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GoGreenNation news

Rex Burkholder: Portland City Council District 3

News Feed
Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Name: Rex BurkholderNeighborhood: Sunnyside on the border of BuckmanRenter/homeowner: HomeownerEducation: B.S., Portland State University, in biology and education; M.A., Tufts University, in urban and environmental policy with certificate in nonprofit managementOccupation: Consultant on strategy and messaging for nonprofit organizations and campaignsLlived in the city of Portland: 46 yearsAge: 60Pronouns: He/hisPortland is facing an historic election involving a new voting system and an unusually high number of candidates. Journalists at The Oregonian/OregonLive and Oregon Public Broadcasting share a goal of ensuring that Portland voters have the information they need to make informed choices, and we also know candidates’ time is valuable and limited.That’s why the two news organizations teamed up this cycle to solicit Portland City Council candidates’ perspectives on the big issues in this election. Here’s what they had to say:For each of the following questions, we asked candidates to limit their answers to 150 words.Name two existing city policies or budget items you’d make it a priority to change. Why did you select those and how do you plan to line up at least 7 votes on the council to make them happen? Please avoid broad, sweeping statements and instead provide details.#1 goal of mine is to create the working agreements and structures to make the new council an effective and productive body. The city is an $8 billion a year operation that needs effective oversight and direction. I believe that the new council will be eager to work together and will adopt a practical, collaborative approach.#2 issue would be supporting efforts to provide safe shelter for homeless people with access to services. This is a major issue to Portlanders who want compassionate action. Almost everyone running sees this as a major issue and should be supportive.What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.Forty years of effective community activism that required inspiring, leading, and empowering people to make changes in our community. Examples include: cofounding and leading the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and the Coalition for a Livable Future; 12 years at Metro Council, leading regional transportation planning and funding processes, bringing climate change and equity into all Metro operations and policies; leading restoration of funding for Outdoor School for all kids in Oregon (and Washington); a deep connection to the community through volunteering (Mt. Tabor, Food Front, NE Community School, Sunnyside Environmental Middle School and much more), and being a good neighbor to many.Portland is on track to permit the fewest number of multifamily units in 15 years and remains thousands of units below what’s needed to meet demand. What steps would you take to dramatically and quickly increase the availability of housing?There are many steps the city can take to increase housing availability but few are quick or easy. Some are regulatory – reform permitting system (new city organization should help streamline); review codes to rationalize; permit approved designs by right. Others are policy -- support homesharing through revision of tax code, promotion and licensing; donating publicly owned, underutilized land to affordable housing providers (⅓ cost of housing is typically land costs); work with other government agencies, such as school districts, TriMet (build housing on parking lots at Gateway, Parkrose, other transit centers) to do the same. Visionary? Create a city/Metro/state bank that can use earnings from parked tax revenues to finance housing construction.The next City Council is going to have to make some very difficult decisions regarding what to fund and how. What essential services must the city provide and how should the city sustainably fund them?Many people forget that the city is a major service provider, responsible for operating and maintaining streets, streetlights, sewers, water supply, parks, public safety, and more. The new city structure, including council, will enable us to take a holistic approach to understanding these needs as well as the full pool of resources available (versus current siloed approach). This will help us identify synergies, redundancies and opportunities for providing better services with existing resources.Portlanders have approved many tax measures in the past decade – supporting affordable housing, free preschool programs and green energy initiatives. Are there specific taxes or levies you want eliminated or would choose to not renew? Are there specific taxes or levies you would support creating? Why?First we need to understand the revenue streams and fiscal needs for the city as a whole. In addition, we must look at streamlining and rationalizing the confusing ways taxes are collected so that Portlanders can understand where their money is going. We should also do a tax impact assessment to show who pays and who benefits from the whole range of revenue sources the city depends upon.I do want to point out that the Preschool for All levy is a Multnonah County tax and the affordable housing levies are Metro charges, not city taxes. They were also community led ballot measures, as well.Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?Effective implementation of these changes is a major reason that I am running. We need a city that is well-led, managed effectively, and is responsive and accountable to city residents. Portland also needs to be a good partner with other jurisdictions and be willing to work with and to lead the broader region and the state on key issues facing our communities.For the five remaining questions, we asked candidates to answer in 50 words or fewer:Do you favor arresting and jailing people who camp on public property in Portland who refuse repeated offers of shelter, such as the option to sleep in a city-designated tiny home cluster?First, if they refuse shelter and assistance, ask them to move on. If they are cited repeatedly, then mandatory treatment or jail are our only options.Would you vote yes on a proposal to fund hundreds more police officers than the City Council has already authorized? Why or why not? How would the city pay for it?In my research on this issue, there is no clear evidence that more police officers result in less crime or better public safety. I would have to see this evidence in order to support such a measure.Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?No. The one change I would see helpful is to have the selection process brought directly under the council’s purview.Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?I think this is a false choice. We can and must do both. I would add that the city should also maintain sidewalks as everyone uses these critical transportation facilities yet we deliberately ignore them.Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?We’ve seen a dramatic change in the nature of work. Downtown must change to meet that new world. We need more attention and it should be on creating a downtown neighborhood through allowing and building much more housing downtown.Read answers from other Portland City Council and mayoral candidates

