For the spring 2018 primary election, RACC distributed a questionnaire to all candidates running for Portland City Council; Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington County Boards of Commissioners; and Metro Council. Each candidate was asked five questions on March 13 or 14, and given the opportunity to respond by March 30 when this story was first published.  RACC will continue to publish responses from candidates even after the deadline has passed.

Here are the responses provided by Julia DeGraw, running for Portland City Council, Position 2. All responses are reprinted verbatim from what the candidates sent us.

RACC: In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture in Portland?

JD: Art has always played a big role in my life. I took piano lessons starting at eight years old and continued through college, acted in plays in high school, and sang in choirs throughout my youth and as an adult. Most recently, I was involved in a community choir that performed free shows for the public. My lifelong experience with the arts has taught me that no one should be denied access to art in all its forms, including live music.

I went to public school in the Portland Metro area, and I loved taking field trips to see shows at the Keller Auditorium. Through these visits, I developed a life-long love of plays and musicals. I still enjoy going to a show and attending the symphony when I have the time and budget to do so.

There are so many wonderful ways to experience art in our city. From murals on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to sculptures downtown, art helps define Portland’s unique character. I love taking in and supporting the easily accessible art this city offers in museums, galleries, theaters, and public spaces. As City Commissioner, I will work to ensure art is accessible and affordable for Portlanders.

RACC: Artists and arts organizations add measurable value to our region’s economy, our education system and our quality of life. Yet there are a number of pressing needs in Portland that often compete with arts and culture for attention and investment.  How would YOU describe the importance of arts and culture in our community, and what should Portland be doing to support this sector?

JD: Art benefits our community in unlimited ways. The arts reflect our societal and social experiences and present opportunities for change. Artists help us reimagine our world. Art can also help us better understand the most important issues of our time, like the climate crisis, racism, and inequality – understanding is the galvanizing force for change.

The Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) keeps an overwhelming number of our small, local art nonprofits afloat with its funding support. I would like to see the City increase its collaborations to ensure that RACC is providing the best service possible for our local arts and culture.

Portland has enjoyed a strong art culture for decades. Unfortunately, the artists who collectively created a kind of Portland brand that we know, love, and benefit from, are being squeezed out of the city as housing and other costs skyrocket.

Our city must do more to ensure that artists are able to afford to live and work here. The City needs to get serious about creating permanently affordable housing, providing artist and small, local business incubator spaces, and working more closely with local artists and schools to ensure more local art is on display and available to the public year round.

RACC: The region’s affordability is a serious concern for everyone in our community. What are your plans for making housing and creative spaces more affordable for artists, nonprofit arts organizations and arts-related businesses?

JD: There is a dearth of affordable spaces for creators and artists to live and work. We must start to think outside the for-profit developer box to create permanently affordable housing. We should look toward community land trusts and other community ownership models, as well as launching a visionary public option for affordable home construction. Some new apartment construction could include living and working spaces for artists. The City should also make it easier for those committed to creating and providing affordable art-making spaces to do so.

As with most issues, artists of color, those from the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with low-incomes are often hit the hardest. These groups should be prioritized in solutions the City explores to support our arts and culture in Portland.

The City and Prosper Portland should break up some of the huge grants and contracts it gives to out-of-state companies into smaller, Portland-based, community-level projects. Funds could also go toward providing incubator spaces and a centralized resource center for small, local businesses, including arts-related businesses.

RACC: The city’s Arts Tax is disliked by some, while 62% of voters approved it. Thanks to the Arts Tax, every K-5 student in the City of Portland now as an art, music or dance teacher, and dozens of nonprofit arts organizations are expanding access to the arts by providing free and low-cost arts experiences for Portland residents. What changes to the Arts Tax, if any, would you want Portland City Council to consider?

JD: I support the Arts Tax. The current Arts Tax costs $850,000 to collect and administer and raises $10 million. It doesn’t meet the 5% threshold voters agreed to for the cost of collecting the tax. We must improve how the tax is collected and administered so that more money can go toward bringing the arts to Portlanders.

The need to fund the arts doesn’t stop at the Portland border. I support expanding the Arts Tax Metro-wide and making it a more progressive and equitable tax to reduce the burden on lower income Portlanders. If Metro follows a less collection-intensive path, everyone in Metro will benefit, which seems like a logical step to taking this kind of tax statewide.

I’m pleased that the current Arts Tax funds art programs at Portland schools. However, ideally, Portland Public Schools would receive adequate funding from the state – including for arts programs – which would allow more Arts Tax money to go to local artists and programs. For now, it is a good emergency life support system for arts in schools, but there is clearly room to improve the Arts Tax to help ensure it accomplishes what it was meant to do.

RACC: What are some of your other priorities for the City of Portland that would be of interest to artists, arts organizations and arts educators in our community?

JD: One of the reasons the arts have gotten short shrift in Portland is that our form of government is ineffective. For one thing, it isn’t representative of Portlanders. Due to Portland’s Jim Crow-era, at-large election system, all but one City Commissioner lives in Southwest Portland. I live east of 82nd Avenue, and if I were elected tomorrow, I’d be the only commissioner living east of Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard. Our at-large system, which requires candidates to win expensive city-wide elections, came from the Jim Crow era and was designed to exclude people of color, working and middle-class voters, and women.

