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(He/Him) councilor.dunphy@portlandoregon.gov

Bluesky @councilordunphy Instagram @councilorjamiedunphy

A Message from Councilor Dunphy:

I just got back from Vienna, Austria as part of a delegation of housing advocates, developers and housing-focused elected officials, and I can’t stop thinking about what it felt like to walk through their neighborhoods. They pride themselves on the fact you can't tell someone's income based on their address, and I really felt that. Folks of every income lived together in very intentional ways. 

Kids played safely in courtyards. Families gathered in parks and playgrounds that were woven into every block. There were small businesses, grocery stores, schools, health clinics, and cafés around every corner. Every five minutes a train would pull up, every car filled with people in some of the most impressive public transit I've ever experienced. 

It was striking how people weren’t weighed down by the stress of housing insecurity. They had stability. They had community. They had dignity.

It’s hard not to compare that to what we see every day here in Portland. Too many of our neighbors live in constant fear of losing their homes. Too many families are one rent increase or one layoff away from eviction. Vienna demonstrates that it doesn’t have to be this way. Housing there is treated like a public good: built, maintained, and protected the same way we should treat schools, parks, or roads. 

(Emphasis on “should”. I know the roads are a mess, don't yell at me.)

So what does that mean for Portland? It means we have to start re-imagining how we use our limited public dollars to create long-term stability for renters. With six new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts coming online in the next five years, we have a real opportunity to do things differently. We can invest in proven models that ensure stability for decades, like limited-profit housing, co-ops, and publicly-owned housing designed to stay affordable for the long haul.

But don't get me wrong: Vienna has a 100-year head start on us. So Portland will not look like Vienna in my lifetime. But we can take meaningful steps now that will set us up for success for generations to come. If we are bold and intentional, we can build neighborhoods where affordability is permanent, where people of all incomes live side-by-side, and where every family has the security to plan their future. The Vienna model proves that it’s possible. Cities like Vancouver, BC and Oakland, CA have already started modeling these policies as they tackle their own affordability crises. The question is whether Portland is ready to rise to the occasion and to take the bold next steps to make it happen here. 

I believe we can.

Dunphy in the Community:

Mark your calendars! Councilor Dunphy will be hosting ongoing, informal constituent coffees at Parkrose Coffee to connect directly with community members.

The first coffee conversation will be hosted at Parkrose Coffee on Friday, September 26th from 12:00PM-3:00PM.

These gatherings provide an opportunity for residents to share their ideas, raise concerns, and hear updates on City Council initiatives in a relaxed, conversational setting.Come by any time during that window and join the conversation. We want to ensure that local voices are represented in policy discussions. Please attend, bring questions, and participate in open dialogue with one of your local District 1 Councilors!

Councilors Candace Avalos and Jamie Dunphy invite Gateway neighbors to a community town hall on Wednesday, October 8, from 6:00–8:00 PM (dinner at 5:30) at the IRCO Sokhom Tauch Community Center (10301 NE Glisan St).

Attendees will hear a presentation from Prosper Portland and connect with City and community representatives before joining small-group discussions to share questions, concerns, and ideas about future plans and investments in Gateway.

Dinner, childcare, and interpretation available upon RSVP.

Team Updates:

After much feedback from our constituents expressing confusion around our joint-chief structure, we want to share an update that we hope strengthens communication, reduces confusion, and better serves the community.  

Going forward: 

• Madeline West will serve as Chief of Staff, leading policy development and coordinating work at City Hall. 
• Amani Kelekele will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff, focusing on community outreach, engagement, and ensuring that neighborhood voices are heard and connected with Council work. 

Both Amani and Madeline remain Senior Council Aides, and this adjustment simply clarifies responsibilities so our team can operate more effectively and be more accessible and accountable to the community.  

We’re also excited to introduce Emma Jenson as our new Community Outreach & Engagement Coordinator. Emma will support community events, strengthen direct outreach with our constituents, and help expand the reach of our office. 

Emma is a musician, organizer, and civic engagement professional with nearly a decade of experience in voter education, field organizing, and legislative advocacy. She has worked on electoral campaigns and policy initiatives, including serving as Parliamentarian for the California Democratic Party’s Progressive Caucus and as Field Director for the Portland Association of Teachers’ Schoolboard Slate. 

Her background combines community-based volunteer activism, direct field outreach, and legislative work, all aimed at increasing accessibility to civic participation and empowering voters. Emma is passionate about building stronger connections between residents and government and leveraging her skills to ensure more voices are heard in the civic process. 

We are grateful for the dedication of our team and believe these refinements will help us deliver excellent service to the community while ensuring clear and responsive communication and a unified team. 

Policy Preview:

Council Passes First Phase of Code Alignment Project

This week, I was proud to join Councilor Angelita Morillo and Mayor Keith Wilson in sponsoring the first phase of the Code Alignment Project, which City Council unanimously approved.

These changes temporarily pause four upgrade requirements that apply to additions and alterations of existing buildings, not new construction, in order to simplify our processes, speed up permitting, and make it easier to alter and improve housing in Portland. The suspensions last until January 1, 2029, with a review in 2028 to measure results and consider permanent adoption.

