See something we could improve on this page? Give website feedback.
Label:
News article
Connection, Opportunity, and Progressive Governance
Published
Hi everyone,
I hope you all are having a wonderful summer so far, and finding space amid work and daily commitments to enjoy time with family before back-to-school season. I'm willing the summer to slow down.
July was filled to the brim with community events, and I suspect that August will be no different as each of your neighborhoods plan picnics, national nights out, and other community gatherings!
July in review
Connecting with Community
This month, our office joined with other City leaders to put on and/or participate in several events spanning a range of topics. I hope many of you were able to attend at least one, but in case you missed out, here's a recap:
- My office, the Somali American Council of Oregon, the Mayor's office, and the Office of Civic Life hosted an African Immigrant Forum on Saturday, sharing critical information about city and local non-profit resources and connecting community members to experts who can help their families stay safe. I am proud to represent North and much of Northeast Portland, home to many Portlanders whose families immigrated here from Africa. I am committed, as we face inhumane and destabilizing immigration activity from our federal government, to building a city where fear is met with community, where uncertainty is met with support, and where belonging is met with action.
- 90+ of you joined me, Councilor Ryan, Councilor Kanal, and City Administrator Lee at Alberta Abbey to discuss the future of the Moda Center and the surrounding neighborhoods. I'm so thankful to everyone who took time out of their weekend to engage with us in this critical conversation that deeply impacts our District.
- We also had huge turnout for a walk in the Rocky Butte natural area co-hosted by myself, Council President Dunphy, and Councilor Koyama Lane, along with Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang and community partners such as Friends of Rocky Butte, Oregon Walks, and more! Stewardship of and access to Portland's natural areas is crucial to the vibrance, longevity, and family-friendliness of our city. The Rocky Butte natural area includes private, city, and state-owned land, and a lot of it isn't publicly accessible — this walk and talk allowed us to brainstorm ideas for increased access and to discuss future possibilities for this urban forest, which could open up hiking and other recreational opportunities right outside the backyards of thousands of Portlanders whose NE Portland neighborhoods don't currently have that access.
- And of course, my team and I walked in the annual Portland Pride Parade in celebration of our LGBTQ+ community. I was honored to walk alongside City staff and my LGBTQ+ Council colleagues to reaffirm Portland's commitment to being a welcoming city for all. Queer culture is embedded in our city's identity, and I remain committed to making Portland a leader in advancing basic rights and freedoms for everyone.
District 2 Summer Events
When I say July was packed with events celebrating the special sauce that makes our District the best in the city, I mean it was PACKED. And that's a great thing!
- I connected with business owners, and many of you, at the annual Mississippi Street Fair, an event that drew thousands of people to the neighborhood to celebrate culture and creativity.
- I stopped by the Overlook House during the fifth annual Overlook Porch Fest, Portland's largest DIY music festival. I was so excited to hear young artists from Friends of Noise perform. Thanks to everyone who hosted a band on your front porch!
- The Beaumont Business Association has partnered with the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association to bring a new community plaza to the district, and I was honored to speak at and attend the grand opening. Made possible by PBOT's Street Plaza Program, the plaza on NE 44th Ave and Fremont Street is already getting a lot of use – from friends enjoying the sun with coffee in hand to folks gathering for food from neighboring businesses to live music and events.
- I spent time in St. Johns celebrating 100 years of the St. Johns Boosters at their soiree. The St. Johns Boosters support our local businesses in the St. Johns neighborhood, and I look forward to seeing them continue to find new ways to support the whole St. John's community.
- I attended a walking tour of the Low End, where the 1803 Fund is working to reclaim and rebuild an area of Lower Albina that will fuse culture, economic development, and community placemaking for Black families in Northeast Portland. The Low End project will redevelop 7 acres for community-owned assets, and I look forward to seeing this work come to fruition for our neighbors whose families were displaced from their community.
- I went to the Lower Albina Block Party, presented by Albina Vision Trust & Colas Construction, for an afternoon of live music, food, games, and community in the heart of Lower Albina.
- The Cathedral Park Jazz Festival returned for its 46th year, offering us three magical days celebrating jazz and Black diasporic music right here in District 2.
And to think, this list is only a taste of all the happenings that took place in our District this month! The way we gather during the summer is one of the things that makes N and NE Portland so special. I hope you've gotten to enjoy some of these events, as well.
