Andrea Valderrama

Economy

I am committed to building a more equitable, caring economy by strengthening protections for workers, ensuring that workers are compensated fairly for their work, and driving down costs associated with education, child care, housing, and healthcare that currently put tremendous strain on working families. Learn more

Education

From early education through higher education, continuing and adult education, an affordable, quality education system helps reduce poverty and improve public health. Career readiness, not just high school graduation, should be prioritized through higher education, CTE, STEM, or other trade opportunities. Now is the time to strengthen Oregon’s education system and make it more affordable to all, so that students are prepared for jobs in a 21st century economy without the immense burden of student loan debt. Learn more

Environment / Energy

Proactive planning addresses the climate crisis at the root. Designing buildings, facilities, and bridges to be seismically resilient is less expensive than retrofitting. Investing in ecological cooling mechanisms like healthy tree canopies reduces heat from high temperatures and costs of energy bills by providing natural shade. Centering green infrastructure and jobs with just transitions is worth the initial investment and absolutely necessary to mitigate the climate crisis that continues to disproportionately impact our communities. Learn more

Disabled community members experience some of the most significant impacts of climate change and obstacles to accessing resources to navigate the climate crisis. When a natural hazard or extreme weather event occurs, our disabled community members are left to navigate an ableist system that is not designed to provide them with adequate, responsive support. The City of Portland recently announced that an audit revealed that in the case of a natural hazard or other climate related emergency, they are not prepared to support disabled community members. This is unacceptable and exacerbates climate inequities. Learn more

Climate change has been wreaking havoc on Black and Brown communities for decades. Resiliency planning and a just transition are necessary to ensuring our homes, communities, and futures are safe and healthy. We must preserve this planet for ourselves, our kids, and the generations to come. Learn more

Government Reform

I am committed to protecting our democracy and increasing access to the ballot box. Ensuring equal access to voting and campaign finance reform are some of my top priorities. Learn more

Housing

Lack of affordable housing continues to disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities. To address this, we must center anti-displacement and displacement mitigation strategies into all our projects and policies. While we increase the supply of safe, affordable housing, protect renters, and increase opportunities for homeownership, we must link housing with public infrastructure health and wellness, and equitable education, so that families are able to experience the full scope of economic justice that comes with stable housing. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

Ensuring that all residents have access to safe, reliable, and efficient transit options is an essential part of building vibrant communities. With seven high crash corridors in our district, we must improve the safety of our transportation infrastructure – including roads and bridges, buses, bike paths, and sidewalks. Learn more

Infrastructure investment and planning impacts the build environment all around us - our parks, housing, tree canopy, and roads, streets, and bridges, affect how people thrive. Anti-displacement infrastructure investments are rooted in justice bases values recognizing that investment without intention results in gentrification and loss of community. By focusing on community centered and driven solutions, we can improve our neighborhoods without fear of being pushed out of them. Learn more

Wages / Job Benefits

Living Wages for All. We all deserve to be able to live in the cities and neighborhoods we love without constant worry of having to choose between paying rent and purchasing basic necessities like food and hygiene products. Learn more

Paid maternal, paternal, and parental leave should be a standard across Oregon to ensure that parents are able to form healthy bonds with their new family members without worrying about a loss of income. Learn more