We must end Portland’s at-large election system by creating City Council districts to achieve equitable representation for all Portlanders. We should also dismantle our current commission form of government, in which elected officials are more beholden to their bureaus and wealthy donors than they are to the people of this city.

The lack of representation is not just geographical. In a more democratic and representative system, all of Portland’s diverse communities – including artists, art organizations, and art educators – will have more power in the City’s decision-making and elections. The current city government structure consolidates power and lacks transparency and accountability. It is past time for us to shift to a more equitable City Council that prioritizes the people of this city over developers and corporate interests.

For the spring 2018 primary election, RACC distributed a questionnaire to all candidates running for Portland City Council; Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington County Boards of Commissioners; and Metro Council. Each candidate was asked five questions on March 13 or 14, and given the opportunity to respond by March 30 when this story was first published.  RACC will continue to publish responses from candidates even after the deadline has passed.

Here are the responses provided by Christine Lewis, running for Metro Council, District 4. All responses are reprinted verbatim from what the candidates sent us.

RACC: In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture in the Portland metro region?

CL: Portland’s creative energy and vibrant culture were important factors in my decision to make the region my home after completing school here.

I grew up dancing, performing in plays and musicals, constructing stage sets, and operating the light board for numerous productions. I understand firsthand how important the arts are for youth to connect to community and find their voice. One of my favorite Portland organizations, p:ear, provides arts education for homeless youth, and I have supported p:ear with my personal financial support, volunteer time, and by purchasing a youth-produced painting for my home (the proceeds going back to the artist).

I serve as a member of the Portland Opera’s Ambassador Board, where I have the opportunity to connect a younger audience to the art form and to the diverse and dynamic company. We spearhead the Young Patron Society and plan social events to bring music and artists outside of their traditional venues. Aside from opera, I regularly attend shows across the spectrum of the performing arts, from ballet to experimental theater. I have a deep respect for visual artists as well, and try to purchase local work and support emerging artists.

Finally, I have worked in local and state government in offices that have supported the arts, from increasing funding for RACC at Multnomah County to the increase in incentives for film and video production when I worked for the Speaker of the House. A thriving arts scene helps expose area residents to new manners of thinking and promotes democratic and creative expression within the public sphere.

RACC: Artists and arts organizations add measurable value to our region’s economy, our education system and our quality of life. Yet there are a number of pressing needs in our communities that often compete with arts and culture for attention and investment.  How would YOU describe the importance of arts and culture in our community, and what should Metro be doing to support this sector?

CL: My mother was a museum curator, my mother-in-law teaches art at a public middle school, and my father-in-law has made his career in the film and television industry. Arts and culture organizations are significant employers and important players in our region’s tourism economy.

Arts and cultural activities increase the health, vitality, and resilience of communities. The arts should not be competing with the pressing needs of our communities, but should be viewed as a component or complementary to these needs.

The arts can play a key role in promoting public health, restorative justice, and youth engagement. I recently had the opportunity to take a tour and visit with leaders with the Philadelphia Murals Project Public, a national model for addressing community needs and changing neighborhoods through art. Art that germinates with community input has the ability to transform neighborhoods and promote community wellness. Metro plays a critical role in placemaking, and public art and cultural venues are a critical component of designing community spaces. I am supportive of public art as a way to foster community conversations as part of the planning process, and will bring focus on the arts to Metro.

Nonprofit arts organizations employ over 11,000 people in the region and generate $330 million in annual economic activity. These numbers would be larger if creative for-profit companies were part of the economic study. Arts and culture are a major factor in our region’s livability. Artists and arts leaders should be at the table along with other significant business sectors when crafting public policy.

RACC: The region’s affordability is a serious concern for everyone in our community. What are your plans for making housing and creative spaces more affordable for artists, nonprofit arts organizations and arts-related businesses?

CL: The region’s affordability crisis is continuing to grow more pronounced, but many in our community, including artists, have been long-affected by the increased costs of market rate housing and creative space. We need more housing affordable at all income levels, and as the campaign manager of Portland’s historic and successful 2016 housing measure I have experience working with diverse stakeholders to find workable solutions for housing. Additionally, we should have data on housing availability and development in the pipeline available for the entire region, so that we can be strategic in working to meet the housing need, knowing that the solutions will look different in different communities.

As neighborhoods change we should commit to preserving creative spaces for artists and arts organizations. With an eye to Metro’s 2nd District, there is definitely a need for more creative space to support artists and organizations in Clackamas County.

More directly, I would like to see Metro take a more active role assisting with the financing of capital needs of non-profit arts organizations.  This could be done at little to no cost to Metro through tax-exempt conduit bond financing, which in essence conveys a tax-exempt interest rate to these organizations without creating a liability for Metro. I would like to see more coordination between Metro and the Oregon Facilities Authority on this front, possibly with Metro serving as an “agent” for these organizations.

RACC: How can RACC and Metro do a better job of providing arts experiences for underrepresented populations, including rural communities, people of color, people with disabilities and underserved neighborhoods?

