Councilor Pirtle-Guiney's Policy Agenda

The Best Place to Raise a Family

I ran for office because I want Portland to be a place where people grow a family and kids build a future. That means protecting the things that ensure all families can thrive: safe parks, good jobs, strong communities, and stable housing. 

I'm focused on breaking down barriers to affordable housing and commercial space so we can build enough homes and storefronts while still preserving the personalities of our many neighborhoods. I am working to maintain beloved spaces like Columbia Pool and championing a plan to develop small community parks in high-density neighborhoods. I am fighting for economic development that supports high-paying, union jobs and makes Portland a great place to start a small business. And as Portland's representative on the Metro Future Vision Commission, I have a unique opportunity to help shape the 50-year vision for our region.

Ensure People Who Work in Portland Can Afford to Live in Portland

Portland should be a place where working people can afford to live and put down roots. I'm pushing for a housing strategy that works for families, including expanding the subsidies for affordable family-sized housing so we're building homes that meet the needs of all households and developing innovative homeownership pathways. 

I am working on an industrial strategy that supports job density, wages that keep pace with the cost of living, and protections for workers who have been left out of our regulatory framework, including gig economy workers like rideshare drivers. And I'm committed to investing in long-overdue economic development in communities that have been overlooked for too long, including Albina and East Portland.

A Leader on Basic Rights and Freedoms

Portland must remain a city where everyone is welcome and civil rights are not up for debate. I am committed to building on the Protect Portland Initiative passed last year to safeguard communities from a federal government increasingly intent on violating people's rights, starting with securing $150,000 for desperately needed immigration and asylum legal services. 

I am also pushing for stronger data privacy protections for information collected and held by the city, and ensuring that citizen data cannot be shared with federal law enforcement if no crime has been committed. And I'm working to update outdated City code that targets LGBTQIA+ Portlanders and removing antiquated barriers to things as simple and human as using a restroom.

Responsive, Effective, and Transparent Government

As the first Council President under Portland's new system, I had the opportunity to build the initial structures that make this new government function. I established the first set of council committees and created a process for moving policy from ideation to passage. 

This year, I'm bringing forward legislation to strengthen our rules on good governance, clarifying how Council and the Administration work together, improving oversight and accountability, and increasing transparency for the public. My goal is a City Hall that works better, faster, and more openly for all the people it serves.