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Dear Portlanders,

Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

This May, I'm reminded of the unique stories and histories of AANHPI communities in Portland. I couldn’t be prouder to serve my hometown and all of you as one of the first two Asian American city councilors in Portland's history, alongside my colleague Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane.

May is also National Small Business Month, so I encourage you to celebrate by patronizing some of Portland’s many great AANHPI-owned local businesses—including some of my favorites in District 2, Cedo's Falafel and Gyros, Gado Gado, and Lúa. 

Our communities are a vibrant part of the tapestry and rich history of our city. We've experienced dark times—like the 1910 St. Johns Riot and the internment of Japanese Americans. But we are resilient, we're thriving, and Portland wouldn't be Portland without us—since we've been here about as long as there's even been a Portland.

With gratitude,
Sameer Kanal

Councilor.Kanal@portlandoregon.gov 

Month in Review

On April 3, the City held the fourth and final budget listening session, this one for District 2, at Portland Community College’s Cascade Campus. The turnout was incredible! Portlanders expressed how important places and programs like community centers, SUN schools, and Community Health Assess and Treat are to North & Northeast Portland. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and priorities with us. It’s tremendously important that the City Council knows what you want as we head into the next phase of the budget process.

April 13-19 was National Public Safety Telecommunicators Appreciation Week honoring the 911 dispatchers and other public safety communicators who are there for all of us in an emergency. We recognized the lifesaving work of these professionals at the start of the Apr. 16 City Council meeting. Thank you to BOEC/911 Director Bob Cozzie and Senior Dispatcher Carolyn Welch for joining and to all our emergency communicators for helping keep Portlanders safe.

Tens of thousands of Portlanders gathered at the Japanese American Historical Plaza to kick off the "Hands Off! Portland Fights Back!" march protesting the Trump Administration’s attacks on our democracy. I was honored to speak alongside my colleagues, Councilors Angelita Morillo and Tiffany Koyama Lane. Portland will always stand up for our people and values and stand against fascism.

On April 17, I held a joint Town Hall with Multnomah County Commissioner Shannon Singleton at George Middle School. Community members shared their priorities for housing & homelessness, infrastructure & transportation, workforce & economic development, and healthcare & public health.

I joined my colleagues, Councilor Candace Avalos and Council President Tiffany Koyama Lane at More Equitable Democracy’s “Lift Every Voice” convening. The event brought together more than 120 advocates, organizers and leaders from multiple states to celebrate wins, share learnings and honor the legacy of civil rights theorist and legal scholar Lani Guinier.

I testified before the Oregon Joint Committee on Transportation in support of HB 2749, a bill that appropriates money to ODOT to fund a new bridge across the railroad cuts at Columbia Blvd. The current bridges there were built before today’s more seismically resilient building standards and are likely to collapse if there’s a major earthquake, cutting off parts of North Portland from emergency services. The bill will next be heard in the House Ways and Means Committee.

Council Updates

Portland Street Response Resolution

The resolution I introduced alongside my colleagues Councilor Candace Avalos and Councilor Angelita Morillo to support and expand Portland Street Response passed out of the Community and Public Safety Committee! The resolution would make PSR a co-equal branch of our first responder system, affirm its mission as a behavioral health crisis response program, and prioritize hiring and training until it’s fully staffed for 24/7 citywide operations.

Thank you to everyone who shared testimony in support. The resolution will next be heard by the full City Council.

Social Housing Study

The City Council passed a resolution to study alternative housing financing ownership models, including social housing. Over the next year, the Portland Housing Bureau will conduct a study analyzing and evaluating social housing models, municipal ownership models, alternative financing models that leverage public subsidies, and any other potentially viable models for our city. Portland has a housing emergency. We need to explore new ideas and solutions to reduce the housing shortage and ensure every Portlander can afford to live here.

City & District News

Mayor's State of the City Address

Mayor Keith Wilson delivered his first State of the City Address at Franklin High School on Friday, May 2. He gave an update on the progress on homelessness and laid out his vision for additional priorities including public safety, economic recovery and downtown revitalization, and climate justice. Following the remarks, Mayor Wilson had a one-on-one moderated conversation with JT Flowers of Albina Vision Trust and answered some pre-submitted audience questions. You can watch the address and conversation on City Club of Portland's YouTube channel.

