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Hey Portland,
I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has reached out with concern and kind messages of support after a fire at my home destroyed my car, burned my home, and caused harm to my next-door neighbors. Thanks to the quick response from Portland firefighters, the fire didn’t spread further. I got out safely with my cat Valentino and I’m being supported by my wonderful friends, neighbors, and loved ones as I navigate what comes next.
Investigators arrested Vashon Locust in connection to the fire on November 4th, and it appears that it was set unintentionally. I’ve spoken with District Attorney Vasquez several times since the investigation began and I now have a better grasp of what happened on that night when I woke up to smoke filling my home. You can read my full statement here for more of my thoughts on this update. Regardless of what comes next, I am hopeful that any resolution has room for both compassion and accountability.
To be honest, these past few days have been really hard. Dealing with the aftermath and all the logistics of being a victim of a fire have been emotionally tolling, and it’s also painful to know that so many others in my position wouldn’t have the same support.
Right now, so many people are just one emergency away from losing everything. People are losing SNAP benefits, health insurance is getting more expensive, and rent is rising. The social safety net was already stretched so thin and now it’s being strained to the limits. The deliberate steps at the federal level to further rip away support mean that more people will fall through the cracks.
Portlanders have never been people who back down or turn away from one another. We take care of each other because our systems don’t. We keep feeding people, showing up, and rebuilding, even when it feels like everything around us is burning.
We can’t control everything, but we can control how we show up for each other. And that’s what keeps me going even when times get tough.
Here’s a TL;DR of this month’s newsletter:
Candace at Work:
Candace in Community:
Candace in City Hall:
- Homelessness & Housing Committee
- Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee
- Finance Committee
East Portland Stories and Happenings:
- Portland City Elections and the League of Women Voters of Portland are holding a voter education event at Midland Library on Saturday, November 15th,11:30am – 1pm.
- Read more about the joint Gateway town hall on the East Portland Voice.
- Learn about upcoming Protect Oregon events.
- Check out the Sumner Seed Library for free seeds (located next to the San Lot).
- Did you know Cherry Park has the first residential mural east of I-205? Learn more on their page.
Protect Portland Initiative Passes Unanimously
 There’s no way around it: our city and Portlanders are under attack by a fascist administration. In October City Council took a stand and unanimously passed our Protect Portland Initiative resolution and Councilor Kanal's ordinance I cosponsored to codify our Sanctuary City status. Together, these two policies give us new tools and strengthened protections to push back on federal overreach and militarization.
At the rally before this historic council meeting, I said that "the answer to federal threats is municipalism," and I meant it. Municipalism means building local power, translating values into enforceable code, and protecting our people with policy that's actually binding. We can’t always control what’s happening at the federal level, but we have the opportunity to take ownership of what’s going on in our own backyard.
Our city is not staying silent or staying on the sidelines when our immigrant, asylee, and refugee communities are being targeted by the Trump administration’s cruel and unlawful mass deportation agenda. I am grateful that as a Council, we are standing united against these unprecedented threats to the safety and rights of Portlanders. We’re showing the rest of the country how we respond against this current authoritarian administration — and ultimately, how we win.
Update on the National Guard Court Cases
If you’re confused about the court cases around Trump’s unlawful deployment of the National Guard, you’re not alone! It’s been a whirlwind of dueling cases over the past month, and all the legalese doesn’t make things easier.
The most important thing you need to know is that Trump is STILL BLOCKED from sending in the National Guard.
On Oct. 28, a majority of all the judges serving on the 9th Circuit decided to rehear the case where a panel of judges ruled 2-1 to clear the path for Trump to deploy 200 Oregon National Guard members to Portland. This larger group of 9th Circuit judges reversed the previous ruling and reinstated the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that blocks federalization of the Oregon National Guard.
