My name is Steph Routh, and I am running for East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District At-large Director 2 position.

I have lived the majority of my life in East Portland, a part of our region that has experienced such inequitable investments that its neighborhoods are sometimes referred to as "sacrifice zones." I have been a community organizer in Oregon and in NYC for over 25 years, organizing specifically for equitable democracy and climate justice.

We need less talk about our climate emergency and more action. Our climate crisis is killing Portlanders, such as in my zip code in Lents, which experienced more deaths than any other zip code during the 2021 heat dome. Extreme weather, increasing wildfires, and more frequent floods are a few examples of the growing climate crisis. We must build an economic vision for our region and state that allows everyone to thrive, and that means doing so in harmony with nature.

For the last seven years, I have had the honor of serving on Portland’s Planning & Sustainability Commission (now the Planning Commission) and currently serve at its Chair. The Commission’s work advises Portland City Council on land use decisions through climate and racial equity lenses. I have learned a great deal about the built environment and how zoning code contributes to harm and benefit. I want to use what I have learned to better protect our natural environment and local communities from extractive interests.

Thank you. Go Team.