Cristal Otero — Candidate for City Council, District 3
Endorsed 350PDX CJ platform? No
Will you support PCEF? Yes
Candidate statement:
Portland does not need to start its climate work from scratch. I will defend and enforce the Fossil Fuel Terminal Zoning Amendments, which prohibit new bulk fossil-fuel terminals, prevent existing terminals from expanding fossil-fuel storage capacity, and prohibit coal storage at bulk terminals. I will also support strengthening these protections through the current Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub Policy Project, including meaningful reductions in fuel-storage capacity, rigorous safety requirements, and transparent enforcement. Portland has also formally opposed coal trains pending comprehensive environmental and public-health review. Because interstate rail transportation is largely regulated at the federal level, I will use every lawful City tool, including land-use authority, permitting, emergency planning, and regional advocacy, to reduce the dangers of coal and oil-by-rail and protect communities located along rail and industrial corridors. Climate leadership means defending the protections Portland has already won, implementing them without loopholes, and strengthening them as the city transitions away from fossil fuels.
