 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:
-
Old Town: 5-7 pm Wednesday, June 25th at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, 226 NW Davis Street.
-
Hayhurst: 10 am-noon Wednesday, July 9th at Vermont Hills Church, 6053 SW 55th Drive.
-
Hillsdale: 11 am-1 pm Friday, July 25th at PDX Coffee Club, 6369 SW Capitol Highway.
-
Eastmoreland: 3-5 pm Thursday, August 14th at Eastmoreland Golf Course Bar & Grill, 2425 SE Bybee Boulevard.
 Today I’m touring the Portland Police Bureau Mobile Command Center, which continues to focus on neighborhoods that experience a disproportionate increase in crime.
On a recent five-day “high-visibility mission” — which included District 4 areas like West Burnside Street, Couch Park, Old Town, Goose Hollow, and the South Park Blocks — 78 people struggling with addiction were diverted from the criminal justice system to the Multnomah County Coordinated Care Pathway Center. In addition, 97 arrests were made on a variety of charges, including dealing, weapons, and warrants.
Under the leadership of Commander Brian Hughes, the mobile unit conducted this mission while making connections with businesses, residents, and visitors. Together, we are making our streets safer for everyone.
 A Portland tradition for 118 years, the Rose Festival is here! Downtown is bursting with colorful displays for the “Bloom Tour,” which continues through June 8th. Check them out at Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland, The Nines Hotel, Pioneer Place, the Rose Festival office, and many other locations. For details go to bloomtourpdx.com/map.
 The Portland Aquarium opens today!
Local artist Mike Bennett has activated an empty downtown storefront with this immersive educational experience. The aquarium doesn’t have any live animals but does have five colorful biomes brought to life with more than 100 cartoon species. Mike is also the creative force behind Dinolandia, Wonderwood Springs, and Snow Day Village.
Please check out the aquarium while you’re downtown for this weekend’s Grand Floral Parade. I’ll be taking my grandson, who loved Dinolandia!
P.S. Mike has an incredible inventory of fantastic stickers!
 I recently met the outstanding young women from District 4 who are serving as ambassadors on the Rose Festival Court: Esther Lian (St. Mary’s Academy), Ava Rathi (Lincoln High School), and Sivan Safran (Ida B. Wells High School). Their intelligence and goodwill give me so much hope for our future!
 I’ve been enjoying my regular visits with neighborhood leaders, like these folks from the Southwest Hills Residential League, including President Joyce del Rosario. As the 2024-25 fiscal year winds down, I proudly donated some of my surplus office budget to help strengthen our network of neighbors! The District Four Coalition will receive $80,000 for neighborhood association support grants and for its monthly newsletter, Voices. (If you’re not already a subscriber, you should check it out!)
 Last weekend I met with neighbors in Linnton, a small but close-knit community located between Forest Park and the Willamette River.
We discussed my budget amendments to address disaster preparedness around the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub as well as traffic safety concerns. Special thanks to Darise Weller (pictured here) for suggesting potential improvements to Kingsley Park Community Garden and to Nancy Hiser for providing home-baked treats for everyone to enjoy!
 This week I raised a glass at a constituent happy hour with almost 40 people in the Reed neighborhood. Special thanks to Gigantic Taproom for hosting us and to Reed Neighborhood Association and President Kristina DiTullo for helping to spread the word! It was a terrific dialogue covering a wide range of issues.
 In recognition of Bike Month and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, BikeLoud PDX organized a weekend ride starting at the Japanese American Historical Plaza and ending at the Return of the Dragon festival in Chinatown.
The ride was led by Sarah Risser, a resident of Southwest Portland. The cyclists included Joe Perez (pictured here), who serves as Associate Project Manager in Engineering and Construction at TriMet.
I was only able to join part of the loop to Washington Park but was reminded of how fun it is to ride with a group. (Safety in numbers!) It also sent a strong message for drivers to watch for cyclists and pedestrians — and to slow down!
We started with everyone introducing themselves and their favorite spot in District 4. Powell’s Books got more votes than anything!
 I recently attended a neighborhood celebration for The Shack at Sellwood Park, which will have its grand opening on June 20th!
More than 200 people, kids, and pets came out to support a space that will welcome families for drop-in fun all summer long: free sports and recreation equipment rentals, children’s story times, skill-building workshops, dance classes, art lessons, nature walks, evening picnics, a bookmobile, and much more. It will be open from 10 am to 7 pm Monday through Saturday.