Separately, on Oct. 29 the lower district court began the fuller 3-day trial over whether or not Trump can send in the Oregon National Guard. Federal District Judge Immergut heard arguments from our legal teams at the City and Oregon Department of Justice and the Trump administration to determine if Trump followed the laws around when the president can deploy the military to American cities. Judge Immergut issued a preliminary injunction on Sunday, Nov 2nd, that gives her until 5 p.m. on Nov. 7th to weigh evidence. She indicated that Trump’s deployment is likely unlawful in her order.
It’s frustrating that we don’t have a definite answer yet about whether or when the National Guard can be deployed to Portland, but I want to make sure that you understand that we’re winning. In fact, the Trump administration has a long record of losing in court because they continue to break the law. Researchers this summer found that President Trump was losing 77% of the cases in the district courts.
This is going to be a long process, and City Council will continue to explore other legislative options we have to protect Portlanders.
Takeaways from the Finding Home Report
Thanks to the Welcome Home Coalition for inviting me to speak at their event celebrating the release of the Finding Home report, a two-year research project that centers the voices of those who are most harmed by our affordable housing and homelessness crises. The report was also presented to the 11/4 Homelessness and Housing Committee.
Their report clears up many of the misconceptions that we’re seeing from some people in our community. For example, respondents rated shelter as undesirable at the same rate as living outside. Two findings that especially jump out are that 91% of respondents said they would move into housing if they could afford it and that 9 in 10 need financial support to stay housed.
It’s crystal clear that our city must do more to shore up rent assistance programs and that is one of my biggest priorities going into the next round of budget negotiations.
I’m hopeful that the Finding Home study will help more leaders and community members focus on real, evidence-based solutions to homelessness and the lack of affordable housing. Many of the recommendations are policies my office is already working on, and that I’m excited to champion — like increasing rent assistance and lowering the trigger for when landlords have to help renters relocate.
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Updating our Urban Forest Plan
In October, City Council adopted the Urban Forest Plan – a guiding document for how the City equitably preserves, plants, and cares for trees so that future generations can benefit from this essential green infrastructure. The Urban Forest Plan was created through months of robust community engagement that included East Portland organizations like 350PDX - Equity Shade Coalition and Thrive East PDX. You can learn more about the adopted Urban Forest Plan on PP&R’s website.
I’m proud to have supported the updates to the Urban Forest Plan. Trees are among our most effective tools for protecting Portlanders from the impacts of climate change — they cool our neighborhoods during extreme heat, clean the air and water we depend on, and make our city healthier and more livable.
This plan takes an important step by setting clear canopy goals and centering equity so that every neighborhood — especially East Portland, where canopy is lowest and the need is greatest — can share in these benefits. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure we meet our goals.
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Candace Call to Action: You can sign up to get a free tree and 3 years of free tree care by seeing if your address qualifies here. This is a new, PCEF-funded, $1.8 million partnership between Friends of Trees and Urban Forestry. You can also receive up to three free trees from the City’s Yard Tree Giveaway.
Gateway Town Hall
 Close to 150 people attended the joint Gateway Town Hall I hosted at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) with my fellow D1 Councilor Jamie Dunphy! Thank you to everyone who provided their thoughts and ideas about what our investments in the Gateway TIF District should go toward. We heard a lot of creative ways we can better activate the Gateway Town Center area, like holding a farmers’ market or hosting an ice rink in the Fred Meyer parking lot. After the town hall, staff worked with the different facilitators of each small discussion table (Public Safety, Transportation, Housing, Economic Development, Gateway TIF) to transcribe and consolidate notes.
After going through all the notes, there were a couple of themes that stood out. The two main priorities were creating a comprehensive plan for a Gateway Town Center/activation of the Fred Meyer site and building more sidewalks. Pedestrian safety, walkability, food access, and active collaboration with the community and neighborhood associations were other main themes of discussion. You can view the notes here.
All three D1 offices recently sat down to identify what we’ve learned through our outreach to the Gateway District community. Currently, the three D1 offices are mapping out short- and long-term action items to revitalize the Gateway District based on community input. We will share our action items with Mayor Wilson and everyone who attended the townhall shortly. We are eager to get to work right away and make some of these happen as early as this winter!
