Funding Housing Resources
On Wednesday, City Council took an important step forward by passing a plan to invest roughly $56 million in unbudgeted housing resources. These dollars will go toward eviction defense, rent assistance, affordable housing projects, and several programs that ensure affordable housing stays affordable.
During the meeting, I shared a guiding principle I come back to often: our role as a Council should be setting the rules of the game, not deciding who wins. When councilors earmark specific projects for funding, we risk turning policymaking into pick-making. Our responsibility is to ensure that funding processes are transparent and grounded in merit, so that organizations doing this critical work are supported because of their impact, not their proximity to power.
At the same time, I want to be clear about what I’ve been hearing from community partners and frontline advocates: people need help now. For months, the message has been consistent that these resources must get out the door quickly. Every delay has real consequences, and too many of our neighbors have lost housing while we’ve worked toward a perfect compromise. As Molly Hogan of the Welcome Home Coalition said, "For the sake of so many households on the verge of losing their housing this month, and those on the verge of becoming housed again, I beg you to move forward together. Pass a damn amendment today and move this housing money." Moving these funds now, even if the package isn’t perfect, is meaningful progress. It means more people can stay housed, and more people can find housing.
As I said Wednesday, “We all come to this with different perspectives and priorities. That's part of the job. And I think governing means that we make decisions even when they're not perfect. Progress over perfection."
 During the spring recess for Portland City Hall, I attended the Local Progress Affordable Homes, Stable Communities conference in Seattle. There’s a lot that we can learn from other cities and our neighbors in the Pacific Northwest. Local leaders from around the region learned from groups like El Centro de la Raza and the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority about creative ways to build affordable housing and preserve communities. We also shared strategies on protecting renters, supporting aging in communities, and combatting gentrification and displacement.
Resources like The Eviction Lab, which provides month-to-month eviction data in 10 states and 41 cities including Portland, also help create a clearer picture to shape policy. Their data can be found here, and Portland State University's Evicted in Oregon study can be found here.
Now that I’m serving on the City Council’s Housing and Permitting Committee, I’m excited to share more ideas with my colleagues, and to keep fighting for affordable homes and stable communities here in Portland. You can find upcoming meeting times and agendas for the committee here.
 Community Engagement on the Budget
This week I got to hear back from the District 3 community in so many helpful ways about the upcoming budget season. A huge thank you to the more than 650 people who have responded to my budget survey, to the many folks who came out to the budget open house on Wednesday at Marysville Elementary School, and to the members of the Hope and Bread Street Church gathering at Montavilla Park on Sunday!
SE Uplift is hosting two very important events to allow for more feedback from the community. I hope you can join me and my fellow District 3 Councilors for one or both opportunities:
  East Portland Chamber of Commerce
Thank you to the East Portland Chamber of Commerce; it was great to connect with you Wednesday morning and talk about the first year of our new City Council structure! Small businesses make Portland the vibrant and wonderful city it is, and I’m grateful for the opportunities to connect and support members of the business community.
 Creston Bike and Walk Fair
I’m still smiling thinking about the incredible energy at Creston’s annual Walk & Bike Fair last Friday! I felt so proud to be there alongside Senator Khanh Pham, celebrating what it looks like when the community really shows up for each other. From the moment we arrived, it was just nonstop joy, connection, and care. Thank you to the many amazing groups and volunteers making it all happen, including Creston Community Mutual Aid, WashCo Bikes, the many volunteers handing out bike locks, helping kids decorate their bikes, and offering free bike tune-ups, and to the Creston PTA and SUN School folks helping out and making it all run smoothly! Investing in safe routes to schools and community-centered infrastructure matters, especially in tough budget times. Our priorities should always come back to people, not pressure from wealthy interests or big name owners. Communities like THIS remind us what we’re actually fighting for. Here’s a fun video I made of the event!
 Station 25 Ride Along and Station Visit
I was grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Fire Station 25, at 5211 SE Mall Street in the Woodstock neighborhood recently. We had great conversations about what led these incredible individuals to this line of work. It’s clear their dedication comes from a deep care for the community they serve every day, and just as evident that they’re more than coworkers to each other, they’re more like family. Thank you for all that you do!
Bike Ride to Stock Free Fridges
The Creston-Kenilworth Neighborhood Association Community Care committee along with BikeStuffPDX is holding a mutual-aid bike ride to stock free fridges and pantries around inner southeast Portland from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, April 11, starting at the covered basketball court at Abernethy Elementary School, 2421 SE Orange Ave. To learn more about upcoming events, the group’s next monthly online meeting is 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 20.
Opportunities to Get Involved
The Portland Bureau of Transportation is looking for Transportation Ambassadors – volunteers who can help with tabling and outreach for programs including BIKETOWN, Safe Routes to School, Sunday Parkways, Portland By Cycle, Neighborhood Greenways and SmartTrips. Applications are due by Friday, April 17.
The Bureau of Emergency Communications is looking for community members from West Portland, East Portland, and East Multnomah County to serve on the User Board. The User Board advises on 911 operations, policy, and improvements, and meets for about two hours per quarter. People with lived experience or interest in areas including mental health, social services, equity and community advocacy are especially sought. Applications are due by midnight April 19.
Urban Forestry Events
Upcoming events hosted by Urban Forestry include:
- A tree talk and social hour to educate the community about Black heroes of tree activism around the world; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 at Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Ave. You can register here.
- A walk co-hosted by The Vision Zero team focusing on what makes streets safe, environmental justice with trees, and how those things connect; 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 17 at Alberta Park, 1905 NE Killingsworth St. Register here.
- An open house for the Trees for Residential Streets program; 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 at Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Ave. Information will be provided about getting free trees for right-of-ways without a curb near your home. Eligible neighborhoods are Argay, Centennial, Cully, East Columbia, Glenfair, Hayden Island, Hazelwood, Lents, Mill Park, Montavilla, Parkrose, Parkrose heights, Powellhurst-Gilbert, Russell, Sumner, Sunderland, and Wilkes. Register for the event here.
82nd Avenue of Roses Parade
The 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade will be held on Saturday, April 25, and I’ll be there! The parade will start at 9:30 a.m., along the 82nd Avenue route between SE Holgate Blvd and Division St. The 20th-year theme is “History of East Portland”, and in addition to the parade, the three-day event (April 24-26) features a Funtastic carnival, East Portland Chamber food carts, Montavilla Farmers Market, and the Impalas Car Show. You can register to participate in the parade here, and sign up to volunteer to help here.
Technology Effects on Children Talk
Sunnyside Elementary School’s Site Council along with OR Unplugged will host a talk with neuroscientist and author Jared Horvath, moderated by Kathy Masarie, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 23 at the school, 3421 SE Salmon St. Dr. Horvath studies the effects of technology on children's brain development. The public is invited; please register here.
KGW8 coverage: "We all come to this with different perspectives and priorities. That's part of the job. And I think governing means that we make decisions even when they're not perfect. Progress over perfection," said Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane, who represents District 3.
OPB article: “In general, as a council, I feel like we should be setting the rules of the game, not deciding who wins,” said Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane during the meeting. “I worry that by listing certain winners, we risk turning policymaking into pick-making.”
District 3 Neighborhood Associations
Neighborhood associations are a great way to connect with neighbors, advocate for and address issues affecting your community, and plan events and programs. Many of District 3’s 19 neighborhood associations are holding their annual board election in May. Click here to find the website of your neighborhood association, and to find upcoming meeting times and events!
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