Have you reviewed the recent “Our Creative Future” multi-county cultural plan (linked above)? Would you endorse the plan as a candidate?

I have been heavily involved in the Our Creative Future process, attending multiple public meetings, organizing a public feedback session from the music industry, and I have read the entire plan multiple times. I wish this plan was stronger and more specific. I absolutely endorse the plan, but will fight to make it more accountable, and to get meaningful buy-in from lawmakers in every jurisdiction, and not just high-level values based affirmations.

Portland is facing job losses, particularly in the downtown core. How can arts/culture workforce investments be part of a wider strategy to improve the workforce outlook for the region?

Something must happen with downtown, but office workers will not be coming back. The opportunity for live/work space in downtown is unparalleled right now. The need for positive, interesting, engaging activities to encourage community and positive behavior, to activate disused spaces, and discourage bad behavior. Artists desperately need affordable space to live, work, rehearse, and perform. The relationship between workers and office spaces are permanently changed, and downtown buildings must find ways to use these spaces.

Beyond that, I am a board member with the organization MusicPortland, and we serve as the trade organization for Portland’s $3billion music industry. The music industry is 10x larger than all the non-profit arts in Portland combined, and account for more jobs, economic activity, and taxes than cannabis, timber, or salmon. We are the fourth largest music city in America, and the only one who hasn’t recognized that identity. I want to use our music industry as a tool for economic development and community safety. Our music identity will be a huge part of our cultural identity and our economic recovery.

Arts, culture, design and creative entrepreneurship are key elements of Portland’s national and regional brand. Portland has the fourth-highest concentration of artists in the nation, after New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. What policies or investments would you back to ensure that arts, culture and the creative economy are part of the city’s priorities in investments and new policies?

For too long, elected officials have viewed the arts as a precious, fragile little thing that we all appreciate, but that is viewed as a “nice to have”. That means it’s always the first thing considered to be cut when budgets get tight. I want to instead focus on our identity as the Independent Music Capitol of the World, and pursue meaningful policies that will actually support the arts. I want to fix the noise code to remove opportunities for selective police enforcement of music venues. I want to fix the zoning code to protect legacy performance venues against new residential development. I want to expand the Musician Loading Zone program that I created in 2019 to allow musicians to use the existing loading zones in front of music venues. I want to reform the City’s liquor licensing program to ensure that we can create spaces for all-ages music. I would enact a prevailing wage policy for any time that the City of Portland hires an artist or musician for a public event. I would protect and expand the funding for the Portland Film and Events Office, and I would STOP LIVE NATION from ruining the independent music industry.

How do you see museums, cultural institutions, creative independent venues, nightlife and festivals as part of the downtown revitalization and general community stabilization?

The physical locations that facilitate culture, art, music, and community need to be formally recognized, protected, and activated. These pieces of infrastructure are vital to the long-term health of our arts ecosystem. I want to activate these spaces in every neighborhood, to protect them from increased development activity and density, and to ensure that these organizations are serving the entire community in meaningful and approachable ways. Museums and music venues and art galleries are places where community can grow, where we can encourage good behavior, and discourage bad behavior.

Portland is home to an incredibly diverse range of cultural organizations, artists co-ops, and small businesses that make our neighborhoods unique and distinct. What small business and cultural activation ideas do you have for Portland’s neighborhoods?

I firmly believe that music and the arts are vital resources for community safety. There are no amount of police that we could hire to patrol up and down Hawthorne Blvd at 1:00am that will have the same effect on public safety as a concert getting out, with people mulling around and going to restaurants and bars and small businesses. We must activate and protect the arts-focused infrastructure in every neighborhood, especially the museums, venues, and public spaces. I want to put music and art in every park and plaza and business district, and to make it easier to get music and activation for every neighborhood. Portland used to be a city where you could work part time as a barista and still afford your rent, and because it rained all the time everyone was inside learning to play the guitar or pursue their craft, and our music and arts scene grew organically. But Portland is no longer an affordable city, and we can no longer assume that organic growth is going to be possible. We must be intentional in our efforts to protect the places where musicians and artists live, work, rehearse, and perform.

Have you reviewed the recent “Our Creative Future” multi-county cultural plan (linked above)? Would you endorse the plan as a candidate?

I love that the plan brought together different stakeholders, had an intentional equity lens, and identified action items for different groups. Clearly, a lot of effort went into this. I believe it provides a strong roadmap for the future. I would be happy to endorse this plan.

Portland is facing job losses, particularly in the downtown core. How can arts/culture workforce investments be part of a wider strategy to improve the workforce outlook for the region?

Art brings energy and excitement into a location. It signals people care about a location. We must support investments that incorporates art into a larger strategy around revitalization, living wages, hiring local, and beautification.

Arts, culture, design and creative entrepreneurship are key elements of Portland’s national and regional brand. Portland has the fourth-highest concentration of artists in the nation, after New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. What policies or investments would you back to ensure that arts, culture and the creative economy are part of the city’s priorities in investments and new policies?

