Esther Leon's Questionnaire Answers

Running for Portland City Council District 3

Yellow Light  - This candidate seems ok, but not strong enough to receive something like an endorsement. We are not opposed to someone ranking this candidate.

Question 1: In your view, what are the primary causes of the housing crisis?

I believe that the primary causes of the housing crisis are systemic. We live in a paradigm in which housing has been financialized as a casino asset for investment rather than living. This system does not creative community continuity or strength, but rather, fuels only individualistic enrichment. Zoning and restrictive planning have created artificial scarcity rather than abundance of choice. Many of these initial codes, build on racism and classism, are choking our city and causing mass displacement. This must change.

Question 2: What are the main policies that you would champion to address the current housing crisis?

I call for a more holistic approach to zoning and development that thinks of the city a whole body organism rather than a series of individual parts. I want to champion policies that allow small scale, local developers to lead housing rather than large corporations. We also need to strengthen rental assistance programs to keep people in existing housing, while pushing for local control of rent control laws.

Question 3: Provide an explanation of your work around the policies listed above, and why you believe they are important?

I think part of the work will entail having real conversations with the public that shift the paradigm on how we define the purpose of housing. Is it an asset that will always go up and up or a be a place to live? Until we are able to be honest about this, it will be a challenge to not continue going in circles, dancing around the root of the problem. 

Question 4: Do you rent or own your residence?

Own

Question 5: If you own, when were you last a renter?

2025

Question 6: In PTU’s most recent survey of tenants, harassment of tenants by landlords was one of the top issues faced by Portland tenants. What would you do to address harassment of tenants by landlords?

This needs to be handled in a similar way to how Zohran Mamdami is handling it in NYC. In other words, work directly with tenant groups, find violations, and transfer ownership if needed.

Question 7: If elected, would you advocate to overturn the State of Oregon's preemption preventing municipalities from implementing local rent control, and work towards local rent control with a lower annual increase cap?

Yes

Question 8: Please share more about your thoughts on rent control.

I think it is a bandaid to a gaping wound, but absolutely essential to implement today. Rent control provides community stability while we figure out and implement longer term systemic solutions. Rent control would prevent the "economic shock therapy" Portland experienced in the 2010's when rent went up by 2-3x. You cannot have a healthy city without housing stability, period.

Question 9: If elected, would you support the right of tenants to collectively bargain their leases?

Yes

Question 10: Please share more about your thoughts on tenants' right to collectively bargain.

Absolutely. A healthy system requires channels for countervailing power and tenants' right to collective  bargain supports this.

Question 11: Other local tenant groups have launched a Renter’s Bill of Rights campaign. Have you pledged to support the Renter’s Bill of Rights?

Yes

Question 12: Please share more about your thoughts on Renter’s Bill of Rights. What are two or three policies that you are particularly passionate about?

1. Mandate relocation assistance when rent increases more than 5% - I personally know people who have otherwise been out on the street if not for the relocation assistance that is already in place.
2. Require that code violations be resolved before rent can be increased - this incentivizes landlords to truly engage in a positive social contract with their tenants rather than be slumlords.
3. Demand that local rent control be allowed throughout Oregon - I wholeheartedly agree that this should be done at the municipal level.

Question 13: How would you ensure that policies and processes which affect tenants meaningfully include impacted renters, and reflect the diversity of the tenants affected?

I'd like to do a similar program to Mamdami's "Rental Ripoff Report" that collects data and stories from a wide diversity of tenants, so that the policy can be shaped in a way that most closely reflects the needs of people.

Question 14: Would you refuse or return campaign contributions from Multifamily NW's Equitable Housing PAC, The Good Landlord PAC, More Housing Now! PAC, or similar real estate industry PACs?

Yes

Question 15: Are there other ways, besides those you have already mentioned, that you will champion housing affordability, expand tenant rights, and fight displacement?

I plan to propose a 1% additional surcharge for PCEF funds that would build green affordable housing in areas of the city that have been scarred by mass displacement.