Councilor Avalos Responds to Mayor Wilson’s State of the City: “Let’s make sure Portland’s comeback includes everyone.”
PORTLAND, OR — Councilor Candace Avalos released the following statement in response to Mayor Keith Wilson’s 2025 State of the City address:
“I appreciate the Mayor’s commitment to restoring faith in Portland’s future. From housing and homelessness to safety and economic recovery, these are issues my constituents live every day — and they’ve been clear that they expect more than just words. They want results.
I share the sense of urgency around ending unsheltered homelessness and welcome the Mayor’s call to get every Portlander into a safe bed by December 1. That’s a timeline we can and should be held accountable to. As Chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee, I’m focused on ensuring our investments reflect not just speed, but dignity, long-term stability, and real coordination across governments.
Increasing housing production is essential, and I’m glad to see momentum around removing barriers. At the same time, we need to stay grounded in the full picture. Incentives for private development must be matched with deep public investment, tenant protections, and community-driven models like social housing. We can’t afford to build our way into more inequity.
I was encouraged to hear a clear commitment to preserving the purpose of the Portland Clean Energy Fund. Communities fought hard for those dollars, and we owe it to them to stay focused on frontline-led climate solutions that build a greener and more just city.
As we prepare to deliberate on the budget, I’ll be looking closely at how this vision shows up in real numbers. East Portland continues to carry the weight of underinvestment — in parks, in public safety, in housing, and in youth programming. It’s time to shift that balance and fund the future we’ve all been promised.
I’m grateful to be serving alongside colleagues who care deeply about this work. Together, we have a real opportunity to show Portlanders that we can govern with both vision and follow-through. Let’s make sure the Portland renaissance reaches across every neighborhood and lifts up every resident.”
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