Affordable Housing.
Sustainable Development.
Accessible Childcare.
Photo by Rachel Surgalski
Asa's Perspective
Community Governance
A democracy where money moves policy and people don't is no democracy at all. Asa understands that the City Council is an effective implement for change in the hands of our community, but only when we as a community can grasp it. As city councilor, Asa will facilitate community connection and deepen political engagement by
- Introducing measures to mandate community engagement by City Councilors through public calendars, Ward Meetings, and Public Forums.
- Centering cooperation and effective governance in the interests of working families and retirees; ending the gridlock.
- Implementing a clear, effective process for assessing the performance of the City Manager and City staff.
Systemic Issues, Systemic Solutions
Corvallis' struggles are not unique to Corvallis—they are the struggles of every small American city in a system where big businesses have the final say in things. Outside firms and investors withhold development and economic stimulus unless we bend over backwards to appease them. As City Councilor, Asa will focus on
- Solving our problems without placing the burden on working families and retirees.
- Making sure businesses and other large community stakeholders contribute their fair share.
Some say that as a city, we need to "focus more inward." But how can we do that when state-level legislation prevents our city government from addressing our needs? Our city government needs to be involved as a whole in lobbying for state-level change. As City Councilor, Asa will push to lobby Oregon to
- Allow city governments to implement common-sense rent controls.
- Remove the cap on the property tax for non-residential land; allow the city to tax University land.
A Corvallis Welcoming to All
Our most vulnerable peoples are under attack by the federal government at this time of mounting fascist threat. We in Corvallis cannot stand down when it is critical to defend and expand women's struggles, immigrants' struggles, and queer struggles. As City Councilor, Asa will fight to
- Oppose the federal government's attack on our civil and democratic rights; ensure the democratic participation of all in our community.
- Oppose the federal government's attack on our public lands and environment; protect our air, water, and natural spaces.
- Work with community partners to keep us safe and keep ICE out of our community.
Policy Initiatives
Asa will put livability for working families and retirees first in his policy approach. Our residents have built excellent programs for public transportation and environmental resilience. Asa will support every measure to defend and expand these programs. However, we also struggle with aging city infrastructure, lagging economic development, and rising costs of living. In the face of this, Asa recognizes that we need to position our community to meet the future sustainably.
Housing
Corvallis's lack of adequate housing impacts all members of our community, from renters struggling to keep up with price hikes, to homeowners straining to manage mortgage price increases, to those who cannot afford to live in Corvallis and must commute in. These structural harms cascade throughout every sphere of our lives. As City Councilor, Asa will
- Expand the development of affordable housing units with subsidies and public-private partnerships.
- Support zoning initiatives to permit denser housing development, including detached single-residence occupancies.
- Explore possibilities for the development of municipally-owned housing projects, replacing real estate firm middlemen with public management.
Childcare
Working couples already living in Corvallis or looking to settle in the area face difficult decisions and a lack of proper municipal support for their family planning. The Corvallis public school district has seen declining educational outcomes and enrollment, and the accessibility of childcare services in town is lacking. A lack of support for young children and families means a lack of development and an unsustainable population breakdown. Supporting our children's educational outcomes goes beyond just the struggle in the school systems. As City Councilor, Asa will
- Introduce an initiative to provide accessible pre-K childcare for all, modeled off of Multnomah County’s Preschool for All program.
- Expand the development of childcare programs in Corvallis with subsidies and public-private partnerships.
- Explore possibilities for the expansion of the Corvallis Parks and Rec summer camps, providing affordable and active childcare for children aged 4-12 during the months when they are out of school.
Economic Development
For many decades, Corvallis has centered caring for our community over appealing to outside business interests. Our residents are now being squeezed by capital flight and underdevelopment—symptoms of deeper, structural issues in our economic paradigm. Working families and retirees should not be punished for resisting big business overreach. As City Councilor, Asa will
- Center a worker-first, retiree-first approach to economic development that ensures employers give back to the community that supports them.
- Support measures to zone areas in downtown and Southtown for higher-value industrial and other business development.
- Ensure we meet our budget shortfall in sustainable way, supporting our development in the years to come.
Policing
Corvallis is a safe community, with violent crime rates well below the Oregon average. Despite this, Corvallis police are allocated 14% of the city budget for 2025-27, making the Corvallis precinct one of the best-funded police precincts per-capita in Oregon. Increasing police presence is proven to have no effect on crime rates, and wastes money that could be better spent addressing the real causes of property crime.
Increasing the police budget when we haven't ensured working families and retirees are able to afford to live is out. Continuing to utilize ineffective and harmful sweeps when we haven't addressed structural crises of homelessness is out. Proposing to divert over $40 million in city and county funds towards the construction of a new jail is out. As City Councilor, Asa will
- Oppose increases in police funding or funding for Flock surveillance; ensure funds are spent addressing the real needs of the community.
- Work with community partners to implement safe, humane alternatives outside of sweeps to address the needs of the homeless population.
- Explore possibilities for the implementation of community oversight programs for Corvallis police.
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Upcoming Events
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Photo by Jeremy Lines
Aug. 29th
3pm-6pm
Photo by Jeremy Lines
Photo by Jeremy Lines
Photo by Rachel Surgalski
About Me
Asa Jorg grew up to a first-generation immigrant mother, witnessing firsthand the struggles of working and homeless families. A union brat, Asa has been involved in labor struggles his whole life, acting as a student strike lead in the campaign to apply community pressure during the historic 2023 Portland Association of Teachers strike. Asa has led both project and budget management on various engineering teams, working with a Championship FIRST Robotics team as well as with the Biomedical Engineering Society chapter at Oregon State. Asa is currently pursuing an Honors B.S. in engineering at Oregon State with the intent of further study towards a medical degree. Asa also acts as the Education Secretary for the Oregon District of the CPUSA.
Vote to forward community voices on City Council! Vote Asa for Ward 7!