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Tomorrow's D2 Moda Town Hall, the supplemental budget, and my new Chief of Staff Adam Green.
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What's been on my mind this week
Join us tomorrow (7/25): Moda Center Town Hall with District 2 City Councilors and City Administrator Lee
After marching in last Sunday's Pride Parade, my spouse and I were walking back to our car. Along our route, we passed a woman who was headed in the opposite direction toward the festival. She yelled from across the street, "Thank you for fighting for the Trail Blazers, Councilor—I see you and I appreciate you." That was an impactful moment because the conversation around the Moda Center and the Trail Blazers has been swirling and contentious, and at times with misinformation.
I want to double-down on the economic imperative of keeping an NBA franchise in Portland, and I want to remind Portlanders what we're fighting FOR—our city, our community, and Portland's economic longevity and vibrancy. It's easy to get reactions on social media when you're against something, especially when there are catchy slogans to rally around. It's time to rally around Portland and our future.
Relatedly, I hope you'll join me, Councilors Kanal and Pirtle-Guiney, and City Administrator Lee at this Saturday's District 2 Moda Center Town Hall, where you can ask your questions and share feedback related to the potential renovation of the arena. Here are the details you need to know:
- Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
- Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Location: Alberta Abbey, 126 NE Alberta St., Portland, OR 97211
This will be a free event, and light snacks and beverages will be provided. Your RSVP would help our teams for planning purposes, but is not required to attend. See you there!
We passed a supplemental budget this week!
At the AM Session Portland City Council Meeting on July 22, we heard the second readings of two supplemental budget ordinances that both sought to restore some of the deep cuts to public safety, operations, and parks reflected in this fiscal year's adopted budget. While both ordinances would've addressed some of the same underlying concerns with the 2026-27 budget, they were different in a couple of key ways—their price tags and their funding sources.
I'm proud to have voted yes on ordinance 2026-223, which passed with 10 ayes and 2 nays. This supplemental budget will appropriate $9.96 million in underspend from General Fund bureaus and $2.25 million from other funds to:
- Restore cuts to critical public safety functions, including 3 rescue teams in Portland Fire & Rescue in Districts 1 and 3, a Community Engagement Specialist in Portland Parks & Recreation focused on East Portland Parks, and Public Safety Support Specialists (PS3s) to the tune of 8 full-time employees and 6 vehicles—who can respond to issues that don't require a sworn officer.
- $3 million for Portland Police Bureau EM&S (training, certifications, and professional development).
- Preserve 30 positions across the City of Portland that would've otherwise been eliminated.
- Extend benefits to all laid-off employees through September 30.
- Return $1.75 million to the Business License Tax (BLT) Reserve Fund that was reduced by previous Council action as a way to shore up the City's financial stability and credit rating.
Comments from the dais were heated at times, but that's understandable because all 12 of your City Councilors are working to put forward legislation they believe will best serve Portlanders. Good people can disagree on the issues, but we needed to get one of these ordinances passed to address urgent funding gaps—especially for Police. I'm glad we were able to do that this week.
The realignment work is difficult, and I trust that City Administrator Lee will lead us through a strategic process so that there's more clarity and certainty when we get into next year's budget—which will certainly have more realignment outcomes.
Meet my new Chief of Staff, Adam Green 🎊
I'm so pleased to announce that Adam Green recently started as my office's new Chief of Staff! Adam brings over two decades of leadership experiences spanning philanthropy, nonprofit management, community engagement, and strategic partnerships. Throughout his career, Adam has helped organizations secure transformational philanthropic investments, strengthen community partnerships, and develop strategies that create lasting civic impact. His leadership experience includes roles with SOLVE, Oregon Humanities, Susan G. Komen Oregon, The Dougy Center, and Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation.
A lifelong advocate for civic engagement, Adam believes strong communities are built through collaboration, thoughtful public policy, and meaningful stakeholder participation. As Chief of Staff, Adam is committed to supporting policies that promote economic development, strengthen public safety, improve government effectiveness, and ensure Portland remains a city where businesses can thrive and every neighborhood is safe, welcoming, and connected.
Adam moved to Portland from Texas with his husband in 2009. After a stint in Seattle, they returned home to the Rose City in 2024. He's excited to be part of Portland's next chapter.
Welcome to the team, Adam!
Grant opportunities to know about
Lloyd-Holladay Relocation Grant 🛍️
- Funder: Prosper Portland
- Deadline: September 1, 2026
- Funding amount: Up to $25,000 with $153,000 available overall
Lloyd Center tenants looking to relocate into another ground-floor commercial space in the Lloyd-Holladay TIF District are eligible to apply for Prosper Portland's Lloyd-Holladay Relocation Grant! Through September 1, Lloyd Center tenants can apply for grants of up to $25,000 for moving expenses and/or tenant improvements. After that, any business or nonprofit looking to set up shop in the district can apply for remaining funds. In total, $153,000 is available to award through this limited-time program.
Operating Support Grants 🎭
- Funder: City of Portland's Office of Arts & Culture
- Deadline: September 11, 2026
- Funding amount: $25,000-$145,000 annually for two years
This flexible funding from the Office of Arts & Culture helps arts organizations sustain operations, advance their missions, and expand access to arts experiences for Portlanders. Award amounts are determined by factors outlined in the grant guidelines, including organizational budget size and demonstrated service to K–12 students and people in underserved communities.