 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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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.
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Marshall Park Neighborhood Association: Annual Ice Cream Social 6-7:30pm Tuesday, August 4th at Marshall Park, 9700 SW 12th Drive.
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Sylvan-Highlands Neighborhood Association: 7-8:30pm at Fire Station 16, 1715 SW Skyline Boulevard.
 This week I joined Chief Day at the latest hiring ceremony for the Portland Police Bureau, which has met its goal of 84 recruits for this year!
As you may have seen reported by OPB and The Oregonian, City Council voted to adopt an $8.5 billion budget that is far from perfect — but I remain undaunted in working to restore cuts to public safety services. Stay tuned for an ordinance to restore those cuts that will be brought to Council outside of the standard budget process.
 This month I joined my District 4 colleagues for a forum at Terwilliger Plaza, a retirement community in the South Portland neighborhood.
We had a robust discussion about road maintenance, downtown revitalization, public safety, charter reform, and much more. Thank you to Saturday Forum Chair Judy Rau (left) and Committee Member Ruth Robinson for organizing this well-attended event!
 Last week I met with the Multnomah Neighborhood Association, where we discussed sidewalk needs, public safety, and ongoing challenges around the Safe Rest Village. Save the date for Multnomah Days Festival & Parade, a family-friendly event with musical acts, an art fair, and 150+ vendor booths, on Saturday, August 15th.
This week I joined Councilor Zimmerman with the Forest Park Neighborhood Association, where we talked about the Moda Center, ICE, civic engagement, and more. They’re celebrating their 50th anniversary with family-friendly lawn games, a potluck meal, and a voter registration booth from 2-5pm Saturday, August 22nd at Skyline Tavern, 8031 NW Skyline Boulevard.
 Last weekend I joined Mayor Wilson and my District 4 colleagues to celebrate the reopening of the Craft Shack at Sellwood Park! Families enjoyed trolley rides, live music, storytime, dance classes, and the Everything Under the Sun Parade.
None of this would be possible without the tireless work of Sellwood Community House, which is raising the level of service for recreation in Portland. What they are doing should be part of a citywide effort to expand recreation in order to support families, empower youth, and build community across generations. I took $25,000 from my budget to support their efforts to transfer this knowledge to other neighborhood parks.
 Congratulations to the Pearl District Neighborhood Association on the launch of their Culinary Farmers Market!
I was proud to support this project with $20,000 from my surplus office budget. The market continues from 10am-2pm every Sunday at Northwest 13th Avenue between Everett and Glisan streets through September.
Board President Bruce Studer led the effort. He says the market is distinctive because it’s specifically built around the relationships between Oregon’s farmers and Portland’s best kitchens. Here’s what you can expect each week:
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Peak-season produce: Fresh Oregon berries and produce straight from Pablo Munoz Farm.
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Artisanal goods: Fresh breads from Fokattia and handcrafted milks from aMylk.
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Restaurant partnerships: Featured items and collaborations with neighborhood favorites like Andina and Arden.
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Food and drink: Breakfast bites, wine, and local sips.
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Live music: A soundtrack provided by a rotating lineup of Portland favorites.
 I am Portland’s representative on the League of Oregon Cities board, and this week I attended the President’s Regional Meeting in Tigard with League President and Fossil Mayor Carol MacInnes and League Treasurer and Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall.
Other cities who attended this meeting included Beaverton, Cornelius, Estacada, Gladstone, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, North Plains, Oregon City, and West Linn. The meeting was designed to gather feedback on the Oregon Municipal Policy, the league’s foundational document, which has not been reviewed or updated in almost 20 years.
 This month Portlanders came downtown for the Rose Festival’s first-ever unified Grand Floral Starlight Parade!
Mayor Wilson marched alongside 50+ mayors from Oregon and Southwest Washington, including McKennon McDonald of Pendleton, Melanie Kebler of Bend, and Lisa Batey of Milwaukie. Oregon Historical Society also hosted a reception with a re-enactment of Mayor Harry Lane’s 1905 address at the Lewis and Clark Exposition, where he memorably told the audience that Portland needed an annual “festival of roses.”