CL: In order to better reach audiences of underrepresented populations, we need to support and highlight art produced by and in those communities. RACC has led by example by taking intentional steps to diversify its leadership and board. The move to integrate the Arts Equity Grant criteria into the general grant process is particularly significant from the Metro perspective since Clackamas and Washington Counties will now have access to these targeted funds.

Finally, marketing with diversity in mind can help bring in new audiences, particularly if accessibility information is easy to locate and barriers to entry are minimized, including pricing. RACC and Metro can help subsidize arts in the community, bringing artists and performances into venues that are comfortable and accessible to the populations we know we need to better serve.
RACC: What are some of your other priorities for Metro that would be of interest to artists, arts organizations and arts educators in our community?

CL: Today our region is facing a lot of challenges. We are at a true turning point. Now, more than ever, we need a Metro Council that connects with and convenes local governments, businesses, constituents, and communities who are all too often otherwise left out. I will bring a focus on housing and transportation and working on livability and sustainability across the region. For our artistic community to thrive, we need to foster safe and affordable spaces, reliable support systems, and a prosperity sufficient to meet basic human needs.  Artistic expression — especially that which has a significant cultural voice — is not often enough wooed by private sector investment. It is therefore up to community leaders and coveners like Metro to create those avenues for investment in the arts: financially and in terms of a supportive infrastructure that encourages and allows for creativity. This is our region’s brand, and a large part of what makes our region special.

For the spring 2018 primary election, RACC distributed a questionnaire to all candidates running for Portland City Council; Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington County Boards of Commissioners; and Metro Council. Each candidate was asked five questions on March 13 or 14, and given the opportunity to respond by March 30 when this story was first published.  RACC will continue to publish responses from candidates even after the deadline has passed.

Here are the responses provided by Stuart Emmons, running for Portland City Council, Position 3. All responses are reprinted verbatim from what the candidates sent us.

RACC: In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture in Portland?

SE: I am an architect, I am an artist. I went to art/architecture colleges at Rochester Institute of Technology School for American Craftsmen (http://emmonsdesign.com/woodworking.html), London College of Furniture, PSU and Pratt. I understand personally and deeply how art is important for our culture and our community. I go to art museums and art galleries frequently, and love public art.

• Taught wood at OCAC, 1980 – 1981
• Portland Art Museum development committee, 2007 – 2016
• PNCA board member, 2002 – 2003
• PNCA art installation, c2011
• RACC public art selection committee, c2006
• Public architectural projects: public art collaborations with Malia Jensen (Fire 27 – http://emmonsdesign.com/fire-27.html) and Dana Lynn Louis (Fire 9 – http://emmonsdesign.com/fire-09.html)
• Designed art installation at Interstate Crossing housing project (http://emmonsdesign.com/interstate-crossing.html)
• Commercial office architectural project: art collaboration with Sean Healy (http://emmonsdesign.com/guardian-office.html)
• Co-curator Portland Design Festivals, 2003 + 2004 (http://emmonsdesign.com/portland-design-festival.html)

please see my website www.emmonsdesign.com

RACC: Artists and arts organizations add measurable value to our region’s economy, our education system and our quality of life. Yet there are a number of pressing needs in Portland that often compete with arts and culture for attention and investment.  How would YOU describe the importance of arts and culture in our community, and what should Portland be doing to support this sector?

SE: Art is essential to our community. It gives us hope, it makes us think, it nourishes our mind and relationships, it gives us ideas, it gives us joy.

Portland should be doing a lot more supporting this sector. Let’s start with a Commissioner who goes to art openings more, helps to teach a few art/architecture classes in our elementary, middle and high schools, goes to art & architecture critiques at UO, PSU, Art Institute, OCAC, PNCA, Reed, PCC and other colleges, reinstates Portland Design Festival, works to increase art events like to former festival at the Jupiter Hotel, and I welcome many other good ideas.

Portland should make it easier to be an artist in Portland by having affordable housing and studios.

I will help build art awareness.

I will be one of the biggest art supporters City Hall has ever seen.

RACC: The region’s affordability is a serious concern for everyone in our community. What are your plans for making housing and creative spaces more affordable for artists, nonprofit arts organizations and arts-related businesses?

SE: I am a housing expert, and have designed affordable housing projects throughout my career. I have decades of real world, private sector experience actually getting projects built, and not just talking about them. I understand housing economics, construction, and affordability. I am also an innovator, and have worked for the last 7 years in modular/prefab housing and am always looking for solutions that house more people, more economically, more rapidly and with increased design, sustainability and quality. The same goes for studio space, and commercial space for non profit arts organizations, and arts related businesses. I have a wealth of ideas on how to increase affordability, and the passion and skillset to make it happen.  I also am a good listener and look forward to what the arts community wants and recommends.

RACC: The city’s Arts Tax is disliked by some, while 62% of voters approved it. Thanks to the Arts Tax, every K-5 student in the City of Portland now as an art, music or dance teacher, and dozens of nonprofit arts organizations are expanding access to the arts by providing free and low-cost arts experiences for Portland residents. What changes to the Arts Tax, if any, would you want Portland City Council to consider?

SE: I am delighted the Arts Tax has brought art back into many of our schools, and is helping our entire arts community. I would not change the Arts Tax.

RACC: What are some of your other priorities for the City of Portland that would be of interest to artists, arts organizations and arts educators in our community?

