Explore every episode of the podcast Progress Portland

We talk with Nick Caleb, friend of the pod on running interference on many important efforts including environmental challenges, dark money influences in Portland Politics, and why we just can't have nice things unless we really put an end to bullshit.

Kat and Kip discuss current events like going to war, identify politics as a form of silencing, and as usual, what aren't we doing well helping our neighbors struggling most.

Please like, subscribe, and share. Community is everything.

We discuss too many things, but primarily the city council meltdown over housing dollars, how intentions and transparency matters, and potential new features and ideas.

In our 50th (!!!) episode, we welcome Kristofer Brown from People's Depot which provides a daily central place for people to bring their recyclable cans and serves as a hub for community and connection to services. Kristopher brings his personal stories and intentions to the conversation and demonstrates that a little help up and thoughtfulness goes a very long way.

More info at https://www.groundscoreassociation.org/

Kat and Kip discuss various issues including the drawdown in Minneapolis, the role of legal observers in activism, challenges faced in the nonprofit sector, and the formation of the CBPA. They explore themes of accountability, community support, and the complexities of public committee structures, all while sharing personal anecdotes and insights from their experiences.

The AI Said all that^

A new feature: The Wednesday Kvetch. Kat and Kip and occasional guests will recap events from the previous week as well as top of mind items. And Kvetch a bit. Let us know what you think.

Takeaways

• Inclusivity in halftime shows
• Impact of budget decisions on housing and homelessness
• The need for systemic change and multi-angle advocacy
• Stickbugs

Mike Schmidt, General Counsel for the Urban League of Portland and former Multnomah County DA talks to Kat and Kip about the upcoming Legislative Day of Action in Salem for the Urban League of Portland as well as other important and timely issues.  Please sign up ASAP at this link or call 503.280.2600 to volunteer.  *no, really this time. We can math. Kind of.

Kip and new co-host Kat Mahoney  talk about Progress Portland moving into 2026, a little about Kat's background, and about being rude New Yorkers. *Not really. But whatevs

We're back after a long and much needed break! In this episode, Kip and Kat talk with Kristle Delihanty of PDX Saints Love about the org's origins, housing vs. shelter, and the city's fuckery around grant money.

Today is a short episode that sprang from a conversation I had with Kip on July 24, the day after a meeting of PCCEP (Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing). PCCEP is a 13-person committee of citizens tasked with monitoring the Portland Police Bureau's implementation of the DOJ Settlement Agreement, which is an important job. 

In June of this year, a man tragically died in police custody. Kip talks about the case, what we know and what is under investigation. 

Prentice Onayemi has carved out a varied and unique place here in Portland. He is a founding partner of Grains of Salt, a consulting form that supports community-driven projects at the intersection of the arts and real estate; he is co-founder of Foglight Farms, a BIPOC-owned and operated farm in Hillsboro; and he applies his rich bass to narrating audio books. Tim and Prentice share a history they only recently discovered, having both served as director of communications for ArtPlace America, a creative placemaking initiative that seeded many interesting projects across the country. Prentice talks about how he sees all of his work as connected, and how he thinks art can thrive in our city. 

The unsinkable Steph Routh joins us, fresh from a stint working with Senator Khanh Pham in Salem. Steph ran for City Council last year and was our very first guest, and continues to be a force of nature in local politics and activism. We talk about Electrify Oregon, the Mamdani Effect, the social benefits of biking, and much more.

Kip and Tim interview self-proclaimed "local nuisance" Kat Mahoney, attorney, board member of Portland Neighbors Welcome, former executive director of Sisters of the Road, and general rabble rouser. This is officially a "shit-talking" episode, so you'll hear some dirt. Topics include the Mayor's shelter-heavy approach to homelessness and protesting past, present and future in Portland. 

Kat Mahoney practices law specializing in Family, Domestic Violence and Animal Law. You can engage with here here: https://kmahoneylaw.com/

Former Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt joins us to talk about his work as General Council at Urban League of Portland and his new podcast, The Schmidt Show PDX. Mike turned lemons into lemonade, turning the expensive negative campaign against him into promotion for a podcast that focuses on the forces for good in Portland. We also shoot the proverbial sh*t about the Current City Council, Portland Police Bureau, County politics, and more. 

