This is What We're Working On:

This is what we're working on.

Front Burner (2028 & 2030):

• Homes for People, Not Corporations

  • Housing affordability is a huge problem in Oregon (and in the US).

  • We believe that the root cause of this problem is the commodification of housing -- when housing is more valuable as an investment than as shelter for people -- and we are working on a meaningful part of this broader problem.

• Bank of the State of Oregon

  • Public Banking

• ID Standards for Private Security Guards

  • In Oregon, private security guards don't have to identify themselves or their employer on their uniform, impeding accountability.

  • We are working to establish universal uniform identification standards on private security guards.

• Periodic State Constitutional Convention by Civic Assembly

  • Democracy Reform

Back Burner (2032+):

• Protecting & Expanding Direct Democracy Rights

  • We expect that as we gain strength and become more effective, the establishment will attempt to limit our rights to Direct Democracy.

  • We are inspired by the work of the Respect Voters Coalition and look forward to move this work to the front burner.

• Abolishing Qualified Immunity

  • We are inspired by the current work on the Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity and look forward to follow in Ohio's steps and join the other four states (Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, and Nevada) that have ended qualified immunity as a defense against state-level constitutional violations, and the 3 states (Connecticut, California, and Massachusetts) and the City of New York that have significantly restricted or limited restricted qualified immunity.

Housing Justice -- Homes for People, Not Corporations (2028)

Housing affordability is a huge problem in Oregon (and in the US).

We believe that the root cause of this problem is the commodification of housing -- when housing is more valuable as an investment than as shelter for people.

We also believe that recent efforts to address this affordability crisis are wholly inadequate: either "too little, too late" (as in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act) or simply "barking up the wrong tree" (as in the fetishization with "supply").

Goal:

To enable Oregon households to transition housing from institutional ownership to resident ownership in 2028 – through legislative action or the initiative process.

Legislative Inspiration:

Sen. Jeff Merkley’s S.3402 “End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act” (summary).

In short, this bill establishes a 10-year schedule for institutional investors to divest of their single-family residences (1-4 units) and individuals who don’t currently own a home are eligible purchasers, enforced with a 50% tax on new purchase and $50,000 penalty per unit for non-divestment (revenue after administration and enforcement funds down payment assistance programs).

Current Status:

We are developing two different concepts, both based on Sen. Jeff Merkley's S.3402.

Concept A (lite version) modifies S.3402 in several ways (like strengthening the definition of "institutional investor") and expanding the policy to include:

• “Qualified properties” includes manufactured home parks and floating home communities;

• “Exempt entities” includes community land trusts, land banks, co-ops, housing authorities, and social

  housing orgs and they can purchase;

• Noticing Requirements;

• Tenant Right of First Offer;

• Tenant Right of First Refusal; and

• Support for IDAs, and membership share cost assistance

Concept B (extra strength version) goes even further and aims to create the financing, preservation, and legal infrastructure necessary to make resident ownership transitions possible at scale, and includes all of Concept A pls:

• “Qualified properties” includes multi-family residences;

• Tenant Opportunity to Purchase;

• Establishes the Oregon Resident Ownership Preservation Fund;

• Preservation Purchase Authority and Buyer of Last Resort;

• Public Financing Authority;

• Seller Financing Requirements for Qualified Preservation Purchasers;

• Anti-Displacement Protections; and

• Enhanced Enforcement and Remedies

Sounds good? Then join us!

• We are currently meeting online on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. Please sign up using the form below to receive an invitation to our meetings!

Public Banking (2028)

• About 107 years ago in North Dakota, a bunch of angry farmers got tired of being taken advantage off by out-of-state bankers. They got together, and started the Bank of North Dakota.

• It's high time we have the same here in Oregon!

• Interested? Use the form below to sign up to receive an invitation to our meetings!

2032: Periodic State Constitutional Convention by Civic Assembly