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The Japanese American Historical Plaza is dedicated to the memory of those who were deported to inland internment camps during World War II. Artwork tells the story of the Japanese people in the Northwest. A massive pair of cylindrical bronze sculptures serve as a gateway to the plaza, located in Waterfront Park just north of the Burnside Bridge. During Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we recognize the resilience and contributions to Portland from the communities of Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific Islands ancestry.
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Helping people make their voices heard
Officer Jessica Ruch is focused on keeping demonstrations peaceful and safe so that Portlanders can exercise their First Amendment rights.
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Portland has a longstanding tradition of political protests stretching back to the civil rights era. While many have been peaceful, some have spiraled into tensions between demonstrators and law enforcement, as the City witnessed in 2020. Since then, the Portland Police Bureau has put a new emphasis on communication and building relationships with protestors. That's where dialogue liaison officers like Jessica Ruch come in.
Wearing distinctive white shirts, Ruch and other dialogue officers are on the scene before, during, and after protests to cooperate with organizers and keep people safe. We caught up with her recently to find out more about how she approaches public safety and the right to protest.
What is a dialogue liaison officer? Part of our heritage here in Portland is expressing our First Amendment rights, which include protests. A liaison officer is there to ensure that everybody has the resources they need from the city because this is our home. We also get an idea of what that group is going to need to create or hold a safe space. So if they're going to march, we want to make sure the route is going to be safe, so they don’t get into conflict with traffic or counter-protesters. It helps to know their intentions. A lot of protests these days have mediators within the crowd that help self-manage the event. We just check in to make sure they have all the resources they need.
How did you get into this line of work? I’ve been a police officer for a little over three years now. Before that I worked in outdoor schools and summer camps. Later I worked in shelters and domestic violence. I went back to school and earned a degree in criminal justice. One of my instructors was also a Portland Police sergeant and he suggested I consider applying with the Police Bureau.
Have you ever been in a protest as a participant? I grew up in Portland, so... Yes! I grew up going to protests. This is not something to be tolerated grudgingly. As an American, I know protest is important and I respect that. There is a reason they're out there. There's a reason it's our First Amendment. It’s not just a protest, it’s also a celebration of community and values.
How do you calm people down when emotions are running high? Give them voice. Give them voice and the opportunity to find the language they need for what they need to express. They don’t feel heard. Most of what I do is listening to people and reading what their needs are.
You don’t sound like a riot cop. Right. We don’t have a riot squad any more. That’s an antiquated model. That vocabulary implies that the entire group of protestors has a single mindset. That’s not what we see. We are focused on safety. We do have a rapid response team who are trained to respond to potentially hazardous situations like civil disturbances or natural disasters. They come in when they need to address something quickly, and then they get out of there. We don’t want to be the bad guys.
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Photo caption: The Dr. Darrell Millner Building is part of the N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy. Photos by Josh Partee
The Portland Housing Bureau, oversight committee members, local housing nonprofits and members of the community celebrated the tenth anniversary of the City’s N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy. The strategy led to an investment of $135 million to create 865 affordable rental homes, 115 affordable homes for purchase, stabilize 1,300 households with home repair grants and loans, and help 127 households become first-time homeowners.
During the last three months, the Portland Police Bureau stepped up patrols along Northeast 82nd Avenue and Northeast Sandy Boulevard in response to sex trafficking. Working together with law enforcement partners, the Human Trafficking Unit arrested or cited 30 suspected buyers or traffickers on sex charges. In addition, officers worked with the nonprofit Safety Compass to offer help and services to roughly 25 sex workers.
To commemorate what would have been former City Auditor Jewel Beck Lansing’s 95th birthday last week, the Portland City Auditor’s Office has created a webpage to honor her contributions to the City of Portland. The page details Auditor Lansing’s introduction of performance auditing to the City of Portland in the 1980s from the formation of a Citizens Task Force through the passage of a ballot measure to amend the City Charter.
On May 19, Mayor Keith Wilson proclaimed “Portland Walk and Bike to School and Work Week,” emphasizing the benefits to personal, civic, and environmental health.
Mediation continues this week between the City of Portland and the City of Portland Professional Workers (CPPW). Earlier this month, CPPW declared impasse, and both parties submitted final offers to the State’s Employment Relations Board, triggering a month-long cooling-off period. The City and CPPW have met in mediation eight times since March, and CPPW could strike as early as June 12 if an agreement is not reached.
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Join Rose City Self-Defense and other community partners this summer for a free self-defense workshop, classes and camps for kids and teens (ages 11 and up):
- Free May 31 workshop at Team Quest MMA and Fitness. Parents welcome.
- 2-part series: Saturdays, June 7th and 14th
- Summer Camps: June 16th to 19th, July 7th to 10th, July 14th to 17th
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Starting June 1, riders can catch an all-new TriMet bus line in Portland! TriMet's new service update brings more buses and schedule adjustments to some lines. Learn more and see how your bus schedule might be changing at trimet.org/servicechange.
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New job openings at the City of Portland
- Digital Forensics Examiner
- Engineer III
- Engineer – Electrical
- Facilities Manager I (Manager I)
- Information Security Architect
- Policy Analyst (Analyst II - CPPW)
- Preschool Aide (Recreation Associate)
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Grants and funding
This funding will distribute up to $67 million in grants for community-led projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate resiliency in ways that advance economic, social, and climate justice for our under-resourced communities. The Community Grants 2025 application period is open until May 27, 2025.
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Give us your feedback
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Serve on a board or committee
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Do you live, work, or play in East Portland? Portland Housing Bureau and Prosper Portland are setting up Community Leadership Committees to help develop action plans for three Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts - 82nd Ave, Sumner-Parkrose-Argay-Columbia Corridor, and East 205.
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Follow along Wednesday, May 21, as city councilors review amendments to Mayor Keith Wilson’s proposed budget. Before adjourning, Portland City Council must approve the City of Portland’s FY 2025-26 budget. The final budget will be adopted June 18, 2025.
Not sure what district you’re in?
Check our district map to find your district and your City Councilors.
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Request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for any City of Portland program, service, event, or activity. To ensure the best response, please make your request at least five business days before the program or event, if possible.
Your Portland Moment
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 The Oregon Tradeswomen's Career Fair was held May 16 and 17 this year. It's a special experience for middle and high school students, who participate on the first day. From fixing water main breaks to trying on firefighter gear to networking with employers, the annual career fair highlights exciting opportunities in skilled construction, public safety, and more.
Most workshops were managed by tradeswomen, demonstrating the power and potential of a truly diverse workforce.
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Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या
口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad
Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me
Awewen Kapas
Translation and Interpretation: 3-1-1
The City of Portland ensures meaningful access and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711.
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