2024 Portland Insights Survey

From June to August 2024, more than 4,200 Portlanders participated in a survey sharing their perspectives on City services and budget priorities. The findings were released this month and provide insights into residents' feelings about public safety, affordability, business and job opportunities, our city's greatest challenges, and overall satisfaction with Portland as a place to live. Thank you to all who participated in the survey!

St. Johns Parade

The 60th St. Johns Parade kicks off Saturday, May 10 at 12:00 p.m. at the corner of N. Burr Ave. and N. Leonard St. Come join me and fellow District 2 Councilors Dan Ryan and Elana Pirtle Guiney for a fun afternoon of floats, bands, drill teams, and horses! 

Events

Constituent Meetings

I love getting out of the office and spending time in District 2 talking with North Portlanders about the issues they care about. This month, I had the pleasure of meeting with constituents at St. Johns Community Center. If you'd like me to come to a community center or other neighborhood space near you to hold constituent meetings, let me know!

Public Hearing on the City Budget

Mayor Keith Wilson released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. On Wednesday, May 7 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. he'll present his proposed budget to the City Council. The public is welcome to attend, and testimony will be heard in person and virtually from 4:30-6:30 p.m. You can also submit written comments. 

District 2 Joint Town Hall

Join me Saturday, May 17 at 2:00 p.m. for a Town Hall with Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Councilor Dan Ryan, and Multnomah County Commissioner Shannon Singleton in the boardroom at the Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center, 501 N Dixon St. We'll be talking about the City budget, what we've been working on, and anything else happening in the city you'd like to discuss!

City Council Meetings

City Council meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month and alternate between day meetings and evening meetings. The next meeting is May 7 at 9:30 a.m. Community members are welcome to attend the meeting in person at City Hall or view the live broadcast on YouTube. Agendas post on the City website the Friday before each meeting.

Committee Meetings

City Council Committees meet on the second and fourth week of the month. The next meetings are:

• Monday, May 12, 9:30 a.m.: Transportation and Infrastructure
• Monday, May 12, 12 p.m.: Finance
• Monday, May 12, 2:30 p.m.: Governance
• Tuesday, May 13, 9:30 a.m.: Arts and Economy
• Tuesday, May 13, 12 p.m.: Homelessness and Housing
• Tuesday, May 13, 2:30 p.m.: Community and Public Safety
• Thursday, May 15, 9:30 a.m.: Climate, Resilience, and Land Use
• Thursday, May 15, 12 p.m.: Labor and Workforce Development

Community members are welcome to attend meetings in person at City Hall or view the live broadcast on YouTube. Committee agendas post online the Thursday before the meeting.

Neighborhood Association Meetings

The City of Portland posts upcoming neighborhood association meetings on its website. See when your neighbors are gathering this month and view construction and maintenance updates for your area!

Public Opportunities

Get Reimbursed for Building Community

The Civic Life Community Activities Fund supports community organizations and neighborhood associations. Eligible volunteer-run organizations in each of the four City of Portland neighborhood districts are invited to apply for reimbursement of community-building and civic engagement activities. Funding packages are available ranging from $500 to $4,000.

Applications will be accepted through May 30, 2025, or until funds are fully allocated. Download a fillable Funding Request, complete the form, and email the completed form to CivicLife@PortlandOregon.gov. 

Join the Heritage Trees Volunteers

The Heritage Tree Program recognizes and celebrates grand trees of Portland for their outstanding size, age, historical, and horticultural significance. Once designated, a Heritage Tree enjoys the highest level of protection and cannot be removed without consent of the Urban Forestry Commission. 

Volunteers directly support the program helping to nominate trees, engage and educate the public, and monitor existing heritage trees. You don't need to be a professional tree expert or historian to volunteer! If you're interested in trees and community history, please consider joining.

Apply for a Safer Portland Grant

The Portland Office of Violence Prevention is now accepting applications for the 2025 Safer Portland Grant to help reduce gun violence through community-based prevention efforts. Organizations can apply for up to $100,000 in the large grant category, or up to $50,000 in the small grant category.

The grant prioritizes prevention efforts in Cully, Hazelwood, Eliot, and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods, along with other areas known for high gun violence rates, but organizations throughout Portland are encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on May 9, 2025.