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Dear Portlanders,

Summer, summer, summertime. Our city is fortunate to have so many great summertime activities—from swimming and boating to outdoor concerts and films. If you’re looking for something to sign the kids (or yourself!) up for, Portland Parks & Recreation still has lots of options available. Check it out below!

However you enjoy this season, make sure to stay hydrated, rest in the shade, and check in with loved ones who are more at risk from the heat. Multnomah County has a map of cooling spaces, and the City’s splash pads are active through Labor Day.

Update on Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

This month, dozens of Portlanders testified in opposition to ICE during a public hearing held in the Community and Public Safety Committee meeting. The City Council has received more information about the administrative process if the ICE facility on Macadam violated the conditions of its permit. It's not what many of you hoped, but we're exploring other ways the City might respond to federal actions that threaten the health and safety of our community.

I’m so proud to be from a city where people stand up for their values and speak up to protect their neighbors from the federal government’s unlawful immigration raids. And I will always stand up for our immigrant and Latiné communities, for Portlanders' first amendment rights, and against authoritarianism and federal overreach.

With gratitude,
Sameer Kanal

Councilor.Kanal@portlandoregon.gov 

Highlights

No Kings Day Protest

I was proud to join my colleagues Councilor Angelita Morillo and Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney and nearly 50,000 fellow Portlanders at the "No Kings Day" rally. This was one of the largest single-day protests in U.S. history, with an estimated 5 million people across the country turning out to stand up for democracy.

Cathedral Park Town Hall

In June we held a town hall in Cathedral Park and talked about the CEI Hub and the potential impacts on North Portland. Thank you to the Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association for co-hosting!

Volunteering and Racing at the Portland Rose Festival

It was another great Rose Festival! This year, I volunteered as a barricade guide at the Starlight Parade and joined the City Council's Dragon Boat Race team "Paddle Portland Forward". Dragon boating is a great sport, and Portland has teams that race throughout the year. Check out DragonSports USA if you're interested in giving it a try.

WorldOregon Young Leaders Tour City Hall

WorldOregon hosted a group of young leaders from Algeria through a U.S. State Department program, and Councilor Angelita Morillo and I had the privilege of sitting down with them to talk about government transitions, immigration, and what it's like being on City Council.

Portland Pride Parade & Waterfront Festival 

The Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade kicked off last weekend at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. I was proud to march with my colleagues on Council and at the City of Portland in support of LGBTQIA2S+ Portlanders.

The festival is one of the largest donation-based LGBTQIA2S+ Pride events on the west coast with tens of thousands of people traveling from all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond to express their individuality and celebrate community. Our city will always be a safe, welcoming place for all identities.

Council Updates

Budget Season Wraps

On June 18th, the City Council officially adopted the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year budget. Some notable wins include restoring a portion of funding for Parks and Recreation maintenance (including community center hours), more support for our small business community through funding the Repair/Restore grant, funding for more PSR responders and more emergency management staff, and financial support for the James Beard Public Market and the Small Donor Elections Program.

Portland Street Response Resolution Passes 10-2

The resolution to expand Portland Street Response as a co-equal branch of our city's first responder system passed in the full City Council, 10-2! With this action, the City commits to hiring and training more responders until PSR is sufficiently staffed to operate 24/7 citywide and establishes a Portland Street Response Committee to bring the community back into the planning process for PSR as promised by previous Councils.

City News

N/NE Housing Policy Annual Report

Portland Housing Bureau released its 2024 State of Housing in Portland Report, which provides an overview of the city's housing market, stock and affordability. The report found housing stock grew by 7.8 percent from 2018 to 2023. Average asking rents increased by 3.3% over 2023, with Hollywood and Roseway-Cully among the neighborhoods seeing the largest increases. The median home sale price in District 2 in 2024 was $519,000, while citywide the median was $503,000.

State Transportation Package Failure Impacts PBOT

The Oregon State Legislature failed to pass a proposed transportation package by the June 30 deadline, which means Portland now faces an $11 million transportation funding gap. This shortfall will result in the layoffs of dozens of PBOT staffers and delays in some street and sidewalk maintenance work and pedestrian safety projects.

