 I have been meeting with Mayor Keith Wilson and constituents across District 4 to discuss the City Administrator’s newly released preliminary budget recommendations.
While the budget gap is dire, I believe the City of Portland will get through this by working together. I remain committed to protecting community safety and traffic safety programs while adhering to fiscal responsibility.
Please save the date for a district-based listening session on April 1st to gather public input on priorities. Please go here for information about all of the four listening sessions.
 I’m also continuing to hold weekly events in every neighborhood across District 4, where constituents are welcome to share their views about budget priorities or any other concerns. At a time of great uncertainty at the federal level, it’s more important than ever to act locally.
Please save these dates:
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Goose Hollow: 10 am-noon Friday, March 21st at Bold Coffee and Books, 1755 SW Jefferson Street.
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Bridlemile: 3-5 pm Monday, March 24th at Steeplejack Pizza and Beer, 4439 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway.
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Pearl District: 9:30-11 am Friday, April 4th at The Fields Bar & Grill, 1139 NW 11th Avenue. Co-hosted with Stan Penkin, Past President of the Pearl District Neighborhood Association.
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South Burlingame: 2:30-4:30 pm Saturday, April 12th at Fulton Park Community Center, 68 SW Miles Street.
 Our first three in-district events were informative and well-attended. My hope is to hear directly from constituents while providing them an opportunity to meet their neighbors and support a locally owned small business. Special thanks to Elephants Delicatessen (South Portland), Négociant (Northwest District), and John’s Marketplace (Multnomah) for hosting us!
 Last month the Portland City Council and the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners met together for a two-hour work session about our Homeless Response System. Surveys show that homelessness is still top of mind for frustrated Portlanders who want effective solutions. I expressed my concerns about future funding challenges and reminded leaders that we all need to be pulling in the same direction to fix this humanitarian crisis.
Fortunately, the City is involved in multiple projects to preserve and develop more units for people of all income levels. For example, Habitat for Humanity’s Gooseberry Trails will bring 52 newly constructed townhomes to the Hillsdale neighborhood, prioritizing large and multigenerational families.
 Following up on a meeting we had in January, members of the Downtown Neighborhood Association came to Portland City Hall last month to see the new Council Chambers and my office.
I am grateful for the hard work of neighborhood leaders like President LaJune Thorson, Vice President Xavier D. Stickler, and the board of directors. Our neighborhood associations are vital to the livability of Portland.
 I recently met with Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council – including President Nate Stokes and Executive Secretary Randall Friesen – to give them an update on the Portland City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee activities, asset management, and my recent appointment to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Oversight Committee. I also answered questions regarding Portland General Electric’s Harborton Reliability Project as well as the current pause in construction of the Bull Run Filtration Project while a permitting appeal is resolved.
 Last month I attended a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for newly elected Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, who represents part of District 4 in Washington, D.C.
I was joined by my City Council colleagues, Mayor Keith Wilson, Secretary of State Tobias Read, U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, former Congressman Earl Blumenauer, and local leaders. Congresswoman Dexter asked attendees to take a “community pledge” to stand up for the humanity of everyone while building a more equitable and just community.
 This month I was in Washington, D.C., with the League of Oregon Cities, which develops policy and legislation to help all 241 Oregon cities build thriving communities that are equitable, healthy, and safe. As Portland’s representative on the League of Oregon Cities board, I attended the Congressional City Conference to discuss the impact of federal policy on local governments while strengthening local-federal partnerships.
 This month I took a tour of the future home of the long-awaited James Beard Public Market, which will showcase Oregon-grown products at Southwest Sixth Avenue and Alder Street. Scheduled to open this fall, the market will serve as “Portland’s Kitchen” next to “Portland’s Living Room” (Pioneer Courthouse Square).
The market carries forward the legacy of James Beard, “The Dean of American Cookery.” Beard was born and raised in Portland and went on to write more than 20 cookbooks and host the nation’s first network television cooking show.
 Portland’s thriving food scene plays such an important role in District 4 and in the city’s economy. Last month I sampled innovative treats at the Oregon Taste truffle celebration, which invited local chefs to interpret this winter treasure. My former next-door neighbor Greg Higgins’ namesake restaurant never ceases to impress! Proceeds benefited the James Beard Public Market.
 Last month I attended the first meeting of Portland City Council’s Arts and Economy Committee. This committee will address the needs, programs, policies, and bureaus that deal with the arts, economy, and business sectors.
I am both deeply concerned about the City’s economic forecast and optimistic about our future, and I am confident we have the raw materials we need to grow our own success: the people, the ideas, and the environment. The new City Council, in partnership with our regional and state partners, must make wise investments to ensure both economic prosperity and long-term housing affordability.
 Did you know that Hoyt Arboretum is home to 190 acres of beauty, 12 miles of trails, and 2,300 species of trees and shrubs from six continents? Last weekend offered beautiful weather to explore this District 4 treasure – with some signs of spring along the way! If you’d like to help keep trails cleared and conserve endangered species, check out the volunteer opportunities at HoytArboretum.com.
 I recently attended a conversation with curators at Portland Art Museum. This was a celebration of the restoration of its most treasured painting: “Waterlilies” by Claude Monet. After more than 65 years, this monumental canvas finally looks much as the artist intended – without varnish.
As a member of Portland City Council’s Arts and Economy Committee, I believe our museums and cultural institutions are critical to our downtown revitalization and community stabilization. Arts and culture should be viewed not as an isolated sector but as a vital part of our region’s resilient and innovative economic ecosystem.
 Last month I joined City Club of Portland for a panel discussion alongside my fellow District 4 Councilors, Eric Zimmerman and Mitch Green. Willamette Week reporter Sophie Peel moderated a robust conversation about budget concerns, public safety, downtown recovery, the federal government, the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub, and even snack foods. I invite you to check out the recording here.
 March is Women’s History Month – a great time to acknowledge my history-making colleagues on Portland City Council. For the first time since this body was established in 1851, six of the members are women!
 Bloomberg reported on positive trends and exciting projects on the horizon for Portland’s comeback. While we work to get back to basics and balance our budget, our newly elected leaders and Mayor are working together to help Portland turn the corner.
Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney wrote in The Oregonian about “several ambitious projects in the pipeline … born out of our city’s resilient and magnetic culture,” including the downtown James Beard Market, Albina Vision Trust, and the OMSI District.
Our downtown businesses are experiencing more optimism and less crime, according to a new survey. KOIN-TV spoke with Downtown Portland Clean & Safe about ongoing “efforts to boost the health of downtown Portland businesses by prioritizing investments in economic revitalization, public safety, and cleaning initiatives.”
Forbes published a first look at renderings for Portland Diamond Project’s proposed South Waterfront ballpark at the former Zidell Yards location between Ross Island Bridge and Tilikum Crossing. This 32,000-seat facility has great potential to serve sports fans while boosting our local economy!
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