Bri Williams — Candidate for Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, District 2
Endorsed 350PDX CJ plaform? Yes
Candidate statement:
Climate justice is public health, housing stability, economic opportunity, and community safety. As someone born and raised in Northeast Portland, I have seen how historic disinvestment has shaped which neighborhoods experience more pollution, fewer trees, greater heat exposure, and less access to healthy infrastructure. As a social worker and behavioral health advocate, I also understand that climate emergencies increase stress, displacement, illness, and instability for families already facing barriers.
As Multnomah County Commissioner, I will support the County’s Climate Justice Plan and work to ensure that its goals are backed by clear timelines, measurable outcomes, adequate funding, and public accountability. Climate policy cannot be a plan that sits on a shelf. Progress should be regularly reported, and frontline communities must be included as decision-makers throughout implementation.
My priorities include protecting communities from extreme heat and wildfire smoke, improving air quality, preparing for earthquakes and hazardous-material emergencies, and expanding access to clean, affordable energy. I support developing accessible resilience hubs, cooling and clean-air spaces, emergency power options, and culturally responsive disaster-preparedness programs. These resources should be concentrated in neighborhoods with the greatest health risks, including low-income communities, communities of color, seniors, people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness.
I also support a significant reduction of fossil fuels and hazardous materials stored within the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub. The County should collaborate with Portland, Metro, Tribal governments, state agencies, emergency responders, labor, and community organizations to strengthen oversight, emergency planning, public education, and accountability for the companies creating these risks.
The transition to a cleaner economy must also create opportunity. I will support workforce development, apprenticeships, union jobs, and family-wage career pathways in energy efficiency, building retrofits, tree care, transportation, disaster preparedness, and environmental remediation. Historically excluded workers should have meaningful access to these careers.
Finally, I support protecting and expanding tree canopy in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods, improving walking, biking, and transit connections, reducing building emissions, and helping families access weatherization, heat pumps, and lower utility costs. Climate solutions must not increase rents, displace residents, or leave working families behind.
My commitment is to advance climate policies that protect people, strengthen neighborhoods, create good jobs, and ensure every community has the opportunity not only to survive a changing climate, but to thrive.
