Talk with City Council Candidates: Seat 2, Round 2

We enjoyed meeting several candidates for Sam Adams' seat (#1) on the Portland City Council a few weeks back.  We got a feel for whey they stand on issues affecting families and how tuned in (or out!) they are to the issues that matter most to us.  So we're rarin' to talk some more with two candidates for Erik Sten's seat (#2): Nick Fish and Jim Middaugh.  Curious what they're like in person?  How in touch they are with your mamagenda?  Got an issue you'd like to share, get some feedback on?  Thought you might.  The more we get these folks thinking about the mamagenda, the more likely they are to support it once in office.

So Join Us. We'll be at Urban Grind NE this Saturday morning 3.22.08: Jim Middaugh @ 9:15 and Nick Fish @ 10.  We will share our mamagenda with the candidates and hear what they plan to do to make Portland as familiy-friendly as it can be.  Bring your kids to play, we'll happily talk over them!

Can't Make It?  No worries.  Share your burning questions and opinions in the comments section and we'll pass them along (we'll also bring the comments from our earlier meet-and-greet).  Wish there were more curb ramps to make it easier for your children to ride their bikes?  Think the city ought to facilitate child care locations?  Partner more with PPS?  David Douglas?  Make it easier to get new crosswalks where children walk to school?  You write, we share.  Pretty easy & convenient. 

As with our last meet-and-greet, if any other candidates for this seat are itchin' to sit down and talk family-friendly Portland with us, you're on!  Just e-mail us and we'll add you to the list.

Comments

[Sarah C]

I would love to come and hear what they have to say. Unfortunately it seems that most egg hunts in town are on this Saturday morning with a 9 am or 10 am start time. Could this be held later in the day?

[LTF]

Sarah: Thanks for noting that potential conflict. We're going to stick with this date & time simply because it's challenging/time-consuming to set it all up and morning seemed better than afternoon because of naps, etc... We try to locate and schedule these things at times and places we hope will work for the most possible people and inevitably there are conflicts. Again, thanks, that kind of feedback is useful.

[LTF]

Interestingly, Stand for Children's Portland chapter did a double endoresement of these two candidates: http://www.stand.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=822&srcid=822&chid=5

[sarah gilbert]

I'm planning to come! just in case some other mamas want to send the kids out while you're chatting, the outdoor dads (info @ outdoordads.org) are planning a hike around crystal springs park for the morning.

[Jillian]

The most important issue facing Portland parents today is quality, affordable childcare. Government funded daycare was almost a reality when congress passed the Comprehensive Childcare Act in 1971... it received broad bipartisan support but was vetoed by Richard Nixon (Walter Mondale said the veto was a "cruel blow to children and working parents"). Imagine if Nixon didn't veto and we had government sponsored childcare today? It's a serious issue that affects mothers (indeed all parents) from all races and classes. Every mom I know struggles with maintaining a quality family life and a job, never feeling like any part of her life receives the attention it deserves. Even stay at home parents would benefit from government funded quality childcare, as medical or other emergencies can greatly limit the ability of a primary caretaker to provide care for their children.

I know parents that have made drastic life decisions based solely on childcare expenses and/or availability. People have left careers, limited family size, changed jobs or homes based on decisions about childcare. But if quality, affordable childcare was perceived as a right rather than a privilege, we would be much closer to living in a land where all parents have the freedom and opportunity to achieve the American Dream.

[LTF]

The WW just shared its endorsements and interviews and it is up on Blue Oregon with (of course!) reader discussion: http://www.blueoregon.com/2008/04/ww-interviews-1.html.