PRIORITIES
​Provide a Fair Share for East County
Our neighborhoods have been overlooked and under served for decades. Our streets are less safe, we have less access to parks, and our people have to travel farther for work, shopping, and recreation. While Ashton has made progress in his first term, there is much more work to be done to reverse decades of disinvestment to better provide for the people of East Portland and East County. We need our fair share to help our communities succeed.
Keep East County Affordable
As people are being priced out of central Portland, East Portland and East County have become some of the last affordable places to live in the Metro area. We must address crime, blight, and the lack of amenities that impact our neighborhoods, while preventing the gentrification and displacement that has happened in other parts of our community. Everyone deserves a healthy, safe, welcoming, and affordable place to call home.
Dignity & Determination
People don’t want to be dependent on programs - and they shouldn’t have to be. Everyone deserves self-determination and the tools to thrive. At Metro, we have the responsibility to provide our community members with opportunities to get training, pursue the jobs they want, and move up the ladder. Our neighbors deserve the dignity of moving from poverty to prosperity through workforce initiatives that are supportive and sustainable.
Build Community & Vibrancy in Our Neighborhoods
We build community by connecting people, and providing public spaces for us to gather and recreate. Portland is known for its walkable neighborhoods with easy access to shopping, dining, and natural spaces. We need to do the same for the people in East Portland and East County, helping improve the safety of our streets and the quality of life for our residents.
Preserve Clean Water and Air and Take On Climate Change
Everyone deserves clean air and water, and access to green spaces. East Portland and East County have less tree canopy, less parks, and greater concentrations of toxins and pollutants than other parts of our region. As a result, a warming climate and extreme weather events will hit our communities the hardest. Ashton is working to expand greenspaces and build up our resilience to climate change, and ensure that preservation and improvements don’t create displacement or inequitable outcomes for BIPOC communities.
Reject Division & Hate
Trump and his allies are exploiting this time of uncertainty to turn us against each other and punish those who are different from them. We are at our strongest when we are standing with each other, celebrating our diversity, and uniting in common purpose. Our leaders must work to bring us together to build a better future for all
