Editor’s note: Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Stay informed with OPB on the presidential race, key congressional battles and other local contests and ballot measures in Oregon and Southwest Washington at opb.org/elections.
Portland is facing a 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.
Name: Joe Alfone
Neighborhood: Alphabet District
Renter/homeowner: Renter
Education: College Graduate/ESL certified
Occupation: Hourly wage worker/ballot initiative canvasser
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: Two-and-a-half years
Age: 51
Pronouns: Did not respond
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.
The first policy I would like to change is the current policy of giving Rip City Management all revenue generated by Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the Moda Center. Currently, Moda Center employees are denied the right to have worker representation i.e. union representation for living wages. City Council needs to pressure Rip City Management to declare a peace agreement so that hourly wage workers at VMC and Moda Center can have union representation just like Fred Meyer and New Seasons labor union that are carrying the torch for hourly wage worker living wage demands. Secondly, I would rescind Live Nation music venue facility lease immediately. Let Portland’s music scene thrive without yet another attempted corporate takeover of the city.
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What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.
I recently was forgiven of my $80,000 student loan debt by President Biden. In fact I was one of the first people to be granted this precious peace offering by the president of the United States, because I jumped through every hoop and obstacle set up by the predatory student loan banking system. I am grateful for this gift from the Department of Education, Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Shumer and President Biden. Thus, I am a now a no campaign contributions accepted independent candidate for city council as a way of showing, “thanks.” I have lived in seven countries. I have hitchhiked across USA, and I have lived in more places than anyone I have ever met. I believe my world experience and championing the voice of hourly wage workers would bring needed diversity to the establishment mentality and background of the current city council.
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?
Currently Portland office vacancy rate downtown has reached a new low. Portland leads the nation in office vacancy i.e. corporate business community that has abandoned the city core and thus the many businesses and industries that once thrived in the city. This has brought homelessness, crime, and people vacating the city, rather than thinking of this place as a beacon for a better life, as was the case 20 years ago. Portland needs to address the shortcomings regarding income disparity, income inequality, and lack of current housing affordability for hourly wage workers before it starts building more housing for people in the professional class that are do not have to worry about paying their rent and making ends meet for basic expenses.
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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?
The city needs to fund a city-wide garbage program. I live in Northwest Portland, very nice neighborhood, but with many urban issues and problems. Income inequality discrimination is front and center regarding the many different privately funded garbage companies that run trucks on my street. The “haves” have their garbage picked up regularly and on schedule. The “have-nots” renters like myself sometimes do not see the garbage bins picked up for weeks, based on whether building owners care to make payments on time for this essential service. Stop the garbage games, city garbage program for all. This program will be paid for by pressuring OLCC to allow current neighborhood marijuana dispensaries to expand to marijuana lobbies. The revenue generated from this would fund the garbage program.
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 not to renew? Are there specific taxes or levies you would support creating? Why?
I would support a tax on Uber and Airbnb -- two industries that are sinking not just Portland but many cities nationwide. I would also support a tax on homes that are not used more than 90 days out of the year. I think there is not affordable housing because there are too many phantom tenants that do not live in the many residencies they own.
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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 would like hourly wage workers represented on the city council. I do not think that financial success is what makes a person successful. I believe health, fitness, nutrition, travel, being kind to strangers, viewing all people the same regardless of political affiliation, religious background, income, age, gender, establishment or alternative background. I think the general public gets tired of seeing people in government from the same Type A personality backgrounds. I come from a background where I value people for who they are not what they can do for me. I would like to bring this paradigm shift to city council.
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 believe that jail is an option that can be used to help people that do not have any housing when it is cold, or any food when they are hungry. My programs for bringing seasonal lights and nature sounds on speakers throughout the city will humanize the houseless.
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 like protesters that support income equality and human rights and I like police that protect us all. I would like to be the bridge. My proposals for turning the WTC walkway into a tourist attraction, marijuana café lobbies, and skyscraper observation deck viewing towers will bring revenue to Portland.
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
I worked on two national campaigns for Ralph Nader for President. Clean air and clean water should be safe and clean for all. I lived in Beijing during the airpocalypse of 2012. Steps have been taken to improve conditions in China, we should do the same.
Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?
I support bike lanes being converted into pedestrian lanes. Bike lanes are not being used. There are too many cars and too few bikes, in between there are people that walk everywhere like myself that bring life to a city. I propose Tokyo Shibuya Crossing pedestrian changes to the city.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
City Council Leaders have dedicated too much time, money, and resources at current city-wide dysfunction yet the city continues to decline.