 The City of Portland has a $150 million deficit to address as the Mayor and City Councilors draft the 2025-26 budget – and we need to hear from you. The Hillsdale Town Hall & Social will feature a panel discussion followed by a Q&A, with time for mixing and mingling as well. Food, wine, and beer will be available for purchase.
 I’m dedicating time to meet with District 4 constituents both virtually and in their own neighborhoods – to hear what’s on your mind and to provide information on a variety of issues. You can find all of my event listings here.
Please save these dates:
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Southwest Hills: 3-5 pm Friday, May 9th at Vista Spring Cafe, 2440 SW Vista Avenue.
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Linnton: 10 am-noon Saturday, May 31st at Linnton Community Center, 10614 NW St. Helens Road.
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Reed: 5-7 pm Monday, June 2nd at Gigantic Taproom and Champagne Lounge, 5224 SE 26th Avenue.
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Old Town: 5-7 pm Wednesday, June 11th at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, 226 NW Davis Street.
 I appreciate everyone who came last month to my Budget Town Hall in partnership with the Multnomah Neighborhood Association. Mayor Wilson will present his proposed budget May 7th at a public hearing, and I already have some amendments prepared to make sure District 4 needs are prioritized.
I also recently visited with neighbors in Ashcreek-Crestwood and Maplewood, where I learned all about “snickets,” a British term for pathways with walls. Special thanks to Neighborhood House Senior Center, Maplewood Coffee and Tea, and Old Market Pub & Brewery for hosting us!
 Last week I was honored to congratulate a diverse class of new recruits at the Portland Police Bureau’s hiring ceremony. I support Chief Day’s goal of hiring the largest number of sworn officers in 30 years, and I am grateful to these new officers for serving their community.
 The 2025 Oregon Active Transportation Summit brought together transportation professionals, advocates, planners, and elected leaders last week to help shape the future for walking, biking, rolling, and transit.
This year’s theme was “Reclaiming the Basics: Safe Streets and Active Transportation for a Connected and Thriving Oregon.” As the chair of Portland City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I participated in a luncheon program with Priya Dhanapal, Deputy City Administrator for Public Works, and Sarah Iannarone, Executive Director of The Street Trust, to discuss how to sustainably fund transportation in Portland; maintain and upgrade our systems; and stop people from dying on our streets.
 Last weekend I joined the We Believe in Portland cleanup event as well as South Portland Neighborhood Association’s monthly cleanup and graffiti removal at Grover Tunnel. It’s inspiring to see what a difference our community can make when we work together!
 The Port of Portland is a great partner with the City of Portland, investing in our region and welcoming visitors to our beautiful and recently enhanced Portland International Airport. Last month I joined Mayor Wilson to tour Port facilities for the Oregon National Guard, airplane maintenance, and wildlife hazard management. I even got to use a fire suppression training vehicle!
 This week I met with Lewis & Clark College leaders, including President Robin Helene Holmes-Sullivan, Law School Dean Alicia Ouellette, and Graduate School Dean Scott Fletcher, to both learn about this amazing jewel in District 4 and to discuss potential partnerships. With more than 2,000 students, Lewis & Clark is home to the only law school in the City of Roses.
 This week I joined union leaders to observe Workers Memorial Day in commemoration of the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), which affirms every worker’s fundamental right to a safe workplace. This legislation was established through the relentless efforts of the labor movement, advocating for improved conditions to safeguard workers.
Workers Memorial Day is a call to action to continue the fight for workplace safety and to honor the 46 Oregonians who died in 2024 while performing their jobs, including a construction flagger, a dump-truck driver, a landscaper, a maintenance worker, a pipe layer, and first responders.
 In recognition of Yom HaShoah, the Day of Remembrance, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education invited community members last week to recite the names, ages, and birthplaces of victims of the Holocaust. May we never forget.
 Last month I participated in the “Perfect Summer Summit,” a community conversation about why recreation is important for Portlanders of all ages. By working together in our parks, we can help support kids and reduce parental stress while making our communities more cohesive, resilient, and healthy. Special thanks to Sam Balto of Bike Bus World and Ashley Murray and Elizabeth Milner of Sellwood Community House for co-hosting this event with guests Human Access Project, WaterStrong, and Portland Free Play!
 A beautiful sight floating by Johns Landing: Folks are gearing up for the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races!
This event has been bringing an exciting Chinese tradition to Portland since 1989, using boats provided through the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association. I will be joining more than 60 local, national, and international teams that are competing June 7 and 8 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park near the Hawthorne Bridge. For details go to RoseFestival.org.
 Last week I attended “Verselandia,” a youth poetry slam championship where Literary Arts invited more than 20 young Portland poets to recite their original poetry and compete for a cash prize. Our young people’s talent, passion, and concern – in full, unvarnished display – was both impressive and inspiring with many poignant moments.
 The Duniway Lilac Garden in the Homestead neighborhood is in full bloom! This park, named after local suffrage leader Abigail Scott Duniway, contains about 225 plants representing more than 125 varieties. Starting in May 2026, a sewer pipe construction project will necessitate the relocation or removal of several of these lilacs.
 Last month I spoke with KOIN-TV after a meeting of Portland City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which I chair. As I told them, the budget challenges facing the Portland Bureau of Transportation represented “the most depressing presentation” I’ve seen since taking office. After Mayor Wilson releases his proposed budget next week, I will work with my Council colleagues to provide feedback and amendments.
I also spoke with OPB and KOIN-TV about a new audit outlining decades of underinvestment in routine and preventative maintenance of the City of Portland’s aging assets. However, I remain optimistic that our new City Administrator form of government will finally be able to establish a common set of expectations across all bureaus about how to deal with asset management. We cannot leave it to our children to deal with these failures.
Crime is down and foot traffic is up – setting the stage for an exciting summer events season! Please save these dates provided by KOIN-TV, including music concerts (Project Pabst and PDX Live), cultural celebrations (Portland Pride and El Grito), and sports competitions (Rockstar Energy Open and Grand Prix of Portland).
 I am deeply saddened to learn about the death of Moses Ross, a longtime neighborhood leader in Southwest Portland.
Moses served as President of the Multnomah Neighborhood Association since 2021, having previously served in that position from 2010 to 2014. He was PTA President for two terms at Maplewood Elementary, the school his daughter attended.
Moses served on the Multnomah County Charter Review Committee in 2015 and the Multnomah County Community Budget Advisory Committee from 2018 to 2023. He also championed Multnomah County’s Campaign Finance Reform ballot measure.
Moses was active with the Democratic Party of Oregon, having served as a Party Officer, Committee Chair, a member of both the County and State Central Committees, and a Precinct Committee Person. He represented Oregon at Democratic National Conventions in 2008, 2016, 2020, and 2024 and ran for Portland City Council last year.
Please join me in honoring his memory.
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