July flew by! After a short recess, I’ve jumped right back into work at City Hall and around East Portland. Before I talk more about my July, I wanted to invite you and all of East Portland to my D1 People’s Picnic. When I was elected to Council, I was excited to give East Portland a bigger voice in our city’s decisions and bring more of City Hall to East Portland. At this fun festival you’ll have the opportunity to get to know your neighbors better while learning more about community resources and engaging with your government.
Join us on Sunday, Aug 24 from 11-2 at Parklane Park for:
- Family activities and live music
- Local food vendors (sign in to get a $10 coupon)
- City and community resource connections
- Engaging with Councilor Avalos and special guest Mayor Keith Wilson
More information will be shared closer to the date, so keep your eyes out! We’re also looking for community events to post on a bulletin board at the D1 People’s Picnic.
Candace Call to Action: If there’s a dance night, chess club, D&D group, yoga in the park, or any other event you want more of your neighbors to know about, please send a copy of the flyer to councilor.avalos@portlandoregon.gov with the subject line “D1 People’s Picnic Bulletin.”
Introducing Hey Portland!
View full size image of Hey Portland, Politics, people, and power −straight from the source A column by Councilor AvalosOne thing about me? I’ve always been a thinker and a talker.
Before I was elected to City Council, I was writing opinion columns about Portland politics as I was learning, organizing, and growing with my community as we pushed for change from the outside of City Hall. Now, from inside City Hall, I carry that same energy as I’m adjusting to a new environment that isn’t designed for the grassroots organizing that got me here. But I’ve realized something important: you shouldn’t need an official press release or media filter to know what I’m thinking, how I’m making decisions, or what’s weighing on me as your representative.
So, I’m starting a personal column.
It’s not an official city communication and it’s definitely not polished. It’s just me, your city councilor, talking to you directly and in my own words. Here, I’ll share what’s on my mind, like how the new city charter is working, what’s happening behind the scenes at Council, what big questions we’re wrestling with, and where I see opportunities or risks for our city.
More importantly, I want you to see how I’m thinking so we can stay in conversation.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I bring my values, my experiences, and my best judgment to the table. But the work of making government work better for the people is a living, breathing process that we shape together. If I’m right about something but it’s missing your lived experience, I want you to tell me. If I’m off-base, I want to hear it. And if we’re on the same page, let’s figure out how to push for the change we both want.
In a time when public trust is low and political noise is high, I believe it matters to show you how I’m thinking, not just what I’m voting. And hopefully over time you’ll be able to see how your voices are shaping the decisions I’m making on your behalf.
So, welcome to this experiment. You can find my posts here on my website, and I’ll share them out when they go live. Sometimes they’ll be short reflections, sometimes they’ll be deeper dives. How often will I post? That’s not clear yet, and I want to keep expectations low as I know my ambitious ideas are often met with the harsh reality of a city councilor’s schedule. But no matter how regularly or sporadically I have time to jot down my thoughts, you can trust that these columns will always come from the same place of my commitment to serve, to lead, and to stay connected to the people who put me here.
Portland’s best days are ahead, let’s make it happen together. ✨
Candace at Work
My Unified Housing Resolution Passed!
Great news: the City Council adopted my Unified Housing Resolution on a 11-1 vote! Rents, evictions, and people becoming homeless have been on the rise. We’re seeing slower rates of home construction. Portland has been in the middle of a housing crisis, and the Unified Housing Strategy will help us align the city’s existing policies and plans so we’re more efficient and effective at getting people housed and keeping people in their homes. Councilor Dunphy, city staff, and many local stakeholders have been great partners in this work, and I’m excited for the future where housing is a priority and a promise in our city —not just a patchwork plan.
A full draft of the UHS is due by December 1, 2025, to the Homelessness & Housing Committee for review. In the meantime, the committee will spend the next months helping to flesh out the UHS objectives and closely communicating with city staff about what we want to see in the UHS.
