Evrek Smith for Ward 4

Policies

Housing

Corvallis struggles with unaffordable and inaccessible housing. Shelter is a basic human right. No person in Corvallis should ever have to be unhoused.

Evrek will focus on

  • Developing Affordable Housing: Establishing benefits such as tax exemptions, rent subsidies, and zoning density bonuses to incentivize affordable housing development.
  • Building Public Housing: Developing publicly owned housing projects to replace landlord middlemen with municipal management to provide affordable, dignified, and accountable housing to Corvallis.

Childcare

Parents and children deserve to be parents and children. Families cannot devote the time and resources they need to develop while burdened with expensive childcare. No family should have to choose between financial stability and quality care for their children. No child should be deprived of adequate care; no parents should be forced to sacrifice family time to take care of their kids.

Evrek will strive to

  • Build Universal Preschool: Create a free universal preschool program in Corvallis modeled after Multnomah County's Preschool for All program.
  • Expand Access to Childcare: Support the development of childcare facilities in Corvallis through subsidies and public-private partnerships.
  • Support Summer Camps: Expand summer camps run by the Department of Parks and Recreation to provide affordable community and physical activity for 4–12 year-old children while school is out.

Policing

Despite violent crime rates well below Oregon average, Corvallis spends 14% of its budget on police, making it one of the highest-funded police precincts per capita in Oregon. Higher police presences are proven to have no effect on crime rates. Despite this, the city is proposing to spend over $40 million of city and county funds to build a new jail and precinct in Corvallis instead of addressing the major issues facing our city.

The Trump Administration has gutted the Voting Rights Act, disenfranchised millions of voters, demonized queer and especially trans people, and terrorizes immigrants nationally and within Corvallis through ICE abuse and abductions. The widespread use of AI surveillance technologies threatens our privacy. Our rights must be protected from these fascist anti-human attacks.

Evrek will fight to

  • Spend Funds Responsibly: Oppose wasteful increases in police budget such as the new station/jail and ensure money is spent to address the real needs of Corvallis as efficiently as possible.
  • Promote Anti-Racist Police Trainings: Introduce anti-racist and accountability measures for Corvallis police to minimize the harm biased policing imposes on communities of color.
  • Aid Unhoused People: Work with community partners to replace inhumane sweeps with safe alternatives to help and protect the unhoused.
  • Protect Privacy: Pass a resolution banning the use of AI surveillance systems such as Flock.
  • Maintain & Expand Sanctuary Status: Reinforce Corvallis's sanctuary status and work with community partners to protect our citizens by keeping ICE out.

Transportation Infrastructure

Corvallis is committed to creating a multi-zoned, walkable, accessible, clean, and progressive city with a flourishing culture of student life, commercial, and natural zones. Affordable, accessible, and safe transportation infrastructure is the heart of Corvallis.

Evrek will work to

  • Build Safer Roads: Promote policies that regularly assess and restructure traffic infrastructure to protect pedestrians, bikers, and commuters.
  • Increase Walkability: Support policies and funding plans that prioritize pedestrian and biker speed and integration to assist the 30% of Corvallis residents that deal with problematic congestion.
  • Support Public Transit: Improve our public transit system routes and schedules to ensure they effectively meet our community's needs.
  • Support Transportation Workers: Maintain and protect the wages, benefits, and security of bus drivers and city transit staff to allow them to safely serve the population of Corvallis.

Government Responsiveness

The role of our local government is to manage resources to meet the needs of city residents. City government cannot serve us if it is unresponsive and slow to listen to the people. Corvallis must have healthy and frequent exchange between city government and city residents.

Evrek will

  • Increase Dialogue Between Residents and Representatives: Introduce legislation to mandate public events such as Ward Meetings and Public Forums to give Corvallis residents accessible avenues to direct representatives. Push for the creation of a volunteer assistant position for City Councilors that facilitates communication between councilors and constituents.
  • End The Gridlock: Center cooperation and effective governance for the people to end City Council's stagnation.
  • Increase Transparency: Build clear and effective systems to assess City Manager and city staff efficacy.

Funding

Corvallis's budget is stretched thin, and going into debt is not an option. All City Programs must be funded without increasing the burden on the working people of Corvallis.

Evrek will fund Corvallis by

  • Restructuring the Tax Burden: Implementing progressive taxes that require large employers and wealthy residents to pay their fair share to the city supporting them.
  • Sustainable Budget Management: Prioritizing programs that benefit city residents and support lasting development.