We’ll be holding more events like the joint Gateway Town Hall, so please keep your eyes out for the next opportunity to engage with our office on Gateway’s future!
Help Finding Food
Portlanders and Oregonians are at risk of not receiving their full November SNAP benefits because the Trump administration is resisting releasing contingency funds during the government shutdown. I joined local leaders to call on this administration to immediately fund SNAP benefits and Oregon AG Rayfield has joined many other states in suing the administration to force the release of emergency dollars for SNAP.
After two federal judges ruled to force the Trump administration to fund SNAP on Oct 31st, the USDA says that they will fund SNAP only partially. It’s still unclear when Oregonians might receive their food benefits. That means people will have to choose between paying their bills and paying for a meal. Many of our local East Portland grocery stores will also be hit hard by the loss in revenue. If you need help putting food on the table, you can put in your zip code and find free food options near you at the Oregon Food Bank’s website. Please consider volunteering your time or donating to your local food bank if you have the ability.
Candace Call to Action: Visit this link for a comprehensive list of food resources in the Portland area. For a list of East Portland specific food resources, check out this link.
It's immoral to let people go hungry in the wealthiest country in the world. I’m grateful that Portlanders across the city are stepping up to feed our neighbors, because we take care of us.
Learning How to Protect Immigrants
 Thank you to the team at the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC) for hosting Migra/ICE trainings and to all the Oregonians who showed up to learn more about how to help immigrant communities at this critical time. East County is being hit hard by the increased ICE detainments and raids, but we’re also seeing our community keep families together through Oregon’s rapid response network. I’m committed to amplifying this work through my role on City Council, and I know that Congresswoman Maxine Dexter and state Rep. Ricki Ruiz are also leading efforts at the state and national level.
In addition to contributing to the rapid response system, PIRC also has a new space at Gray’s Landing, an affordable apartment building owned by REACH CDC. PIRC Resource Center volunteers help immigrants who have check-ins at the ICE facility, and they also assist families or friends who are seeking support for detained loved ones. You can learn more about the Resource Center here.
One of the most important ways you can help right now is to clearly document ICE arrests and send the videos and any notes to PIRC. You can either email them at PIRCPDX@gmail.com or send them a link to the video via text: 888-622-1510.
Here’s what to film if you witness an immigration arrest in public:
- Badges & uniforms (or lack of ID)
- Vehicle plates & equipment
- Street signs & landmarks
- Time, date, number of agents (the person recording should state aloud)
- Clear audio of what ICE says or yells
- Film continuously, if you can, from the beginning to the end
- DON'T focus on the person arrested
Latino Network has curated a list of trusted organizations, thoroughly vetted and approved to assist with your immigration needs, including legal support, guidance through the immigration process, and help for individuals and families facing complex situations.
Our communities are safe because we keep each other safe.
Candace Call to Action: RSVP to attend the next in-person Migra/ICE Watch training on November 15th at this link. Follow PIRC’s Instagram page to be alerted to other opportunities to get involved.
Speaking on the Power of Place Panel
Thank you to the filmmakers at Where We Goin’ and Our Just Future for inviting me to join them for an evening of storytelling and conversation at the Power of Place Roadshow! At the event we watched a screening of two award-winning short films at the intersection of place and identity.
In “Dear Young Black Portland,” elder and former Portland NAACP president Sharon Gary-Smith talks about how her family’s home was stolen through eminent domain and shares lessons to the next generation of leaders.
In an episode from the “Where We Goin?: Power of Place” series, Devin Boss, a young, Black filmmaker from Portland, speaks with multidisciplinary artist Intisar Abioto on her work helping curate a groundbreaking exhibit of Black Oregon artists at the Portland Art Museum. They also connect with leaders at Albina Vision, who are leading our nation in what restorative redevelopment can look like.
Afterwards, I joined a panel with new Prosper Executive Director Cornell Wesley, Our Just Future Executive Director Andy Miller and East 205 TIF Community Liaison Paula Byrd to talk about gentrification, displacement, and how we can learn from past mistakes so new investments in East Portland don’t end up with longtime residents being pushed out. There are three new TIF districts being stood up in our part of town, and I’m committed to working with the community, so new redevelopment doesn’t add to historic injustices.
