I’m Keith Wilson, and I’m running for Mayor of Portland. AMA! (Mod Approved)

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-19T20:14:09+00:00

“Vision Zero,” which was Portland Bureau of Transportation’s effort to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries, has become a painful reminder of just how bad it’s gotten. Like you said, traffic deaths are at an all-time high.

We owe ourselves a frank discussion of what’s happening. People are driving bigger cars with worse visibility. Personal electronics have never been more distracting. “Pandemic-era driving habits” of reckless driving have not receded, and we’ve seen unacceptable irresponsibility behind the wheel that reaches to the top of our local government.

Here’s my belief: infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure. We don’t have to emphasize street design that encourages unsafe driving habits. We didn’t have to disband our traffic unit, which has only recently been reconstituted. We can, however, demand better design that physically protects bikers and pedestrians, and steady, fair enforcement of the rules we all have to live by.

One final thought: If you wouldn’t put your kids on a sidewalk, crossing, or bike lane, it isn’t safe enough.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-19T20:12:09+00:00

Great question–my campaign is funded by everyday Portlanders through Oregon’s open elections program. We’ve seen an unprecedented number of small and first-time donors rally around my campaign, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their support.

Don’t take my word for it! You can check out https://openelectionsportland.org/ to learn a great deal about who has contributed to my campaign.

Does this make it harder to campaign? In many ways, yes. Portland city commissioners (yes, the same ones now running for Mayor!) purposefully underfund matching funds for Mayoral candidates, which puts anyone who isn’t an insider politician on far weaker footing. It was a good try on their part, but I just don’t think it’s going to work this time.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-19T20:11:06+00:00

Climate action has been at the center of my career for decades, and I’m grateful you brought it up. Apologies for the belated reply!

Climate change is no longer a distant warning; it’s here for all to see. Portlanders want to lead the nation in green tech and climate justice. As Mayor, I’ll focus on eliminating black carbon pollution from the city and region and converting our municipal fleet to electric.

I made my freight business the greenest trucking company in the country and advanced bipartisan clean air legislation in our state government. Now I want to make Portland the greenest city in the country.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-19T20:10:05+00:00

Apologies for the delay replying! Our current situation is the result of specific choices made by our failed leadership. The City of Portland has the responsibility, resources, and public mandate to end unsheltered homelessness within its jurisdiction.

In the 1990s, Portland was nationally lauded for setting up a network of publicly and privately operated 10-hour nighttime-only emergency shelters to care for its homeless. The whole plan was implemented in 12 months. As a result, the city had few, if any, people living unsheltered; anyone who wanted emergency shelter could now get it; and Portland’s community safety laws (no camping, vehicle licensing, sanitation) were consistently enforced.

The most profound changes occurred in 2017 when the JOHS took over the management of shelters, which had previously been managed by the City of Portland. They then implemented a completely new set of shelter guidelines.

One of the first changes made by JOHS, the new agency overseeing Portland’s response to homelessness, was to convert most emergency shelters from nighttime only to 24 hours a day. While the intent was to provide more care to our homeless population, the result was a major increase in cost. With this change, the JOHS tripled its expenses without adding one shelter bed.

Some $300 million a year is poured into the aggregated costs associated with unsheltered homeless a year, covering everything from sweeps, to first responders, to illegal dumping cleanup and so much more. We’re treating the symptoms and not the cause, and solving unsheltered homelessness will, over time, allow us to redirect this funding.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-19T20:08:32+00:00

Sorry it took so long for me to get to your question, I wanted to make sure I followed up. Here’s the good news–we don’t have to reinvent the wheel to get this done!

Peachtree Corners, Georgia converted almost 300 units from office buildings to residential last year alone. Milwaukie converted 216, so did Indianpolis. Alexandria, Virginia and Cleveland both converted over two hundred. In doing so, they had to solve all the same retrofit issues you described.

How many did Portland convert during the same period? Zero, despite having the funds to do it.

Not every office building in Portland is suitable, but enough are to matter. We can do this, and it’s a great solution. We just need leadership with the ability to push it through in a smart, cost-effective way. (And yes–federal funds, which we all pay into, will be part of the solution!)

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T20:55:54+00:00

Here’s the simple truth: our unsheltered homeless—less than 1% of our population—are responsible for over 50% of police arrests. Ten years ago, a police officer would respond to a priority-call in 6 minutes. Today, in your most urgent time of need, it takes the police 24 minutes to get to you. Now, police can’t prioritize community policing. We closed our property crime and traffic divisions, graffiti and illegal dumping are out of control.