SE: End Homelessness (http://emmonsdesign.com/the-portland-home-project.html)

Every kid has an equal opportunity to have a fulfilling life.

Build community, end racism through art.

For the spring 2018 primary election, RACC distributed a questionnaire to all candidates running for Portland City Council; Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington County Boards of Commissioners; and Metro Council. Each candidate was asked five questions on March 13 or 14, and given the opportunity to respond by March 30 when this story was first published.  RACC will continue to publish responses from candidates even after the deadline has passed.

Here are the responses provided by Loretta Smith, running for Portland City Council, Position 3. All responses are reprinted verbatim from what the candidates sent us.

RACC: In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture in Portland?

LS: As County Commissioner I’ve regularly supported and voted for more funding for the arts. From ensuring we follow the percent for the arts program, to seeking more dedicated funding for arts in our schools, I’ve been a consistent supporter of increasing access and funding for the arts, especially within our underserved and historically disadvantaged communities. I’m a strong supporter and champion of the Literary Arts program at our Multnomah County Library connecting our young people with local artists and exposing them to the benefits of being involved in the arts. I’ve also regularly sponsored Black Women for Peace’s yearly P.E.A.C.E. festival which champions young men and women to be catalysts for peace in their communities by focusing on performing arts and cultural exchange.

RACC: Artists and arts organizations add measurable value to our region’s economy, our education system and our quality of life. Yet there are a number of pressing needs in Portland that often compete with arts and culture for attention and investment.  How would YOU describe the importance of arts and culture in our community, and what should Portland be doing to support this sector?

LS: The arts and our creative class in general are incredibly important, not only to our quality of life but also to our local economy. Portland’s vibrant arts community is something that attracts people and businesses from all over the world. In many ways it’s because we have worked to foster such a great community for artists, musicians, performers, designers, and makers that we’ve seen so much of the growth we’ve experienced in the past decade. The City of Portland should do all it can to promote and maintain our creative culture. We should be looking for more ways to ensure that the benefits that come from being tied into a creative community are shared by everyone in Portland by working to increase equity and inclusion in the arts within our underserved and historically disadvantaged communities.

RACC: The region’s affordability is a serious concern for everyone in our community. What are your plans for making housing and creative spaces more affordable for artists, nonprofit arts organizations and arts-related businesses?

LS: There’s no question that addressing our affordability problems must be a top priority for everyone on Council. The only way we are going to solve this problem is by taking a holistic approach to housing and affordability. We need to build more at all levels, so we can relieve the burden on the affordable housing stock. By ensuring we have enough housing at all income levels we can protect our affordable housing stock from being poached by the market. We also should look at innovative ways to increase our affordable housing stock without building new units. I’ve been told that often times the cost to build new affordable housing is prohibitive, and when it is added to a mixed project it can lead to increased costs for everyone. One thing I’ve been working on is utilizing the MULTE (Multiple-Unit Limited Tax Exemption) program to provide an offset for new development when they take existing units and convert them to affordable pricing. This would promote the production of more housing across the board while immediately increasing our stock of affordable housing.

I also want the City to help property owners clean up the 900 documented brownfield sites in the City of Portland with the stipulation that the land be used for new affordable mixed use properties. We could provide some one-time only funding dollars, and low cost loans to promote the cleanups. This would also help to increase the stable of affordable housing we would have in the more central city areas, rather than pushing all affordable projects to the outer east. With Brownfield cleanups and Land banking we use the City’s resources to grab properties before they enter the speculative market and promote affordability in housing, mixed live/work space for the creative class, and affordable work space for small businesses. I also think we could utilize and perhaps expand the Portland Inclusive Startup Fund to engage more arts based businesses to lay down roots or expand in our communities.

RACC: The city’s Arts Tax is disliked by some, while 62% of voters approved it. Thanks to the Arts Tax, every K-5 student in the City of Portland now as an art, music or dance teacher, and dozens of nonprofit arts organizations are expanding access to the arts by providing free and low-cost arts experiences for Portland residents. What changes to the Arts Tax, if any, would you want Portland City Council to consider?

LS: I support the tax and don’t think we should revisit it at this time. A majority of Portlanders voted for it and I’m glad we did. I’ve been a consistent champion for our youth, and providing them with opportunities and outlets like arts, music, and dance instruction is a necessity if we want to see them succeed. I also believe that increasing and expanding access to the arts to underserved communities opens new doors for innovation and opportunity for those who have been historically disadvantaged. If anything I would love to see us go further, partnering with businesses in the creative sector and non-profits to get more of our young people directly active and participating in the arts. Increasing equity and inclusion in how we promote the arts is also something I would like to see some more focus on. Expanding access is a great first step, but I’d like to see more Portlanders of color actively engaged and encouraged to make art, tell their stories, and help make our creative culture richer through their participation.

RACC: What are some of your other priorities for the City of Portland that would be of interest to artists, arts organizations and arts educators in our community?

LS: Without a doubt our affordability crisis is a top priority for everyone, and I think keeping an eye on how we ensure that we are providing affordable live/work spaces for our creative community is a must. This also touches on issues around those experiencing houselessness as increasing economic instability and increased rents has put many on our streets. We need to increase our stock of housing at all levels, seek innovative solutions to promote new affordable housing, and provide adequate shelter space with connected services to help those struggling with addiction or mental health crises.

