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Issues

Housing, Homelessness & Public Space

Astoria is facing a humanitarian and civic problem. Leaving people to live on sidewalks without bathrooms, water, treatment, or shelter is not compassionate. At the same time, allowing long-term camping in our downtown and business districts hurts local businesses, public safety, and quality of life.

I believe we can do better and we must.

Astoria’s Comprehensive Plan makes this clear: homelessness is a housing and services issue, not a police-only issue. The solution requires compassion, accountability, and coordination.

As mayor, I will focus our efforts on:

• Ensure real, safe alternatives to street camping exist first, including shelter, hygiene facilities, and case management
• Work with Clatsop Community Action, Helping Hands, other healthcare providers, and the faith community to coordinate services
• Restore sidewalks, parks, and downtown areas to their intended public use once alternatives are available
• Pair outreach with consistent enforcement that focuses on behavior and safety, not punishment
• Expand workforce, multi-family, and transitional housing, because housing is public safety infrastructure

Compassion without structure fails. Enforcement without alternatives is not humane. Astoria needs both.

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Economic Development & Jobs

Astoria is the economic heart of Clatsop County, but our economy is too dependent on seasonal tourism and too short on year-round, family-wage jobs.

Our Comprehensive Plan calls for diversification, resilience, and better-paying work. I agree.

As mayor, I will focus on:

• Support existing local businesses and remove unnecessary barriers to growth
• Encourage small-scale manufacturing, maritime industries, research, seafood processing, and microenterprise
• Focus on year-round, higher-wage jobs, not just seasonal employment
• Strengthen partnerships with the Port of Astoria, local employers, and regional economic groups
• Make sure economic development aligns with housing, infrastructure, and workforce needs

Tourism matters, but it cannot be our only strategy. Astoria deserves a balanced economy that supports working families.

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Downtown & Small Businesses

Downtown Astoria is the cultural and commercial heart of our community. It should be vibrant, safe, and accessible for residents, visitors, and business owners alike.

As mayor, I will focus on:

• Restore downtown sidewalks and public spaces to safe, walkable use
• Support upper-story housing and mixed-use development downtown
• Improve parking access, signage, and streetscapes
• Invest in infrastructure that helps small businesses succeed
• Work closely with the Downtown Historic District Association and local merchants

A healthy downtown supports jobs, tourism, and community pride.

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The Port & Working Waterfront

Astoria’s working waterfront is a major asset. We must protect it while adapting to modern economic realities.

Some port land is underutilized, and the Comprehensive Plan allows flexibility when traditional shipping uses no longer make sense.

As mayor, I will focus on:

• Support modern maritime industries, vessel repair, and seafood processing
• Encourage research, workforce training, and light industrial uses that create good jobs
• Protect water-dependent uses while allowing smart, job-producing alternatives
• Promote public access and education that complements, not replaces, working waterfront activity

We can honor Astoria’s maritime identity while building its future.

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Housing & Affordability

Astoria has a documented housing shortage. High costs and limited supply are pushing working families, seniors, and young people out of our community.

As mayor, I will focus on:

• Prioritize multi-family and workforce housing
• Support adaptive reuse of existing buildings
• Coordinate housing development with infrastructure and services
• Advocate for state and regional funding partnerships
• Ensure growth is thoughtful, sustainable, and community-centered

Housing is not optional. It is essential to economic stability and public safety.

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Public Safety & Community Wellbeing

Public safety means more than enforcement. It means prevention, coordination, and care.

As mayor, I will focus on:

• Support police, fire, and emergency services with the resources they need
• Pair enforcement with outreach and social services
• Coordinate closely with Clatsop County on mental health and addiction treatment
• Invest in infrastructure that keeps neighborhoods safe and accessible

Safe communities are built through trust, clarity, and consistency.

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A Mayor Who Brings People Together

Astoria’s challenges won’t be solved by finger-pointing or slogans. They require leadership that brings everyone to the table.

As mayor, I will convene:

• City departments
• Clatsop County partners
• Nonprofits and service providers
• Our underutilized faith community
• Law enforcement and healthcare providers

And I will insist on clear goals, accountability, and measurable progress.

