  Community Cares Day, Piazza Painting, and Inner Eastside for All Bike Ride
As a teacher, parent, and community member, there’s something magical about the start of the school year. One start-of-school tradition I love is Portland Public Schools’ Community Cares Day, when volunteers help make school grounds more welcoming, safe and beautiful.
On Saturday I helped at Richmond Elementary School, then visited Sunnyside Environmental School where a few of my staff members were volunteering. It was exciting to see the freshly-depaved area at Sunnyside, where a new outdoor learning space is going to be built. Middle school students created the design, with help from PSU’s School of Architecture and City Repair. I can hardly wait to see the new bee-themed area!
Next up was painting the Sunnyside Piazza. It was a beautiful day for meeting neighbors and making the piazza more beautiful. Congratulations to the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association, City Repair, and the many volunteers and supporters who made the event a success!
Finally, I joined the Inner Eastside for All bike ride, sponsored by Portland: Neighbors Welcome, StrongTowns PDX, and Bike Loud. It was great to hear ideas for making Portland more affordable and accessible for everyone!
What a wonderful Saturday!
 (from left) City Councilor Olivia Clark, City Councilor Candace Avalos, Fire Chief Lauren Johnson, Mayor Keith Wilson, and Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane
New Fire and Rescue Chief
Welcome to Portland, Chief Lauren Johnson! It was great to be at the swearing in ceremony Monday morning, where Chief Johnson became the 41st chief of Portland Fire and Rescue.
 Summer Free for All
There are just a few more events in the Summer Free for All program – the collection of free concerts, movies and events that is coordinated by Portland Parks & Recreation. Woodstock Neighborhood Association is co-hosting a showing of Beetlejuice (1988) and a concert featuring Heads of Slate starting at 7:15 p.m. on August 30 at Woodstock Park. For the full Summer Free for All schedule click here. Happy last days of summer!
(PARK)ing Day
Have you heard of (PARK)ing Day? The international event, held the third Friday in September, invites people to temporarily create public installations in parking spaces (aka parklets). The deadline for filing a permit to participate this year is September 12, and the link is here.
Recess Weeks
Portland City Council will be in recess for one more week, with a return to the regular schedule on Tuesday, September 2. I will be out in the community, and staffing will be reduced as members take a much-needed break. Please give us a couple of extra days to respond to your emails and call. We are still happy to hear from you!
On Wednesday I attended a listening session hosted by Multnomah County, and made clear that universal preschool is needed for creating strong futures for our kids and families. As OPB reported, the proposal is troubling as the program reflects the will of voters and is not even halfway through its rollout. A final vote from Multnomah County Commissioners is expected next Thursday.
There’s lots of great information in this month’s newsletter from SE Uplift, including the announcement of the soft opening of my new in-district office space!
Resources for Extreme Heat
An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect through Tuesday morning. Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures of 93-103 degrees are possible. For a list of Multnomah County cooling centers, click here. More information on staying cool can be found here: https://www.portland.gov/united/stay-safe-during-heat
Study on City Government
I found this study, by Mekhi Gardner in partnership with the North Star Civic Foundation, really interesting! Let me know what you think!
City Council representation + government efficacy: What Portlanders say
How do Portlanders feel about the efficacy of our city government? Are their interests represented by City Council members? Learn who feels well represented and who does not.
As a proud rank and file union member of the PAT, I stand in solidarity with all workers in the fight for better care, staffing, and access. It was an honor to speak at a recent rally of the Oregon Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals. Links to the OFNHP petition and website are here.
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