Try to represent: District 2 (North and Northeast Portland)

Age: 46

Pronoun: She/her

Post: Founder and CEO, Vibe of Portland

Fun fact: He plays the oboe and English horn.

Laura Streib, a resident of St. Johns who is running in District 2, comes to the race with artistic experience. Since 2007, he has run a nonprofit organization called Vibe Portland. The organization provides music and visual arts education to more than 2,400 children each year. Streib’s campaign qualified for matching funds from the city’s small donor election program. Here is what she would do at the City Council.

Why are you running for office?

As chair of the Arts Oversight Committee, I testified before the board, only to see our recommendations largely ignored. This experience was repeated with other community leaders who felt marginalized on issues such as housing, transport and the environment.

Motivated by this disconnect between policymakers and experts, I am running to create systemic change. My work with Vibe of Portland is improving arts education in Portland, and now I’m eager to apply the same effort to rebuilding Portland. I believe that by fostering collaboration and actively listening to the needs of the community, we can develop a city that truly serves everyone.

What are your top three priorities if elected?

Portland needs a strong vision of where we want to be in the next 5, 10 and 20 years. With this foundation, we can identify specific priorities to achieve our goals.

My top three priorities are:

• Investing in our creative economy: Supporting our artists and creators will rejuvenate Portland and define our next chapter of success.
• Safety and affordability: Focus on housing, safe streets and revitalizing basic maintenance.
• Environment and infrastructure: With forward-looking strategies, we can lead in sustainability and modernize our infrastructure.

Together, these priorities will help us create a vibrant, safe and sustainable Portland for all.

How would you stimulate economic growth in Portland?

I am an arts-focused candidate because I believe in investing in local artists, musicians, producers and small businesses. It is critical for decision makers to recognize how significantly economics influences creativity. Portland’s independent music scene generates $3 billion annually — more than wood and cannabis combined. Our film, arts and culture sectors contribute more than $450 million to the economy annually.

However, artists are often seen as a bonus to our cultural identity rather than a driving force. I am committed to changing this perception and will prioritize investment in Portland’s creative community to foster a dynamic and economically thriving city.

The city of Portland faces budget cuts next year. Where would you cut money from the current city budget? Please indicate a specific program, office or location.

I think we need to identify and eliminate duplication of services in different areas of our budget. When departments operate in silos, similar initiatives often emerge within each office, such as City Arts, the Art in the Parks programs, and the Events and Film Office. For example, the mayor’s allocation of $60,000 for the Water Tiger project illustrates how funds can be mismanaged.

I propose streamlining our systems to avoid redundancy and ensure that our resources are used wisely. Additionally, I would like to audit Prosper Portland to ensure that our economic development efforts are being managed effectively and aligned with our overall goals.

Where is the city currently wasting money or using money in a way that you feel is ineffective or unnecessary? Where is the bloat?

As mentioned above, we need to identify and eliminate service duplication. The transition from a commissioner-led office system to service areas should help streamline operations and reduce redundancy.

When Portland has a clear vision for our future, we can align our budget to prioritize those goals. For example, the police bureau requested additional funds for special projects beyond their original budget. We have to ask ourselves the hard questions: why wasn’t this included from the start? Why did the council approve millions for anti-riot equipment and militarized weapons? Accountability, oversight and transparency are essential to ensure that our resources are allocated efficiently and responsibly.

What is the Joint Office of Homeless Services doing wrong and what do you see as things that can right the ship?

The city and county must align their goals and priorities to better serve our communities. Power grabs and threats to withhold funding only harm our most vulnerable neighbors.

We really need to listen to the housing experts who have given us valuable tools to address these issues. Initiatives like Home Again and A Home for Everyone have been in place since 2003, but we lack the follow-through to implement effective humane solutions to end homelessness. By prioritizing collaboration and heeding expert advice, we can make significant progress in addressing these challenges.

Is the tax rate in Multnomah County (with PCEF, Preschool for All and Supportive Housing Services) too high or at an appropriate level? If it is too big, what do you suggest to do about it?

Our current tax rates, especially property taxes, are too high, driving people out of the city due to poor services and a poor return on investment. While we have supported the parks tax, we need more transparency about how these funds are being used. For example, if we face maintenance arrears despite high taxes, that raises questions.

We should also focus on investing in our small businesses and our creatives, as they are essential to driving economic growth. When tourism and our community engagement are thriving, we can generate the additional revenue needed to effectively support our infrastructure and services.

What is the first policy you would bring to the City Council?

I would review the permit with Zenith Energy. Allowing Zenith to use Portland as a holding area for transporting fuel and other toxins provides no benefit to our community while posing catastrophic risks to the environment. We need to take a forward-thinking approach when it comes to companies operating in Portland. Our focus should be on sustainable practices that protect our environment and promote the well-being of our community. It is essential to reevaluate agreements that do not align with our community values ​​or environmental goals.

Beyond the police, what steps would you take to improve public safety in Portland neighborhoods and where would you get the money for it?

Beyond the police, I propose a holiday tax for landlords who leave storefronts empty for long periods. This neglect leads to problems like squatters, break-ins and a lack of activation in our neighborhoods. Our goal should be to achieve 90% occupancy in local business districts because activating these spaces enhances public safety.

Revenue generated from this vacancy tax, along with permit and business fees, can be reinvested in our small business districts. By attracting tourism and encouraging social interactions among Portlanders, we can revitalize our unique neighborhoods, support existing small businesses, and create thriving, safer communities.

What experience can you point to that you think would make you a prudent City Council decision maker?

As the founder and executive director of Vibe of Portland for 17 years, I have dedicated myself to providing quality arts programs to children in historically underinvested schools and neighborhoods. This role taught me to lead with a clear vision, manage tight budgets and provide essential services to our community.

My experience in project management has honed my skills in creating projects with defined budgets and deadlines. I will bring the same mindset to city leadership, focusing on clear goals, fiscal responsibility and attention to detail. This approach is crucial to making Portland the functional city we all envision.