Responding to ICE Concerns
Over the past month we’ve seen horrific stories of families torn apart and ICE disappearing our neighbors. ICE held a Portland-area family of six in Washington for weeks—in violation of federal policy—including the family’s four young children who are U.S. citizens. Masked ICE officers smashed the car window of a Beaverton father who was dropping his child off at preschool and detained him in front of his son. ICE is trying to deport the father to Iran, even though he’s completed his green card application and is currently waiting for his paperwork to be processed.
I’m heartbroken and infuriated. The Trump administration’s dangerous mass deportation agenda is spreading fear in our East Portland communities, and it puts all of us at risk—no matter what your immigration status is. I’ve heard from many of my constituents about concerns with the Portland ICE facility, the response to ongoing protests, and potentially revoking the facility’s permit.
I believe any decision about the ICE permit must center those most vulnerable: our immigrant, asylee, and refugee neighbors who face increasing threats from the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda. Community organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union ACLU and Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC) have cautioned that revoking the ICE permit could lead to unintended consequences and situations that are more harmful for people they serve.
The City’s attorneys are reviewing the terms of the ICE permit for possible violations, but it will likely take time before any conclusions are made. In the meantime, I’m working to use every possible tool to protect immigrants, asylees, and refugees in Portland. If you would like to help PIRC and other partners in the Oregon For All coalition, you can help inform Portlanders about their rights and use the PIRC hotline (1-888-622-1510) to report suspected ICE activity. PIRC also offers volunteer opportunities as part of Oregon For All’s rapid response team.
On the Death of Damon Lamarr Johnson
Damon Lamarr Johnson’s death is a tragedy, and there must be a full and transparent investigation. I served for years on the Citizen Review Committee to advance police accountability, and I’ve seen how Portlanders like Damon end up harmed by our public safety system because it’s not designed to handle the needs of people experiencing mental health crises. When we fully invest in services like Portland Street Response (PSR) and Community Health Assess and Treat (CHAT), it means trained behavioral health workers can respond to people in crisis and police officers can focus their time on solving crimes.
The Multnomah District Attorney’s office announced that they will convene a grand jury to investigate Damon’s death and the three officers who conducted the welfare check. It’s a good first step, but as a community we need to keep demanding transparency and accountability—and ultimately a system where the police are not the first or only response to Portlanders experiencing mental health crises.
My thoughts are with Damon’s family and loved ones. I will continue to monitor the investigation into his death, and work toward a public safety system that truly serves all Portlanders.
Opportunities in Gateway
In July, Fred Meyer announced the company was closing the Gateway location in Septembers and most current workers would be offered positions at other Portland stores. I’ve been speaking with my D1 colleagues, Prosper, community members, and other local leaders to find out more about the Gateway Fred Meyer and Kohl’s closure and the long-term vision for the Gateway neighborhood.
If you’re wondering why Gateway hasn’t seen more progress, it’s because the original 2001 Gateway TIF plan created unrealistic zoning codes that only encouraged high-rise construction and Gateway lacks basic infrastructure like streets and waterlines which means development dollars can’t be stretched as far. The Gateway Action Plan was just updated last year as part of the 2022 TIF renewal, and community members were clear that they wanted to see inclusive economic growth that celebrates the diversity of the area. I want to explore how some of the Gateway TIF funding can be put toward advancing the community’s vision at the Gateway Shopping Center.
Gateway is home to one of the busiest transit centers, a vibrant, multicultural community, and small businesses that can’t be found in any other part of Portland. Over the past decade, BIPOC homeownership in the area has grown by 300%. We have the opportunity to build on the neighborhood’s strengths, and I’ve already been hearing lots of good ideas from Gateway residents and East Portland about what they want prioritized in Gateway. I’m going to continue to keep reaching out, so stayed tuned for more updates.
Candace in Community
Joining East Portland for a Joint Town Hall
East Portland, you came with good questions for the joint town hall meeting with Rep. Andrea Valderrama, Rep. Hòa Nguyễn, and Sen. Kayse Jama! I had a great time emceeing the event and hearing from you. Working with Reps. Valderrama, Nguyễn, and Sen. Jama in my time on Council has been refreshing, and our communities are better off because we have these leaders as our representatives in Salem.