Read the candidate’s responses to questions about homelessness, police accountability, Portland’s budget and taxes.

Name: Rex Burkholder

Neighborhood: Sunnyside on the border of Buckman

Renter/homeowner: Homeowner

Education: B.S., Portland State University, in biology and education; M.A., Tufts University, in urban and environmental policy with certificate in nonprofit management

Occupation: Consultant on strategy and messaging for nonprofit organizations and campaigns

Llived in the city of Portland: 46 years

Age: 60

Pronouns: He/his

Portland is facing an historic election involving a new voting system and an unusually high number of candidates. Journalists at The Oregonian/OregonLive and Oregon Public Broadcasting share a goal of ensuring that Portland voters have the information they need to make informed choices, and we also know candidates’ time is valuable and limited.

That’s why the two news organizations teamed up this cycle to solicit Portland City Council candidates’ perspectives on the big issues in this election. Here’s what they had to say:

For each of the following questions, we asked candidates to limit their answers to 150 words.

Name two existing city policies or budget items you’d make it a priority to change. Why did you select those and how do you plan to line up at least 7 votes on the council to make them happen? Please avoid broad, sweeping statements and instead provide details.

#1 goal of mine is to create the working agreements and structures to make the new council an effective and productive body. The city is an $8 billion a year operation that needs effective oversight and direction. I believe that the new council will be eager to work together and will adopt a practical, collaborative approach.

#2 issue would be supporting efforts to provide safe shelter for homeless people with access to services. This is a major issue to Portlanders who want compassionate action. Almost everyone running sees this as a major issue and should be supportive.

What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.

Forty years of effective community activism that required inspiring, leading, and empowering people to make changes in our community. Examples include: cofounding and leading the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and the Coalition for a Livable Future; 12 years at Metro Council, leading regional transportation planning and funding processes, bringing climate change and equity into all Metro operations and policies; leading restoration of funding for Outdoor School for all kids in Oregon (and Washington); a deep connection to the community through volunteering (Mt. Tabor, Food Front, NE Community School, Sunnyside Environmental Middle School and much more), and being a good neighbor to many.

Portland is on track to permit the fewest number of multifamily units in 15 years and remains thousands of units below what’s needed to meet demand. What steps would you take to dramatically and quickly increase the availability of housing?

There are many steps the city can take to increase housing availability but few are quick or easy. Some are regulatory – reform permitting system (new city organization should help streamline); review codes to rationalize; permit approved designs by right. Others are policy -- support homesharing through revision of tax code, promotion and licensing; donating publicly owned, underutilized land to affordable housing providers (⅓ cost of housing is typically land costs); work with other government agencies, such as school districts, TriMet (build housing on parking lots at Gateway, Parkrose, other transit centers) to do the same. Visionary? Create a city/Metro/state bank that can use earnings from parked tax revenues to finance housing construction.

The next City Council is going to have to make some very difficult decisions regarding what to fund and how. What essential services must the city provide and how should the city sustainably fund them?

Many people forget that the city is a major service provider, responsible for operating and maintaining streets, streetlights, sewers, water supply, parks, public safety, and more. The new city structure, including council, will enable us to take a holistic approach to understanding these needs as well as the full pool of resources available (versus current siloed approach). This will help us identify synergies, redundancies and opportunities for providing better services with existing resources.

Portlanders have approved many tax measures in the past decade – supporting affordable housing, free preschool programs and green energy initiatives. Are there specific taxes or levies you want eliminated or would choose to not renew? Are there specific taxes or levies you would support creating? Why?

First we need to understand the revenue streams and fiscal needs for the city as a whole. In addition, we must look at streamlining and rationalizing the confusing ways taxes are collected so that Portlanders can understand where their money is going. We should also do a tax impact assessment to show who pays and who benefits from the whole range of revenue sources the city depends upon.

