Moses Ross — Candidate for City Council, District 4
Endorsed: Full 350PDX Climate Justice Platform 2024 (Zenith, CEI Hub, Portland Harbor, PCEF, Shade Equity, No Freeway Widening, Building Emissions, Transit, Walking & Rolling, Climate Governance, and Divest from Fossil Fuels)
Candidate statement:
Addressing climate change while promoting environmental justice are urgent priorities requiring developing policies that are equitable, inclusive and targeted.
The emphasis on prioritizing communities disproportionately affected by climate change is crucial and we must make sure that these communities have a voice in decision-making. We have clear goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and it will be up to us to require rigorous accountability measures. The role of green spaces in improving air quality and reducing heat islands aligns with the need for shade equity and community health. The focus on resilience planning for extreme weather events is particularly relevant given Portland’s climate variability.
We must be transparent, collaborative and accountable. We can be transparent by establishing regular updates and progress reports to both the council and the public. We can be collaborative between city departments to integrate our climate goals into all aspects of city operations and by working in partnership with local nonprofits, businesses and educational institutions so we can leverage their expertise and resources to implement our initiatives. We can be accountable by implementing a robust monitoring framework to assess the effectiveness of our climate strategies and adjust them as necessary, ensuring that funds are used efficiently and effectively.
We must better educate the public about the dangers posed by the CEI Hub. It must be part of our emergency and disaster preparedness programs for both the public and emergency responders. I will establish a standing CEI Hub committee that is charged with holding public hearings on CEI Hub dangers and options for prevention and risk mitigation and with issuing a public report and recommendations for action. I will create a task force to work in conjunction with county, regional, state, federal, and tribal governments to develop prevention and risk mitigation measures, including risk bonding, monitoring and relocation.
We can build a more sustainable and just Portland.
Will you ensure the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) remains climate-focused in line with what voters intended?
Yes