This month, the City Council's Transportation Committee unanimously passed a resolution urging Governor Tina Kotek to call a special session and pass a statewide transportation funding package. On Tuesday, Gov. Kotek announced she will call a special session on Friday, Aug. 29. State resources are critical to our city's transportation infrastructure, and I look forward to advocating for Portland's funding needs leading up to this session. 

Pier Pool Reopens

Grab your goggles—after nearly three months of repairs, Pier Pool reopened on July 14! To make up for the late summer opening, the swim season will be extended through September 5. Visit Pier Outdoor Pool's webpage for more information.

Albina Library Reopens

The Albina Library held its grand reopening on July 19. The new, expanded library features an outdoor courtyard, a teen room, a kids play area, a quiet sensory room, community meeting and event rooms, updated technology, and more. Go check out the new space!

National Education Association Convention

Nearly 7,000 educators from across the country gathered in Portland July 3-7 for the National Education Association's (NEA) Annual Meeting & Representative Assembly. The event was the largest convention our city has ever hosted. Thank you to the organizers and attendees for visiting our great city—we're proud to welcome the folks who are fighting for public education.

Events

Town Hall July 29th

How are things going in our city? Join me for a town hall at Love City Church on July 29th at 6:00 p.m., and let's talk about how we can make North & Northeast Portland the best they can be.

Constituent Hours in the Park

Let's enjoy the beautiful summer weather! Come out to Holladay Park on Friday, August 1 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. for constituent hours. Bring your questions, concerns, and anything else you want to share. Reserved time slots are available, and RSVPs are welcome but not necessary.

Email Jacq Tjaden, Jacq.Tjaden2@portlandoregon.gov, to RSVP.

City Council Meetings

City Council meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month and alternate between day meetings and evening meetings. The next meeting is Aug. 6 at 9:30 a.m. Community members are welcome to attend the meeting in person at City Hall or view the live broadcast on YouTube. Agendas post on the City website the Friday before each meeting.

Committee Meetings

City Council Committees meet on the second and fourth week of the month. The next meetings are:

• Monday, August 11, 9:30 a.m.: Transportation and Infrastructure
• Monday, August 11, 12 p.m.: Finance
• Monday, August 11, 2:30 p.m.: Governance
• Tuesday, August 12, 9:30 a.m.: Arts and Economy
• Tuesday, August 12, 12 p.m.: Homelessness and Housing
• Tuesday, August 12, 2:30 p.m.: Community and Public Safety
• Thursday, August 14, 9:30 a.m.: Climate, Resilience, and Land Use
• Thursday, August 14, 12 p.m.: Labor and Workforce Development

Community members are welcome to attend meetings in person at City Hall or view the live broadcast on YouTube. Committee agendas post online the Thursday before the meeting.

Neighborhood Association Meetings

The City of Portland posts upcoming neighborhood association meetings on its website. See when your neighbors are gathering this month and view construction and maintenance updates for your area!

Public Opportunities

Summer Parks & Recreation Activities

It's not too late to sign up for fun summer activities through Portland Parks & Recreation! There are spaces available for everything from biking to arts & crafts and from swimming to dance, and some Portlanders can qualify for reduced pricing. Find an activity for every member of the family here.

Volunteer on the N/NE Community Oversight Committee

Do you have lived experience in N/NE Portland and a belief in restorative justice and housing equity? The N/NE Community Oversight Committee is seeking four new volunteer members. The committee meets every other month and oversees the Portland Housing Bureau's progress toward the goals and commitments made in the N/NE Housing Strategy to address the legacy of displacement. Applications close Sunday, August 3. Apply today!

Apply for the Local Small Business Expanded Repair/Restore Grant

The Local Small Business Expanded Repair/Restore Grant program has reopened. The program provides funding to small businesses located in the City of Portland that have sustained physical and economic damage due to break-ins and vandalism. Grants assist eligible businesses to remain open and operational and contribute to maintaining a healthy street environment. Grant applications are open now. See if your business is eligible!