I do want to point out that the Preschool for All levy is a Multnonah County tax and the affordable housing levies are Metro charges, not city taxes. They were also community led ballot measures, as well.

Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?

Effective implementation of these changes is a major reason that I am running. We need a city that is well-led, managed effectively, and is responsive and accountable to city residents. Portland also needs to be a good partner with other jurisdictions and be willing to work with and to lead the broader region and the state on key issues facing our communities.

For the five remaining questions, we asked candidates to answer in 50 words or fewer:

Do you favor arresting and jailing people who camp on public property in Portland who refuse repeated offers of shelter, such as the option to sleep in a city-designated tiny home cluster?

First, if they refuse shelter and assistance, ask them to move on. If they are cited repeatedly, then mandatory treatment or jail are our only options.

Would you vote yes on a proposal to fund hundreds more police officers than the City Council has already authorized? Why or why not? How would the city pay for it?

In my research on this issue, there is no clear evidence that more police officers result in less crime or better public safety. I would have to see this evidence in order to support such a measure.

Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?

No. The one change I would see helpful is to have the selection process brought directly under the council’s purview.

Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?

I think this is a false choice. We can and must do both. I would add that the city should also maintain sidewalks as everyone uses these critical transportation facilities yet we deliberately ignore them.

Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?

We’ve seen a dramatic change in the nature of work. Downtown must change to meet that new world. We need more attention and it should be on creating a downtown neighborhood through allowing and building much more housing downtown.

Read answers from other Portland City Council and mayoral candidates

Read the full story here.
Photos courtesy of

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Measles Misinformation Is on the Rise – and Americans Are Hearing It, Survey Finds

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Seven winners of environmental prize include Amazonian river campaigner and Tunisian who fought against organised waste traffickingIndigenous river campaigner from Peru honouredGrassroots activists who helped jail corrupt officials and obtain personhood rights for a sacred Amazonian river are among this year’s winners of the world’s most prestigious environmental prize.The community campaigns led by the seven 2025 Goldman prize winners underscore the courage and tenacity of local activists willing to confront the toxic mix of corporate power, regulatory failures and political corruption that is fuelling biodiversity collapse, water shortages, deadly air pollution and the climate emergency. Continue reading...

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More than 2,100 land and environmental defenders were killed globally between 2012 and 2023, according to an observatory run by the charity Global Witness.Latin America remains the most dangerous place to defend the environment but a range of repressive tactics are increasingly being used to silence activists across Asia, the US, the UK and the EU.In the US, Laurene Allen was recognised for her extraordinary leadership, which culminated in a plastics plant being closed in 2024 after two decades of leaking toxic forever chemicals into the air, soil and water supplies in the small town of Merrimack, New Hampshire. The 62-year-old social worker turned water protector developed the town’s local campaign into a statewide and national network to address Pfas contamination, helping persuade the Biden administration to establish the first federal drinking water standard for forever chemicals.skip past newsletter promotionThe planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essentialPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionLaurene Allen. Photograph: Goldman environmental prizeThree of this year’s Goldman recipients were involved in battles to save two rivers thousands of miles apart – in Peru and Albania – which both led to landmark victories.Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika not only helped stop construction of a hydroelectric dam on the 167-mile Vjosa River, but their decade-long campaign led to the Albanian government declaring it a wild river national park.Guri, 37, a social worker, and Nika, 39, a biologist and ecologist, garnered support from scientists, lawyers, EU parliamentarians and celebrities, including Leonardo DiCaprio, for the new national park – the first in Europe to protect a wild river. This historic designation protects the Vjosa and its three tributaries, which are among the last remaining free-flowing undammed rivers in Europe.In Peru, Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari, 56, led the Indigenous Kukama women’s association to a landmark court victory that granted the 1,000-mile Marañón River legal personhood, with the right to be free-flowing and free of contamination.Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari. Photograph: Goldman environmental prizeThe Marañón River and its tributaries are the life veins of Peru’s tropical rainforests and support 75% of its tropical wetlands – but also flow through lands containing some of the South American country’s biggest oil and gas fields. The court ordered the Peruvian government to stop violating the rivers’ rights, and take immediate action to prevent future oil spills.The Kukama people, who believe their ancestors reside on the riverbed, were recognised by the court as stewards of the great Marañón.This year’s oldest winner was Batmunkh Luvsandash from Mongolia, an 81-year-old former electrical engineer whose anti-mining activism has led to 200,000 acres of the East Gobi desert being protected from the world’s insatiable appetite for metal minerals.

