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Name: Joe Allen
Neighborhood: Parkrose
Renter/homeowner: Renter
Education: Community college
Occupation: Woodworker and manufacturer
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: Nearly three years
Age: 45
Pronouns: He/him
Portland is facing an historic election involving a new voting system and an unusually high number of candidates. Journalists at The Oregonian/OregonLive and Oregon Public Broadcasting share a goal of ensuring that Portland voters have the information they need to make informed choices, and we also know candidates’ time is valuable and limited.
That’s why the two news organizations teamed up this cycle to solicit Portland City Council candidates’ perspectives on the big issues in this election. Here’s what they had to say:
For each of the following questions, we asked candidates to limit their answers to 150 words.
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Name two existing city policies or budget items you’d make it a priority to change. Why did you select those and how do you plan to line up at least seven votes on the council to make them happen? Please avoid broad, sweeping statements and instead provide details.
One priority is finding inefficiencies between the Joint Office of Homeless Services, Metro Supportive Housing Services, and multiple other programs regarding Safe Rest villages and other services. These initiatives operate independently with overlapping efforts and too many nonprofit partnerships, spreading resources thin. By identifying areas for collaboration — like shared services or reducing administrative burdens — we can allocate funds more efficiently to housing and mental health support. I would approach other council members with the goal of emphasizing collaboration to produce the best results possible for all of our districts. Second, I’d rebalance the public safety budget by increasing funding for Portland Street Response. PSR effectively handles non-violent incidents, reducing police intervention. Highlighting these successes will help secure support from council members prioritizing community safety.
What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.
My experience in woodworking and manufacturing has equipped me with strong problem-solving skills, project management expertise, and the ability to see tasks through to completion. I helped build shelters for Safe Rest villages, giving me firsthand experience with Portland’s homelessness crisis and the need for more efficient solutions.
I also bring a practical, hands-on approach to problem solving. I’ve been closely involved with navigating tight budgets and complex projects — skills essential for public office. Though I’m newer to Portland, I’ve quickly understood District 1′s challenges and am ready to apply my real-world experience to deliver results for our community.
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Portland is on track to permit the fewest number of multifamily units in 15 years and remains thousands of units below what’s needed to meet demand. What steps would you take to dramatically and quickly increase the availability of housing?
To quickly boost housing, we should focus on converting vacant office spaces and underutilized commercial structures into residential units. Many office buildings in Portland sit empty, creating financial strain for property owners. Repurposing these buildings for housing addresses both the vacancy issue and the housing shortage. We need zoning reforms to allow more flexibility for these conversions, particularly in high-demand urban areas. Fast-tracking approvals for such projects would add housing more efficiently than new construction. Offering incentives to property owners for retrofitting commercial spaces would further speed up the process. This strategy makes use of existing structures and helps meet housing demand without the delays of traditional development, while maintaining urban density. Urban sprawl seriously hinders local governments, as resources become stretched too thin.
The next City Council is going to have to make some very difficult decisions regarding what to fund and how. What essential services must the city provide and how should the city sustainably fund them?
Portland already allocates vast sums of money to essential services. The new City Council will need to take a close look at the entire budget to identify areas of waste and inefficiency. While not a complete audit, targeted reviews of specific programs should be conducted to ensure streamlined operations and better results.
This is a whole new government structure, and Portland deserves a fresh start. The Council’s focus should remain on critical essentials like shelter, public safety, and protecting personal freedoms without constant challenges. To fund these services sustainably, the city must maximize its current resources by eliminating redundant or ineffective spending.
Portlanders have approved many tax measures in the past decade — supporting affordable housing, free preschool programs and green energy initiatives. Are there specific taxes or levies you want eliminated or would choose to not renew? Are there specific taxes or levies you would support creating? Why?
While Portlanders have approved many important tax measures, it’s crucial to assess their efficiency. I would advocate for reviewing the Portland Clean Energy Fund to ensure it’s meeting its objectives. If not, we should consider restructuring it before any renewal.
Additionally, I support the creation of a tax on corporate real estate purchases, particularly by large corporations buying single-family homes. This would help curb speculative investment, which is driving up housing costs, and use those funds to support affordable housing initiatives. My focus is on maximizing efficiency and ensuring taxes are benefiting residents directly.
Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?
I support the changes to city elections and governance in terms of increasing representation through district-based voting, but I do have concerns about potential fragmentation. While district representation gives communities like District 1 a stronger voice, it may create competition between districts for resources, rather than encouraging city-wide cooperation on critical issues like housing and public safety.
To address this, I would advocate for strong leadership and establishing clear guidelines to ensure collaboration between districts, ensuring that resources are distributed fairly and that larger, city-wide goals remain a priority. A united approach to governance is essential to maintaining Portland’s growth and addressing shared challenges.
Related: Listen to 'OPB Politics Now'
For the five remaining questions, we asked candidates to answer in 50 words or fewer:
Do you favor arresting and jailing people who camp on public property in Portland who refuse repeated offers of shelter, such as the option to sleep in a city-designated tiny home cluster?
I support removing all unsanctioned encampments and arresting those who refuse shelter. I also want to explore mandatory rehabilitation. Current conditions are inhumane and impact everyone. We need more resources and avenues to ensure people get the help they need.
Would you vote yes on a proposal to fund hundreds more police officers than the City Council has already authorized? Why or why not? How would the city pay for it?
Yes, I would, but not by increasing the PPB budget. With existing oversight programs failing to deliver results, reforms must happen quickly. Portland Street Response, focusing on de-escalation and community outreach, is effective but needs real support. If adding officers doesn’t help, other solutions, including county-level efforts, should be considered.
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
Yes, I support the Clean Energy Fund measure, but I would not vote for its renewal without a thorough review and rebuild of its oversight, accountability, and transparency processes to ensure funds are used effectively and to achieve the program’s intended climate justice goals.
Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?
This is a tough one for me, as I love riding my bike throughout the city and support creating more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes to encourage sustainable transit. However, our district’s urgent need is for road repairs and paved roads to ensure safety for drivers and residents.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
While many areas have improved, the ongoing issues with homelessness, crime, and economic recovery demand more coordinated action to restore vitality to the city’s core. I’m frustrated that one of the biggest improvements made recently was the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. It showed which priorities are currently in place.