BROADCASTS.com

This week we moderated a candidates' forum hosted by the Regional Arts and Culture Council and the Creative Advocacy Coalition. The purpose was to talk with candidates for mayor and council about hot issues like Portland's arts tax, city funding for arts organizations and projects, equity in the arts, affordable artist housing and more.

Here's a breakdown of what we asked them with some highlights.

02:16 What arts and creative work have you checked out over the past two months?

07:10 What's your vision for Portland's future? And how do arts and culture fit into that?
"We\u2019re this close to a city that can be fantastic." \u2014Stuart Emmons

21:40 What candidates will commit to regarding funding RACC's arts work.
"As mayor, I\u2019m committing to increasing funding for RACC." \u2014Jules Bailey
"I\u2019m not going to promise every group that we\u2019re going to increase their budget. You can look back at my past performance and see that I am a champion of the arts." \u2014Ted Wheeler

27:43 The 2015 budget surplus: why none of the $49 million dollars went toward arts and culture.
"We need to take care of people who are living on our streets, we need to stop people dying on our streets because of lack of infrastructure, and to take care of A&C. It\u2019s not either/or." \u2014Amanda Fritz
"We did frankly spend some money on things in this budget that I think we should have discussed whether investing in the arts would have been a good alternative." \u2014Steve Novick

35:43 What the Mayoral hopefuls intend to do with the arts portfolio \u2014 keep it or assign to another commissioner?
"Sam [Adams] set the right tone, but I want to work with other champions on the city council." \u2014 Ted Wheeler
"I won\u2019t make any commitments until I sit down with the other commissioners. That said, I will have one arts and culture [person] on my staff." \u2014 Jules Bailey

37:18 One priority that's central to mayoral candidates' housing policies.
"If we have a fast-track process for working families that need to live in Portland, we can waive fees, have a faster process and make sure that housing gets built." \u2014Jules Bailey
"I will pick the design review process combined with permitting and inspection process. It needs to be reformed." \u2014Ted Wheeler

43:22 What the city should do to mitigate soaring commercial real estate costs, which have decimated available maker space.
"[The city should] help arts groups buy their own buildings, so they can stay in their spaces." \u2014 Stuart Emmons
"We need to learn from the lesson of the past 25 years. The pearl is now the pearl, and it\u2019s too expensive now." \u2014 Amanda Fritz
"I do want to say something about the general issue of affordability: One of the most important things we can do to address affordable housing is elect Bernie Sanders as our next president." \u2014 Steve Novick

52:51 What will candidates do to address equity in publicly-supported arts.
"Make it a condition of receiving the dollars." \u2014 Ted Wheeler

57:50 What candidates want voters to know about Portland's arts tax.
"I want people to know the arts tax is making a huge difference in the schools." \u2014 Steve Novick

01:04:54 Has Portland turned its back on the creative community? Is the city's soul slipping away?
"I grew up acting, playing the violin in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. It made a big difference in who I am." \u2014 Jules Bailey

01:14:07 Audience question: What will you do to make sure Portland's hip-hop artists survive and thrive?
"We need to embrace the role that hip hop can play. It\u2019s an important part of our service provision." \u2014 Jules Bailey

01:16:50 Audience question: Would you support the development of a right-sized performance venue, i.e. Lincoln Center Portland?
"I am guessing it is probably cheaper to renovate an existing facility than to build from scratch. I\u2019d be open to that brainstorming and planning." \u2014 Stuart Emmons