 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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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.
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Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood Association: 6:30-8pm Monday, June 22nd at Milwaukie Cafe & Bottle Shop, 9401 SE 32nd Avenue.
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South Portland Neighborhood Association: 7-9pm Wednesday, July 1st at Mirabella, 3550 S Bond Avenue.
 Last month City Council voted on initial passage of an $8.5 billion balanced budget that closes a record $160 million shortfall.
KATU’s Your Vote, Your Voice invited me and Councilor Pirtle Guiney to discuss our budget amendment to restore public safety services. I am deeply disappointed that this commonsense solution failed in a 6-6 stalemate, despite Portlanders’ overwhelming support for more public safety, not less. In addition, City Council agreed earlier this year that public safety is among our top priorities to address.
It was also unfortunate that some Councilors misrepresented the amendment as a “raid” of resources from the Office of Community Police Accountability, when the language was clear that the funds would be restored in the spring Technical Adjustment Ordinance. These under-utilized funds could be addressing urgent community needs instead of sitting in a bank account.
The budget isn’t final until mid-June, and I haven’t given up on fully restoring some of the cuts to public safety services. Thanks for your continued engagement at this critical time!
 With the close of the fiscal year approaching, I am thrilled to announce that my surplus office budget will be reinvested into strategic initiatives benefiting District 4! I’m looking forward to seeing these projects take shape:
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Portland Bureau of Transportation: $70,000 to support a safe pedestrian route to the International School of Portland on Southwest Sheridan Street, along with other small safety projects.
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Public Environment Management Office: $47,500 for lighting projects along Northwest 21st Avenue and at Darcelle XV Plaza, helping people feel safer and more comfortable moving through their neighborhoods.
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Sellwood Community Center: $25,000 for summer activations and mentorship programs.
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Pearl District Neighborhood Association: $20,000 to help launch a culinary farmers market. (The market kicks off Sunday, June 7th from 10am-2pm at Northwest 13th Avenue between Everett and Glisan streets, continuing weekly through September.)
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Friends of Washington Park and Zoo Railway: $15,000 for a feasibility analysis.
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Pittock Mansion Society: $10,000 for summer events.
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Human Access Project: $5,000 for beach cleanups at Cottonwood Cove and Ross Island.
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The People’s Tributary: $5,000 for a street plaza project on Southwest Harvey Milk Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues — one component of a future pedestrian path to the waterfront.
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SWTrails PDX: $5,000 for signage and maintenance.
 Check out this upgrade on Northwest 23rd Avenue: pavement resurfacing and new curb ramps! I was proud to push for this project.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation project, which runs between Vaughn and Lovejoy streets, will support neighborhood activity, including small businesses and emergency room access at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center.
This resurfacing budget is funded by General Transportation Revenue and the Americans with Disabilities Act Bond. However, thanks to legislation I championed, $68 million in new revenue is coming soon for road maintenance!
 Last week my Public Works Committee voted unanimously to fast-track the renaming of César E. Chávez Boulevard to Campesinos Boulevard.
Many of us were here 20 years ago for the long and painful process to rename 39th Avenue to Chávez Boulevard — the first street in Portland to honor the Latino community. Since the recent allegations of Chávez’s sexual abuse of women and girls, the Por La Causa Committee was formed to guide the renaming to reflect the full breadth of the “movimiento campesino” — the farmworker movement.
As co-chairs Marta Guembes and Jose Romero recently wrote in The Oregonian: “It recognizes the thousands of farmworkers — immigrants, organizers, and families — whose labor feeds this country and sustains Oregon’s economy…. Campesinos Boulevard would be a clear declaration that Portland recognizes and values those too often made invisible.”
 This week I visited Lan Su Chinese Garden, one of the most popular destinations in District 4, attracting about 100,000 visitors every year.
Executive Director Elizabeth Nye and Board President Helen Ying shared exciting expansion plans that will double the garden’s footprint, including spaces for banquets, performing arts, and educational workshops. In the meantime, a temporary greenhouse in the vacant block is growing flowers for the garden and vegetables for the Asian Food Pantry.
Elizabeth, who also serves as Old Town Community Association Board Chair, hopes Lan Su can eventually anchor a neighborhood cultural district alongside Portland Chinatown Museum, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Portland Saturday Market, Darcelle XV Showplace, and other venues. Also: Save the date for Lan Su’s first-ever Lotus Festival from July 3rd to August 22nd!
 Last weekend I celebrated the grand opening of Neighborhood House’s new headquarters in the Multnomah neighborhood!