We talk to two insiders providing homeless services downtown to get deeper into what Portland needs to do better. Liz Starke is Development Director of Rose Haven, a day shelter and community center serving women, children and gender non-conforming folks experiencing the trauma of abuse, loss of home and other disruptive life challenges. Justine Ziegler is Development Director at Outside In, helping homeless youth and other marginalized people move towards improved health and self-sufficiency. 

“If I had to choose one thing to pressure people to put resources in, it’s the folks that have the most severe physical and mental disabilities. Because that bogs down our agency. When someone’s having a mental health crisis, how many of our staff members does it take to get that person back down to baseline and keep everybody safe when we could have been working with 5 people inside that were ready to work towards other goals. I think that’s the challenge, because the police don’t have the capacity to deal with it, the jails are full, the hospitals are full. So there’s no where to send these people, and those are the folks that the neighbors are the most upset about.” - Liz Starke, Development Director of Rose Haven

No interview this time, just a check-in on what's happening with the City Council, including the potential ban of algorithmic price fixing of rents and the proposal from Councilors Avalos and Green for creating social housing. Also we attempt to keep our focus on how national politics impact us locally but end up going off on tangents and rants (unavoidable these days). 

There's a movement afoot to bring universal health care to all Oregonians, and it is looking more likely every day. Our guest is Valdez Bravo, President of Health Care For All Oregon. Valdez tells us the ins and outs of the plan, and explains that it is far more expensive to maintain the system we have and exclude people than to actually provide for everyone. 

We're back, sorry for the long silence! This week we're talking with Mark Douglass, a highly experienced addiction therapist, about what works and what doesn't in Portland and Oregon when we talk about drugs. Mark talks about what was wrong with Measure 110, how to create better policy, and crafting individual treatment for people that isn't one-size-fits-all.

Blair Stenvick, Communications Manager at Basic Rights Oregon, joins us to talk about LGBTQ2SIA+ rights in the Trump era. With friends around us feeling fearful (understandably), we wanted to talk about what sort of advocacy and action can be relied on to keep our queer friends safe. 

Samantha Silverman joins Kip and Tim as a guest host (thanks Sam for adding your insight!). 

On December 19th, Kip and I attended the official swearing in of the new Portland City Council, Mayor, and Auditor. We were able to join the press pool and grab interviews with a handful of the new candidates, including Tiffany Koyama Lane, Angelita Morillo, and Mitch Green. The Councilors will begin leading the city on January 2nd, and up to this point have been in intense training sessions. 

Kip and Tim discuss the results of the Portland City Council and County Commission elections, for the most part avoiding the national boondoggle. Topics include the makeup of the new City Council, the incredible people who won and lost, and some misfires by the press that stuck in our craw. 

Kip and Tim check in with Lisa Freeman via Zoom as the election comes down to the wire. Lisa shares her wisdom gained from the campaign trail and some insights into the mind of voters. 

Listen in, and vote Lisa Freeman in District 4!

We were thrilled to get an interview with Liv Osthus, aka Viva Las Vegas, the non-politician candidate for Portland Mayor. Liv talks how the land we live on is sacred and we need to be good stewards of it while we make sure there is housing and services for everyone regardless of age, income, or situation. She discusses listening intently to voters, learning about interactions with people in crisis, the dangers of the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub (CEI), and putting the arts, small businesses, and neighborhoods front and center instead of big business interests. And so much more.

Hey everyone! We recorded this quick check-in with Timur Ender about a week ago, so keep that in mind if the info is slightly out of date. Timur is running in District 1, and he's got an encyclopedic understanding of the issues facing East Portland. Please vote for him (along with Steph Routh and Candace Avalos) in D1! 

Also, please join Kip and Tim TONIGHT, Monday 10/28, at 6pm at Migration Brewing on NE Glisan for a meet n' greet/fundraiser for Shannon Singleton! We need to help Shannon defeat Sam Adams, who has poured money into winning the Multnomah County Commissioner spot for District 2. Every dollar counts.

Meghan Moyer, Multnomah County District 1 candidate, joins Tim in the studio to talk about her deep disappointment in the county's slipshod approach to housing and homelessness. This is one of the best discussions of the problems with Portland's housing policy that we've ever heard. Please tune in, and vote Moyer for District 1 (which encompasses most of the West Side). 

Also please join us this Monday, 10/28 at Migration Brewing on NE Glisan at 6pm for a fundraiser and meet n' greet with County District 2 candidate extraordinaire Shannon Singleton! Help us keep Sam Adams out of office!