 Last week I stopped by Event Cosmetics, a women-owned and women-operated small business specializing in all things beauty, including Casmara facials, tooth gem installations, skincare consultations, and event makeup.
Owner Katherine Sealy has 20+ years of experience in film, television, theater, and fashion. She has been servicing brides around the country for more than a decade.
Katherine also co-founded the Bloom Tour, which partners with Downtown Portland Clean & Safe to adorn our central city with stunning floral installations during the Rose Festival. Every year, this creative showcase kicks off with a “Botanical Couture Fashion Show.”
She told KGW-TV that downtown businesses are seeing the impact of their efforts: “Unless we take personal ownership and care about our own community, it’s not going to change…. We care because it’s our life’s blood and our life’s work.”
 This week I met with Xcelerate Women, which supports Oregon’s women business owners on their journeys to success. Executive Director Abby Guyer was joined by two of the inspiring entrepreneurs she works with, Sibeiho co-founder Holly Ong (left) and One Day founder Emi Day (right).
Xcelerate’s mission is to give women the skills and confidence to grow their businesses and create wealth while making a positive impact in their communities. Their funding comes from the City, Prosper Portland, and other public and private sources.
In 2025, Xcelerate served 635 women-owned businesses in 20 Oregon counties, including 372 in Portland. In District 4 alone, it served 60 women, including many from marginalized communities: 50% are low to moderate income, 56% are women of color, and 25% are disabled or impaired.
 Last week I joined representatives from the City of Portland, Port of Portland, Portland Metro Chamber, Human Access Project, 1803 Fund, and others aboard the Portland Spirit to discuss the future of Waterfront Park.
Nearly 70 people recently shared their hopes, dreams, and concerns in the drafting of a roadmap that aims to transform the space into a beautiful park attracting visitors of all ages and offering a closer connection to nature. As the park’s owner, the City can collaborate with multiple stakeholders as projects develop on both sides of the Willamette River to shape the future of Portland for decades to come.
Thank you to Oregon Solutions and Portland State University’s Institute of Metropolitan Studies for convening this important conversation!
 Bike Month is ending soon, but the Portland City Bike Bus season is just getting started! Every fourth Wednesday from April through September, eight unique bike bus routes invite commuters to ride downtown together, converging at Salmon Street Springs for coffee and treats.
Last month we were greeted by Portland Bureau of Transportation’s mascot, “Coney,” along with a gaggle of goslings! District 4 entrepreneur Chomba Kaluba was also on hand selling his 3-D pop-up cards, which are available at Hatuas.com.
 Last week my staff attended the groundbreaking ceremony for The Courts 2.0, a new skatepark at 2033 SW Fourth Avenue.
After receiving a $300,000 grant from Prosper Portland and in collaboration with two local design firms, the lot will continue as a pilot skatepark program and be used for the next five to 10 years before being further developed by PSU. Big congratulations to Nicholas Pelster and the partners who made this skatepark possible!
 Last week was Portland Book Week, which culminated in the 20th and largest-ever Rose City Book & Paper Fair, where 68 dealers from around the country sold used, rare, and collectible books.
I recently visited two of the many independent bookstores that we are lucky to have in District 4:
📕 Kid Hermes the Trickster, named after the Greek god of travelers, opened in March at 1030 SW Taylor Street. Owner Doug Lowell launched the used bookshop with 2,000 titles from his personal collection. He’s happy to see younger customers reconnecting with the magic of physical media.
Doug, who lives downtown, told Portland Business Journal that he was intentional in selecting the store’s location: “I believe in downtown. When I was growing up, downtown was where it was at. Seems like it’s time to make it cool again, and I’d like to play my part.”
📗 Grand Gesture Books, the state’s first romance-only bookstore, opened in 2024 at 814 SW 10th Avenue.
Owner Katherine Morgan explained romance’s recent surge in popularity to OPB: “It’s the one genre where you know for sure how it’s going to end, and that’s one of the things people like to make fun of. But … it’s what happens on that journey. You want to root for these people.”
