Nick Fish, a familiar candidate for City Council, is seeking public office for a third time as Commissioner No. 2 , the seat vacated last month by Erik Sten.
For the past 20 years, his day job has been as an attorney, and he is currently a partner at Meyer & Wyse law firm in Portland. But he’s also established himself on the small screen as the host of a public affairs program on Channel 3. Fish also serves as a commissioner and vice-chairman of the Housing Authority of Portland. Here are the answers to our candidate questions.
S.R.: You’ve said that you want to restructure the social housing delivery system in Portland and Multnomah County to free up additional resources. You say that with the Housing Authority of Portland, the Portland Development Commission, the cities, the county, that there are too many players in the field. What specifically would your restructuring look like, particularly with regard to the relationship between public and private interests?
Nick Fish: There are too many players and too many silos — Housing Authority of Portland, Portland Development Commission, the city of Portland, Multnomah County, Gresham and non-profits. By restructuring our social housing delivery system, we can deliver housing services more strategically.
Currently, a consultant is studying various options. Until the study is completed, and I have an opportunity to review the findings with all stakeholders, I will hold off making any specific recommendations. However, I am committed to making sure that every dollar available for housing is used wisely and efficiently.
S.R.: What can you do for Portland that the other candidates running for this position cannot?
N.F.: The most important difference I will bring to City Hall is my life experience and core values outside of government. For over 20 years, I have been a civil rights lawyer and civic activist. I have a history of bringing people together to tackle our city’s toughest problems. Whether it’s been working to bring more affordable housing to Portland while serving on the board of the Housing Authority of Portland, advocating for increased and improved before- and after-school programs as a parent representative on the Portland Public School task force, helping to save the Portland Women’s Crisis Line, supporting the arts through my service on the board of the Oregon Cultural Trust, or defending the civil rights of individuals as a lawyer, I believe I have the progressive values and leadership skills Portland needs on City Council.
S.R.: How are you going to keep Portland affordable and livable for all citizens?
N.F.: I believe that a healthy local economy is a cornerstone of a livable community. We don’t just need to look for the next big thing to create new family-wage jobs and encourage economic growth. In many cases, the solution is right here in our own backyard. Small businesses are the backbone of our community, accounting for 80 percent of jobs. Portland can and must do more to create opportunities for people to be self-sufficient. We can do this by retaining and nurturing businesses that pay family-wage jobs.
As city commissioner, I will make sure that the city refocuses its economic development programs on removing barriers and providing incentives to encourage the expansion of existing Portland businesses as well as attracting new ones.
I will fight to extend the benefits of a "livable city" to people throughout our city. The Regional Equity Atlas prepared for the Coalition for a Livable Future is an extremely valuable road map for the future. If we continue to plan "smart," locating parks, schools, transportation options and business districts within walking distance of housing, we will have a healthier, greener, more progressive city.
As the city’s housing commissioner, one of my top priorities will be the preservation of "expiring use" properties. The valuable federal subsidies in these properties will be lost if we don’t secure them and hold the Section 8 subsidies in Portland. They are one of our most critical resources serving very low income families, seniors, and people with disabilities. We need to consider a number of strategies, including a bond or levy for preservation, and using a portion of the 30 percent set aside outside of existing urban renewal areas on preservation deals.
Portland is blessed with close knit neighborhoods and a sense of community and civic responsibility that has always served our citizens well no matter the swings in the national economy. I pledge to bring people together and drive solutions to support and grow our local economy.
S.R.: How will you make a difference in the lives of the people living on the streets?
N.F.: Being homeless is not a crime.
I am committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all of our citizens, including the homeless. The current sit-lie ordinance is a work in progress, and I will closely monitor its enforcement to ensure that the civil rights of homeless people are not abridged.
I support a number of the recommendations that have come out of the Street Access for Everyone (SAFE) committee, including a day shelter for the homeless, the access center, and public toilets. And I am committed to continuing to seek to find common ground between homeless advocates, law enforcement, and business.
As city commissioner, I will lead the visionary 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Ending homelessness is not just good policy; it is a moral imperative. I have spent over 20 years working on innovative solutions to our housing crunch. I will work with Multnomah County to find the public and private resources necessary to fully fund the plan. And I will fight for meaningful work and job training for the homeless.
S.R.: What is your opinion of the way the city does business and what would you change?
N.F.: I am running to bring a new voice to City Hall and open up city government to everyone. For the past three years, I hosted a public-affairs show on television shining a light on how government works. That’s why I support stronger “sunshine laws,” so that citizens can better understand how City Hall spends their money and makes decisions.
The Cesar Chavez street naming debacle illustrates the damage that can be done to our community when decisions are made behind closed doors and Portlanders feel excluded.
As city commissioner, my most important job will be to bring people together to tackle tough problems. I commit to engaging the public before important decisions are made.
In their daily lives, Portlanders follow the rules and are accountable for their actions. We can expect no less from Portland’s elected officials. When government is well managed and respectful of the needs and wishes of citizens, it can be a powerful force to create opportunity in people’s lives. I will provide the leadership on City Council to meet this shared value and fundamental standard for civic responsibility.