Hey there Portlanders! Have you voted yet? We've rushed to get this 4th and final Voter's Guide out, and unfortunately we've ended up with a sound quality issue in the recording (hope it's not too annoying). We still have a lot to say about these amazing candidates in District 4, so give it a listen!

Ballots are here, it's time to vote! Here's our guide to voting in District 3. If you've listened to our previous endorsement episodes, you might want to scan forward 7 min 30 to skip the general endorsement information we featured in previous episodes. 

Hey everyone. We're releasing a series of quick check-ins with some of the candidates we've endorsed, starting with this confab with Chris Flanary running in D3. Our D3 Voter Guide is coming soon, followed by D4. Now's the time to get involved and tell all your friends who you're voting for.

And remember, don't rank Rene!

Hey everyone, if you listened to our last episode, the D1 Voter Guide, skip ahead in this episode to 7:30. The first half is the same as a briefing to voters in each district. 

North Portlanders, this is for you! District 2 stretches from St. Johns to 82nd in the north and down to Highway 84 in the south. There are 22 candidates running in the district, and we've selected our top 3 and discuss a few you might also consider. 

We also endorse Shannon Singleton for Multnomah County district 2, which encompasses City District 2 and then some.

Kip and Tim review everything you need to know about the upcoming election, and why they are supporting Steph Routh, Candace Avalos, and Timur Ender for the District 1 City Council positions. 

“When you’re thinking about City Councilors that would work really well in this new model, you want people who really are focused on relationship-building, and listening to each other, building a culture of collaboration.”

- Tiffany Koyama Lane, D3 candidate

Tiffany Koyama Lane joins us. Back when she was campaigning for the Preschool for All campaign, she picked up the nickname Teacher Tiffany. She continues to teach 3rd grade, and is ready to bring her skills in collaborating and relationship-building to City Council. Kip and Tim talk to her about her ally Angelita Morillo, making streets safer, and listening to experts rather than thinking you know everything.

Kip and Tim are back with District 4 candidate Mitch Green. 

It's looking like District 4 is where things get serious in the upcoming election. The more conservative candidates (and the big money) are focused on D4 because it encompasses downtown. Mitch Green is one of a handful of progressive candidates, and many of the other candidates told us we had to talk to him. He has a unique perspective as an economist and energy policy specialist, and we go deep into the weeds in this episode. 

“Growing up here, I always had something to go to late. Coming back during the beginning of Covid, the biggest shock to me was how many of the places I used to go no longer exist or are replaced by businesses that closed at 7 or 8 instead of 10 or 11… I want to support the idea that staying open late is an economic benefit thing AND it’s a safety thing. And we can temporarily incentivize those businesses to try to stay open an extra hour.” - Sameer Kanal

Sameer Kanal, a relative newcomer to the City Council District 2 scrum, gets wonky with us in this episode (note for transparency purposes that Kip and Sameer work together on PCCEP). We talk about what he learned from his years working with the Model United Nations, how to shore up Portland Street Response, and improving data accessibility across city government.

“One of the things I’d really like to see the new City Council do is be more of a leader in the collaboration and the coordination of things, instead of saying, “Here’s a bucket of money that we want to do this, go and do it!”, actually being a leader in how this is going to be done, (…) following through on making sure that we are(…) getting those outcomes that we were intending to get when we set these policies into place.”

- Jennifer Park

We’re back with Tim and Kip, bringing you all the candidates worth voting for in the November 2024 City Council election. Today we have Jennifer Park, running in District 2 (North Portland). Jennifer has tons of on-the-ground experience working in housing policy and is currently Programs Director for The Shadow Project, working to make schools more attentive to kids with learning or attention challenges. Our chat with Jennifer goes deep on housing policy and city politics.

"I would like to see a rent freeze for at least the next two years. That's a very controversial statement, unfortunately. That might get me some scrutiny from some groups, but we can't catch up right now."

- Jeremy Beausoleil Smith

At 27, Jeremy Beausoleil Smith is one of the youngest candidates running for City Council, and is the youngest running in District 4. Like his fellow Gen Zers, climate change is high on his priority list. Tim talks with Jeremy about his recent visit to the Critical Energy Infrastructure hub in NW Portland, a major contributor to local pollution and a major risk in an earthquake. Jeremy talks about discovering democratic socialism after his conservative upbringing, his struggle with mental health, and rights for renters.

