 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. Please save these dates:
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Sellwood-Moreland Improvement League (SMILE): 7:30-9pm Wednesday, May 6th at SMILE Station, 8210 SE 13th Avenue.
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Ashcreek-Crestwood Neighborhood Association: 7-8:30pm Monday, May 11th on Zoom.
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Multnomah Neighborhood Association: 7-8:30pm Tuesday, June 9th at Village Grace, 6948 SW Capitol Highway.
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Forest Park Neighborhood Association: 7-8:30pm Tuesday, June 16th at Skyline Memorial Gardens, 4101 NW Skyline Boulevard.
 This week’s joint town hall with Councilor Eric Zimmerman and City Administrator Raymond Lee was a smashing success!
Special thanks to Sellwood Community House for hosting us and to every single person who showed up. I spotted friends from the District Four Coalition, Sellwood-Moreland Improvement League, Eastmoreland and Ashcreek-Crestwood Neighborhood Associations, Pittock Mansion Society, FLIP Museum, Hillsdale News, and NW Examiner in the house.
I especially appreciated hearing from Raymond, who is in his fourth month as the City’s top unelected leader, particularly his focus on improving the “customer experience” for Portlanders.
 Last week I met with the Pearl District Neighborhood Association, where we discussed public safety, parks, emergency shelters, and much more.
Neighborhood leaders are working hard to bring life back to their streets and foster a strong business environment — and you can get involved at the Re-Ignite the Pearl town hall from 5:30-7pm Tuesday, April 28th at The Armory, 128 NW 11th Avenue. Coming attractions: a weekly farmers market; yoga, fitness, summer concerts, and movies in the parks; bike and go-cart races; art walks; and a luxury cars and wine event.
 This month I met virtually with the Collins View Neighborhood Association — a wooded and hilly area that’s home to Lewis & Clark College and Riverdale High School — to provide updates from my office and hear their concerns. We discussed the budget, Neighborhood Emergency Teams, the Firewise Community Program, and much more.
 Thanks to everyone who came out on a sunny Saturday morning to the District 4 Budget Open House! It was wonderful to join Mayor Wilson, City Administrator Lee, and my Council colleagues to hear directly from constituents: the place where they feel the deepest connection in Portland, the thing they love most about our city, the biggest challenge we need to resolve, and much more.
Please keep the conversation going: My budget survey is open through May 7th.
 A new report from the Oregon Criminal Justice Truth Project validates my top concern around public safety: The Portland Police Bureau is one of the nation’s most understaffed. This is unacceptable.
We have the same number of officers as in 1995, even though our population has grown by 150,000+! Former police chiefs agree that this crisis is severely delaying emergency response times:
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Former Chief Rosie Sizer (2006-10): “Low staffing most negatively affects vulnerable communities, jeopardizes economic recovery, and reduces the police bureau’s ability to address crime and the fear of crime.”
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Former Chief Mike Reese (2010-15): “To ensure the livability of our community, the Portland Police Bureau needs additional officers to enable a rapid response to emergencies, and to investigate serious crimes when they occur.”
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Former Chief Chuck Lovell (2020-23): “The Portland Police Bureau needs to be adequately funded and staffed to give the people of Portland the service they deserve.”
 I joined hundreds of Portlanders in celebrating the return of the Thompson Elk to downtown!
As Chair of the Public Works Committee, I see how much care, planning, and coordination it takes to maintain our infrastructure and our public spaces: We rely on them every day! The return of this historic landmark, along with the reopening of Main Street, sends an important message: We’re continuing to invest in our infrastructure. These are visible signs of a downtown that is active and welcoming.
I want to thank the many people who helped make this possible: our Public Works bureaus, the Office of Arts and Culture, the Portland Parks Foundation, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, and all partners.
 Last week I convened an office happy hour with Councilors Zimmerman and Pirtle-Guiney to support a small business in Northwest Portland, Bar Diane, which is owned by my friends Sami and Christian Gaston. It’s a cosmopolitan restaurant focused on natural wine and sustainable ingredients, adorned with Bauhaus-inspired décor hand-stenciled by Sami herself!
They also own Négociant, a wine shop, cheese counter, and café that’s located right next door. Both spaces have outdoor patios that are sure to be popular as the weather warms up!
 Last week my staff stopped by Pearl District restaurant República, where co-owner Angel Medina served up a “chef’s choice” assortment of incredible Mexican dishes.
República has withstood a number of recent challenges — including a drop in foot traffic and the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies — but recently announced that its doors would stay open with a limited lunch menu. It was a pleasure to thank Angel in person for his perseverance.
They’re part of the same hospitality group behind another Pearl District restaurant, Lilia Comedor, which The New York Times recently listed among “The 25 Best Restaurants in Portland Right Now.”
 This month I was able to participate in a Lao New Year celebration at the recently renovated Lao Buddhist Center NW, which is just east of Portland.