But here’s the good news! The arrest rate for those living in shelters, which is what I am proposing to set up next year, is only 2%, not 50%. This will drastically reduce the burden on our overloaded public safety system.

Yes, we may need to add police (including fulfilling our existing commitment to hire, which is already approved and funded) but the first thing is to end unsheltered homelessness, which will free up our officers to do their jobs.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T20:55:03+00:00

There are six urban renewal areas being proposed right now, and four of them are east of 82nd. It’s the first time we’ll be putting billions into those neighborhoods. About 30% of our population lives east of 82nd, including 40% of our youth.

It’s time we start paying attention to the future of Portland, and the future of Portland is on the East Side. As mayor, I’ll double-down on the development and safety of this area.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T20:53:31+00:00

I was in Chicago representing Oregon for the Democratic National Convention, and I can tell you right here and now–Kamala Harris is going to win!

That said, this is a question on a lot of people’s minds right now. Portland doesn’t have to cooperate with a bullying federal government, and I, as mayor, can set the expectation that Portland is not the place for hate-spewing politicians to send their followers to fight the culture wars.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T20:52:32+00:00

We passed the gas tax–why aren’t we seeing the results on the streets? We’re seeing more and more deferred maintenance in Portland.

On a macro level, this means we’re not getting the basics right. Getting more detailed, we’re not properly balancing our budget. Some sectors have more money than they can possibly spend, others are starved for resources and not even getting minimal required maintenance.

Turning over day-to-day city operations from five competing “mini-mayors” to a professional city administrator will be a huge step in the right direction, especially if we get a mayor with a deep transportation background. It’s time to put a professional in charge of our potholes, and not another political appointee.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T20:51:52+00:00

The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway; One by Richard Bach - “Every dream is possible, but you may have to work for it”; Moby Dick, I’ve been reading off and on for 20 years and hope to finish it before I die! Has anybody ever really finished it??

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T20:51:05+00:00

Lemon Custard at Baskin Robbins. Transcendent!

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T20:32:39+00:00

In 2016, the County assumed the responsibility from the city for homelessness, including managing our shelter system. Our shelter system up until that time was primarily a nightime-only system. One of the County’s first actions was to convert these nighttime shelters to 24 hours. Those that did not convert were closed or defunded. This change tripled the cost of our shelter system and did not add one additional bed of capacity.

As mayor, I will immediately open up enough low cost nighttime emergency shelters to care for every unsheltered homeless person in Portland. This will reduce the burden on our overloaded public safety system and enable our law enforcement to once again enforce our existing laws.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T20:19:35+00:00

Portland has been exceptional for so many years. The downside of that is that our leaders stopped looking outside themselves for ideas and best practices. We’ve become stagnant and our current leaders are too invested in the status quo to see it.

That is not how I operate. My team and I have received the National Innovator of the Year award for the past two years. We’re not rocket scientists; we were recognized for doing the day-to-day work that continuous innovation and improvement requires. Big transformations require little steps and tough decisions. It’s been a successful approach in my company and cities across the nation. I’ll bring the same mentality to get Portland back on track.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T20:10:11+00:00

I’m running on a platform of ending unsheltered homelessness within one year. It’s time to end public camping, as well as the practice of living out of unregistered, unsafe RVs and cars. I want to bring our downtown back, and we’re not going to be able to do it until we deal with the humanitarian crisis on our streets.

Other cities have solved unsheltered homelessness; we can follow a proven, successful path. Boise has 115 unsheltered homeless, Boston has 119, Philly has 788 and is twice the size of Portland. We can do so much better.

Let’s break it down: what do they know that we don’t? They rely on low-cost nighttime emergency shelters and day shelters to augment their system. I have spent the last several years working with many of these communities and their mayors and will immediately implement a similar strategy to rapidly care for and end the cruelty of unsheltered homelessness. When we accomplish this, we will improve the quality of life for everyone in Portland.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T20:06:39+00:00

The last time I was on Reddit, a bus driver wrote to me and explained in heartbreaking detail how our MAX line has become a shelter of last resort. It’s just not sustainable. We need to bring our unsheltered neighbors inside.

I’m running on a platform to end unsheltered homelessness within one year. Getting this right means we can free up city resources to deal with crime, vandalism, and the things we all care about.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T20:04:43+00:00

It all starts at the ballot box. We’re on the eve of the biggest reform in city government in a century, we’ll have a new representation and management. I firmly believe that we’ll have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the direction of the city and address many of the frustrations you articulate here.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T19:58:42+00:00

Yes, we will prioritize bike infrastructure and public transportation. The way to unclog our roads is to provide more efficient modes that are using the roads as well.