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Walking Tour of Historic Parkrose
 Historic Parkrose is doing incredible work to help revitalize the neighborhood and address public safety concerns. I joined a walking tour with other local elected officials and public servants to learn more about the challenges in Historic Parkrose and the opportunities the community is excited about. At Parkrose Coffee (a D1 People’s Choice Award winner!) we heard about one upcoming opportunity: they are planning to renovate their outdoor space so people can order food from Side Piece BBQ, which currently is separated by a fence on the backside of the property.
Walking along Sandy Blvd, Historic Parkrose Executive Director Héctor Márquez showed us some of the livability issues around the area and empty storefronts that they’re hoping to fill. The stories I heard on the tour are all too familiar in our part of town: Parkrose neighbors feel forgotten and neglected by City Council. I’m committed to changing that narrative and addressing the longstanding challenges in Parkrose is one of my top priorities.
One of our last stops on the tour was Grocery Outlet, which is at risk of closing because of unsafe incidents and property crimes. Grocery Outlet is the only grocery store in Parkrose, and my office has been working closely with Historic Parkrose, store owner Don, D1 council offices, the mayor, and local officials to activate more resources so the store can stay open.
Grocery Outlet in Parkrose, under the leadership of Don McKeever, is more than just a grocery store: to the East Portland community, they are also a critical donor to school pantries and kids’ daycares, a fundraising source for high school football teams, a local employer, and an affordable source of nourishment. Don and the Parkrose community deserve our support, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to help Grocery Outlet stay in this neighborhood!
Constituent Days in October
 October marked the last Constituent Days of the year, and we were able to see some of the best of the Powellhurst-Gilbert and Glenfair neighborhoods!
In Powellhurst-Gilbert, I visited Ed Benedict Park. One of the coolest new features is a playground for younger and older kids that just opened in April 2025. Ed Benedict Park is also home to the Portland Memory Garden, a little-known gem that’s designed to comfort people with memory disorders and their caretakers. The Portland Memory Garden is one of the only memory gardens in the U.S. and one of two on public land. Powellhurst-Gilbert is also home to the new Springwater Wetlands, so check out these great green spaces the next time you’re in the neighborhood!
In Glenfair, I toured Y.O.U.T.H. PDX at 162nd and Stark. Their mission is to motivate, inspire and empower youth, family, and educators to dismantle the school to prison pipeline by challenging existing systems and structures. Y.O.U.T.H provides services like tutoring and literacy programs, and they also offer their space for hosting events like Thrive East PDX’s Green Infrastructure Shade Equity Social (if you missed the Social on Oct. 23, they are planning on holding another event in Spring 2026). Speaking of shade equity, I also visited Glenfair Park which has towering mature Douglas firs, as well as young trees that will eventually help provide more tree canopy in East Portland!
Here are some lunch recommendations if you’re in Powellhurst-Gilbert or Glenfair:
Even though there aren’t any more Constituent Days scheduled for the rest of the year, that doesn’t mean I won’t be out in East Portland!
Candace Call to Action: I’ll still be holding part of my Fridays for constituent meetings, and you can continue to sign up for time slots at Midland Library here.
Slots are very limited for the rest of the year, but there will be openings again in January.
Homelessness & Housing Committee
In October, the Homelessness and Housing Committee advanced a policy to ban the use of algorithms in setting rents, heard an update on shelter funding and services levels from Portland Solutions, moved appointments to the Development Review Advisory Committee, and heard feedback from the community on homelessness and housing issues.
- Councilor Morillo brought her proposal on algorithmic rental pricing earlier this year to full council but it was referred back to our committee so it could get refined further. It aims to prevent price-fixing in the rental market, which is an anti-competitive practice where different competing landlords work together to set rents. You can read a report about the cost of anticompetitive pricing algorithms in rental housing here. The amended proposal was advanced to full council where it will be tentatively scheduled for 11/12.
