Policy for the People
Bend is For Everyone
“Bend is for Everyone” reflects the core belief that our city should be a place where every person feels welcome, supported, and able to participate in shaping our future. From my perspective, it means recognizing the full diversity of people who call Bend home and making sure our policies and priorities reflect their needs. It means valuing longtime residents and new families, workers who keep our city running, small business owners who invest in our community, and young people who are building their lives here.
When I talk about Bend being for everyone, I am talking about a city where people can afford to live, where they can move around safely, where they can access services without barriers, and where they feel included in the decisions that affect their daily lives. It is a commitment to listening, to collaboration, and to building a future that does not leave people behind. For me, this slogan is not just a phrase. It is a guiding principle for how we govern and how we show up for one another.
Housing Affordability
Housing affordability is one of the most urgent challenges facing Bend, and it is an issue that affects every part of our community. Building more homes is necessary to address affordability, but we need to pay attention to how we build as well. We must preserve open space, maintain access to nature, and create neighborhoods where people can meet their daily needs without relying on a car for every trip. Over my term, Bend built twice the number of income‑restricted homes as the national average, and that progress shows what can happen when we stay focused on thoughtful, community‑driven growth.
For me, affordability is about stability and opportunity. It is about making sure the people who teach our kids, care for our families, serve in our local businesses, and keep our city running can actually live here. It is about giving young people a chance to build their future in Bend and ensuring longtime residents are not pushed out by rising costs. When we invest in housing people can afford, we strengthen our workforce, support local businesses, and protect the character of our city. This work is essential to keeping Bend a place where people of all backgrounds and incomes can thrive.
Transportation Safety
Transportation safety is one of the most effective ways to reduce congestion and improve daily life in Bend. Real solutions to congestion and parking require investing in safer walking, biking, wheeling, and better transit. When kids have safe routes to school, parents can skip the pick‑up and drop‑off lines, and everyone else benefits from less traffic on the roads.
Improving safety means designing streets that support all ages and abilities, expanding reliable transit options, and building neighborhoods where short trips can be made without a car. These changes reduce crashes, ease congestion, and create a transportation system that works better for families, workers, and local businesses. By prioritizing safety and accessibility, Bend can grow in a way that keeps people moving efficiently and keeps our community connected.
Houselessness Support
Reducing homelessness requires a clear focus on affordable housing, shelter options, and the support services that help people regain stability. The best way to reduce homelessness is to provide affordable housing and options for shelter. Coupled with appropriate support services and reasonable regulations on camping, Bend is making progress. Homelessness dropped 16 percent in the last year, which shows that coordinated, evidence‑based approaches can work.
Even with this progress, the challenge is larger than any one city. Bend cannot do this alone. Continued state support is essential, and every city and county must play its part. When communities share responsibility, expand housing options, and invest in services that meet people where they are, we create pathways out of homelessness and strengthen the health and safety of the entire region.