ANDY KIPP AND THE ASTORIA HOUSING ALLIANCE (Candidate for Astoria City Council)
Andy Kipp is president of the Astoria Housing Alliance (AHA), chief petitioner for the Vacancy Tax and the central financial supporter of Astoria Housing for All. AHA describes itself as an Oregon nonprofit operating under Section 501(c)(4)—a form of organization permitted to engage substantially in lobbying and political advocacy.
Newly obtained records from the Oregon Elections System for Tracking and Reporting (ORESTAR) show that Kipp personally supplied at least $4,441 in cash contributions; $397.07 in reported in-kind support. Andy Kipp personally supplied the money used to pay the campaign’s $3,431 ballot-title legal bill.
THE 180-DAY STATEMENT
On June 3, 2025, Kipp submitted legislative testimony on behalf of the Astoria Housing Alliance concerning SB 1095—a proposed Oregon law that would have authorized cities and counties to impose vacancy fees, potentially secured by liens against the affected homes.
The letter asserted that “many of the vacant properties in Astoria are only occupied for a weekend or two per year” and called an amendment classifying those properties as not vacant “surprising.”
AHA then urged lawmakers to return to a 180-day occupancy threshold, claiming that was: “more consistent with our on-the-ground experience regarding the empty homes that proliferate our neighborhoods.”The letter provided no physical property count, no address-level inventory, no survey methodology and no documentation establishing how many Astoria homes were actually occupied for only “a weekend or two per year.”
But it did reveal the policy position clearly: lawful personal use of a privately owned home for fewer than roughly six months per year should expose that property to government punishment.
VANCE LUMP AND ANDREA MAZZARELLA
The June 3, 2025 AHA letterhead identified:
• Andy Kipp — President AHA, Running for District 1 Astoria City Council
• Vance Lump — Treasurer
• Andrea Mazzarella — Current Astoria Board Member
At that time, Lump and Mazzarella were also sitting members of the Astoria City Council.
That does not prove either personally wrote or approved every sentence in Kipp’s letter. It does establish that two sitting councilors were publicly identified in leadership positions with the organization advocating the 180-day policy.
Astorians are entitled to know when an advocacy organization advancing a major tax proposal includes sitting city officials among its leadership.
Thomas Jenkins August 23, 2026, addressing the Astoria City Council
At the August 3 Astoria City Council meeting, Thomas “Tom” Jenkins appeared to speak in favor of the Vacancy Tax. He provided his address and openly acknowledged:
“Postally, I’m in Astoria. Geographically, I am outside of the city limits.” Homes Task Force “Postally, I’m in Astoria. Geographically, I am outside of the city limits.” Jenkins addressing the Astoria City Council August 3, 2026. Jenkins cannot vote in Astoria elections.
He then announced:
“I address the City Council and the residents in the room tonight as a member of the Oregon WorkingFamilies Party here in Clatsop County.” Jenkins confirmed publicly and on the record:
“We have endorsed this petition…” He also promised: educate voters…”
“Should it go to the ballot this fall, the Working Families Party stands in support and will be out there to show support.
Near the end of the article, 1000 Friends of Oregon states:
“If Astoria’s initiative passes, it may set a precedent for other cities in Oregon whose housing markets are heavily impacted by tourism and second home ownership.”
The article continues by saying that many cities are looking for creative ways to fund housing and infrastructure and that the Astoria measure “could be a promising tool in cities’ toolkits.”
That is a member of the Oregon Working Families Party speaking directly to the Astoria City Council aboutthe party’s involvement.
Jenkins has also been one of the tax’s most persistent advocates online.
His position toward owners who may be unable to absorb another $3,000 or $6,000 annual tax is blunt.
“If you can’t afford taxes on your vacation home or your investment property, you can’t afford to have a 2nd home. The community cannot afford it, either.”
Jenkins does not live within Astoria city limits. He cannot vote on this tax.He will not be deciding whether Astoria property owners must file annual declarations with the City. Yet he and the Working Families Party intend to persuade Astoria voters that owners should rent their homes, sell them, restructure their lives—or pay thousands of dollars every year.
Blue Scorcher Bakery
The Membership of the Blue Scorcher Bakery endorses the Housing Initiative. As a co-op, Strong Community is one of our core business values. Our full-time residents see us through the quiet season and the relationships we build makes this work worth doing.
Joyful Work is another of our core business values. Work cannot be joyful if workers aren’t able to secure their basic needs, including adequate housing. The person making your latte shouldn’t have to commute half an hour into town from a moldy apartment that they can’t afford to complain about. Bakers shouldn’t have to drive in on 202 at 3 AM while homes within walking distance are empty.
Every year we lose workers and friends because they can’t see a future for themselves in Astoria. The housing problem is a huge part of that calculus. Astoria is at a critical point and we have to decide—do we want to be a community or a theme park?
“Lily Grace, Facebook August 27, 2026
“Hording resources is immoral and that’s exactly what people who have vacant houses are doing.
If they can afford two homes, they can afford to pay a tax”.
Jacqueline Hansen, Facebook August 28, 2026
“Cry the world a river! It’s privilege and now you’re being taxed as such. The greed”.
Serene Jaguar7950, Facebook August 29 2026
“Oh, so you’re such a lazy landlord you can’t find tenants? Sounds like a you problem.”
Blue Scorcher Bakery
The Membership of the Blue Scorcher Bakery endorses the Housing Initiative. As a co-op, Strong Community is one of our core business values. Our full-time residents see us through the quiet season and the relationships we build makes this work worth doing.
Joyful Work is another of our core business values. Work cannot be joyful if workers aren’t able to secure their basic needs, including adequate housing. The person making your latte shouldn’t have to commute half an hour into town from a moldy apartment that they can’t afford to complain about. Bakers shouldn’t have to drive in on 202 at 3 AM while homes within walking distance are empty.
Every year we lose workers and friends because they can’t see a future for themselves in Astoria. The housing problem is a huge part of that calculus. Astoria is at a critical point and we have to decide—do we want to be a community or a theme park?
Lauern Maylon, Nextdoor September 2, 2026
I like the idea of pushing for homes here in astoria, being lived in by residents, not vacationers. I realize it may not be a popular opinion by some but if housing is not there to support the local residents. The town slowly dies. Vacationers may pay some folk’s bills but I can’t imagine everyone’s. Certainly not mine.
Zoe Higginbottom, Nextdoor September 2, 2026
There’s a difference between housing being available and housing being available at a price the local economy will accommodate. The second home market is part of the problem precisely because it decouples property values from local income levels. Your example actually shows that discouraging second home ownership *will* improve housing availability for people who live and work here full time.
DAN HUBNER
Astoria Housing for All identifies Dan Hubner as an organizer and treasurer of the Vacancy Tax campaign.
Hubner has publicly presented and defended the proposal, including declaring:
“Vacant homes are not neutral in our community.”
His role is also confirmed by the campaign-finance records. Every one of the 70 transactions in the current ORESTAR export identifies Daniel Hubner as the person who both filed and attested to the report.
That makes Hubner more than a vocal supporter of the measure. He is a formally identified campaign organizer and the treasurer responsible for reporting the political committee’s finances.