You can’t really understand a problem until you start to interact with it…In complex environments, your analysis will never be complete until you start doing something It’s better to be 80% right at the right time than 100% right too late.”

- Lisa Freeman

Lisa Freeman has a very particular set of skills, and she's not afraid to use them (sorry, couldn't help myself). She's an expert at managing political transitions, a skill she has practiced in countries like Afghanistan and Nigeria. We go deep into her experience and how it applies to our own transition here at home. She's a fascinating candidate, don't miss this episode!

Allison Gilliland joins Tim for a conversation over the internets from Ireland, where she is currently a City Councilor. Allison was a speaker at a recent event hosted by North Star Civic Foundation to talk about Ireland's switchover to ranked-choice voting and their long history of district representation (they have SIXTY-THREE City Councilors!) One correction, Gilliland misstates that we have 13 districts when the new system has 4 districts and 12 city councilors. 

Hey everyone, we're back without a guest this week to talk about what we're seeing so far this election, what traits we think make good candidates, and efforts underway to save Portland Street Response. Check out our website for more information, and tell your friends about the podcast! 

"I've had a lot of conversations since I started thinking about running, and part of the joy of being a part-time bus driver is that I full up all my other time with meetings, and talking to people in the community...I think it's really all about the authenticity about what I learned over the years at Reverend Nat's: do things I want to do, make ciders I want to make, talk about business, talk about Portland in the way I want to do it." - Rev. Nat 

Rev. Nat West, fresh off of closing his cider business and becoming a TriMet bus driver, talks about his campaign for City Council. West has a long history in the city, and his website has an impressively detailed and nuanced look at how he thinks the city should move forward. Kip and Tim and Nat discuss the 2020 protests and the police response, how the city neglects small business, and why he's decided to throw his hat in the ring.

"When we end somebody's homelessness, we don't end their poverty. So we really need to continue to look at ways to keep people inside once they are there, and increase their economic income whether they are on a permanent subsidy like Social Security or disability income. How do we insure that they are in a subsidized place so that they can stay for the long term?"  - Shannon Singleton

Did you know there's a Multnomah County election coming up in May? You might know that D.A. Mike Schmidt is up for re-election, but the entire slate of County Commissioner slots are also up for grabs. Shannon Singleton has an incredible background as a social worker, leader of Oregon’s Racial Justice Council, Executive Director of the SAFE Shelter, and much, much more experience that would make her a stellar representative of progressive values in the County. Listen in, we get into the weeds. 

"The way [City Council] is structured, it allows them to disregard the community's voice. And so I'm hoping that now, with this new form of government, not only will you have your representative in your backyard, you'll have a much closer connection to them. But also they're going to be more policy-driven, and so that's where the community's voice is most important." - Candace Avalos

Candace Avalos has a long history of engagement in Portland politics as a community advocate and grassroots organizer. She's a self-described "Blacktina", the daughter of Black Americans from southern Virginia and Guatemalan immigrants who immigrated in the 1970s. She's currently Executive Director at Verde, a nonprofit dedicated to building environmental wealth through social enterprise. Kip and Tim talk to her about her work at Verde, her experience working for police accountability, her mission to visit every one of Portland's 200+ parks, and so much more. 

"This old idea of, 'We'll just double the penalty, triple the penalty - one time you're out." Nobody knows what the penalties are, much less the people who we're prosecuting for a lot of these crimes. They're not tracking the decisions being made in the Legislative session. So we fool ourselves into thinking, "oh, I'm going to say these tough on crime things, they'll read the papers and sit down and do a cost benefit analysis and say, "Crime no longer pays, I'm going to get out of this industry." That's nonsense."

- Mike Schmidt

We are so excited to bring you this interview with Portland's own progressive district attorney Mike Schmidt. Mike is not alone in his data-driven policies that result in real change that is about reform instead of revenge - he's one of a handful of D.A.s like George Gascon in Los Angeles and Jason Williams in New Orleans. And now he's up for reelection in May 2024, and he's facing a loud and angry opposition that doesn't understand his approach. In our interview, we discuss the awful billboards around town, the obvious but effective solution for catalytic converter theft, and Mike's rough few years as our new D.A. 

“Working people, average Portlanders, are left to wonder who exactly our government is working for when certain politicians seem to be listening more to the largest corporations or the wealthy few who are really accustomed to dominating politics through their campaign contributions…we deserve a government that works for all of us, no matter how far we live from City Hall.” – Robin Ye

Robin Ye was Chief of Staff for Oregon State Representative Khanh Pham – the first Vietnamese American elected to state government. In this conversation, Tim talks to Robin about his passion for improving Portland’s air quality, the “epidemic of traffic violence” on the East Side, and his priorities for the new City Council.

