Facts on Question C
PORTLAND'S QUESTION C will make it harder to build affordable housing
and will cost the city millions of dollars.
Supporters of the law are calling it the "Green New Deal," but it has unintended consequences that will prevent the construction of new affordable housing & drive up the cost of important city projects, such as the renovation of four elementary schools that voters approved in 2017.
The Maine Affordable Housing Coalition Opposes Portland’s Question C
The Maine Affordable Housing Coalition announced on October 5th that it opposes Question C in Portland and urges voters to reject the referendum.
“This is the first time the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition has ever taken a position on a local referendum question,” said Greg Payne, director of the Coalition. “But the so-called Portland green new deal is so bad for affordable housing, we felt we had to stand up and oppose it.”
Question C would place new requirements on city-supported construction projects, making it nearly impossible for Maine companies to compete for work and for affordable housing to be built.
“The people behind Question C are trying to rewrite affordable housing laws without ever talking to practitioners,” Payne said. “Portland’s green new deal is so poorly written, it will cause the housing crisis to get worse. There are hundreds of affordable apartments in the pipeline in Portland, and we’re concerned that they simply won’t be built if Question C passes.”
The Maine Affordable Housing Coalition is a diverse coalition of more than 135 private and public sector organizations that brings people together to find ways to solve the housing crisis in Portland and around the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question C
Why is Portland voting on these referendums this year?
I’ve heard affordable housing advocates oppose the Green New Deal. Why?
Will this have any impact on renovating the four elementary schools?
Is the Portland Green New Deal the same as the national Green New Deal?