Activism
Climate
Pollution

Suggested Viewing

The Whale Guitar: Instrument of Change

Inspired by Herman Melville's epic tale, "Moby-Dick or The Whale", a late-blooming singer/songwriter and former toy designer, Jen Long, acts on a startling vision and commissions the design and build of a remarkable custom electric guitar. It's body is "The Whale" itself as it snags the mad Captain Ahab in the tangled ropes of his own obsession, and prepares to launch a boat of his whalers to their doom. The entire guitar reinterprets Melville's tale as an Anthropocene climate change warning, with the whale representing the seas and storms of climate change arising on this "third day" of late stage capitalism. Hundreds of guitarists, including J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., and Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females, have played and signed this "Instrument of Change" to amplify the alarm to turn our ship of over-production and over-consumption around while there is still time. As the embroidered strap featuring Starbuck's last words implores: "oh! Ahab, not too late is it, even now, the third day, to desist."

Music
Activism
Climate

Still River, Silent Jungle

When a novel dam proposal threatens indigenous communities in the Bolivian Amazon, an Uchupiamona woman named Ruth Alipaz Cuqui must step into the unknown and become a spokesperson for her people. To the Uchupiamona people, the river has its own life and personality, just as a woman does. Returning to her land for guidance, Ruth and her people explore an alternative future for their rivers based on adventure tourism and whitewater rafting. While opposing powers much bigger than her, she must come to terms with how much she is willing to risk to protect her river and her people.

Water
Indigenous
Activism

Between Clouds and Glass

A look at the monumental problem of bird collisions in Chicago, the deadliest city for birds, just ahead of Houston and Dallas. According to scientists, what happens in Chicago can affect bird populations across North America. As many as one billion birds die each year in the United States due to building collisions, but there are people who care and work hard to change this.

Family
Conservation
Activism

The Great Divide

Twenty minutes outside of Visalia, amidst the seemingly endless rows of citrus trees, Yolanda Cuevas packs enchiladas with shredded chicken for her husband Benjamin, their adult daughters and two teenaged grandchildren in her modest single-story home. Their house is the first one off the main drag, one of 83 lining the two crumbling roads that comprise the tiny town of Tooleville. Yolanda must wash the tomatoes for the salsa first in the sink and then again with a splash of clean water from a 5-gallon jug. The process is arduous, and though she’s resigned to do it, she’s not happy about it. Along with Tooleville’s several hundred other residents, Yolanda’s family has survived on bi-weekly delivery of water to their homes for the past 12 years. It’s an annoyance for the family, and it’s expensive for the State of California, which has been paying for the replacement water since the discovery of Chromium-6 (the same chemical featured in Erin Brokovich) in the water. The simpler solution would be to consolidate the town’s water system with that of its larger, affluent neighbor to the west, Exeter. And for this purpose, Yolanda has become a reluctant activist, attending community meetings in Tooleville and lobbying for consolidation at Exeter’s city council meetings under the expert guidance of Pedro Hernandez, an organizer with the Leadership Counsel. While Exeter has resisted the consolidation since it was first proposed, organizers like Pedro feel that this could be the year Exeter finally succumbs to the growing community pressure and brings Tooleville into the fold. The decision will echo around the Central Valley and across the state, as hundreds of similar community water systems find themselves in a nearly identical predicament.

Water
Activism
Documentary

In His Own Home

Heavily armed officers of the University of Florida police department in Gainesville, FL, responding to a 911 call from a neighbor who heard screams, break into the campus apartment of Ghanaian graduate student, Kofi Adu-Brempong. Clad in SWAT gear and ready to attack, they see the disabled doctoral student, sitting with a metal table leg in his hand and within a minute of entry, shoot the unarmed man in the face. Adu-Brempong, who because of childhood polio, needed a cane to walk, and had been suffering from mental illness, now has severe facial injuries, and is charged with resisting arrest. He is guarded outside his hospital door, his legs shackled together when going to the bathroom. The officer who shoots Kofi, and who had previously been caught cruising through town throwing eggs at residents of a Black neighborhood, is not suspended or fired. Student protests lead the administration to drop charges but calls for revoking SWAT-like teams on campus go unheard. Kofi’s shooting is not an isolated incident but part of an ongoing pattern of police brutality against Blacks and a stark reminder of the dangers of increasingly militarized campuses nationwide. In His Own Home came out of outrage by a small group of concerned community members committed to seeing social justice happen on a local level. This documentary is an educational and organizing tool, especially calling for our communities to be safe from violence by racist and over-armed police.

Social Justice
Health
Activism

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