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Hi Portland,
And just like that, we're through the first month of 2026.
I want to start out by saying congratulations to Council President Dunphy and Council Vice President Clark. We have important work ahead, and I look forward to your leadership this year.
Now, let's get into it.
PEMO & Central City Concern's Clean Start Program
Earlier this month, I joined PEMO and Central City Concern for a ride-along to celebrate the launch of our sidewalk cleaning initiative, Clean Start.
The program began rolling out last October, with crews cleaning District 4's busiest sidewalks five days a week. Their work includes trash removal, graffiti cleanup, biohazard response, and pressure washing outdoor surfaces.
I took this effort one step further by funding an enhanced seven-day-a-week cleaning program along streets near the I-405 corridor, including the areas around the St. Stephens and Northrup shelters.
But Clean Start does more than keep our streets clean. It is a homeless-to-work program designed to help people rebuild stability in their lives. Employees are connected to supportive housing, healthcare, and substance use treatment, while also receiving job training, mentoring, and pathways to long-term employment.
The result is cleaner sidewalks, increased foot traffic for local businesses, and helping people rebuild their lives. Win, win, win in my books.
If you see the pink bikes out on their route, give the crew a wave and a thank you.
Neighborhood House Coming to Southwest Portland
I toured Neighborhood House's new Southwest Portland location on Barbur Street. The space brings together a free food market, senior center, shared community spaces, and will be Neighborhood House's new headquarters.
The new free food market especially stood out. It will be three to four times larger than their current space, offering more food options and a more comfortable shopping experience. The expanded layout allows people to wait indoors instead of lining up outside and includes personal shoppers for those who need assistance.
The senior center was just as impressive, with dedicated rooms for member-led classes ranging from Pilates to help with your taxes. I also learned that the coffee corner at the senior center is a very big deal, and that the coffee is always hot and freshly brewed.
It's clear the people they serve were front of mind throughout the design. I'm grateful for the work Neighborhood House does and look forward to visiting again when the location fully opens this spring.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day & Talk A Mile
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Talk A Mile brought together young student leaders, local elected officials, police officers, and community leaders for thoughtful conversations about service, leadership, and community.
These students are thoughtful, engaged, and committed to making a difference. They're incredibly impressive, I'm excited to see where they go and how I can support them along the way.
Connecting with Constituents
It was great seeing many of you at the town hall I hosted in Southwest Portland at Ida B. Wells High School. You showed up with both city-wide challenges and hyperlocal issues specific to your neighborhood.
My office is already taking steps to improve traffic safety at the Chestnut and 8th intersection, especially given how close it is to the school, so traffic laws are followed and people feel safe getting to and from home.
I also had the chance to connect with some of you at Heretic Coffee. I really enjoy these conversations over coffee. They're less formal than a traditional town hall and often lead to more honest, in-depth discussions. One theme that came up was the need for city services to do a better job of involving and engaging with neighborhood associations when work is happening in their communities. I'm committed to improving this because I have a deep respect for the work neighborhood associations do and the role they play in our city.
Speaking of neighborhood associations, I highly encourage you to consider getting involved in yours. They're a great way to stay informed, have a voice in what's happening locally, and build stronger connections with your neighbors. And to the neighborhood associations across District 4, I'm always happy to join one of your meetings if you'd like to get something on the calendar.
To everyone who showed up at one or both events, thank you. I really appreciate it. If we didn't get a chance to connect in January, here's where I'll be in February.
What is Eric Eating?!?
Of course I celebrated Wiener Week.
Don't miss your chance to visit participating restaurants across Portland. I stopped by Slabtown's Breakside Brewery and tried the Glizzy Slice—it tastes like a high-end pizza pocket.
Until next month,
Councilor Eric Zimmerman