We also need to bring more living wage jobs to Portland and provide more opportunities for women and people of color to start new businesses within their communities. I helped to start the Portland Inclusive Startup Fund to do just that, and on Portland City Council I plan to do more to help support our entrepreneurs and small business owners. I know this is important for artists and our creative community because so many of them are participating in that space. The City should partner with them and harness the great work they are doing, providing them with whatever assistance we can to help them grow their businesses and get more people in their communities involved.

For the spring 2018 primary election, RACC distributed a questionnaire to all candidates running for Portland City Council; Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington County Boards of Commissioners; and Metro Council. Each candidate was asked five questions on March 13 or 14, and given the opportunity to respond by March 30 when this story was first published.  RACC will continue to publish responses from candidates even after the deadline has passed.

Here are the responses provided by Andrea Valderrama, running for Portland City Council, Position 3. All responses are reprinted verbatim from what the candidates sent us.

RACC: In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture in Portland?

AV: I am very proud that as a David Douglas School Board member, we have worked to keep the arts in classrooms throughout that school district. It is unfortunate that we are the only Portland school district which has kept arts in their classroom, there is a need to fund arts in our schools and will work for that when elected. My family and I are also lucky enough to attend a number of performances in Portland each year.

RACC: Artists and arts organizations add measurable value to our region’s economy, our education system and our quality of life. Yet there are a number of pressing needs in Portland that often compete with arts and culture for attention and investment.  How would YOU describe the importance of arts and culture in our community, and what should Portland be doing to support this sector?

AV: A city without a vibrant arts and cultural scene is a drab city with no soul. I believe that as community leaders and ambassadors for the city, City Commissioners have an obligation to celebrate and promote our artists. Although, as you say, other pressing needs compete with arts and culture for investment, I would not join those who regard the City’s minimal General Fund investment in RACC as a frivolous “pet project.” I would like to see the City explore ways to use lodging tax revenue to support the arts. Beaverton is using lodging tax revenue to support a performing arts center. The tax is designated for tourism promotion, and some hoteliers objected to Beaverton’s action – but arts investments do indeed support tourism. One thing the City can do is encourage the State to be a better partner on arts and culture issues. The State should use lottery funds to support critical investments in the arts, recognizing that arts investment is economic development. Another way Portland can be more supportive of the Arts is by increasing the supply of creative spaces and making them more accessible for arts organizations.

RACC: The region’s affordability is a serious concern for everyone in our community. What are your plans for making housing and creative spaces more affordable for artists, nonprofit arts organizations and arts-related businesses?

I support Commissioners Fish and Eudaly’s 22-point plan to preserve and expand affordable arts space. Portland is in a Housing state of emergency, and every day more Portland individuals and businesses are more on the verge of displacement and housing instability. I’ve been there –and I know how difficult it is to get back on your feet after experiencing homelessness. My strategies for bringing housing and creative spaces for affordable for Portlanders, nonprofits, and businesses  include: 1. Increasing the Supply of Affordable Housing & Creative Spaces 2. Stabilizing Rising Housing & Commercial Leasing Costs 3. Displacement Prevention & Mitigation (Wealth Creation).

INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING & CREATIVE SPACES

Bringing affordable housing and creative spaces to all Portlanders is going to require a combination of new development, supportive housing, revenue reform, securing new shelter space and making current shelter space permanent, tenant protections, displacement prevention and mitigation tools, and finally, support for homeowners. As Portland grows, the supply of affordable housing becomes more urgent, and we need to ensure that the supply conversation doesn’t center around new multifamily rental construction at market rate but rather, new construction specifically for 0-60 MFI households, preservation of our current affordable housing supply, and acquiring buildings and properties that have been land banked instead of constructing new.

STABILIZE RISING HOUSING & COMMERCIAL LEASING COSTS

It would also be a top priority of mine to urge our state delegation to lift the preemption on rent control and just cause eviction standards so that we can directly stabilize rising housing costs. I am proud to have worked on the City’s mandatory relocation assistance ordinance this year, mandating that landlords in Portland pay relocation assistance to tenants experiencing rent increases of 10% or more and tenants being evicted for no cause. In my elected capacity, I would continue to advocate for similar tenant protections including landlord registration, broader screening criteria, and security deposit reform, policies that could help minimize the impact of rising housing costs. Lastly, I am very interested in championing a policy that would subsidize nonprofit organizations and local businesses if their commercial rent increased over 10% in the past year.

DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION AND MITIGATION

The housing crisis that the City of Portland is currently experiencing is also an affordability crisis, and we must include strategies that generate wealth prevent displacement of not just individuals, but of our local nonprofit organizations and businesses. This includes providing subsidies during and after construction, providing educational opportunities so that businesses can adapt to a changing consumer base, and policies that support both the business and worker.

RACC: The city’s Arts Tax is disliked by some, while 62% of voters approved it. Thanks to the Arts Tax, every K-5 student in the City of Portland now as an art, music or dance teacher, and dozens of nonprofit arts organizations are expanding access to the arts by providing free and low-cost arts experiences for Portland residents. What changes to the Arts Tax, if any, would you want Portland City Council to consider?