This marks a significant milestone for the 121-year-old organization: For the first time, all eight of its administration offices are united under one roof. The recently renovated, 16,000-square-foot building is home to its Free Food Market, Senior Center, and community health and education programs.
This opening comes at a critical time for many Portlanders. With cuts to federal programs and government safety nets, Neighborhood House saw requests for assistance skyrocket, especially within food insecurity.
 Last week I joined Congresswoman Bonamici to celebrate progress at the Oregon Acoustic Research Laboratory, funded by a federal grant with additional support from the state and University of Oregon. This $25 million state-of-the-art facility, the first of its kind in North America, will conduct acoustics tests to support expansion of the mass timber industry.
This facility is one component of the Mass Timber and Housing Innovation Campus. The Port of Portland has transformed a former marine terminal in the Northwest industrial area into a manufacturing hub to support Oregon’s growing mass timber industry, create new jobs, and address the region’s housing shortage.
 Last month I joined Councilors Zimmerman and Councilor Ryan at the annual memorial ceremony to honor police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy established National Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to recognize law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of others. In 1993, President George H.W. Bush dedicated the Portland Police Memorial, which is located in Waterfront Park near Hawthorne Bridge.
 This week I met with environmental leaders who are concerned about the future of Ross Island Natural Area and the role that it may play in the Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup. (From left: Neighbors for Clean Air Board Member Mary Lou Soscia and Co-Executive Director Mary Peveto; Urban Greenspaces Institute Executive Director Mike Houck; and Willamette Riverkeeper Co-Executive Director Michelle Emmons.)
Ross Island is part of a significant regional fish and wildlife habitat and has been designated an Important Bird Area by the Oregon Bird Alliance because of its use by both migratory and resident birds. The Oregonian recently interviewed Mike Houck about his decades-long work to restore Ross Island as a publicly owned wildlife refuge.
 Last week I joined friends of the Human Access Project for their annual River Lovers Cruise on the Portland Spirit! (Clockwise from top: Human Access Project Executive Director Scott Fogarty; Mike Houck of the Urban Greenspaces Institute; PDX Design Collaborative co-founder Randy Gragg; State Representative Rob Nosse; and Human Access Project founder Willie Levenson.)
Outside Magazine recently credited the organization for the rise of urban swimming: “The Human Access Project has led the way to permanent access at seven beaches and two docks on the Willamette River since its founding in 2010, with another beach to open this year…. Volunteers removed more than 500 tons of concrete from the river and its banks.”
 Last month Portland Metro Chamber organized a three-day trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, assembling business leaders, government agencies, arts organizations, and others to learn how a peer city is addressing shared challenges.
My Communications and Engagement Director Jimmy Radosta represented my office, and his travel expenses were covered by my office budget. This was the chamber’s 39th “Best Practices Trip,” and they consistently lead to stronger municipal partnerships and dynamic urban innovation.
Sessions covered the tourism ecosystem, energy trends, sustainable mobility, housing and homelessness, and opportunities for cross-border collaboration throughout the Cascadia Corridor. Vancouver is preparing to host FIFA World Cup matches next month, so the delegation toured the Stadium District to learn how the city is leveraging sports as part of its larger economic development plan.
 Congratulations to Pittock Mansion CEO Paula Gangopadhyay, who has been recognized with the most prestigious national award for distinguished service to museums!
Last month in Philadelphia, the American Alliance of Museums presented her with the 2026 Distinguished Service Award for a three-decade career of inspiring museums nationwide to reimagine their role in the communities they serve. In 2012 President Obama appointed Paula to serve on the board of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, among other federal appointments.
Paula’s “Pittock 2.0” vision is transforming the historic house museum into a vibrant, relevant, and dynamic cultural destination. My office recently allocated $10,000 in surplus funds to support its summer events.
 Portland Rose Festival’s CityFair opened with a spectacular fireworks show on the waterfront! Rose Festival Foundation Board President Jeremy Emerson and Vice President Amy Johnson were on hand to kick off the fun.
CityFair continues through June 7th with fair food, live entertainment, carnival rides, local crafters, and more. The festival culminates June 6th with the new single, unified Grand Floral Starlight Parade.
Since 1907, Portland’s official festival has been a vital part of our identity and our economy. Make your plans now at RoseFestival.org.
 This week Portland City Hall welcomed guests from around the world as Mayor Wilson reaffirmed Portland’s special relationship with each of our Sister Cities, an annual ceremony held during the Rose Festival.
Portland has 10 Sister Cities: Sapporo, Japan; Guadalajara, Mexico; Ulsan, South Korea; Ashkelon, Israel; Suzhou, China; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Khabarovsk, Russia; Mutare, Zimbabwe; Bologna, Italy; and — our newest Sister City — Lviv, Ukraine.
