tying a benefit to a given housing unit. I want to reiterate that housing vouchers is a market based approach to our housing crisis that can work. I have a housing voucher tenant in my single unit and I believe in the program much more than subsidized units.
Would you support a citywide moratorium on evictions during the three coldest months of the year, as Seattle recently adopted?
No. I am not really sure what problem this solves. This does not target the reason people get evicted or why landlords feel it is worth doing. I am concerned that as a matter of policy we continue to address the symptoms in a way that worsens the underlying problem. In addition there are bad tenants in this world (landlords as well, of course). There are tenants who threaten other tenants or sexually harass them. Are landlords to turn a blind eye to that because it is winter?
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.
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.
Build enough housing to exceed demand. High, but healthy, vacancy is the best tool for tenant rights and anti-displacement policies. Beyond that displacement is a constant in the world everywhere. We should make sure public policy does not make it worse. Finally, my support for housing vouchers is a critical answer to the problem. It takes away much of the downsides of being asked to leave a unit. Landlord reluctance to accept vouchers can be overcome as they have for the most part in DC and Seattle.
What else should Portland pro-housing, pro-tenant community know about you & your candidacy?
As a founding member of P:NW I am proud to fight for many of the same things you fight for. I was present to support the RIP testimony. I hope to attend more events and become a more active member after this race. Our housing crisis is not intractable. We can solve this. The policies are the easy part of the equation. Selling it to a skeptical populace is the hard part. I am particularly fond of the policy and messaging program coming out of Sightline and I am disappointed that the YIMBYTown had to be postponed. I believe that I can bring the messaging and the policy proposals that can overcome the challenges we face.
DuBois received a C overall from our scoring committee. See all scores and read about our process here.