A local business owner and East Portland resident will fill a vacancy on the Portland Charter Commission, which is just beginning its work to evaluate the city’s founding document.
The City Council voted unanimously on March 10 to appoint Angela Jones to the open position. She joins the 20-member commission in its once-a-decade effort to recommend changes to the way local government works.
Jones, who grew up in the Columbia River Gorge, works in advertising and owns a bar and music venue called The Big Legrowlski. Over the past year, she said, the COVID-19 pandemic and social justice movement have demonstrated areas where Portland needs to do better.
“It has exposed some serious systemic problems,” Jones told the City Council. “I’m so excited to be part of figuring out how we fix those things, instead of just complaining about them.”
Jones was one of nearly 300 Portlanders who applied to serve on the Charter Commission last fall, leading up to City Council appointments in December. She replaces Scott Fogarty, who stepped down from his role prior to the Commission's first meeting.
City commissioners thanked Jones for her willingness to serve on the Charter Commission, saying her insight will be valuable to the group.
“This is a really critical undertaking that has some very important items on the agenda,” Commissioner Carmen Rubio said. “They will work to review and improve our city government for future generations of Portlanders.”