Ruby Mac Groundbreaking Remarks

October 27, 2026 

Good morning. Every day is a good day to talk about housing – I’m excited to be with you today. And I’m excited to be back in my old House district, in the beautiful neighborhood of East Columbia. 

Thank you to SEI for your extraordinary leadership and vision in bringing Ruby Mac to this important milestone. And thank you to every partner, funder, and community member who made this moment possible. This is what happens when we refuse to accept the status quo and instead build something better – together. 

We are here to celebrate what will eventually be on this site – beautiful new homes for home ownership. And we are celebrating a groundbreaking ground breaking of a housing development led by an African-American non-profit developer in a historically Black area of Portland. I remember door knocking here when I first ran for the legislature, meeting residents who had survived the Vanport flood and moved back to this very neighborhood. These homes, when built and occupied, will complete a journey for the Black community and will be a wonderful foundation for a more equitable future. 

Homeownership allows Oregonians to put down roots, build a sense of community and belonging, and develop intergenerational wealth. We’re seeing progress in new home construction, and I will keep fighting to make sure every Oregonian has a safe, affordable place to call home.  

Over the last year, state investment has helped more than 1,000 Oregonians achieve the dream of homeownership, with 98% of those Oregonians being first-time home buyers. And more than half of participating homebuyers paired their mortgage with down payment assistance, thereby improving the affordability of their home purchase. 

We have more to do, but progress in new housing production is happening.  

When I took office, housing production was falling nationally and falling in Oregon at an even faster rate. Here’s where we stand today: my administration has put more than 50,000 future housing units in the production pipeline. Most recent estimates for the first half of 2026 show year-over-year production of newly permitted housing units in Oregon was up 11.3% - while the rest of the country was down 1.3%. In 2025, we saw a 25% increase in multifamily units, filling a critical gap for working families. 

These numbers aren’t accidental. They are the result of deliberate, sustained action. 

But these successes take community partnership and persistence, and leaders like SEI. 

So, thank you for your vision and for staying the course. I look forward to coming back here in the years ahead to meet the families who will hold the front door keys to these new homes. 

This is Oregon at its very best. Let's keep going – together. 

Congratulations and thank you!