The Platform
Three priorities. Real solutions. Receipts for results.
Safety & Gun Violence Prevention
Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution.
Michael treats gun violence as a public health crisis — not just a policing problem. Drawing on his own experience losing his son Marlan to gun violence in 2023, he brings both personal conviction and professional expertise to this issue.
Credible Messenger Intervention
Expand community-based outreach programs led by people with lived experience — like Take 3 Outreach — to reach at-risk youth where law enforcement cannot build trust.
Public Health Model
Partner with institutions like OHSU to analyze firearm injuries and deaths as a preventable health epidemic, using data to drive policy rather than politics.
Community Policing & Accountability
Reform policing with a people-first mindset — strengthening accountability mechanisms while rebuilding trust between officers and the communities they serve.
Fatherhood & Family Stability
Support programs that reconnect fathers with their children, because family stability is one of the most powerful violence-prevention tools we have.
The Fair Shake: Housing & Economic Opportunity
Everyone deserves a fair shot at living, working, and thriving in Portland.
Black, brown, and working-class families have struggled to afford housing in Portland for generations. Michael's plan addresses both the supply and affordability sides of the crisis — while bringing real economic opportunity to communities that have been left behind.
More Housing Options
Make it easier to build diverse housing types — tiny homes, accessory dwelling units, rent-to-ownership pathways — tailored to the specific needs of different communities.
Mixed-Use Development
Allow people to start a business under their home or build housing above a business, reducing construction costs and creating vibrant, walkable neighborhoods.
Streamlined Permitting
Simplify the permitting process to speed up construction and reduce up-front costs — including exploring a shift from 100% up-front infrastructure fees to a 4% annual fee model.
High-Paying Jobs & Small Business Support
Bring high-paying jobs to Portland and make it easier to set up shop here — including exploring commercial rent freezes for qualifying high-need small businesses.
Community Integration
Connect vulnerable communities to services, job training, and economic opportunity so everyone can access and afford to live in the city they call home.
Receipts for Results: Fiscal Accountability
Portland's money should serve Portland's people — with proof.
The discovery of over $100 million in mismanaged city funds is not just a scandal — it's a symptom of a broken system. Michael will fight to make Portland's budget transparent, accountable, and actually effective for the communities that need it most.
Audit & Streamline Fiscal Processes
Conduct a thorough audit of city financial processes to identify inefficiencies, consolidate fragmented revenue reporting, and make budgeting clearer and more effective.
Performance Reporting with Receipts
Require organizations receiving city money to submit cohesive performance reports with verifiable receipts — so taxpayers know their dollars are making a real difference.
Oversight of Unelected Boards
Increase city oversight over unelected boards and commissions receiving tax dollars to ensure they serve struggling communities — not high-cost, low-impact projects.
Earmark Transparency
Reform how earmarked resources are allocated and tracked so that funds designated for community needs actually reach those communities.
Stand with this platform.
These aren't just talking points — they're a commitment to District 3. Join the campaign and help make them a reality.
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