- During the presentation on shelter funding, Portland Solutions staff explained that nearly $11 million that we expected from the state didn’t make it into the final budget. This month, City Council will consider making hard decisions about how we fill that hole, as well as handling other unrelated budget shortfalls in the Fall Technical Adjustment Ordinance (TAO). City staff were able to come up with some savings through contract negotiations with shelter providers and shifting how services are delivered, but we still have a significant shortfall.
I want to close by highlighting testimony we received during the October 21 committee meeting from a range of homeless service providers and community members who implored the City to not neglect investments in housing placement, permanent housing, and eviction prevention. I’ve been clear that shelters can’t be our only response to homelessness and housing insecurity, and I’m concerned that the City is putting too many of our limited resources towards an ineffective system.
The next Homelessness & Housing Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18th, 12:00 pm.
Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee
In October, the Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee received an informational overview of the CEI Hub Policy Project Discussion Draft alternatives and a presentation on the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) Climate Investment Plan.
The CEI HUB project seeks to update City policies and zoning regulations for Portland’s bulk fuel terminals, address seismic and environmental risks, and improve interagency coordination. The CEI Hub is built on land with a high risk of liquification in the event of an earthquake and surrounding communities are vulnerable to wildfires, spills, and toxic air quality. There are four draft alternatives for the CEI Hub which you can read more about here; public comment closed on October 17. The next update to the project is November 10, which is when the Proposed Draft will be published. If you’re interested in providing feedback, the Dec 16th Planning Commission hearing will have an opportunity for public testimony.
The PCEF Climate Investment Plan (CIP) is the five-year plan that guides how PCEF dollars are spent. The current CIP was developed before the current council was sworn in and the next opportunity for input is the 2025 update. That update will focus on realigning resources to meet performance targets and community needs, with Council engagement beginning in December 2025. Some of my colleagues were concerned about the long-term commitments in the CIP because they feel like they lack the ability to offer feedback on PCEF’s priorities. I’m a little frustrated by that because as someone who was deeply involved in developing PCEF as the Executive Director at Verde, that was the whole point: the organizations advancing environmental justice need stability to see projects through.
I hope that when Council considers CIP adjustments in December, we’re intentional about the process so that we're not misaligning the vision at a time where PCEF-funded programs depend on the stability and the promise that the CIP delivers for them.
The next Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee meeting is on Thursday, November 13, 9:30 am.
Finance Committee
In October, the Finance Committee advanced the Fall Supplemental Budget (the Fall TAO) and the bond to fund the renovation of the new facility that will replace Kerby Garage. As I touched on in the Homelessness and Housing Committee section, one part of the TAO is about resolving a budget shortfall within our shelter system. Another significant reason we need to make budget adjustments is because the City received less money than expected from business license taxes. In recent years, the Fall TAO has been an opportunity to dole out extra dollars because the City collected more revenue than anticipated or because we had more one-time dollars (through sources like federal grants) which meant we didn’t have to tap the general fund as much. This year we’re facing a deficit.
The bond to fund the renovation of the facility that will house CityFleet (Cutter Garage) comes from a decision made by the previous council to move away from Kerby Garage. Kerby Garage has many well-documented problems, like a cramped layout, an aging HVAC system, and an aging roof with tar leakage. Construction on the Cutter Garage is scheduled to begin next spring with completion in 2027.
The next Finance Committee meeting is on Monday, November 10, 12:00 pm.
- Portland City Elections and the League of Women Voters of Portland are holding a voter education event at Midland Library on Saturday, November 15th,11:30am – 1pm.
- Read more about the joint Gateway town hall on the East Portland Voice, a new source for East Portland stories!
- Learn about upcoming Protect Oregon events by visiting their website or subscribing to their newsletter.
- Check out the Sumner Seed Library for free seeds (located next to the San Lot).
- Did you know Cherry Park has the first residential mural east of I-205? To learn more about their mural and follow along its development, visit their page.
In solidarity,
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