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Name: Reuben Berlin
Neighborhood: Beaumont-Wilshire
Renter/homeowner: Homeowner
Education: B.S. Political Science from the University of Oregon
Occupation: Financial Professional
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: All of my life
Age: 46 (47 at time of election)
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.
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 7 votes on the council to make them happen? Please avoid broad, sweeping statements and instead provide details.
I would prioritize reforming the city’s approach to funding and overseeing homeless services providers while creating a budget endowment for future social service funding. I propose implementing a comprehensive accountability framework for providers receiving over $100,000 annually, including detailed service agreements with measurable targets, regular auditing, and a public scorecard system.
Simultaneously, I’d establish a social services endowment fund, allocating a portion of the city’s budget annually to create a stable, long-term funding source for essential programs. This approach would improve transparency, ensure effective use of taxpayer dollars, and provide financial stability for crucial services. To secure 7 votes, I’d emphasize how this dual strategy builds public trust, improves outcomes for our unhoused neighbors, and creates a sustainable funding model. By addressing both immediate accountability and long-term financial stability, we can unite council members focused on fiscal responsibility and those prioritizing social services.
What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.
As a lifelong Portlander and former mortgage loan originator, I have a deep understanding of our community’s housing challenges. Over 16 years in finance, I helped hundreds of families achieve homeownership, many of whom were first-generation homebuyers. I collaborated with organizations like the Portland Housing Center to improve credit and loan approval prospects for underserved communities. This experience gives me unique insight into Portland’s housing affordability crisis. Additionally, my background in non-profit work, including roles as a housing case manager and family case manager, allowed me to directly assist individuals facing houselessness and domestic violence. This combination of financial expertise and social service experience makes me well-equipped to address our district’s pressing housing and homelessness issues with both compassion and practical solutions.
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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 rapidly increase housing availability and revitalize Portland, I propose a comprehensive strategy. The city will acquire undervalued commercial properties and fast-track their conversion into mixed-use developments, expanding on HB 2984. We’ll streamline permitting processes, aiming for a 90-day approval timeline for affordable and middle-income housing projects. Partnering with local credit unions, we’ll create innovative financing options for developers and homebuyers. Collaboration with OHSU and other local mental health providers will establish integrated housing complexes featuring on-site mental health services, addressing both shelter and healthcare needs. To ensure long-term sustainability, we’ll create community-based endowments inspired by Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, providing stable funding for housing initiatives while gradually reducing tax burdens. This approach will not only boost housing supply but also foster a vibrant commercial ecosystem, attracting businesses to revitalized areas. By repurposing underutilized spaces and leveraging local resources, we’ll transform Portland into a more livable, economically robust city.
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 must prioritize essential services such as public safety, housing, infrastructure, and economic development. To sustainably fund these, we should establish a local public endowment, providing a stable, long-term funding source and reducing reliance on fluctuating tax revenues. This endowment can be seeded with a fixed portion of the annual budget and community contributions. We should also prioritize local financial institutions to keep money within Portland, encouraging residents and businesses to bank locally. This approach ensures funds are reinvested in our community, supporting local businesses and job creation. Creating local business incubator spaces with low-cost commercial areas for Portland-based businesses that hire locally will further strengthen our economic base. This strategy will bolster our local economy, provide a more stable tax base for essential services, and foster sustainable economic growth and job creation within the city.
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?
I support the goals of recent tax measures but advocate for a more sustainable approach. Rather than creating new taxes or levies, I propose establishing a public endowment to provide long-term, stable funding for critical needs like preschool access, affordable housing, and green retrofits. This approach would reduce the need for repeated tax increases while addressing community challenges. The endowment, partnering with local banking institutions, would keep financial jobs and interest payments within Portland’s economy, encouraging local growth. By investing locally and banking with community institutions, we can maximize the impact of existing resources through local reinvestment. This holistic approach to revenue and banking would address critical needs more efficiently without creating additional siloed taxes. While I wouldn’t eliminate existing measures, I would focus on leveraging current resources to benefit Portland’s economy and reduce the long-term tax burden on residents.
Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?
My main concern is the shift away from commissioners directly overseeing city bureaus. While this change aims to improve efficiency, I worry it may reduce accountability and make it harder for citizens to know who to contact about specific issues. To address this, I’d like to see the creation of clear lines of communication between councilors, the new city administrator, and bureau heads. Additionally, I believe it’s crucial to establish strong oversight mechanisms to ensure the city administrator remains accountable to both the council and the public. Furthermore, I propose that the city council actively form relationships with neighborhood associations, business groups, and local schools to increase participation and input into city government. This collaborative approach would not only enhance transparency but also ensure that diverse community voices are heard and considered in decision-making processes, fostering a more inclusive and responsive local government.
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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?
Yes. Portland should offer comprehensive services while individuals take responsibility for their actions. Repeated shelter and treatment refusals show a lack of community commitment. Prioritize outreach and service connections, using arrests only as a last resort after multiple rejections. Enforcing consequences can motivate acceptance of assistance and reduce unauthorized camping.
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?
I’d vote no. Adding hundreds of officers isn’t the solution. Portland should invest in comprehensive mental health services and housing programs. This approach would address root causes of issues, freeing up current police to handle traffic, criminal investigations, and emergencies. Funds could be reallocated from less critical budget areas.
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
I’m open to revisiting the measure, but only after recent reforms have time to take effect. Any revisions should maintain the fund’s core mission of equitable climate action while addressing deep concerns about accountability. Potential changes could include clearer performance metrics and limits on using interest for non-climate purposes.
Related: Listen to 'OPB Politics Now'
Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?
Neither option alone offers a long-term solution. I suggest preparing for a mass public driverless system to reduce city traffic, enhance mobility, and develop local business centers. This approach focuses on decreasing traffic through public driverless transportation, promoting economic growth and improving urban mobility.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
The have received insufficient and ineffective attention from current city leaders. Their approach has been largely reactive. Instead of implementing comprehensive, lasting solutions, city leaders have relied primarily on short-term measures and emergency declarations. This shortsighted approach has left downtown Portland’s challenges largely unresolved and its potential untapped.