You may have seen that the state legislature is meeting for a special session at the end of this month to pass a transportation package. East Portland’s streets are crumbling, and many of them don’t even have sidewalks and other basic infrastructure. East Portland communities would also be some of the most hurt by cuts to transit if the legislature doesn’t provide more funding.
We need a transportation package that keeps East Portland moving, so keep making your voices heard!
Filling my Cup at the SEI End of Summer Rally
The energy and noise at the Self Enhancement Inc. (SEI) End of Summer Rally was unmatched! It really brought me so much joy to see the SEI students and staff showing off what they had learned over the summer, with chants, skits, and dances. Now that I’ve experienced a rally, I’ll try to brush up on the dances for the next one (especially if they play anything off of Cowboy Carter again).
Before the rally, SEI leadership presented an overview of their services and programs. While SEI is known for their youth education programs, they truly support Portlanders at every stage of life through everything from energy assistance to affordable housing. SEI also has expanded beyond their home in North Portland to serve communities across our city, and it was so incredible to see students from Reynolds representing at the rally.
Centennial Constituent Day
Every neighborhood in East Portland is special, and during my Centennial Constituent Day we saw some of the places and people that make this community unique.
We started with a tour at Oliver Middle School with representatives from Centennial School District’s Safe Routes to School program. They’ve successfully advocated for speed bumps and other street improvements, but there are still safety concerns for students walking or rolling to school. I heard some good ideas for traffic calming and other creative ways to get drivers to slow down and look out for kids.
View full size image of Centennial Constituent Day Parklane
At the newly improved Parklane Park, I saw all the great new features that Parks and Recreation put in, like a splash pad and skate park. We also learned about the site’s history as a quarry, which made it harder to plant trees and install recreation equipment. As I mentioned at the top, I’ll be back at Parklane for the D1 People’s Picnic so mark your calendars!
After a round of meetings with constituents at Midland Library, we had lunch at Gyro House. My go-to is the chicken kabobs, and I love their Greek salad.
We ended our day with door-knocking and caught up with some of our neighbors in Centennial about what they’re seeing in the area. Being out in East Portland is one of my favorite parts of my job, and Centennial Constituent Day was a fantastic way to close out my month.
Upcoming Constituent Meeting Slots
Reminder that anyone in District 1 can sign up for a one-on-one meeting with me at Midland Library! Talking with East Portlanders helps me better understand the issues in their neighborhood and gives me ideas that I can follow-up on in City Hall.
Candace Call to Action: There are still slots open for our upcoming Constituent Days. Learn more and sign-up here.
Candace in City Hall
Homelessness and Housing Committee
This month in the Homelessness and Housing Committee we discussed the objectives of my Unified Housing Strategy resolution!
The UHS objectives are organized into five areas: Produce Housing, Preserve Vulnerable Housing, Prevent Displacement, Promote Equity and Inclusion, and Progress Environmental Sustainability. I heard good feedback from committee members about what they want to see in each category, and our objectives will help guide the work of city staff tasked with creating the draft UHS. The next Homelessness and Housing Committee meeting is August 12.
Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee
Portland Clean Energy Fund Committee appointments and an update on the Urban Forest Plan were some of the highlights from this month’s meetings. PCEF was designed to help Portlanders who have historically been—and continue to be—hurt the most by climate change and pollution, and the community members who serve on PCEF’s committee are a huge part in ensuring that we fund projects that advance environmental justice and reflect what affected communities want. I spent a lot of time engaging with PCEF when I was at Verde, and I’m interested in how the Council can best partner with PCEF as we create a broader climate plan for the city.
We also heard an update on the Urban Forest Plan, the city’s vision for managing trees and other parts of our essential green infrastructure. East Portland doesn’t have the tree canopy of other parts of our city, and our communities are the most vulnerable to extreme heat. The Urban Forest Plan must prioritize increasing East Portland’s tree canopy, and I heard from city staff about how they’re focusing tree planting efforts and maintenance in East Portland and other areas with less shade trees. The next Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee meeting is August 14.
Upcoming Meetings
The City Council has special full council meetings on Aug. 13 and 14. The Finance Committee will meet on August 11, the first meeting after the end of budget season.
In solidarity,
Candace Avalos