Matt Schulte

What they say they would do

Proposes using vacant downtown buildings as energy infrastructure and improving navigation of social services.

• Develop the Grid-Connected Core with downtown building owners.
• Connect volunteers and professionals through a ReBoot service-navigation program.
• Use existing buildings and electrical capacity to attract activity.

Our reading

• Reuse of downtown assets
• Project-led recovery

His energy proposal uses existing downtown buildings as an economic resource, and his September 24, 2026 reply adds a household-cost cap (the Portland Affordability Rule), a service-navigation program and a Safe Routes deadline. Utility participation, engineering feasibility and private ownership arrangements still determine whether the downtown idea can become a deliverable city program.

Where they stand

The choices this office faces

Every candidate in this race is asked the same 8 questions. Matt Schulte is on record on 8. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.

• Public money and terms for renovating the Moda Center?

  Said: Generally supports the term sheet and public funding as a starting position but not the City’s negotiating approach; would press for concessions like the $800 million private investment he says Dundon pledged in Raleigh and appeal to the NBA.

  Emailed response, response source

• Raise new revenue, or hold the line on taxes and fees?

  Said: Says Portland’s tax burden is too high and he would not begin with new City business taxes or fees; his Affordability Rule would hold combined taxes, fees and rates below household income growth.

  Emailed response, response source

• Hire more sworn officers, or invest first elsewhere?

  Said: Would fill the police positions already funded and, before expanding, move welfare checks, unattended deaths and repeat false alarms away from armed officers, shifting those hours to emergencies and investigations.

  Emailed response, response source

• Keep funding camp removals at current levels?

  Said: Not as currently structured: removal may be needed for an immediate safety or access problem, but people need somewhere real to go, and his ReBoot program would keep them connected to services.

  Emailed response, response source

• Restrict new AI data centers in the city?

  Said: Supports a ban on data centers until a Load-Value Standard measures public return per megawatt in jobs, tax revenue, infrastructure cost and environmental effects.

  Campaign site, site source

• Expand Portland Street Response to a full 24/7 role?

  Said: Would require a plan and budget within 60 days for a citywide 24/7 Street Response and finish the expansion within a year, alongside the 911 call-allocation recommendations.

  Emailed response, response source

• Keep the monthly street repair fee?

  Said: Would keep the monthly street repair fee because the streets need fixing, and include completing the Safe Routes network around every District 4 elementary school.

  Emailed response, response source

• Raise water bills to pay for the Bull Run filtration plant and system repairs?

  Said: Would fold already-committed Bull Run costs into his Affordability Rule baseline but not accept doubled bills; future discretionary increases would count against the cap, with grants, cost scrutiny and automatic discounts.

  Emailed response, response source

Their answers to our questions

Rent and homes

Said: Portland has to address both what it costs to live here and the potential for being able to earn here. Housing production is part of that, but the number of units is not the entire question. [...] The Home-Share Mitigation Fund would use part of the Home Sharing Pilot Program’s existing $500,000 budget to protect participating homeowners against property damage or sudden vacancy.

Received 2026-09-24

Camps, crime and who responds

Said: ReBoot would provide continuing human connection through paid navigators, professional support, trained volunteers, a Navigation Center and an immediate-action fund. [...] If someone in a shelter bed needs medication but cannot get to the pharmacy, misses an appointment because a phone was lost, or loses contact during a handoff, ReBoot would act before that small failure becomes another disconnect.

Received 2026-09-24

Your bills and taxes

Said: City Council’s first responsibility is to stop making Portland more expensive. [...] Put the combined effect of proposed City-controlled household costs in front of Council at the same time instead of approving increases separately. If the combined cost is growing faster than Portland household incomes, Council has to reduce, delay or offset discretionary increases.

Received 2026-09-24

Streets, buses and air

Said: Complete the Safe Routes priority network around every District 4 elementary school within one Council term. [...] TriMet’s missing riders and downtown’s missing workers are basically the same missing trips.

Received 2026-09-24

Moda Center deal

Said: Schulte would have been very hardline on requiring the Blazers to contribute. But the train has left the station on Portland’s approach. Now that we have committed, Schulte generally supports the term sheet and public funding as initial negotiating strategy, but not the City’s approach to negotiations. Portland should demand other concessions, such as what Dundon offered and agreed to in Raleigh. [...] Schulte would take Portland’s case directly and immediately to Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA Board of Governors.

Received 2026-09-24

Police staffing

Said: Fill the positions that are already funded. Before expanding police staffing, stop sending officers to thousands of calls that do not require them. Move appropriate welfare checks, unattended deaths and repeat false alarms away from armed officers. Reassign the officer hours that creates to emergency response and investigations.

Received 2026-09-24

Street repair fee

Said: Yes. Portland’s streets need to be fixed. The fee should include completing the Safe Routes priority network around every District 4 elementary school.

Received 2026-09-24

What utility partners, engineering studies and financing would the energy proposal require?

Said: The first phase of the Grid would have PGE, Pacific Power, participating building owners and Prosper Portland identify candidate buildings and measure what is actually there: electrical service, current loads, equipment, building conditions and local-grid capacity. [...] Upgrades could be financed through PropertyFit, PCEF loans, Energy Trust incentives, state and federal funding and private investment. The General Fund would not be the main source.

Received 2026-09-24

Council votes

No Council vote yet. That is not a judgment about experience.

A question the evidence leaves open

If combined City costs outpace incomes under your Affordability Rule, which increases would Council cut or delay first?