 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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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.
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Far Southwest: 10 am-noon Friday, June 20th in Room 310 of the Health Technology Building at Portland Community College Sylvania, 12000 SW 49th Avenue.
 This month Portland City Council voted to create the Sidewalk Improvement and Paving Program (SIPP), which will bring more walkable pathways to the parts of Portland that need them the most: District 1 and District 4. I was proud to introduce this resolution with Councilors Eric Zimmerman (not pictured), Mitch Green, and Loretta Smith.
The residents of Southwest Portland, one part of District 4, have been waiting 30+ years for sidewalks and safer streets. This is one step forward! Thank you to everyone who testified and raised their voice to help get this program across the finish line.
 In celebration of Walk & Bike to School & Work Week, the City has advanced a resolution reaffirming its commitment to Vision Zero, which was adopted 10 years ago to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets.
While the number of people biking citywide has increased from pandemic-era lows, the Portland Bureau of Transportation has reported a dramatic decline in cycling numbers throughout the city in the past decade. Safe streets are critical elements of a vibrant city, and I will continue to support every effort to encourage active transportation.
 This is National Public Works Week, celebrating the people who keep Portland moving, flowing, growing, and thriving! If today you drank clean water … flushed without a second thought … took the streets safely … or enjoyed green spaces, then you have experienced Public Works in action. Thank you to these dedicated civil servants!
 This week I had an informative meeting with representatives of the Forest Park Neighborhood Association, which represents one of the nation’s largest urban forests, a biodiverse wildlife corridor that connects to Oregon’s Coast Range. They created this handy map to track sightings of elk, cougars, and bears!
 I want to applaud the perseverance of Friends of Couch Park, who are working on a unified, coordinated strategy with City of Portland officials to address safety and livability concerns at one of District 4’s most loved neighborhood parks.
A set of coordinated actions is being launched to reduce nuisance behavior, increase public presence and programming, and support long-term improvements at the park (which is adjacent to Metropolitan Learning Center in Northwest Portland). Special thanks to Portland Parks & Recreation for taking proactive steps in partnership with the Portland Police Bureau and other City teams!
 I was pleased to see that Mayor Wilson’s proposed budget maintains current funding for public safety programs, which is a big priority of mine.
Portland Police Chief Bob Day’s budget request includes robust strategies that prioritize hiring officers, like this new recruit pictured here with his son. Chief Day also is prioritizing overtime management practices to reduce fatigue and burnout as well as sustained investment in officer training and wellness.
 This month I met with Christine Burmeister, owner of The Daily Feast and Taylor Street Kitchen, to discuss the pressures that Portland small businesses face, particularly downtown.
May is Small Business Month, a good time to remember that our restaurants, shops, and small businesses bring vital services and joy to Portland and deserve community support. Prosper Portland recently opened the Office of Small Business to help connect entrepreneurs to City bureaus and to provide assistance navigating common issues such as permitting, licensing, funding, and procurement.
Thank you to Christine and other small-business owners who have stuck with Portland through thick and thin!
 This month my staff toured RiverPlace Esplanade, a popular attraction in District 4 that is home to Portland's only downtown marina, condominiums, Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel, and small businesses like Little River Café, owned by Megan Kennedy (pictured here).
This eatery offers breakfast, lunch, and a walkup ice cream window that’s in high demand during summer events like the Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races and Waterfront Blues Festival. Thank you for believing in Portland!
 Last weekend I celebrated the 50th anniversary of Paloma Clothing, a venerable small business owned by Mike Roach and Kim Osgood!
Having lived in Hillsdale for almost 20 years, I know that Paloma is an important anchor with tremendous involvement in the neighborhood. Portland must provide more support to our small businesses in District 4 and citywide!
 Did you know that a crowbar is one of the things you should have inside your house in the event of an earthquake? That’s one of the helpful tips I learned last weekend during an earthquake and wildfire preparedness event at Friendly House featuring local novelist Emma Pattee (“Tilt”) and disaster preparedness expert Steve Eberlein.
 This month I joined Port of Portland Executive Director Curtis Robinhold at Celebrate Trade, an annual fundraiser for the Oregon Consular Corps Scholarship Fund. According to the 2025 State of Oregon Trade report, “For years, Oregon has exported more than it imports, resulting in a trade surplus which places it among just 11 states nationwide with this position”!
 Last weekend I attended the 2025 Labor Appreciation Dinner, where the Northwest Oregon Labor Council recognized outstanding contributions by union leaders. At a time of mass federal layoffs, cuts to programs that serve our most vulnerable communities, and the erosion of democratic norms, it's important to come together in solidarity.
 Earlier this month I celebrated Portland’s newest holiday, 503 Day, with my friend Karl Rohde and my family. The podcast “City Cast Portland” created this new tradition — named after a number that has served as Portland’s area code since 1947 — “as a call to action for a more engaged citizenry and a greater and more prosperous Portland.”
Special thanks to the Ankeny Alley Business Association and Portland Bureau of Transportation for collaborating on a fun block party. I even got to meet Tres Shannon, the local impresario behind Voodoo Doughnuts and Karaoke from Hell!
 I recently attended “Taste of Camp,” an annual fundraiser for Camp Rosenbaum. For more than 50 years, this organization has transformed the lives of thousands of low-income children by sending them to Camp Rilea on the Oregon Coast for a week to connect them with community volunteers, build self-esteem, and instill leadership skills. It was a pleasure to share the evening with Board Member Mark Rosenbaum, whose father started the camp.
 May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month — a great time to visit one of District 4’s treasured destinations, Lan Su Chinese Garden.
This month they are exploring the history, traditions, and arts that make up this community’s rich cultural tapestry. Go to LanSuGarden.org for more information about family-friendly activities, educational talks, comedy nights, and a display of traditional outfits and accessories from the Philippines, Pacific Islands, Vietnam, China, India, Japan, Korea, and Cambodia.
Kudos to Lan Su Executive Director Elizabeth Nye for her vision and perseverance!
 I wrote a guest opinion for Portland Tribune urging readers to contact their state legislators in support of the Oregon Transportation Reinvestment Package (TRIP-2025). As chair of City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I know this bill isn’t just about fixing roads — it’s about fixing traffic lights and intersections, improving deteriorated roads and sidewalks, and making our system safer to use.
We’re in dire need of a new and collaborative approach toward maintaining our City assets. This is hardly the sexiest work, but it is absolutely critical to everyone who lives in Portland. The Oregonian reported on a resolution I introduced that will direct top bureaucratic officials to develop a citywide asset management strategy and a plan to pay for billions of dollars in needed repairs.
I spoke with KOIN-TV about Mayor Wilson’s proposed budget and some of my amendments, including addressing parks maintenance through public-private partnerships and increased volunteer engagement. The $93 million general fund budget gap presents some challenging choices, but overall we’re headed in the right direction.
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