 CLEAR Clinic Visit
It was wonderful to visit CLEAR Clinic last Friday, and to see the amazing work they are doing up close! Among other things, the nonprofit collective of legal workers offers a drop-in clinic on Fridays in District 3 to help with immigration referrals, records and fines expungement, and housing support. I am so grateful for the essential work they are doing for the community, and am especially glad to support the rapid-response legal interventions for ICE detentions. A huge thank you to Executive Director Leni Tupper for arranging the visit!
Transportation Utility Fee Amendment Passes
We did it! The Koyama Lane / Zimmerman amendment to the Transportation Utility Fee (TUF) ordinance passed this week! The amendment calls for 75% of annual TUF revenues to be expended on activities that maintain, preserve, and rehabilitate existing transportation infrastructure, including maintenance activities that help the City achieve Vision Zero goals and that align with sustainable infrastructure objectives, and 25% of annual TUF revenues to be used for transportation-related safety expenses through improvements that enhance safety, add sidewalks, and further support Vision Zero’s goals and program.
This win represents a real commitment from our City Council to ensure our streets are safe with real, material resources and action. I look forward to seeing it pass through Council. There was a lot of talk - appropriately so - on the dais about the impact of the TUF fee on low-income households already receiving financial assistance, as well as renters. Economic justice is a top priority for me, and I will continue to monitor these impacts as we move forward to do both things: make our city safer and also more affordable.
Moda Center Negotiations
I’m part of a newly formed group of councilors tasked with leading City Council’s engagement in discussions of the Moda Center deal, ensuring we have a focused and coordinated approach. I believe Portlanders deserve transparency about how decisions are being made about such huge amounts of public funds. We shouldn’t rush into an agreement without securing the best possible terms, and making sure there will be real community benefits. I appreciate the Portland Mercury’s coverage of this issue this week.
Portland Community College Program Showcase
On Wednesday night I celebrated and supported students from Portland Community College’s Music and Sonic Arts and Gerontology programs, which were recently cut. The showcase, arranged by Council President Dunphy’s office, was about recognizing the value of these programs, the voices behind them, and the essential role they play in our community. Gerontology is the study and practice of how we support people as they age and how we make sure folks can live with dignity, connection, and care in the communities they’ve built. We are all aging, and gerontology is an essential field, particularly considering Oregon now has more older adults than children for the first time ever. Every one of us benefits from a society that takes aging seriously, plans for it well, and values the people who are living it. Wednesday’s event was additional proof that the arts, education, and care-based programs are not extras — they are essential to community well-being and resiliency.
Update on Zenith Energy
In March of 2025, the Council passed a resolution that I co-sponsored with my colleagues to investigate Zenith Energy for potential city violations. This past week, a coalition of climate justice advocates hand-delivered a letter to the mayor's office about their deep displeasure about the investigation. The letter outlines specific complaints, including that the investigation was tainted by clear conflicts of interest, was too narrow in scope, omitted relevant acts of fraud and deceit, failed to adequately utilize the city’s investigative authority, came to faulty conclusions, ignored the "cure" vs "compliance" distinction, and mischaracterized city resolutions.
As a co-sponsor of this resolution, I am deeply concerned about this issue and will continue to look into this, while furthering my commitment to climate justice. A story from the Portland Mercury about the issue is here.
Protecting Rideshare Drivers
Corporate ride share companies, along with some local organizations, are trying to pressure Councilors Steve Novick and Elana Pirtle-Guiney to back down from their ordinance that caps how much rideshare companies take from each fare. The proposal, introduced in a City Council committee hearing in February, would limit the percentage companies like Uber and Lyft keep from each ride to 20%. Right now, too many drivers are navigating unpredictable pay, sudden deactivations, and zero access to a real human when something goes wrong. It’s not too much to ask for fairness, transparency, and dignity. I encourage you to let Councilors Novick and Pirtle-Guiney know that you support their work pushing forward with legislation to protect drivers. I posted more about this issue here, and you can find KGW’s story on the issue here.
Portlanders Need Rent Assistance
Do you know about the new report released by Portland State University's Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative? Just published on April 9, the report includes study data from hundreds of homeless Portlanders for over nine months. When asking homeless residents what they need, 98% of the respondents said they want housing, but fear they’ll lose it if they can’t afford it. Their top needs: financial support, and legal and employment assistance. You can read the Portland Mercury’s story about the report here, and find the report itself here.
Small Business Tax Cut
Good news for Portland small businesses! Portland City Council approved a proposal by Mayor Wilson and Councilor Zimmerman that raises the threshold for the City’s business tax from $50,000 to $75,000 in 2026 and to $100,000 in 2027. Portland is known for our charming and unique small businesses; we are a national destination for tourism partly because of all the great local businesses, particularly in District 3! I am proud to have supported this and hope it brings some relief to our beloved community members. You can read more here.
 Budget Town Halls
It’s budget season, and I want to hear from you! Mayor Wilson will be releasing his 2026-27 City of Portland budget proposal this Monday, April 20, and we’re going to be facing a large deficit. SE Uplift is co-hosting two Budget Town Halls where you can talk with District 3 Councilors, and let us know your perspective and priorities. I hope to see you there!
- An in-person Budget Town Hall will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26 at Mt. Scott Community Center, 5530 SE 72nd Ave. Please RSVP to make sure we have enough snacks!
- An online Virtual Budget Town Hall will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5. Register here to get the Zoom link.
Speaking at CEIC Coffee Break
I’m looking forward to hearing from small business owners and discussing community issues at Central Eastside Industrial Council’s Coffee Break event from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21 at the Jupiter Hotel, 800 E Burnside St. You can learn more and register for the event here.
Cycle Oregon Community Bike Block Party
Cycle Oregon will be holding its 2026 Community Bike Block Party from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, April 18, at Baerlic Brewery & Taproom, 2239 SE 11th St. The free event features a community expo with local bicycle advocacy groups and partners, obstacle courses for kids and adults, and free helmets, bikes, safety check, and valet bike parking.
Small Business Workshops at APANO
APANO is hosting a series of workshops for Small Business Spring in April and May. The classes can be attended in-person or online, and include DIY Canva Design 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 20, Developing Instagram Campaigns, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 8, and Entity Selections and Other Legal Considerations, noon to 1 p.m. May 28. You can learn more and register here.
Asian Immigrant Protection Workshop
In response to a recent increase in Asian immigrant detentions affecting Laotian, Hmong, Mien, and other Southeast Asian communities, APANO will be hosting a workshop on knowing your rights and how to keep yourself and your neighbors safe. The Rapid Response Forum will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. April 18 at Orchards of 82nd, 8118 SE Division St.; you can learn more here.
Placemaking Project Bids Accepted
The Safe Blocks Program, within the City's Office of Violence Prevention, is accepting bids for placemaking projects in East Portland. Gilbert Park, Menlo Park, and Ventura Park elementary schools, all near gun violence hot spots, will each have a project, including street paintings and neighborhood beautification. The maximum award for each project is $50,000. The goal is to improve public safety through building community. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. May 18.
Portlanders celebrated the homecoming and reinstallation of the landmark Thompson Elk Fountain statue downtown by our City Hall offices this past Sunday, which was removed during the racial justice protests after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Read more here.
Lights Out Portland
Now through May 19 is peak spring migration season for birds, and The Bird Alliance of Oregon is asking residences and commercial buildings to shield, dim, or turn off outdoor lighting as part of Lights Out Portland. Reducing light pollution helps the millions of birds migrating across North America use the stars to find their way, without being caught in city skyglow.
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