Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

(He/Him) councilor.dunphy@portlandoregon.gov

Bluesky @councilordunphy Instagram @councilorjamiedunphy

A Message from Councilor Dunphy:

Hi Friend,

As we dig into the 2025-2026 City Budget, I want to take a moment to recognize Mayor Wilson for his commitment to keeping community centers, SUN schools, after-school programs, and recreation funded. I started my career in the David Douglas School District doing gang prevention in a middle school, and I saw firsthand how a good kid with nowhere to go after school can make bad choices. Preserving these programs will save lives. I believe that every dollar we spend on recreation is ten dollars we don’t spend on public safety. 

I also appreciate the Mayor’s focus on efficiency and fiscal stewardship. For too long, we’ve been operating with systems built for a city half this size in a previous century. Modernizing our structures is about more than just saving money—it’s about delivering improved services that work for the people who rely on them. 

Part of that modernization includes rethinking how we support Portland’s economic recovery. I believe it’s time to bring arts funding from Prosper Portland directly into the City’s Office of Arts & Culture, where it can be better connected to our public spaces. When we fund community event grants directly, we can activate parks and streets with music, food, and art—creating community safety, supporting small businesses, and keeping the spirit of Portland alive and well.

And I want to be absolutely clear: East Portland must be held harmless as we navigate these budget decisions. Equal cuts citywide don’t mean equitable outcomes. I’ll be watching every line item to make sure East Portland isn’t left behind.

I want to hear from you so I’m thrilled that this Saturday from 12-2pm, your District 1 Councilors are hosting a Budget Listening Session - Town Hall (see flyer below). I hope to see you there. 

Together, we can build a Portland that thrives—even in uncertain times.

Dunphy in the Community:

THIS SATURDAY! District 1 Town Hall – FY 25-26 Proposed Budget Discussion

📅 Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025

⏰ Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

📍 Location: Parkrose Middle School 11800 NE Shaver St, Portland, OR 97220

🔗 RSVP Here: Link to RSVP

MusicPortland and City Councilor Jamie Dunphy will present the award-winning documentary The Day the Music Stopped at the Tomorrow Theater on May 25 at 7 PM. The screening will be followed by a conversation led by Councilor Dunphy with the filmmaker, the film’s subject, and other beneficiaries of Portland’s music ecosystem.

🎬 Special Screening: The Day the Music Stopped

📍 Tomorrow Theater

📅 Sunday, May 25, 2025

🕖 7:00 PM

🎟️ Free Admission 

🔗 RSVP Here: Link to RSVP

Nashville and Portland are both globally recognized music cities—each with legacies that have driven broader economic growth, supported private-sector workforce development, and attracted music tourism. But while Nashville offers valuable lessons in leveraging cultural assets for civic gain, its experience also presents critical cautionary tales for Portland.

Policy Preview:

This week, my Fair Wages Ordinance came to City Council for its first reading. This ordinance will restore code that provides fair wages for our city’s janitorial, security and parking attendants and ensure that these workers are provided annual cost of living increases. I’m feeling really confident that this ordinance will pass on May 21st, and protect critical front lines city contract workers before their contracts are renewed in July. I want to thank the organizers at SEIU for flagging that this important protection had been removed from the November 2024 Code Amendments Package that was over 600 pages long. 

For the Budget Season, I plan to offer several amendments and budget notes as well as supporting my colleagues in their amendments that protect District One resources and expand workforce development, economic development, and continuing to protect our vital programs for youth.

Opportunities of the Month:

SURVEY NOW LIVE: Help shape the future of N.E. Sandy Boulevard   

Take the survey to help weigh in on the future of N.E. Sandy Boulevard between N.E. 230th Avenue and N.E. 201st Avenue. 

Do you walk, bike, roll, drive, use a mobility device or take transit on this section of N.E. Sandy Boulevard? Multnomah wants to hear from you! 

“This section of Sandy Boulevard is a changing community and needs to be updated to cater to the people who use it today,” Multnomah County Safer Sandy Project Manager Arini Farrell said. “This County planning project is focused on listening to the community and improving the safety of the corridor based on that feedback.”  

The survey is available in English, Spanish, Ukrainian and Russian and is open through June 4, 2025.

Shape the Future of Portland: Take the “Your City, Your Choice” Survey

The Oregon Values and Beliefs Center wants to hear from you! Our 2025 Portland: Your City, Your Choice survey asks Portlanders about life in the city today and their hopes for its future — from neighborhood amenities and safety to City Council representation and community priorities.

Now in its second year, this survey is part of a long-term effort to track how Portlanders’ views and experiences evolve over time. It helps benchmark trends — and inform important decisions being made right now about the city’s future.

🕐 Just 15–20 minutes to complete🎁 Win one of twenty $50 gift cards to local Portland businesses🔒 Anonymous and confidential👉 Take the survey: ovbc.info/2025_PDX

Your voice matters — and your input will help city leaders and policymakers better understand the values and needs of Portland residents across all four new City Council districts.