A letter from Sam
Why I am Running
May 3, 2024
Dear North and Northeast Neighbor,
I am proud of my progressive values—but I am even more proud of using them to deliver real change.
“The current dysfunction in Multnomah County urgently needs to end,” Adams said… I’m running to help fix this, and I have a track record of tackling big bureaucratic problems.”
“former Portland Mayor Sam Adams seeks seat on Multnomah County’s board,” Oregon Public Broadcasting, February 27th, 2024.
This means using new approaches to addressing the crime and homelessness in the neighborhoods and business districts of North and Northeast Portland.
“After Sam left, we had no advocate… Once you take your foot off the gas, you’re screwed.”
Bruce Watts, Willamette Week, “Why Local Leaders Can’t Seem to Clean the Graffiti Off Portland,” January 31, 2024.
We have no more time to waste:
It will take electing people who can not only describe the problems but also who would hit the ground running and do something about it.
I have a big agenda to help solve our big problems. Here are my priorities.
“The ambitious plan… lays the groundwork for creating thousands of new affordable housing units, getting more unsheltered people into addiction or mental health treatment and… banning unsanctioned camping.”
“Portland City Council votes to ban homeless camping,” The Oregonian/OregonLive.com, November 4, 2022.
Faster, humane action on homelessness and addiction:
Help build 20,000 new units of affordable rental housing in 10 years. Multnomah County receives $125 million more each year than expected from a Metro tax. Take a portion of these extra funds and help build low-cost rental housing. The County says “no.” I will say “yes.”
Ban unsanctioned outdoor camping as new official shelters open that are currently under construction. The first one I helped open already stabilized 100 people who got into permanent housing in just 8 months.
Prioritize community safety. There is no quality of life if you don’t feel safe at home, in your neighborhood or at work:
I will dig into the county budget for more jail beds, and to hire more DAs & public defenders to unclog our public safety system.
“…Adams said he’d aggresively push the county to adopt a new staffing model to improve ambulance response times, ensure that a long-promised sobering center opens…”
“Former Portland mayor Sam Adams enters Multnomah County Commission race,” The Oregonian/OregonLive.com, February 27, 2024.
Improve ambulance response times. When we need them, they need to be there! The County hasn’t fixed this. I will push to fix it fast.
Replace the now four-year-delayed sobering center immediately. The County has the money. They are just afraid to use them. The sobering center previously served 3,000 local clients per year.
Require a yearly independent public report card on use of $650 million budgeted for homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness, and housing.
Standing up for North and Northeast neighborhood issues:
“I strongly oppose the merger of Fred Meyer with Albertsons/Safeway. It seriously jeopardizes local access to quality and affordable food and pharmacies.”
“Oppose grocery merger,” Letter to the Editor, Sam Adams, The Oregonian/OregonLive.com, January 8, 2024.
Save our grocery stores in North and Northeast Portland. I will keep advocating to stop the merger between Fred Meyer and Safeway/Albertsons because similar mergers have resulted in food deserts because of grocery stores shutting down.
Stop the disastrous proposal to re-location of the Delta Park bottle drop in downtown St. John’s.
Require County special interest lobbyists to register and report, and require elected officials to post their schedules, so we can see who they are really working for.
“An open-government rule, corrupted by county chairs, basically creates a county government with one person as the sole decision-maker, without meaningful oversight,” Adams said Friday. “If it’s not illegal, it should be. Chair Vega Pederson should repeal it today.”
“Multnomah County chair’s unparalleled power to block fellow commissioner proposals is illegal, analysis claims,” April 28, 2024, The Oregonian/OregonLive.com.
I make sure the needs of North and Northeast are the priority. Close the revolving door between lobbyists and elected officials and staff so that people working for the county can’t immediately take lucrative lobbying jobs to lobby their former colleagues.
I raised this issue during this campaign: stop the corruption of an open government rule. Hold elected leaders accountable to the public by changing the rule that gives the chair unparalleled power to stop discussion on issues she disagrees with.
I love this place: It welcomed this gay kid from a small town with at times a tough upbringing and gave me a home, a community, and opportunities I never thought possible. I have dedicated most of my adult life to making it better for everyone.
That’s why I’m running. I would be deeply honored to have your vote in the May 21, 2024 mail in ballot election.
Please feel free to call or text me at 503-421-8925 on my mobile phone with any questions, comments, or ideas.
