2020 Montavilla Neighborhood Association (MNA) elections have two candidates running for open positions on the Board. As both positions are currently unfilled, each candidate is running unopposed. Taylor Wells seeks the position of Public Safety Chair. Jacob Loeb seeks the position of Corresponding Secretary. Elections will be held online starting at 6:30 PM on November 9th, and ending 24 hours later. Those who have attended a general meeting in the past year are eligible to vote. You can attend the November 9th meeting (via zoom) and vote after the meeting.
TAYLOR WELLS – Candidate for Public Safety Chair:
There are many safety-related items to address in our neighborhood – from the rise in crime recently to earthquake/emergency preparation to safer roads for our children to play in. I believe I can make the most impact by immediately addressing the three issues below and start connecting with other Public Safety Board Members in SE and greater Portland to see what initiates are working and what changes we could bring to our neighborhood. I’d also like to bring in thought-leaders around these Public Safety issues to help educate our residents on how to address them. I’d also love to hear from members of the Association to see what safety-related concerns I can help potentially address.
Ultimately, I cannot achieve these goals on my own so I’d like to foster more participation in MNA to help get more ideas and resources to improve the safety of our neighborhood.
Top 3 issues:
- Earthquake / Emergency Preparation
- Protecting ourselves against theft / how to look out for each other
- Reducing high-speed reckless drivers
About me: I’m an Oregon native and lived in Montavilla for 2 years now with my wife. I go on almost daily walks or bike rides around the neighborhood, Pre-COVID working remotely from many of the coffee shops or tea shops (RIP Townshends), and play futsal soccer in the Montavilla Park during the summer. My sister and her husband & daughter live in the neighborhood and I’ve met some amazing friends on my street and in the area.
Looking forward to potentially serving our neighborhood!
JACOB LOEB – Candidate for Corresponding Secretary:
Montavilla is a robust community with engaged residents and businesses. The Montavilla Neighborhood Association has an opportunity and an obligation to serve the community by providing a collective voice. As Corresponding Secretary, I intend to expand MNA communication and solicit the broadest possible involvement from our community.
Beyond communication, I will identify resources that can improve the neighborhood. The city, county, and Metro have programs designed to enhance public life. MNA’s involvement with those organizations will help direct resources where the community needs them.
Neighborhood trash and litter is a challenge we all need to address. It may not be our fault, but it is our problem to solve. MNA can work with the City of Portland to bring in more public trash cans. However, that alone will not solve the problem. We will need to organize community cleanups targeting problem public spaces. To facilitate those cleanups, MNA needs to consider providing dumpsters to the community. Not only will dumpsters house trash collected from the street cleanups, but it also provides a space for our community’s unhoused to dispose of their trash responsibly.
About me: I moved to the Montavilla neighborhood 15 years ago to provide a safe and comfortable home for my family. I work in the IT industry and prefer bike commuting when I travel to an office.
Montavilla News does not endorse individual candidates or ballot measures
Disclosure: The author of this article is one of the candidates.
Montavilla News 