 I recently visited Lavoratti, an upscale Italian chocolate shop that recently opened its first and only U.S. storefront in downtown Portland! I bought one of their top-sellers, the Parmigiano Reggiano bonbon, which comes in white and dark chocolate.
The company was established in 1938 in Varazze, on the western Ligurian coast. While their chocolate comes from Ecuador, it is enhanced by flavors directly from the Mediterranean, including Bronte DOP Pistachio, Cinque Terre Lemon, Taggiasca Olive, Calabrian Bergamot, Trapani IGP, Sea Salt, Vallegia Apricot, and Piedmont Hazelnut.
 Did you know there is a 4,000-square-foot art exhibition space in the middle of the Northwest Industrial District — and admission is free?
The Schnitzer Collection’s latest exhibition, “What’s Not to Love,” which continues through August 15th, features renowned contemporary artists like Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Keith Haring as well as rising stars like Derrick Adams, former Portlander Mickalene Thomas, and Amy Sherald, best known for depicting Michelle Obama at the National Portrait Gallery.
Jordan Schnitzer is North America’s foremost print collector and an ARTnews Top 200 globally recognized art collector. His mother, Arlene, owned the first contemporary art gallery in Portland.
 Yesterday I joined City leaders and drag entertainers to celebrate the opening of Darcelle XV Plaza: a blighted block becomes a gathering place!
Darcelle XV Plaza is an important asset that will serve us well for decades to come. It’s part of downtown’s resurgence.
In addition, it’s wonderful to see an acknowledgment of the LGBTQ+ community return to Harvey Milk Street!
The party will continue at the Spectacular-Spectacular Grand Opening from 5-10pm Thursday, June 25th. Hosted by Poison Waters, this event will feature a glam station where professional makeup artists will give the signature Darcelle makeup look!
 Today we honor Juneteenth, celebrating the end of slavery in the United States.
In 1863 President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, but the news did not make it to the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, until June 19, 1865. Juneteenth has since evolved into a powerful opportunity for critical reflection, social action, and examination of our progress toward racial justice.
Juneteenth Oregon will present the Clara Peoples Freedom Trail Parade on Saturday, June 20th, ending with a community festival at Lillis-Albina Park. In addition, the wildly successful 8 Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo returns to Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, June 21st.
 ► As City Council grapples with budget deadlocks, the same hurdle keeps coming up around the Portland Clean Energy Fund. The climate tax is generating seven times the revenue that advocates promised when it passed in 2018, but as The Oregonian points out in a sharp editorial: “Portlanders and their situations have changed. It’s only fair to see if their minds have changed as well…. Would voters have supported the original clean energy measure had they known how much of the city’s tax dollars would be directed to fund only nonprofits, even as public services are being cut back?”
► KATU-TV reports on progress that Downtown Portland Clean & Safe is making in connecting people in crisis with shelter beds, addiction recovery programs, and other services. Operations Director Steve Wytcherley says: “This is a presence of public safety in the downtown core that instills confidence in employees, in cafes, and local businesses…. Over the last few years, we’ve seen the number of tents in the downtown core go from over 400 to currently in the region of 30 to 40. We’ve reversed 220 overdoses.”
► According to Portland Business Journal, prominent architect George Crandall has died. He led multiple downtown projects like Big Pink, PacWest Center, and renovation of the historic Central Library. George also wrote the book “Fixing Your City,” about mitigating climate change through smart city planning, and he was a part of a nearly 40-year-old run club at Forest Park. Big Pink owner Jeff Swickard says, “George's legacy will continue to be reflected every day in the skyline he helped create and in the city he helped shape.”
► Nutmeg the cat, aka “the unofficial mayor of Sellwood,” has been a beloved fixture at the neighborhood CVS Pharmacy for years. But that may be coming to an end because of a sanitation complaint, per The Oregonian. “He’s an old man. He’s almost 19,” says one of Nutmeg’s owners, Gabi Moore. “This is his retirement life. He doesn’t have a lot of years to go, and for whatever reason he chose CVS as his place. That’s the place he loves most. He likes it more than his home. Let’s just let him have a happy end of life.”
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