Portland and the federal government

Learn about our sanctuary city status, efforts to block federal overreach: Portland.gov/Federal

News and notices

Displaying 1 - 10 of 35 related news.

Sign of the Times

Rosa Parks Way got a new look recently. Meet the legendary Portland artist who designed the street toppers. With vivid colors and striking images, Arvie Smith challenges us to look beyond the surface and see the strength, resistance, and resilience of the oppressed.

News article

Artist Arvie Smith and two assistant painters stand in front of a vibrant mural showing young people looking to the future.

Circling Back to Help the Community

As part of Portland Fire & Rescue's CHAT after-care team, Kyle LaClair circles back to 911 callers to provide ongoing support that goes beyond what first responders can offer.

Updated Blog post

A CHAT emergency responder holds open an exit door in an apartment building.

Meet the Problem Solver

Anne Hill runs the Problem Solvers, a small but mighty team working to make Portland’s public spaces safer and friendlier by solving problems, one block at a time. As director of the Public Environmental Management Office (PEMO), she focuses on keeping business districts vibrant and fun.

Blog post

Anne Hill stands in front of a mural in Portland.

Climbing high to keep the signal clear

Electronics technician Josue Castaneda maintains the communications towers that play a vital role in public safety, allowing Portland's first responders to communicate during an emergency. Underpinning all that high-flying technology is an elemental skill: climbing hundreds of feet in the air.

Blog post

Technician Josue Castaneda climbs a communications tower with rope and harness.

Tracking Portland’s wildlife

Terrestrial wildlife biologist Jade Ujcic-Ashcroft of the Bureau of Environmental Services monitors the health of the birds and beasts who call Portland home. Sometimes that means finding creative ways for us to share the ecosystem we inhabit together.

Blog post

Biologist Jade Ujcic-Ashcroft stand in a wetland with a handful of frogspawn.

'Community has the power'

As the City's disability equity manager at the Office of Equity and Human Rights, Nickole Cheron brings her lived experience to the job. She has created tools that empower people who have disability – so they can better access city programs, services and events and make their voices heard.

Blog post

Smoke on the water, fire in the sky

Fires can start and spread anywhere. Portland’s industrial waterfront includes many structures that are hard for firefighters to access from land. As a harbor pilot and fire fighter for Portland Fire & Rescue, Colin Mcgladrey safeguards the city from the bridge of Fire Boat 21.

Blog post

Firefighter Colin Mcgladrey on a fire boat

Turning water into data

Environmental Specialists like Thomas Krause test thousands of samples a year to make sure Portland’s drinking water is clean and safe.

Blog post

A Water Bureau employee uses a glass jar to collect water from an open water quality sampling station: a green box with a water faucet inside.

Save a life, install a smoke alarm

Public education officer Lieutenant Laurent Picard of Portland Fire & Rescue works helps Portland residents save lives, prevent fires, and prepare for urban wildfire.

Blog post

Firefighter Laurent Picard stands by firetruck at Belmont Firehouse.

The goodwill ambassador

Park ranger Andres Lucas-Robles is in the field every day helping people have fun and stay safe in the 156 city parks managed by Portland Parks & Recreation.

Blog post

Ranger Lucas patrols Cathedral Park with Willamette River in background.

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