No thank you

Thank you for reaching out!

I love that these plans to complete a network of skateparks exists! I consider skateparks to be crucial "third spaces" (a public space other than home and work) that develops community and allows the community to have a free place to spend time. My uncle is Ron Wilkerson, a fairly well-known BMX biker, so I grew up with a very healthy appreciation for biking and skateboarding. I recognize skateboarding and related recreational activities as critical ways to keep youth engaged in their communities. 

I would love to make sure that this network of skateparks are finished, and I think it's just a matter of speaking to the other councilors about the importance of these spaces and making sure that we uphold previous commitments. 

With regard to the Steel Bridge Skatepark, it sounds like we need to get community support to further this process, which would involve including the neighborhood, organizations such as yours, and relevant developers. As a council of 12, I know that we can't do everything, so we are going to need to solicit community input on placement and official design. 

In terms of DIY skateparks, I love the concept. In general, I think we, as a city, need to be allocating more land to public use, and if there is space not being used, it's great that people are making it a place where the community can come together. Obviously, that is going to create some friction sometimes if there is a reason the space is not being used (or the neighborhood as a whole does not support the process), but it's important to know when and where there is public desire for a space, and even if that particular DIY skatepark is not in the right place at that moment, it demonstrates a community need that the local government as a whole can then meet. 

If you have any other asks/resources about how to engage with these projects, please feel free to include me. Thank you for being so thoroughly involved in your community. 

Andra Vltavín 

(pronounced volt-a-veen)

Pronouns: they/them/theirs

I am catching up on the many questionnaires, surveys, invitations to community events and media interviews and you are definitely a top priority as my campaign is all about diy no campaign contributions accepted Generation X graffiti art art mural tax incentives to giving jobs to art enthusiasts that bring color and vibe to our city, just as skateboarding Dogtown Venice beach individuality ethos of commonality with others and so I will get back to you with responses accordingly. Until then thanks for all that you do and I am glad the city is building a new skate park to bring about pedestrian traffic business traffic at cafes and restaurants and music culture!

Regards,

Joe Alfone

Candidate City Commissioner District 4 

My awareness of skateboarding in the urban context first arose when I lived in New York. Under the Brooklyn Bridge is a location that skateboarders enjoyed for many years. I saw the presence of skateboarders at that location as positive. Their presence helped to animate an otherwise obscure location in the city.

When my family relocated to Portland in 2003, I became aware of Portland’s skatepark master plan. I supported Sam Adams’ candidacy for mayor and came to know his administration’s support for skateboarding and skateparks.

I’m not surprised to learn the City of Portland’s implementation of its own skatepark master plan has proceeded more slowly than perhaps its supporters would hope for. There can be a tendency in our local government to focus on planning without the requisite commitment to implementation. As my qualifications attest, I have a decades-long commitment to arts and culture in Portland, within which I would include recreation.

As one of your three city councilors in District 4, it will be my responsibility to ensure the “Vibrant Cities” service area, of which Portland Parks (which has primary responsibility for skateparks) is a part, builds out the skatepark master plan in a timely way.  

The Steel Bridge concept is the system’s “crown jewel.” I have worked closely for years with Commissioner Dan Ryan, and I am familiar with his commitment of Parks’ system development charges to (finally) completing that project. Steel Bridge is in my district, and I am committed to seeing it through. Frankly, it is long overdue.

DIY – or Do It Yourself – projects should be distinguished on the basis of property ownership. If a DIY project occurs on privately-owned land, the City has limited engagement. If the DIY projects are on publicly owned/operated land (like Burnside), they can make a lot of sense provided three essential caveats are met:

• the land owner is protected from legal liability per Oregon’s recreational use statute (ORS 105.682);

• There is broad support from stakeholders living and/or working adjacent to the site in question; and

• The project itself is built, maintained, and operated in a manner that is objectively safe for both users and adjacent stakeholders in both legal (see ORS 105.682) and practical terms (e.g. a skateboarder who may fall off their skateboard trying a trick does not inadvertently send their skateboard into motor vehicle traffic).

If elected, I will commit to directing the City Attorney to provide a legal analysis that articulates a blueprint, or guide, for how interested stakeholders can pursue DIY projects with the express or implicit consent of the City. 

1. I think it's absurd that it takes 20 years to build ~ 10 skateparks. As your readers will know, there is a rich history of direct action in the production of spaces to skate. That happens because skaters can't wait a generation for the city to build them a space. Skating is about freedom of expression within the context of a shared art form, and it's crucial that we prioritize it. It's a symptom of a larger issue, which is that the city does not move with urgency to make investments in infrastructure of any kind where we can roll, walk or ride. Part of that is budgetary constraints, but the other piece is that as a political constituency skaters lack a voice. In the new form of government we have room to change that, and I'll advocate to move more quickly on our commitments to build places to skate. 

2. This is an exciting park project and if elected I'll work to ensure that the city doesn't hold up progress through permitting delays. As part of my broader priorities to accelerate the rate at which we build housing and site treatment and mental health facilities, I'll champion structural changes that make long permitting delays a thing of the past, while protecting the budget for this project from potential cuts or deprioritization. Another important aspect of success in executing the project to schedule is ensuring that the advisory committee has the resources it needs to be effective. I'd love for the advisory committee to view me as a partner in this project, and my door is always open. I hope the committee is composed of skaters! 

3. As alluded to in answer one, we have this rich history of DIY skateparks. Burnside is the big, obvious example, but you also see little rails, quarter pipes and other features around the city. I think that's part of what gives Portland its distinctive vibe: sure, the community builds these because the city does not, but also it reflects a broader politics of free expression and art. I think that's worth fostering and not criminalizing. Just as mural and graffiti walls are ways to bring some of that activity into sanctioned public life, we can work with community organizations and neighborhoods to do this for skating infrastructure. I'd love to facilitate those conversations at city hall and work toward building a program around this. 

Thanks,

Mitch