KATU 2 Interview With Sandeep Bali

As part of KATU 2’s “Know Your Candidates 2022” series, Sandeep answered the same set of questions as all of the other candidates running for City Council in this seven-minute, rapid-fire interview.

Watch the interview, or see the transcript of the interview below.

Candidate Questionnaire:

In three or four sentences, tell us about yourself.

I came to Portland in 2009 to pursue my doctorate in pharmacy. I’ve been here ever since, working in specialty pharmacy for HIV, hepatitis C, drug addiction and mental health treatment.

Why are you running for the Portland City Council?

It pains me to see what Portland has become. Our once vibrant and beautiful city has become a place of ubiquitous homelessness, record-breaking violence and crime, shuttered businesses, and piles of trash and garbage. The city has been negatively impacted by the policies of the city council. I’d like to try to turn things around.

What are your qualifications for the job of Portland city commissioner?

I’m not a politician. We need people on council with real world experience. I’m passionate about helping all communities in the city that I love.

What would you do differently to address the homeless crisis?

We have an influx of homelessness from other cities that simply don’t tolerate it. Until we turn off the spigot we will never get ahead of the problem. That has to be the first step. We need to end “urban camping.” Current encampments need to be cleared and the city needs to get serious about keeping them cleared.

We need to focus on treatment. As a specialty pharmacist, I see its effectiveness with my patients every day. Shelter beds and rehabilitation programs should be easily accessible for those who are ready to accept help. I think the current approach of the city council is completely wrong. I disagree with my opponent, incumbent Dan Ryan, who is working to place “safe rest villages” all over Portland. These types of “housing first” initiatives always fail because they do not address the underlying problems.

What would you do differently to address gun violence?

Slashing the police budget and dismantling the Gun Violence Reduction Team was a huge mistake. In the face of record-breaking crime and violence, the city council has started to backtrack on this terrible idea, but it’s too little too late. We need to rebuild our police department with the best and brightest. Programs like “Portland Street Response” are fine, but they are not a substitute for trained officers who can deal with violent crime and life-threatening situations.

What is your plan to revitalize downtown?

Downtown Portland looks like a war zone. Unfettered rioting, property destruction and rampant crime have resulted in businesses closing down and moving elsewhere. Part of the problem is the lack of police presence. The other part is the fact that the Multnomah County District Attorney refuses to prosecute crimes of vandalism, arson and looting. The city council can do something about rebuilding our police department. Unfortunately, the county DA is outside of the city’s purview, but we can work to bring attention to the problem. I hope I can help with both. Our communities and businesses need to feel safe again.

Do you support changing Portland's form of city government? Why or why not?

Seattle and San Francisco both have district forms of representation and it has not solved their problems. I am fine with the change, but as long the cast of characters remains the same I feel it’s akin to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. We need common sense on council, not fretting over semantics.

What will be a big or bigger issue for Portlanders in 5 years, and what will you do as a city commissioner to help prepare people in the city?

Honestly, Portland is in crisis right now. Years of mismanagement are taking its toll. If we don’t get things turned around, I can’t imagine what the city will look like in five years.

What's an issue facing Portlanders that's not being talked about enough?

The trash. It’s an embarrassment that the city has allowed so much garbage to accumulate all over Portland. Homeless encampments are part of the problem, but the bigger picture is that it’s very difficult to dispose of trash in Portland. Transfer station access is inconvenient and expensive, so unwanted furniture and construction debris is being dumped on corners all over the city.

Why should people vote for you?

For too many election cycles we have had candidates pushing the same unworkable ideas. I think the voters need a choice and I hope that’s what I can give them.

Who is your hero and why?

My mother. In 1982 she immigrated to the United States with my twin brother and me. She didn’t speak English, she had never been on an airplane and all she had was $12 and two suitcases. It was very brave. She has always been an inspiration to me.