I would advocate and support policies that institutionalize the arts. I’d love to have an artist in residence that supports the work of local government. I’d love to see art incorporated more into city infrastructure projects. I would advocate that grants for art projects support historically marginalized groups.

In East Portland where we have 100 languages represented, it is so important that people see themselves reflected in their public art.

How do you see museums, cultural institutions, creative independent venues, nightlife and festivals as part of the downtown revitalization and general community stabilization?

I believe are cultural institutions and venues are an incredible asset and a key part of community stabilization and revitalization. I would advocate that we continue to strengthen these institutions and work to make them as accessible as possible. We must also promote these institutions to both Portlanders and to tourists. Music, art, and cultural institutions are key part of what makes a great tourism experience.

Portland is home to an incredibly diverse range of cultural organizations, artists co-ops, and small businesses that make our neighborhoods unique and distinct. What small business and cultural activation ideas do you have for Portland’s neighborhoods?

I would love to do street paintings, arts in the park, incorporating art into city infrastructure projects, having an artist in residence that is shared among business districts.

Have you reviewed the recent “Our Creative Future” multi-county cultural plan (linked above)? Would you endorse the plan as a candidate?

Yes, I have reviewed the cultural plan, and while I am not signing any pledges or endorsing any platforms outright in my campaign, I agree with a majority of the action items outlined in this document. The only portion I hesitate and would need more conversation about is raising the highly unpopular Arts Tax, as I am opposed to any tax increases in the near future. Instead I would prefer to review our tax measures and bonds and see how we can integrate them into our city code if possible, while upholding the spirit of the measure.

Portland is facing job losses, particularly in the downtown core. How can arts/culture workforce investments be part of a wider strategy to improve the workforce outlook for the region?

Arts and entertainment are a necessary driver of tourism into our downtown core and we must uphold and preserve what we have, as well as work to increase these opportunities for both locals and visitors. I am interested in any programs that would increase job opportunities and revive activity downtown.

Arts, culture, design and creative entrepreneurship are key elements of Portland’s national and regional brand. Portland has the fourth-highest concentration of artists in the nation, after New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. What policies or investments would you back to ensure that arts, culture and the creative economy are part of the city’s priorities in investments and new policies?

I know we have a lot of conversations happening about office to housing conversions in the downtown core, and I think we should look into artist communities that wouldn’t be opposed to dormitory-style housing, that would include shared kitchens and common spaces to ease the cost of remodeling these existing buildings and create community. Lower-level retail space could then be reimagined into studio space for public viewings.

How do you see museums, cultural institutions, creative independent venues, nightlife and festivals as part of the downtown revitalization and general community stabilization?

We need events and exhibits that will draw in tourists from near and far – we seem to have forgotten a large chunk of our economy relies on tourism dollars which in turn generate job opportunities for locals. If we can draw special events that nearby large cities can’t, that puts us in a winning position.

Portland is home to an incredibly diverse range of cultural organizations, artists co-ops, and small businesses that make our neighborhoods unique and distinct. What small business and cultural activation ideas do you have for Portland’s neighborhoods?

I would like to see more forms of black art and entertainment prioritized by these existing organizations. We talk about equity in the arts, and while we can all appreciate a variety of art, I think it is important to highlight what black artists are creating and give them opportunities to bring that to the public view to encourage more young black people to consider going into the arts.

Have you reviewed the recent “Our Creative Future” multi-county cultural plan (linked above)? Would you endorse the plan as a candidate?

yes, yes

Portland is facing job losses, particularly in the downtown core. How can arts/culture workforce investments be part of a wider strategy to improve the workforce outlook for the region?

Invest in creative talent. economic growth .

This has resulted in more businesses locating to the area, more foot traffic to local businesses, increased housing options, more jobs and higher tax revenues. Increased tourism, social responsibility, communication, problem-solving skills, and out-of-the-box thinking

Arts, culture, design and creative entrepreneurship are key elements of Portland’s national and regional brand. Portland has the fourth-highest concentration of artists in the nation, after New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. What policies or investments would you back to ensure that arts, culture and the creative economy are part of the city’s priorities in investments and new policies?

American Rescue Plan.

cultural planning groups, grant programs, public art programs, innovative programs to involve citizens, encouraging collective problem solving, cultural dynamic and heritage traditions. driving cultural change to help shape our society.

How do you see museums, cultural institutions, creative independent venues, nightlife and festivals as part of the downtown revitalization and general community stabilization?

Portland has lost part of its identity. This has resulted in fewer businesses relocating to the area.
We need more foot traffic to local businesses, Increased Venues, are a good way to bring people back out, increasing community involvement, social and cultural . awareness housing options and jobs.

Increased tourism helps to create new jobs and revenue streams.

Portland is home to an incredibly diverse range of cultural organizations, artists co-ops, and small businesses that make our neighborhoods unique and distinct. What small business and cultural activation ideas do you have for Portland’s neighborhoods?

Complete neighborhoods, with schools, goods, services and events. Promote small business integration back into our neighborhoods. Create jobs. Working with artists to improve community planning such as cultural expression, community centers, parks and redevelopment.. Art and culture are great ways of communicating with others