Dan Ryan & Loretta Smith Public Housing Reality Show - Episode 5

Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith Public Housing Reality Show - Episodes 1 - 4 RECAP (see below)

Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith Public Housing Reality Show - Episode 5

In November 2016 the Portland Public Housing bond increased property taxes by $258.4 million. In May 2017 the Portland Public Schools bond increased property taxes by $790 million. In November 2018 the Metro Public Housing bond increased property taxes by $652.8 million. In November 2020 the Portland Public Schools proposed bond would increase property taxes by 1.1 Billion dollars. In total that’s $3,849,600,000 in new property taxes in only four years.

Every time property taxes are increased some, if not many, of those renters and homeowners who are on fixed or low-income are forced to move or become homeless.

The Covid-19 virus has caused unemployment in Multnomah county to rise to15.5% as of June 1. City, county and state revenues are expected to fall dramatically causing many public employees to lose their jobs. Increasing property taxes on this distressed population can force some, if not many of them to move or become homeless, exacerbating an already bad situation.

It makes no sense for our community to rightly focus its attention on providing more Public Housing and then constantly increase property taxes which creates a greater need for Public Housing.

We must put the breaks on new property taxes unless we agree to Rebate New Property Taxes To Households That Quality For Public Housing i.e. <=80% MFI.

So the question arises: Do you support a rebate of all new property taxes to households that quality for Public Housing i.e. <=80% MFI?

Dan Ryan

NO. I do NOT support a rebate of all new property taxes to households that quality for Public Housing i.e. <=80% MFI. It is unfortunate but unavoidable that every time property taxes are increased some, if not many, of those renters and homeowners who are on fixed or low-income are forced to move or become homeless.

Loretta Smith

NO. I do NOT support a rebate of all new property taxes to households that quality for Public Housing i.e. <=80% MFI. It is unfortunate but unavoidable that every time property taxes are increased some, if not many, of those renters and homeowners who are on fixed or low-income are forced to move or become homeless.

Dear Reader/Voter, are you impressed?

Stay away from crowds especially indoors. Wear a mask. Practice social distancing. Stay safe. Keep others safe.

Richard Ellmyer

North Portland

Author of more stories on the politics, players and policies of Public Housing in Oregon over the last nineteen years than all other journalists and elected officials combined.

Author of The Ellmyer Report, a newsletter that informs, educates and influences on public policy. Occasionally distributed to more than a quarter of million readers in Oregon and beyond. Facebook, Portland Politics Plus . Opinion contributor to Patch.com news.

Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith Public Housing Reality Show - Episode 4 RECAP

So the question arises: Have you demonstrated your support for SAFMR by telling the Public Housing Authority of Multnomah county that you support SAFMR and you would like their opinion on how SAFMR would enhance Equitable Distribution of Public Housing in Multnomah county?

Dan Ryan

NO. I do NOT support the SAFMR program NOR Equitable Distribution of Public Housing in Multnomah county. My policy preference has been and continues to be the current status quo policy of Targeted, Unlimited Neighborhood Concentration of Public Housing which allows government to load the neighborhoods of its choosing with up to 100% Public Housing.

Loretta Smith

NO. I do NOT support the SAFMR program NOR Equitable Distribution of Public Housing in Multnomah county. My policy preference has been and continues to be the current status quo policy of Targeted, Unlimited Neighborhood Concentration of Public Housing which allows government to load the neighborhoods of its choosing with up to 100% Public Housing.

Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith Public Housing Reality Show - Episode 3 RECAP

Will you publicly acknowledge that Parity of Public Housing Households among Metro counties is the touchstone by which all related policy and spending decisions must be measured before the special election on August 11th?

Dan Ryan

NO. I do not accept the Metro voters' decision to recognize Public Housing as a regional issue.

Loretta Smith

NO. I do not accept the Metro voters' decision to recognize Public Housing as a regional issue.

Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith Public Housing Reality Show - Episode 2 RECAP

Will you publicly call for an end to funding the St. Johns hard-walled homeless camp before the special election on August 11th?

Dan Ryan

NO. I support the current status quo policy of Targeted, Unlimited Neighborhood Concentration of Public Housing which allows government to load the neighborhoods of its choosing with up to 100% Public Housing. I also support the current status quo policy of denying the establishment of goals which would aim public policy and funding toward of a minimum of 5% and a maximum of 15% Public Housing households per neighborhood in Portland and Multnomah county. Despite the inevitable upcoming massive revenue losses to governments the cost effectiveness of this and other Public Housing projects by the JOHS is of no concern to me. I do not accept the Metro voters' decision to recognize Public Housing as a regional issue.

Loretta Smith

NO. I support the current status quo policy of Targeted, Unlimited Neighborhood Concentration of Public Housing which allows government to load the neighborhoods of its choosing with up to 100% Public Housing. I also support the current status quo policy of denying the establishment of goals which would aim public policy and funding toward of a minimum of 5% and a maximum of 15% Public Housing households per neighborhood in Portland and Multnomah county. Despite the inevitable upcoming massive revenue losses to governments the cost effectiveness of this and other Public Housing projects by the JOHS is of no concern to me. I do not accept the Metro voters' decision to recognize Public Housing as a regional issue.

Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith Public Housing Reality Show - Episode 1 RECAP

So the most basic question related to Public Housing policy is this: When you speak or write about households whose current access to housing involved meeting the following criteria i.e. Means Test (<=80%MFI) + Government Subsidy (any government any type) + Rental Agreement, what words do you use?

Dan Ryan

I haven’t given it much thought. The easiest position for me to take is to support the status quo which conflates the mutually exclusive definitions of PUBLIC HOUSING with AFFORDABLE HOUSING. Since everyone supports the idea of Affordable Housing but there is considerable controversy over Public Housing it’s politically convenient to avoid defending the facts and obfuscate the truth.

Loretta Smith

I haven’t given it much thought. The easiest position for me to take is to support the status quo which conflates the mutually exclusive definitions of PUBLIC HOUSING with AFFORDABLE HOUSING. Since everyone supports the idea of Affordable Housing but there is considerable controversy over Public Housing it’s politically convenient to avoid defending the facts and obfuscate the truth.