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Affordable housing, homelessness top council forum topics Candidates for Ashland City council and mayor are introduced at a forum Wednesday. Photo by Julie Akins Thursday Oct 6, 2016 at 6:33 PM Oct 6, 2016 at 6:33 PM By Julie Akins For the Tidings The candidates forum for Ashland mayor and two council seats sponsored by the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission had a packed house Wednesday at Wesley Hall in the United Methodist Church, the same place where the city’s largest community meal takes place largely for those on the homeless spectrum.  And that subject loomed large in the dialogue: homeless services and affordable housing were two of the subjects most discussed.  Many of those in attendance spoke among themselves in developing questions. They formulated inquiries about rising rents and the lack of housing for people who are spending up to half of their incomes on rent. “I have three friends who are losing their homes because the rents have gone up so much,” said Amy Blossom, a 30-year resident of Ashland.  “The number-one issue for me in Ashland is affordable housing. I received a telephone call from a woman who said I don’t know what to do. I was paying $600 and now it’s $775. If we had an affordable housing trust fund that we started funding, we could help people with affordable housing and especially for our families who can’t afford to live here. We can do it and we need to start acting on this,” said current Councilor Carol Voisin, who is running for mayor. Incumbent Mayor John Stromberg, who is running for a third term, agreed that solving the issue of affordable housing for those on the homeless spectrum but others as well needs to be prioritized. His approach spoke to planning and annexation. “We can create permanent rental housing, smaller housing, affordable housing and allowing annexation on that basis and would help people,” he said.  Mayoral challenger Biome Erickson had a different issue as his chief priority. “The number-one issue facing our town is the domination of our nation's institutions and industries by a certain subset of non-American, anti-American aliens living in our country,” he said. This is one of many statements he made throughout the night referring to Jewish people as Zionists. It was his primary platform and his answers stayed along that train of thought.  “Housing: We need greater regulation over our landlords. I’d like to see more of that,” said Martin Kamenski, who is running for council seat one, currently occupied by incumbent Greg Lemhouse. Kamenski also spoke to the need for student housing protections which he feels don’t go far enough. Councilor Lemhouse said the issue of affordable housing needs a multi-prong approach. “What would help is helping people get a better job. We need to continue to encourage cottages and tiny houses which you’ve heard a lot about.” Theo White, also running for the seat, said, “I don’t know how you solve the problem when you have houses selling for half a million dollars. It’s our of reach for average people working here.”  Homeless advocate and formerly leaving on the streets herself, Debra Neisewander, said solutions to the affordable housing crisis can start with humble goals. “I have insight I want to share, I want to bring tiny houses, shelters, seven days a week, homes seven days a week. I want to collaborate and bring compassion deeply. Housing could be a bare minimum — car camping, that’s a home. A place to lay your head without getting a trespass charge could be a home.”  Candidate Doug Burns offered some heat to the discussion with his thoughts on affordable housing. “I want the city of Ashland to get up off our butts and do something about greedy landlords who are throwing people out of their homes. The city needs to protect its people. The homeless people you see used to be residents — and now their out on the streets.” Burns called for enforcing laws which exist to provide better notice prior to raising rent and he suggested capping rent increases. Previous councilor Dennis Slattery, who is once again running to serve on the council, said the first step to creating a better community is caring for seniors and young people by offering affordable living. “How do we help the 30-and-under set stay here and live here? We need affordable housing so they can stay here. They are committed and we need to find a way to keep that talent here. Perhaps our seniors can help the younger generation stay here and be engaged.” Other topics and questions centered around transportation, becoming more diverse and inclusive as a community and ways to move forward environmentally. All candidates agreed that the city needs to lower its carbon footprint and could better serve the community through enhanced public transportation. They did not all agree on specific methods but none opposed measures to curtail energy use nor increase options for transportation.  The forum lasted roughly two hours and candidates lingered to discuss specific with constituents after. This is the first candidates forum held by the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission. Email Ashland freelance writer Julie Akins at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/@julieakins.