AV: I am concerned by the fact that under the Arts Tax, someone who makes $30,000 a year pays the same $35 tax that is paid by someone who makes $1 million a year. I am also concerned that the Arts Tax has not brought in as much revenue as projected; the practical effect of that has been that although the tax has been a boon to schools, it has been of little help to actual arts organizations. I would support asking the voters to change the Arts Tax to a more traditional income tax in which people pay in proportion to their income, and as part of that restructuring I would ensure that it brings in enough money to meet its original goals. I also am concerned about the fact that the City Council sold the Arts Tax to voters with an unrealistic promise that administrative costs would be less than 5%. That is another reason to send the measure to voters again, without such an unrealistic promise. I am confident that voters, having seen the value of the Arts Tax, would re-approve it in a revised form. I would also consider allocating some of the new revenue to displacement mitigation of arts nonprofits and businesses. Any changes would of course need to be discussed with the Arts Community.

RACC: What are some of your other priorities for the City of Portland that would be of interest to artists, arts organizations and arts educators in our community?

AV: Some other priorities that would be of interest to artists, arts organizations, and arts educators in our community include:

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & WEALTH CREATION

As someone who sold my own original music CDs out of the trunk of my car to pay my way through college, I’m a firm believer in supporting artists in the development of their business and artistic talents. In the City of Portland, I know that we can do a better job of doing this by providing the resources and spaces for our aspiring and established artists to share their talents and earn enough to continue to thrive in this city.

YOUTH ACCESS

I’m also passionate about providing our youth with the opportunity to access to the arts, not just through their school but through their community. Portland City Council can do this through partnering with local nonprofits and schools to subsidize internships or arts lessons, and then leverage those skills learned by providing opportunities for youth to perform at various city events.

EQUITY

Lastly, I am particularly interested in ensuring the stories of the many cultural heritages we have represented in the City of Portland are not lost, and that we are lifting up those organizations and individuals who are carrying on their cultural traditions through their celebrations, festivals, performances, and languages.

For the spring 2018 primary election, RACC distributed a questionnaire to all candidates running for Portland City Council; Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington County Boards of Commissioners; and Metro Council. Each candidate was asked five questions on March 13 or 14, and given the opportunity to respond by March 30 when this story was first published.  RACC will continue to publish responses from candidates even after the deadline has passed.

Here are the responses provided by Ryan Deckert, running for Washington County Chair. All responses are reprinted verbatim from what the candidates sent us.

RACC: In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture in Washington County?

RD: I support the arts in Washington County every day as a patron, citizen, donor and human being.  In the next week, my family will attend two plays – one at the Beaverton Library as part of the Beaverton Civic Theatre’s 2018 season and then Hamilton at Keller Auditorium.  Last week, I chaperoned my daughters elementary class to Oregon Children’s Theater rendition of Casius Clay.  We are regular attendees to musical concerts, theater and art shows.

One of the reasons I am running for Washington County Chair is to foster a greater sense of place and community in the county. A first order of business is how we design neighborhoods ensuring we have community centers, public spaces, parks and transportation options.  Central to a well planned community is ensuring the arts are integrated into all aspects of design providing that richness of creativity, freedom and expression.

RACC: Artists and arts organizations add measurable value to our region’s economy, our education system and our quality of life. Yet there are a number of pressing needs in Washington County that often compete with arts and culture for attention and investment. How would YOU describe the importance of arts and culture in our community, and what should Washington County be doing to support this sector?

RD: I do not view artists and arts organization in competition with human services, libraries, transportation..etc.  The arts are integral to a full human experience and public investment often is the only life line to ensure all citizens have access to their full potential not just those who can afford tickets to an exhibit or show.  Perhaps the best bumper sticker ever summed this up:  art saves lives.

I will reverse Washington County’s regrettable distinction as the lowest per capita supporter of arts organizations among Oregon’s 37 counties.  Washington County is the most ethnically diverse county in Oregon, the economic engine of the state and on path to be the most populated county in the state.  Part of modernizing the county will be to reverse our outdated track record of ignoring investment in artists and arts organizations as fundamental to a well-rounded community.

One of my first accomplishments as a state senator was to restore arts and music funding to K-12 schools in Oregon.

RACC: Washington County is currently moving forward with development of a $46 million events center at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Do you believe there is a place for the arts in future development of the fairgrounds site? 

RD: I believe the arts should be included (or at least considered) in all projects/programs Washington County invests in – including the new events center at the Fairgrounds.  I have many questions surrounding the $46 million events center but incorporating the arts will not be one of them.  A hallmark of my service will be to change the culture at the county with respect to the centrality of artists and expression in the mission (and daily work) of our county.

RACC: Washington County does not currently have a percent-for-art program. Would you support the development of a program to support more art at public facilities? 

RD: I have generally been very supportive of the 1% for arts and am open to incorporating that into projects/programs in Washington County.  I am certainly committed to dramatically increasing funding for artists and arts organizations as we modernize Washington County.

RACC: What are some of your other priorities for Washington County that would be of interest to artists, arts organizations and arts educators in our community?