Hey everyone, this is a re-play of our interview with Steph Routh, City Council candidate for District 1. She was our very first interview, and with her campaign launch happening today we thought it was worth a re-listen.

We talk about what makes the East Side different, building consensus when things are contentious, and, of course, housing and houselessness. 

"I'm not sure if people realize this, but East Portlanders have about 10 years lower life expectancy than the rest of the city. And that's due to traffic crashes, gun violence, historic disinvestment. And one of the reasons I jumped in this race is this is the first time we will have politically drawn boundries that are accountable to those health outcomes." - Timur Ender

Through his experience working with PBOT and his years of living there with his family, Timur has an intimate knowledge of the streets of the Eastside. He would clearly be a passionate advocate for his community. Our conversation ranged from supporting small business owners to kids walking in ditches, Timur's year living in Turkey and defending immigrants along the Texas border.

"What I want to do is bring a new attitude to how we think about government. It starts with who we are, who the people are we're electing. Ideas are great, but ideas don't always pan out. Definitely come with practical ideas that can make a real difference, please do and I want to offer those, but it depends on who you are as a person too. That really matters. I want to make sure we're electing people that really and truly can connect with all kinds of people, everyday Portlanders, the disenfranchised." - Christopher Olson

Christopher Olson came to our studio wearing his trademark "Practice Radical Empathy" sweatshirt. Olson is newish to Portland, but he sees that as an asset. Our conversation ranged from the secret City Hall bunker, embracing data, and thinking long term on police reform. Find out more at www.olsonforpdx.com. 

"What I want to do is represent those in our community that need it the most. The folks that are in the tents, the folks that are in the throes of their addiction, folks that are having a mental health crisis. We don't have the resources we need as a community, and it's a shame because we have the resources financially to do what we need to do. We've had leadership that has not performed at a level that I think is acceptable at the City or County level." - Jesse Cornett

Jesse Cornett has a fascinating career path, from his early days as a member of the National Guard and a county sheriff to being Bernie Sanders' "body man" during his run for President. He's also been an HR manager, a veterans' caseworker, and a yoga teacher, as well as a variety of roles in politics. In this freewheeling conversation, Jesse talks about Portland's lost history as a climate leader, keeping our music culture flourishing, and the long, slow process of truly reforming the police. 

"This shelter is opening, that shelter is opening, is this the answer, is that the answer?' My answer is always "Yes, and." There are so many different needs out there. There are people struggling with substance abuse, there are people who are struggling with mental health, there are some people who just aren't making enough money. And if we're trying to throw a one-size-fits-all solution on any of that, then we are missing the point." - Jon Seibert

Housing, homelessness and hunger are on everyone's mind here in Portland. Jon Seibert, Director of Programs at Blanchet House in Old Town Portland, says that one of the best ways they're tackling the issue is communication and cooperation between the different non-profits taking on different aspects of the problem. Kip and Tim talk to Jon about the importance of data and also the pitfalls inherent in those numbers, and provide advice for today's City Council and our batch of candidates for 2024.

"When you have more people living in a place, it has this huge lift. The small businesses downtown are struggling. It is so hard. And a lot of it is a perception issue. If you go to the Park Blocks District and it is empty except for six people who all look like they are probably suffering from addiction and probably don't have a place to live. Now you think this is a city under distress. If those same six people are there, but also 600 people are gathered there for Art in the Park, then you see a thriving city. The same problem is there, same need to be addressed, but the perception is very different." - Chad Lykins, District 4 candidate

Chad Lykins is big into chess - he's the Founder of Rose City Chess, President of Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation, and Oregon’s Scholastic Coordinator and State Delegate to the United States Chess Federation. He also has a PhD in Leadership and Policy Studies from Vanderbilt University, so he knows a thing or two about how city government works. In this episode, Chad talks about being the "evidence-based candidate" and how arts and culture pay back big on small investments. 

We thought it would be good to sit down without a guest this week and check in. We hash out the latest news, like the current City Council's recent decision to gut the Independent Police Commission. Tim asks the tough question: why is Portland's current government such a mess?

We also put out the call to Mike Schmidt to come on the podcast...