 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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Arlington Heights: 11 am-1 pm Friday, September 12th at Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center, 4000 SW Fairview Boulevard.
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Far Southwest: 11 am-1 pm Friday, September 19th in Room 310 of the Health Technology Building at Portland Community College Sylvania, 12000 SW 49th Avenue.
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Hillside: 11 am-1 pm Friday, October 10th at Hillside Community Center, 653 NW Culpepper Terrace.
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Eastmoreland: 3-5 pm Thursday, October 23rd at Eastmoreland Golf Course Bar & Grill, 2425 SE Bybee Boulevard.
 Central Library is an important resource and a beautiful attraction that must remain safe and accessible for everyone in our community.
That’s why I am pleased to see increased intergovernmental cooperation between City and County leaders to address a recent spike in violent activity around the facility. At last week’s meeting of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, a cross-jurisdictional operations group outlined a collaborative strategy with a list of actions, including:
- Adding security at the front door at all times and increasing security during open hours.
- Doubling the frequency of exterior cleaning.
- Limiting WiFi to only operating hours to decrease loitering outside the building.
- Connecting with business owners along the perimeter of Central Library.
Library Director Annie Lewis shared that Central Library has already seen a 22% drop in incidents for the month of July. The operations team will meet biweekly to continue implementing action, and the board will consider additional measures at a meeting next month.
 I recently joined Chief Day and other first responders to celebrate National Night Out at Director Park.
Downtown Portland Clean & Safe hosted the event to strengthen our sense of community and promote a safer environment for everyone. It was a unique opportunity for community members to connect with those who keep our city safe — including an explosives-sniffing dog and a crow-controlling hawk!
 Providence Bridge Pedal has given cyclists and pedestrians an opportunity to experience Portland’s bridges car-free for almost 30 years!
It’s a wonderful event with thousands of families enjoying amazing views atop the Fremont, Marquam, Ross Island, and other bridges. Plus, there was great music, treats, and bike mechanics along the way.
Thank you to Portland Bureau of Transportation, Portland Police Bureau, TriMet, and all of the organizers, sponsors, and volunteers who make this amazing event possible!
 Here’s a great way to rediscover downtown while enjoying some fresh air and getting your steps in: Walk Portland is a newly launched pedestrian pilot project designed to help residents and visitors navigate our central city with the help of signs, maps, and a website.
The route guides people to some of District 4’s most popular attractions, including Pioneer Courthouse Square, Director Park, Salmon Street Springs, and Powell’s Books. It also encourages folks to venture off the beaten path and check out the Portland State University Farmers Market, Central Library, food cart pods, local businesses, and more.
While the pilot ends in early November, it will help set the stage for a future permanent pedestrian wayfinding system.
You can experience the route along with thousands of Portlanders during Downtown Sunday Parkways, which will take place from noon to 5pm September 14th.
 This week Portland City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee heard a briefing about the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, a critical connection that is vital to our regional economy.
The aging bridge represents the only stop sign along Interstate 5 between the Mexican and Canadian borders — and it’s built on wood piles in sandy soil, making them vulnerable to failure in the event of an earthquake. The new bridge has the potential to create jobs, enhance safety, and improve access for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users.
The meeting included (top photo, from left) Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle and Community Advisory Group Co-Chairs Ed Washington and Lynn Valenter as well as (bottom photo, from left) The Street Trust Executive Director Sarah Iannarone, Councilor Loretta Smith, and Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Millicent Williams.
Thank you for your dedication to this major endeavor!
 I recently had the privilege of touring Neighborhood House’s new free food market, which is set to open in late November in Southwest Portland.
Since 1905, Neighborhood House has supported children, families, and seniors by providing food assistance and education and promoting positive physical and mental health. Executive Director Chris Chiacchierini told me that a dedicated team of volunteers serves more than 18,000 people a year, with a focus on dignity and respect.
The new multipurpose food market on Southwest Barbur Boulevard will also house a senior center, office space, and many other resources. In partnership with Southwest Equity Coalition, Neighborhood House was able to expand its services from an inadequate space in Multnomah Village to a transit-accessible, 16,000-square-foot facility.
I was thrilled to learn about all of the opportunities this place will have. To learn more or get involved, please check out NHPDX.org!
 To quote from Haruki Murakami: “Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.” Those words reverberate inside Hopewell House, the city’s only residential care facility focused on end-of-life care.
Located at a century-old house in the Hillsdale neighborhood, this nonprofit has shepherded the deaths of more than 10,000 people over its 30-year history. The heart and soul of Hopewell is its huge community of volunteers who provide residents with handcrafted blankets, fresh-baked bread, massage therapy, musical entertainment, groundskeeping, and more.
Special thanks to the Hopewell leaders who joined me for today’s tour: Board Member Dr. Eric Walsh, Board President Sarah Newhall, Executive Director Lesley Sacks, and Board Member Barbara Coombs Lee, who is also the author of “Finish Strong: Putting Your Priorities First at Life’s End.”
How fortunate we are to have this incredible community service here in District 4. Please visit HopewellHousePDX.org/volunteer to get involved!
 “Residents’ response to our recent plea for support and the energy they have brought is truly remarkable,” Higgins chef and co-owner Greg Higgins writes in The Oregonian. Greg was my neighbor when I lived in Hillsdale, and his restaurant is a beloved downtown gathering spot. “The recovery of downtown isn’t just about keeping businesses afloat — it’s about preserving the spirit of Portland.”
Our women’s soccer team leads the nation in attendance. We have the world’s first dedicated women’s sports bar. And we will soon celebrate the return of women’s basketball and the opening of a first-of-its-kind women’s sport performance center. Karina LeBlanc of RAJ Sports tells Forbes, “If there’s one lesson we hope others take from what’s happening here, it’s this: When a city fully backs women’s sports — athletes at the center, with infrastructure, intention, and community behind it — the world pays attention.”
Friends of Washington Park and Zoo Railway is working hard to restore the 3-mile loop connecting Oregon Zoo to Washington Park Rose Garden, Portland Japanese Garden, and other attractions after 12 long years. As I told NW Examiner, “I think it’s so popular that people would support it.”
Union Station is not only the oldest major train station on the West Coast, but it’s also among the nation’s most beautiful, at least according to National Geographic. The magazine raves that our 1896 landmark is “topped with a 150-foot Romanesque revival clock tower and an illuminated neon sign that implores travelers to ‘Go by Train.’ … Today, passengers still wait for departures on large wooden pews under the lofty coffered ceilings, which are adorned with flower-shaped medallions and surrounded by Italian marble walls and floors in the main hall.”
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