RD: Artists, arts organizations and educators are often the vanguard of expression and defenders of freedom and human rights.  Washington County needs to speak more forcefully defending our immigrant community, DACA students and LGBTQ neighbors.  All are under threat today.  I will use the bully pulpit of Washington County Chair to speak clearly on these issues reassuring threatened citizens that we are a safe, welcoming home removed from the divisive rhetoric and actions we witness in Washington DC.

For the spring 2018 primary election, RACC distributed a questionnaire to all candidates running for Portland City Council; Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington County Boards of Commissioners; and Metro Council. Each candidate was asked five questions on March 13 or 14, and given the opportunity to respond by March 30 when this story was first published.  RACC will continue to publish responses from candidates even after the deadline has passed.

Here are the responses provided by Susheela Jayapal, running for Multnomah County Commissioner, District 2. All responses are reprinted verbatim from what the candidates sent us.

RACC: In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture in Multnomah County?

SJ: I have spent more than 15 years working with community organizations to serve and advocate for our public schools, reproductive rights and healthcare, social services — and the arts. I served for eight years on the board of directors of Literary Arts, which serves readers and writers of all ages in the Portland metropolitan region, including two years as Board Chair; and for three years on the board of directors of the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC). At Literary Arts, I chaired the search for its current Executive Director, and led the board through the acquisition of Wordstock, its first new program in 20 years, as well as through a $1.5 million endowment campaign that significantly enhanced Literary Arts’ reach and capacity.  At RACC, I drove a successful effort to restructure grant-making programs in order to invest and build capacity in culturally specific arts organizations and programs serving communities of color and other underserved communities. And, throughout, I have supported arts and culture in Multnomah County as a participant and audience member across a variety of art forms and experiences.

RACC: Artists and arts organizations add measurable value to our region’s economy, our education system and our quality of life. Yet there are a number of pressing needs in Multnomah County that often compete with arts and culture for attention and investment.  How would YOU describe the importance of arts and culture in our community, and what should Multnomah County be doing to support this sector?

SJ: I believe that arts and culture are an essential component of community health and well-being, both as a vehicle for personal expression and discovery, and as a vehicle for community-building and social change. The arts allow us as individuals a fuller range of expression and understanding; the same is true for us as communities. In a time when a range of forces — social media, consumerism, fear and uncertainty — pull us apart, arts and culture continue to bring us together and build shared understanding, within our respective communities and across communities. Multnomah County’s mission is to serve the most vulnerable among us. We must think of arts and culture as an integral part of that service, and try to weave arts programming and access into all that we do.

RACC: The region’s affordability is a serious concern for everyone in our community. What are your plans for making housing and creative spaces more affordable for artists, nonprofit arts organizations and arts-related businesses?

SJ: Housing affordability has to be the number one priority for us as a region.  We need to tackle the complex set of issues presented from a variety of angles — there is no one answer — and to develop regional, not just city- or county-wide solutions. We need to build more affordable housing, including permanently affordable housing and supportive housing; rehabilitate and preserve existing affordable housing; and prevent additional displacement and homelessness by helping people stay in housing they already have, whether through short-term rent assistance or longer-term housing voucher programs. I’ll also support renter protections, and advocate at the state level for the changes needed to allow local jurisdictions to enact such protections.

With respect to creative spaces, the City of Portland has developed a menu of promising ideas, including creating public/private partnerships to acquire property for creative uses or ownership by arts organizations; disposition of surplus property for such uses; and partnering with culturally specific organizations to create community arts and performance spaces. I’ll advocate for exploration of these ideas and participation by Multnomah County.

RACC: How can RACC and Multnomah County do a better job of providing arts experiences for East County and other underrepresented communities?

SJ: In order to do a better job of providing arts experiences for underrepresented communities, we need to let them not just inform, but lead our decision-making. We need to ask how they want to be served, and act on the responses. This likely means providing experiences and opportunities in neighborhoods where people from those communities live, rather than asking them to travel downtown for those experiences; and situating arts experiences in contexts that are culturally appropriate — providing family or intergenerational opportunities, for example, or food, or formats that are more informal than those provided in mainstream contexts. We also need to invest directly in artists and arts organizations that come from those communities.

Finally, a needs assessment recently conducted by the Immigrant and Refugee Community of Oregon identified community gathering spaces as a high priority for several of the communities it serves; this is likely true for other communities as well. This relates to the idea of partnering with culturally specific organizations to create community arts and performance spaces, mentioned in my response to Question 3, and would address the objectives of both creating arts spaces and better serving underrepresented communities.

RACC: What are some of your other priorities for Multnomah County that would be of interest to artists, arts organizations and arts educators in our community?

SJ: I believe the Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) system, which is funded and managed by Multnomah County, is an enormous asset that we need to continue to invest in and deepen. Current programming includes after-school arts enrichment; I’m interested in supporting and enhancing these programs, including by building more connections with in-school curricula and staff, by tailoring programming to the specific school communities, and by more intentionally engaging not only students but families and the wider community in SUN programming.

For the spring 2018 primary election, RACC distributed a questionnaire to all candidates running for Portland City Council; Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington County Boards of Commissioners; and Metro Council. Each candidate was asked five questions on March 13 or 14, and given the opportunity to respond by March 30 when this story was first published.  RACC will continue to publish responses from candidates even after the deadline has passed.