Grand Ronde visit
It was an honor to visit with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, joining their elected leaders for a tour of many of their facilities and a day of learning, along with several of my Council colleagues and City staff from various bureaus. Our governments are tackling many of the same challenges in our communities, and there's a lot to learn from how the confederated tribes provide human-centered care, ensuring smooth transitions through the spectrum of services they offer and seamless hand-offs between systems for those in need of support. I'm so grateful to the tribal leaders, elders, and members who welcomed us into their space.
At the dais
Risk Reduction Rescue Plan
Council has (finally) passed a supplemental budget ordinance that addresses much of what Councilor Novick and I attempted through amendments at the end of the budget process, plus a few other additions to keep our City moving that our colleagues prioritized. This legislation was built in close partnership with labor leaders, ensuring continued service delivery for Portlanders.
I was proud to co-sponsor this ordinance alongside my colleagues Councilors Clark, Novick, and Smith. It restores peak-hours coverage for the Public Safety Support Specialist (PS3) program, funding that keeps critical police training on schedule, and preserves Portland Fire & Rescue teams that save lives during medical emergencies every single day.
The plan also restores more than 20 critical positions in other bureaus that never should have been on the layoff list to begin with. In addition, it extends pay for all laid-off employees until September 1 and benefits through September 30, ensuring a smoother transition even as we need to make difficult cuts to balance the budget.
From the start of the budget to now, I helped craft and was a sponsor on five different proposals to responsibly restore critical services and the jobs of the people who provide them. I worked with every single Councilor at some point in this process, because the services that Portlanders rely on matter most. I have spent 18 months telling you all that I am focused on the long term — on how our decisions set up our city for the future. And as I look at next year's budget and weigh how we sustain and strengthen the services we have today, I'm proud that we ultimately found a path forward to do what is right, even within the constraints of a very difficult budget year. This is responsible, progressive governance.
Drivers' Resource Center
Council has voted unanimously to establish a Drivers' Resource Center for rideshare drivers in Portland. I was so proud to co-sponsor this ordinance, and that we received widespread support of such a critical policy.
Today, drivers in our community are facing unpredictable wages, unexpected deactivation without recourse, and no access to benefits like healthcare, paid leave, or job protections. A centralized, independent place for rideshare drivers to access employment-related resources will get them the support they need to be successful, stabilizing the rideshare workforce — and, by extension, the transportation system we ALL rely on.
I want to shout out Councilor Novick for being an early leader on this work, Council President Dunphy and Councilor Morillo for joining us as co-sponsors, and Drivers Union OR for using their advocacy to enact meaningful policy change in our city. It was a privilege to see this cross the finish line at Council.
Creating pathways to homeownership
I voted no on an administrative proposal to eliminate the income threshold for affordable homeownership units in our city. When we remove income limits entirely, we risk turning a public investment for low- and middle-income Portlanders who are truly priced out into a broad market subsidy that could benefit households who don't actually need it. If we're serious about making these programs work, we need to align them with the actual barriers people are facing.
Though the ordinance ultimately passed, this is not the end of the conversation. I will be bringing forward legislation focused on strengthening pathways to homeownership in Portland, especially for first-time and moderate-income buyers.
Community events and engagement opportunities
Sunday Parkways
For the first time since 2019, Portland Sunday Parkways will be returning to North Portland on Sunday, August 2, with a brand-new route showcasing downtown St. Johns and PBOT's new walking and biking infrastructure investments along N Willamette Boulevard. I'll be tabling (N Wall & N Houghton in Portsmouth) AND biking the route, so keep an eye out and please don't hesitate to come say hi!
N/NE housing and homeownership opportunities
On July 7, the North/Northeast Oversight Committee and the Portland Housing Bureau joined the Housing & Permitting Committee to present their annual N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy Report. This work is a community-led initiative to address historic gentrification and displacement in North and Northeast Portland, in large part due to City actions and eminent domain.
As part of this strategy, the Portland Housing Bureau offers home repair grants and a down payment assistance loan program. I am a big believer in this work and in the importance of equitable opportunities for successful homeownership. I encourage you to visit this page for more information on these and related programs and to share with people who may be eligible for assistance.
Neighborhood association meetings
In August, I will attend the following neighborhood association meeting(s):
- August 10: Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
You can also catch me at several of our District's neighborhood block parties throughout the month! I hope to see many of you very soon.
In solidarity,
District 2 City Councilor