What does this mean in practice? For most alteration projects, requirements like street tree planting, frontage improvements, seismic evaluation reports, and non-conforming site upgrades will be paused. By reducing fees and requirements for most upgrade projects, we can help property owners and builders focus on the work that adds housing and economic activity, without unnecessary delays.

This is exactly the kind of collaborative, problem-solving work our new form of government was designed for. By aligning priorities across bureaus and listening to the people who deal with these issues every day, we can create a permitting system that is faster, clearer, and more effective.

This is just the first step. The Code Alignment Project will continue to bring forward more recommendations in the months ahead to help Portland grow, prosper, and deliver the housing our community needs. We are already looking forward to phase 2, where we will be sure to take even bigger steps to improve efficiency and clear standards in Portland’s permitting code.

Opportunities of the Month:

Supporting PGE Customers Through the Income-Qualified Bill Discount Program

Portland General created the Income-Qualified Bill Discount (IQBD) program—to help ease the financial burden for customers who need it most. Since launching in 2022, IQBD has grown into one of PGE's most impactful customer support initiatives, offering meaningful monthly discounts to income-qualified households across their service area.

The program is designed to support customers whose household income falls below a certain threshold, based on family size. As of this summer 2025, eligible customers can receive up to 80% off their monthly electric bills. This expanded discount—approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission—reflects PGE’s ongoing commitment to affordability and equity.

The IQBD is just one way that PGE works closely with customers who may need support paying their bills. PGE can also help by setting up a payment plan, extending payment due dates, or helping connect customers with community resources, such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) or Oregon Energy Fund.

Customers can apply for the IQBD program and learn about other resources online or by phone. PGE offers support in 200+ languages to ensure that language is never a barrier to participation. Customer service advisors are available to assist at 503-228-6322, Monday through Friday from 7AM to 7PM or visit https://portlandgeneral.com/secure/iqbd/form

Treebate Program

Looking for other ways to save on utilities? You can save on your City water, sewer, or stormwater bill by planting a tree! This program runs from September 1st to April 30th, which aligns with the perfect weather for tree planting. You can receive up to $50 off applicable utilities by planting a tree in your yard. You can find more information about this on the Treebate webpage.

But what if you want a free tree for your yard? Well, there’s a site for that too! Head on over to the Portland Yard Tree Giveaway, which is open now until supplies run out.

Certain D1 neighbors can sign up for a free residential street tree for your street from now until October 31st. Here are the participating neighborhoods in D1:

• Centennial
• Glenfair
• Hazelwood
• Lent’s
• Powellhurst-Gilbert
• Mill Park
• Parkrose
• Parkrose Heights

Interested in planting a tree instead? You can find Citywide volunteer opportunities here! D1 will have our very own volunteer event on October 11th at Gilbert Heights Elementary. To sign up for this, you can click here!

By bringing more tree canopy coverage to D1, we can help build a community that is more resilient to heatwaves and climate change. We deserve an equitable city, which includes everything from the food we eat to the parks we visit. Together, we can help get East Portland the care and attention it deserves.

TriMet Service Cuts: Community Feedback Requested!

TriMet continues to slash services to climb out of a serious budget shortfall, and the reality of the situation is that TriMet’s expenses exceed their revenue. This means more service cuts are coming.

As anyone D1 resident knows, it can often feel like no one in government is listening. Every bus service that is reduced is another grandma that misses her doctor appointment, or a dad who can’t make it to work anymore. And cuts like this often affect the most vulnerable and underrepresented communities the most.

Trimet is making serious efforts to take community feedback into consideration when they make future service cuts: they have a survey where you can make your voices heard and stand up for bus services in D1.

The Feed ‘Em Freedom Foundation

The Feed ‘Em Freedom Foundation (FFF) is a Black-led food resiliency network that empowers BIPOC communities through sustainable farming and food hubs. Their Black Food Community Center and pantry at 4450 NE 131st Place serves about 200 families each week in partnership with Care Oregon, Zenger Farms, and community volunteers.

Pantry hours:

• Wednesdays: 2:00–4:30 PM
• Thursdays: 3:00–6:00 PM
• Fridays: 2:00–4:30 PM (Seniors: 1:00–2:00 PM)

This November, FFF will assemble Thanksgiving food boxes and is seeking volunteers. Contact them at FeedEmFreedomFoundation@gmail.com or on Instagram @FeedEmFreedomFoundation to learn more or get involved.

FFF recently opened a new farm in Troutdale with Multnomah County’s CROPS initiative. Their cutting-edge work includes freight container “semi-hydroponic” farms that grow up to 900 heads of lettuce weekly while using only 5–10 gallons of water. These farms can operate on paved lots and bring fresh produce closer to our neighborhoods.

As we face challenges like the Gateway Fred Meyer closure and the impacts of climate change, my office is committed to working with partners like FFF to ensure East Portland families can access fresh, sustainable, and local food.