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My Commitment

Astoria deserves leadership that is compassionate, practical, and honest about what works.

I will protect our public spaces, support our businesses, help people off the streets and into stability, and build a future where working families can afford to live here.

That’s the job. I’m ready to do it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are you trying to criminalize homelessness?

No.

Living on a sidewalk without water, bathrooms, shelter, or treatment is not humane. At the same time, allowing long-term camping in business districts, parks, and sidewalks harms public safety, local businesses, and the broader community.

My approach is simple:

• Services and shelter first
• Clear expectations and consistent enforcement second

Compassion without structure fails people. Enforcement without alternatives is not humane. Astoria needs both.

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What does the City actually have the authority to do?

The City of Astoria:

• Manages public spaces, streets, parks, and sidewalks
• Can support or operate shelters, hygiene sites, and navigation services
• Sets zoning and land-use policy for housing and services
• Coordinates with police, fire, and emergency services
• Partners with nonprofits, faith organizations, and healthcare providers

The City does not run mental health treatment, addiction services, or public health programs alone. That work must be coordinated with Clatsop County and the State.

A mayor’s job is to make that coordination actually happen.

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Isn’t homelessness a county or state problem?

It’s all of the above.

Clatsop County provides behavioral health, addiction treatment, and many social services. The State provides funding and policy frameworks. But homelessness happens in cities, and cities manage the public spaces where people are currently living.

Astoria cannot solve this alone, but we also cannot wait for someone else to fix it. Leadership means coordinating all levels of government and local partners.

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Where would shelters or services go?

The Comprehensive Plan allows flexibility for using existing city-owned or publicly controlled sites, adaptive reuse of buildings, and partnerships with nonprofits and faith-based organizations.

The goal is not one massive facility. The goal is:

• Smaller, managed sites
• Distributed services
• Clear rules and professional staffing
• Strong coordination with outreach, healthcare, and public safety

Location decisions must involve neighborhoods, service providers, and clear operating standards.

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What role do nonprofits and faith organizations play?

A critical one.

Groups like Clatsop Community Action, Helping Hands, other healthcare providers, and our faith-based organizations already do essential work. The problem is fragmentation, not lack of effort.

As mayor, I will:

• Bring all providers to the same table
• Align funding, goals, and accountability
• Reduce duplication and gaps in service
• Support organizations while expecting measurable outcomes

Good intentions are not enough. Coordination matters.

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What about public safety and downtown businesses?

Public safety includes:

• Clear sidewalks
• Safe parks
• Predictable and Consistent rules
• Businesses that can operate without disruption

Once real alternatives exist, the City has a responsibility to restore public spaces to their intended use. That protects workers, residents, visitors, and people exiting homelessness alike.

A functional downtown helps fund the very services we need.

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Will this increase taxes?

Not automatically.

Many solutions rely on:

• Better coordination of existing funds
• State and federal grants
• Partnerships with nonprofits and faith organizations
• Strategic use of city-owned property

Long-term, unmanaged homelessness is far more expensive than coordinated, humane solutions. The truth many don’t see is that preventive spending is often a fraction of the cost of emergency response spending.

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How does housing fit into this?

Homelessness cannot be solved without housing.

Astoria’s Comprehensive Plan already identifies:

• A shortage of affordable and workforce housing
• The need for more multi-family development
• The importance of adaptive reuse

As mayor, I will prioritize housing as essential infrastructure, not an afterthought.

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How is this different from what we’re doing now?

Right now, we are stuck between:

• Allowing unsafe conditions to persist
• And reacting piecemeal when problems escalate

My approach is proactive:

• Plan first
• Coordinate partners
• Provide alternatives
• Enforce consistently
• Measure results

This is not ideological. It’s practical.

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Why are you running for mayor?

Because Astoria deserves leadership that is honest about tradeoffs, grounded in reality, and willing to do the hard work of bringing people together.

We can be compassionate and accountable.
We can support businesses and help people get off the streets.
We can plan for the future and take action now.

That’s the job. I’m ready to do it.