In downtown Portland, Oregon, homeless people and drug addicts run respectable businesses, but a notorious stripper running for mayor says the solution is to bring in more artists. There is.
Stripper Viva Las Vegas admits she has no governing experience, but claims she can solve the city’s overdose and crime problems by delegating most of the mayor’s duties to others.
Awakening cities are in crisis, with Oregon issuing a 90-day state of emergency in January over the fentanyl crisis in downtown Portland.
Mayor Ted Wheeler pointed out: There will be 6,300 homeless people on the city’s streets in 2023, and 527 overdoses were recorded in Portland last year. According to Spectrum News.
But Viva, real name Liv Osas, revealed her grand plans, saying: williamette week: “When downtown comes back, all boats will be lifted. When downtown starts blooming again, you can put an art studio downtown, and soon there will be a coffee shop. Soon there will be a place for lunch.” Yo.”
In a recent report, real estate firm Colliers gave a “bleak short-term outlook” for the city of Portland, with more than 26% of the city’s office space vacant and Multnomah County expected to grow from 2020 to 2021 due to out-migration. It said it had a loss of $1.08 billion. According to the same publication.
Osas, an outspoken advocate for sex workers, explained that she feels the mayor should be a “figurehead” and will take on any responsibilities she has no experience taking.
“I don’t have anything,” she said of her experience as a manager. “The team I’m putting together are guys that are going to guide me in that regard.”
“Artists bring energy to downtown. And with energy comes more hope,” Osas added.
Ms. Osas moved to Portland in 1997 to pursue a career in music and eventually started stripping. Her skills, she says, have made her a better listener.
“I have been listening to people for 27 years. Mayor. [needs to be] Someone who listens to people, connects with people, and reminds Portland of the best parts of it,” Osas explained.
Osas is running against three other candidates, all sitting city commissioners, but she believes a focus on “creativity and community” is a better choice for mayor and that legislation He said it could be left to the city council.
“I think it will be up to the city council to enact the bill,” Orthus said, adding that she would not want to serve on the city council herself.
“I don’t want to do that job. I don’t want to legislate. For me, the mayor’s office is like a stage, a pulpit. I don’t just want to talk about practical things. Let’s be a little more hopeful. “Let’s give you a little more inspiration. And remember what Portland has to offer,” she said.
Local sources have suggested that Osthus’ candidacy could steal votes from rival mayoral candidate Carmen Rubio and hand it to third candidate Mingus Mapps, who is also Osthus’ political mentor. Ostas denied that was the reason she was running.
“I don’t think so. He’s a political science professor, but I think it’s inspiring for him to see people from other professions become public servants,” Osas said.
For those who don’t want a stripper to be their mayor, Osas points to her long list of accomplishments from her time on the pole, and says he’s willing to go see her strip at a Portland club where she’s a regular on stage. He called on people to come.
“If they’re that bad about strippers, they could watch my TED talk, read my book, or watch a movie. Strippers are amazingly strong and graceful human beings, inside and out. I would like to invite them to Mary’s house to change their minds,” Ossus said.