 The 2026 season of Sunday Parkways kicked off last month in Southwest Portland!
Portlanders explored the scenic rolling hills along a 2-mile multi-modal route or a 2.6-mile walking route. There were featured activations at Gabriel Park, Village Park, Multnomah Arts Center, Multnomah Village, and Spring Garden Park.
The Sunday Parkways season will close in District 4 with a downtown route on September 13th.
 I recently sponsored Oregon Walks’ annual fundraiser Walkstars to support their pedestrian advocacy efforts. Last fall I joined Oregon Walks for a 1.5-mile walk along the waterfront, and it was such an exhilarating way to connect with constituents.
This year’s honorees included “Walk Portland,” a partnership with the Portland Bureau of Transportation and Travel Portland that helps pedestrians navigate downtown, and “Food Court 5000,” who walk around shopping malls in 1980s workout gear — as heard recently on NPR!
Last year I championed the Sidewalk Improvement and Paving Program, which will bring more sidewalks to the parts of Portland that need them most: Southwest and East Portland. In addition, Oregon Walks Executive Director Mike Dennis testified last month in support of the Transportation Utility Fee, particularly its safety investments for vulnerable road users.
 An important update from Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens’ Spring Bloom Tracker: “We are nearing the end of peak bloom! Most rhododendrons have fully bloomed by this point, while some of them will last all season.”
Now is the time to visit this District 4 treasure in the Eastmoreland neighborhood! The gardens are a collaboration between Portland Parks & Recreation and the Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.
 Darcelle XV Plaza is opening just in time for Pride season!
This new downtown public space honors the legacy of Darcelle XV Showplace, the longest-running drag cabaret on the West Coast. I toured the construction site back in March, so it’s exciting to see it nearing completion.
Downtown Portland Clean & Safe is partnering with Portland Parks & Recreation to activate the plaza. Mark your calendar for three big kickoff events and three series:
🏳️🌈 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony (11am-1pm Thursday, June 18th): Come enjoy a live choir, snacks and refreshments, remarks from featured speakers, and a vibrant community celebration! Formal program starts at noon.
💄 The Spectacular-Spectacular Grand Opening (5-10pm Thursday, June 25th): Hosted by Poison Waters, this celebration will feature a lineup of drag entertainers connected to Darcelle’s legacy; food and beverage vendors; and a glam station where professional makeup artists will give the signature Darcelle XV makeup look!
💍 Say “I Do” at Darcelle XV Plaza (8-10pm Saturday, July 18th): At this one-of-a-kind wedding celebration, Poison Waters and other fabulous guests will officiate vow renewals, symbolic ceremonies, and legal weddings. Expect a joyful, silly vibe with a dance party and 500 treats from Voodoo Doughnut!
📚 Drag Story Time (11am-noon Sundays starting June 14th): A guest drag queen will lead families through three storybook readings, two performances, and a sing-along, wrapped up with a Q&A. All ages welcome.
🎸 Summer Sounds (11:30am-1:30pm Wednesdays starting July 1st): Performers will offer a variety of live performances — from upbeat music to a chill, laid-back vibe — while audiences enjoy lunch.
🍹 Happy Hour Drag Delights (6-8pm Thursdays starting July 2nd): Vendors will mix cocktails and The Flock will serve a variety of local eats while performers strut their stuff.
 ► At a time of limited revenue for our local parks, OPB reports that public-private partnerships can offer some budget relief. Sellwood Community House provides a model example. Last year I passed an ordinance for the City to sell its leased building for $1 with a deed restriction requiring it to remain a community center serving the public good “in perpetuity.” Sellwood Community House recently announced that it plans to lease the vacant City-run Laurelhurst Studio and reopen it as a community center.
► Did you know that Portland was one of the nation’s first cities to include a tree on a historic register? “Rosa’s tree,” an American elm that endured in downtown from around 1870 until 2024, will live on thanks to Portland Parks & Recreation. Portland Tribune reports that a large cross-section of the trunk was donated to Oregon Historical Society, where it will serve as an educational display documenting the tree’s age through its rings. Other portions of the elm were milled into lumber for handcrafted benches that will be installed in community centers across the city.
► Portland Monthly spotlights the city’s outstanding brunches, including several in District 4: Sellwood-Moreland gives us Bastion (“turns crunchy culture into something special”) and Bertie Lou’s (“reliably satisfying and well-executed … for nearly 90 years”), while the Pearl District has Fuller’s Coffee Shop (“horseshoe counters and vintage red leather stools … as old-school as they come”).
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