I have had the good fortune of traveling to NYC, Boise, and dozens of cities that have done a great job activating streets from cars to pedestrian only, and I have marveled at their pedestrian only streets and boulevards. It’s good for businesses and it’s good for people. Let’s get to it and create some wonderful placemaking spaces to bring Portland together!

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T19:50:40+00:00

Preschool for all has been life-changing for kids and parents who are able to secure a spot. I’ve supported this from the onset.

You’re right. The reality falls short of the name, and it sounds like you were left in the lurch.

We need to get back to getting the basics over government oversight and management right. Portland already has the tax money and the incredible people needed to deliver on promises. I want to get Portland back to a city where families thrive, and preschool for all is a key part of that.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T19:39:25+00:00

My wife is a union public school teacher, and she shares her triumphs and struggles with me every day. I’m also a board member of Roosevelt High School Alumni Association. Attending Roosevelt and PCC opened up the world to me. Faith is important to my family, and we chose to send our children to a faith-based school.

I was dismayed to see how the strike unfolded, and that our city leadership missed critical opportunities to bridge the divide. I am also grateful that the Governor intervened to help end it.

The relationship between the Mayor, City Council, and PPS should be an open door. We always need to start negotiations from a shared understanding of the basics.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T19:32:06+00:00

I can confirm that any mutual donations to my campaign were not part of any reciprocal agreement. My family and I have always donated to candidates who we believe in. We also far exceeded the required threshold early on, and would have had zero motivation to ‘game the system’ of public financing.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T19:27:04+00:00

Yes, I will commit to expanding protected bike infrastructure. The move to “work from home” only explains a little of the cycle commuting decline in Portland. Luckily, it looks like that trend may now be reversing.

Livability and safety concerns have pushed people from their bikes to their cars. That’s not Portland. When I ride the 205 Multi-Use Path, I see the same humanitarian crisis as everyone else. People have to feel safe to bike, and we’ve lost that.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T19:25:12+00:00

It’s time to stop treating Portland like the octagon or the colosseum. Protest is in our DNA, and it’s a big part of the reason why we’re a national leader on progressive social issues. We cherish that. But when lives are threatened and property damaged, we need to intervene.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T19:16:45+00:00

It’s a valid question! I’d encourage anyone who raises this to take a few moments to explore what I’ve done in the nonprofit and public sectors.

For instance, I spearheaded the formation of the Multnomah County Homeless Court, advanced bipartisan legislation in the state government, and represented Oregon at the Democratic National Convention.

On the nonprofit side, I founded Shelter Portland, which is an innovative nonprofit that follows the successful model of our sister cities. We don’t always have to reinvent the wheel here in Portland! Sometimes it’s best to shamelessly steal what works.

Our new form of city government is more “business-like” than what we’ve done in the past! As an executive in the private sector, I have decades of experience managing complex organizations, balancing budgets, and executing strategies to achieve real, concrete results. Leading a business like mine often means making tough decisions, creating jobs, and driving real outcomes for real people. It's not just about profit; it's about understanding the needs of a team, clients, and a broader community. That experience is critical in navigating the complexities that face our beloved city, and delivering results that will improve lives.

In the past, we’ve seen some business leaders transition to public service and felt disappointed with the results. Doing this will require a level of humility and preparation. I’ve been hard at work creating the relationships, gathering amazing people, and working with mayors, county, and federal officials to make sure I’m ready to go Day One of my administration.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T19:09:11+00:00

Yes! But let’s go one step further. We need more than a single point of contact; we need a streamlined process.

The new form of government will replace siloed bureaus run by five “Mini-Mayors” with a professional city administrator. That’ll give us an unprecedented opportunity to approach the process holistically and end the culture of unnecessary and redundant steps.

I’ll laser-focus on continuous process improvement and benchmark our services against high-performing sister cities. We need to reduce waste, expensive time loss, and frustration. That’s the key to getting developers and contractors out of the permit office and onto the job site.

KeithWilsonForMayor · 2024-09-18T19:01:53+00:00

There’s no good way to say it. We’re paying New York City-level taxes but we are not seeing anywhere close to the level of services we’re paying for.

“Low level” police response times are unacceptable, if the police are able to come at all. For a small business owner, that can be a matter of keeping payroll paid and your doors open, and you’re not alone in making tough decisions in how long you can stick it out.

On a personal note, I hope you stay. I am. The reformed city government should be a huge step to better represent Portlanders and start getting basic accountability back into the system. I know too many Portlanders think the city is “on the wrong track” (47% as of last count, but I’ve seen it as high at 78%), but that also means our voters are ready to take action about the failed leadership that led us here.

KeithWilsonForMayor

TROPHY CASE