Here are the responses provided by Nick Fish, running for Portland City Commissioner, Position 2. All responses are reprinted verbatim from what the candidates sent us.

RACC: In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture in Portland?

NF: I am passionate about arts and culture in Portland, and proud to serve as a local champion.

Before my election to the City Council, I served as Vice-Chair of the Oregon Cultural Trust, working to build private supports for arts, culture and heritage state-wide. I advocated for a doubling of the Percent for Art program. And I personally supported organizations dedicated to jazz, modern dance, and expanding access to the arts.

For the past six years, I have had the honor of serving as the City’s Arts Commissioner. My priorities include expanding arts education in our schools, defending and reforming the Arts Tax, protecting funding for the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) and small grants programs, advancing a robust equity agenda, and addressing the urgent challenge of arts affordability.

Based on my track record of support for the arts, I have earned the support of trusted arts leaders like Eloise Damrosch, Jamey Hampton, Julie Vigeland, Bob Speltz, Sam Adams, Paul King, Walter Jaffe, Stephen Marc Beaudoin, Elizabeth Leach, Harold Goldstein, Carole Morse, Jose Eduardo Gonzalez, Al Solheim, Linda McGeady, and Phillip Hillaire.

RACC: Artists and arts organizations add measurable value to our region’s economy, our education system and our quality of life. Yet there are a number of pressing needs in Portland that often compete with arts and culture for attention and investment. How would YOU describe the importance of arts and culture in our community, and what should Portland be doing to support this sector?

NF: The arts are the soul of our community. They foster joy, creativity and beauty. They contribute significantly to our quality of life. And they are what makes Portland a special place to live, work and play.

The arts are also an economic powerhouse. In the tri‐county region, the arts support thousands of full time jobs, deliver nearly $30 million dollars in state and local revenue, and generate more than $300 million dollars in economic activity – each year.

To put it differently, imagine Portland without the arts. Without dance and jazz, opera and the symphony, art galleries and poetry, murals and public art, hip hop, movies and concerts in the park.

That’s why we cannot take the arts for granted. Nothing about Portland’s success is inevitable. The increasing costs of housing and studio, gallery, and performance space are making it harder for artists to live here. President Trump has once again proposed to end public funding for the arts. Other cities are competing for talent, as well as the next hit television show and movie.

We must be intentional in our efforts to support a vibrant arts scene and we must act with urgency. It’s why I’m so proud that the City Council has embraced my plan to address arts affordability.

We must be collaborative. Everyone has a role to play—state and local government, philanthropy, public spirited businesses, and individual donors and patrons.

And we must continue to invest in the arts.

RACC: The region’s affordability is a serious concern for everyone in our community. What are your plans for making housing and creative spaces more affordable for artists, nonprofit arts organizations and arts‐related businesses?

NF: In March of this year, City Council unanimously accepted a set of recommendations that I developed with Commissioner Eudaly and Mayor Wheeler to preserve affordable creative spaces. The 24 recommendations include an arts concierge in the Bureau of Development Services, a comprehensive map of creative space across Portland, short-term leases in properties owned by Prosper Portland that are slated for future development, and increased investment in public art for underserved areas such as East Portland.

Now, the hard part begins! As we implement the recommendations, I have committed to rolling up my sleeves and doing my part.

RACC: The city’s Arts Tax is disliked by some, while 62% of voters approved it. Thanks to the Arts Tax, every K–‐5 student in the City of Portland now as an art, music or dance teacher, and dozens of nonprofit arts organizations are expanding access to the arts by providing free and low–‐cost arts experiences for Portland residents. What changes to the Arts Tax, if any, would you want Portland City Council to consider?

NF: Every child should have arts education as part of her basic school curriculum. Research makes clear that children exposed to the arts perform better across the board. That’s why I am so proud that Portland voters supported the Arts Tax.

The City has already made a few changes to strengthen the tax. For example, the City Council exempted very low-income households. And we recently adopted an update that removed the cap on collections activity – “administration” – of the Arts Tax. This update was based on the recommendation of the Arts Oversight Committee and will allow us to collect more revenue – to be distributed as grants to arts organizations.

And I support other changes: the exemption for low income residents should be increased to make the tax more progressive. I would like more robust reports from our school districts showing how the dollars are being spent, with an emphasis on quality and not just quantity. And we should continue to seek more efficient ways of collecting the tax.

RACC: What are some of your other priorities for the City of Portland that would be of interest to artists, arts organizations and arts educators in our community?

NF: My priorities for the arts include protecting funding for RACC and developing new partnerships to sustain this work long-term, preserving arts affordability, and equity. I strongly support the work RACC is doing to ensure a more equitable approach to grant-making.

I am running for reelection on my record of bringing people together to solve problems. I am deeply committed to ending chronic homelessness, and to ensuring that every Portlander has a safe and affordable place to call home. I am working to protect our environment—focusing on a clean energy future, converting brownfields to productive use, and cleaning up the Willamette River. And I am a champion for our neighborhood small businesses. That means promoting the Buy Local movement, cutting red tape and streamlining regulations, working with Venture Portland to build capacity in underserved areas like East Portland, and supporting programs to keep our neighborhoods safe.

I’d be honored to have your support in my race for re-election to the Portland City Council, Position 2.