Dan Ryan & Loretta Smith Public Housing Reality Show - Episode 7

Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith Public Housing Reality Show - Episodes 1 - 6 RECAP (see below)

Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith Public Housing Reality Show - Episode 7 Finale

There is nothing progressive about Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith’s Public Housing Policy. Their positions are reactionary. The evidence is in the recaps below.

President Trump vowed on Wednesday to protect suburbanites from low-income housing being built where they live, continuing his efforts to shore up the support of white suburban voters by stirring racist fears about affordable housing.

In a tweet, Mr. Trump appealed to “people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream,” promising them that they would “no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood.” He explicitly referenced his administration’s move last week to roll back an Obama-era program intended to combat racial segregation in suburban housing. The program expanded provisions in the Fair Housing Act to encourage diversification and “foster inclusive communities.”*1

Democrats eager to jump on the president’s tweets and accuse him of racist dog whistling have yet to confront the reality that policy in their home states is often uncomfortably Trump-like in reality.*2

Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith’s views on Public Housing Location policy, i.e. Targeted, UNLIMITED Neighborhood Concentration of Public Housing allowing government to load the neighborhoods of its choosing with up to 100% Public Housing households is analogous to Trump’s intervention into the Public Housing location, NIMBY and economic/racial segregationist debate.

Just shouting “MORE” is NOT a defensible Public Housing policy. That’s the disturbing takeaway from Ryan and Smith’s reactionary, status quo Public Housing Policy.

I voted against both of them.

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.

*1

Trump plays on racist fears in appeal to white suburban voters.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/29/us/elections/biden-vs-trump.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

*2

Trump’s tweets about saving the “Suburban Lifestyle Dream,” explained

https://www.vox.com/2020/8/3/21347565/suburban-lifestyle-dream-trump-tweets-fair-housing

Below are the most important Public Housing policy positions held by Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith. You are encouraged to contact them for confirmation. If their answers differ from what you read below please let me know. Thank you.

Dan Ryan and Loretta Smith Public Housing Reality Show - Episode 6 RECAP

So the question arises: Do you support a graduated surtax on property within a neighborhood with 0 to 5% Public Housing households where those taxes would be dedicated to creating Public Housing in neighborhoods with less than 5% Public Housing households?

Dan Ryan

NO. I do NOT support a graduated surtax on property within a neighborhood with 0 to 5% Public Housing households where those taxes would be dedicated to establishing Public Housing in neighborhoods with less than 5% Public Housing households. I am not inclined to face the wrath of voters in those privileged neighborhoods.

Loretta Smith

NO. I do NOT support a graduated surtax on property within a neighborhood with 0 to 5% Public Housing households where those taxes would be dedicated to establishing Public Housing in neighborhoods with less than 5% Public Housing households. I am not inclined to face the wrath of voters in those privileged neighborhoods.

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

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.

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.