Meet the Mayor: Lacey Beaty
The U.S. Conference of Mayors represents more than 1,400 mayors across the country. Our Meet the Mayor series is designed to highlight their work on behalf of America’s cities.
Lacey Beaty was elected the 34th Mayor of Beaverton, Oregon in 2020, and took office in January, 2021. Learn more:
What are your top three priorities/challenges?
Homelessness: Like many other cities across the region, Beaverton is facing the issue of rising homelessness and insufficient access to resources and affordable housing. On any given night in Washington County, there are more than 800 people experiencing homelessness. This is a regional problem in the Portland Metro area which intersects every area of life — business, economy, livability, etc.
Climate Crisis: Like the rest of the country and world, we’ve been feeling the effects of climate change in Oregon. And we know that climate change has disproportionately affected certain populations, creating serious inequity. Last year we had a heat dome and fires, ice storms, and snowstorms. Just this year we passed legislation giving tenants the right to cooling and establishing a fund to purchase portable cooling units for vulnerable populations. We have taken bold steps here in Beaverton, including establishing a sustainability department, offering easy household composting in addition to recycling, encouraging business composting, undergrounding utilities, investing in clean energy, building EV infrastructure, and continuously educating our community on waste prevention. (More info here and here). We have a Climate Action Plan with ambitious goals (zero emissions by 2050), but we know it’s not enough and we aren’t moving quickly enough.
Planning for the Future: Beaverton is in a time of immense growth. We have low vacancy rates for residential and commercial properties, coupled with high demand. We have an aging baby boomer population that we need to plan for. If we proceed without careful attention to changing trends, needs, and community input, future populations will be the ones paying the price.
What is your most memorable day as mayor so far?
So far, my most memorable day as Mayor was when our City Council voted to move forward with our first year-round shelter for persons who are experiencing homelessness. This was probably the hardest decision Beaverton’s City Council has had to make in the last few decades. Our community agrees that homelessness is a significant social issue, but there are diverging opinions on how the City should respond.
We are developing a year-round shelter to provide greater stability to individuals experiencing homelessness, with a critical link to housing. This valuable community asset is being made possible thanks to ARPA funding allocations for shelter acquisition and operations.
Is there an upcoming project or program in your city that you’re especially excited about?
Yes! We have a Downtown Loop Project that has been a community dream and priority for many years. I’m stoked to share that we recently heard that we are receiving a $2M RAISE planning grant for this project. The Loop spans 20 blocks in our downtown core that goes from our brand new performing arts center at the north end down to our city park and library on the south end. It’s 1.3 miles, with two state highway arterials crossing it, that will link key destinations through wider sidewalks, protected bike lanes, pedestrian crossing treatments, and enhanced bus stops. We also have a high school that’s adjacent to the Loop, and students arriving on foot, on bikes, on buses, and in cars need safer roads, bike lanes, and sidewalks. Our goal is to emphasize safety for all while supporting climate-friendly transportation. These active transportation investments will improve mobility and access for the Central Beaverton neighborhood, an area that has been directly impacted by redlining and historically disenfranchised. The project is being developed in tandem with the Downtown Equity Strategy, a new city initiative to guide public investments to ensure that downtown Beaverton is an inclusive place for racially diverse communities. The city has devoted resources and staff time and community involvement to dreaming about what this project could be. Making our downtown a safe and comfortable place for all people is a priority for me and my colleagues on the City Council. The Loop is our Complete Streets approach to managing — and reimagining — this critical connection for people in our community.
What is something most of your colleagues don’t know about you?
I tell everyone that my favorite movie is Field of Dreams, but it’s actually Talladega Nights!
How has the U.S Conference of Mayors supported you and your administration?
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has provided a series of informative and helpful webinars and conversations throughout the pandemic and subsequent recovery. The Conference is a strong convener and advocate for Mayors and cities, and I’m thankful for the Conference’s role in getting cities the financial resources we need — including direct ARPA allocations. The recovery funds we’ve seen over the last couple of years are once-in-a-generation opportunities to create significant change in our communities.
Tune in next Monday for a new Meet the Mayor spotlight!