I went to this amazing event at the invitation of Dr. Eric Szeto, founder of the Asian Health & Service Center in Lents. One of the community’s traditions involves tying a small string around a person’s wrist as a blessing of good luck.
 The Fair Housing Act was enacted 58 years ago this month to prohibit discriminatory housing practices, to undo racial segregation patterns, and to provide equal access to housing opportunity for all.
Despite this Act, Portland residents continue to face unequal access to safe, quality housing opportunities and unequal outcomes. The City has proclaimed April to be Fair Housing Month to celebrate the advancement of fair housing in our community, to acknowledge the many challenges we have yet to overcome, and to recognize young artists who participated in an annual poster art contest.
 This week I was honored to welcome Valérie Brisset, Consul General of France in San Francisco, to Portland City Hall! I was joined by Honorary Consul Dominique Geulin, owner of St. Honoré Boulangerie, which has three locations in District 4 (downtown, Northwest Portland, and South Portland).
We had a warm exchange around our shared values of innovation, sustainability, and cultural exchange — plus it gave me a chance to practice my French!
 Mark your calendars for the annual Lights Out Portland period through May 19, when we are encouraged to turn out our lights to help birds fly safely to their nesting grounds during peak spring migration. The Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Audubon) encourages residential households and commercial buildings to shield, dim, or turn off their outdoor lighting to reduce light pollution, conserve energy, and preserve our ability to see stars from the city.
As migrating birds pass over brightly lit cities, skyglow drowns out the stars, confusing them and luring them into urban areas. Due to a maze of windows, birds can either hit buildings directly or circle them until they collapse from exhaustion.
From hummingbirds and warblers to sparrows and geese, millions of birds migrate across North America every year, covering hundreds to thousands of miles. These birds make this remarkable and perilous journey at night, visualizing the magnetic pull of the earth and using the moon and stars to set their course. By reducing skyglow over our cities, Portlanders can help them make it to their destinations safely.
 Sellwood Community House is gearing up for another busy summer season: There will be 10 weeks of camps and the Craft Shack at Sellwood Park, in addition to intergenerational programming. Last year at the Craft Shack, visitors borrowed 2,000+ recreational materials, from sports equipment to arts supplies. This amazing organization also presents a “Sellwood Sessions” live music series at Oaks Pioneer Church, including The Decemberists keyboardist and accordionist Jenny Conlee just last week!
 The Burnside Bridge is a vital connection between District 4 and District 3, and it’s about to turn 100! The Burnside is more than a bridge — spanning a century, it’s been at the heart of countless community gatherings, during times of celebration and moments of social and political unrest.
The Burnside Bridge Centennial Party will feature kid-focused activities, interactive exhibits, and storytelling that highlights key moments from the past century.
Multnomah County is leading the effort to replace the Burnside Bridge with one that can withstand a major earthquake. (None of Portland’s Willamette River vehicular bridges would be immediately usable.) Due to uncertainty around federal funding, the 2028 construction start date has been pushed out indefinitely.
 Every day, we stand on the shoulders of the people who came before us. One of the reasons Portland is such a livable city is because of visionaries like Roger Shiels, who passed away last month. His lasting impact can be felt across the city:
- At Shiels Obletz Johnsen, he led the teams that delivered Providence Park, the MAX Blue Line, and Portland’s living room, Pioneer Square.
- At Portland Streetcar, he expanded our rail system to the east side.
- And at the River District, he helped to restore Union Station and transform the Pearl District.
Last week Portland City Council took a brief moment to remember Roger. Special thanks to colleagues Rick Gustafson, Kim Knox, and Doug Obletz for joining us on very short notice to share their memories.
 ► Downtown office vacancies are dipping for the first time in three years! Brian O’Leary, who is part of the team managing leasing at Big Pink, tells Portland Business Journal: “If the vacancy rates are leveling off and turning the corner, we are truly in a reset…. We have a lot of work to do collectively, but we’ve been amazed by how many people and businesses want to be a part of this story by committing to downtown.”
► Lewis & Clark College is using a $1.5 million Mellon Foundation to bring people together around an issue that usually pulls people apart. OPB reports that the York Summer Institute will delve into Portland’s Indigenous history and the impacts of colonialism. The initiative, named after the enslaved black explorer on the Lewis and Clark expedition, will offer free classes to people in the Albina neighborhood. Professor Reiko Hillyer says the goal is “to study not only the history of the college and the land that it’s on, but the history of the expedition and the legacy of settler colonialism. That can be tracked all the way to other forms of displacement, including urban renewal in Albina.”
► “Scientists haven’t cracked time travel yet, but stepping onto the Goose Hollow Inn’s creaky front porch feels pretty close by Portland standards,” raves Portland Monthly writer Ben Coleman, who found the city’s best Reuben sandwich here. “Founded by legendary publican (and former Portland mayor) Bud Clark in 1967 and still operated by the Clark family, the inn is as much a museum to Portland’s funky low-fi past as it is a beloved neighborhood pub.”
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