Like other craft shacks in parks across the city, this one has been closed and vacant since the 1990s. Sellwood Community House signed a lease with Portland Parks & Recreation to renovate and reopen the shack. This type of public-private partnership is a model for Portland to follow!
 Last month I met with Kit Hawkins and Suzanne Bishop of the Portland Parks Alliance, which has 60 participants from 36 organizations working in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation to care for, grow, and maintain our park system. We discussed a proposal to renew the expiring City parks levy.
The alliance came together out of a shared concern for the chronic underfunding and neglect of parks capital maintenance issues. It advocates for sustainable, balanced, and accountable funding for the parks system.
 The Portland Bureau of Transportation is working hard to fill potholes within 30 days of notification. I co-sponsored the Sidewalk Improvement and Paving Program, which will address pavement maintenance deficiencies particularly in Southwest Portland, and Mayor Wilson included $3.2 million in his budget for pothole repair.
PBOT evaluates our road conditions on a regular schedule and has created an extensive asset rating condition known as the Pavement Condition Index. Depending on this rating, a variety of maintenance techniques can extend the life of the pavement surface, including (listed from least to most expensive):
- crack seal
- fog seal
- chip seal
- slurry seal
- grind and inlay (varying depths)
- full reconstruction
PBOT also considers these factors:
- Streets in fair condition to avoid costly rebuilds in the future
- Busy streets that carry transit and freight
- Local streets vital to Portland’s all-ages-and-abilities Neighborhood Greenway network
- Streets in neighborhoods with communities of color and low-income residents
To report potholes, you can call 503-823-1700, contact 311, send an email, or use PDX Reporter.
 I recently congratulated my beloved French professor, Chrystèle Luneau, on her retirement from Portland State University. PSU is a vital partner with the City and a major institution in District 4.
I was able to take her classes through the Senior Adult Learning Center, which invites Oregon residents who are 65 and older to audit up to 8 credit hours a term without paying tuition – a little-known opportunity for people our community!
 Oregon Health & Science University is the premier medical school in District 4 and one of the city’s largest employers. This week I attended the investiture of Dr. Rodica Busui, one of the nation’s foremost experts and professors in endocrinology, diabetes, and clinical nutrition. She now the recipient of the Jordan Schnitzer Endowed Chair in Diabetes at OHSU at the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center.
I never cease to be amazed at the depth of talent in Portland’s institutions, whether in health care, scientific research, the arts, music, or culture. Portland is awash in hidden treasures and nationally recognized talent.
 My staff recently toured the Willamette River with the Human Access Project, which is advocating for a flushing channel to address harmful algal blooms in Ross Island Lagoon. We also learned about the Calm Water Coalition’s successful campaign to limit towed water sports as well as ongoing efforts to remove concrete rubble from Cottonwood Bay on the South Waterfront.
It was great to see so many folks already out on the water enjoying the dock at Sellwood Riverfront Park! This week I was proud to co-sponsor a resolution in City Council’s Arts and Economy Committee so Portland could join the international Swimmable Cities movement. (Read more in OPB.)
 KOIN-TV covered a recent city-county joint meeting about the Homelessness Response System, where we learned that most of those leaving shelters end up back on the streets. I expressed astonishment at the high cost of services that don’t seem to be getting the results we need; my concern is for their long-term sustainability without eating into the budgets of other programs.
I enjoyed a guest column in The Oregonian titled “Portland, the City That Works for 28-Year-Olds.” We still have many challenges to address, but economist John Taponga points out that recent college graduates are thriving here: “They’re the early adopters, bring fresh ideas and power the knowledge economy…. They’re not just residents — they’re a signal to the rest of the country that Portland still has a future.”
Also looking on the bright side, Portland Business Journal reports on promising signs that small businesses are eager to be back in downtown. While many offices remain vacant, for the fourth consecutive quarter, downtown leasing has outpaced suburban leasing for office spaces larger than 5,000 square feet.
More good news: According to Portland Tribune, a new privately financed entertainment venue is coming to the former Nordstrom space at Lloyd Center! As a member of the Arts and Economy Committee, I know the importance of live music to our local economy.
 Did you know I post regular updates on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky? Please be sure to follow all of my social media channels so you can learn about the latest news from my office!
|
