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(He/Him) councilor.dunphy@portlandoregon.gov

Bluesky @councilordunphy Instagram @councilorjamiedunphy

A Message from Council President Dunphy:

I told you where I stood on Moda. Here’s why I voted yes.

Hi friends,

For the last eight months, the entire community has been abuzz with discussions about the future of the Moda Center. The conversation has been incredibly divided, with a near equal number of folks screaming “don’t you dare lose the Blazers because City Council couldn’t get their act together” and “don’t you dare spend one penny on a professional sports team owned by an out-of-state sub-prime billionaire who doesn’t care about Portland”. And both camps are totally right.

After hours and hours of testimony and debate, I joined seven of my City Council colleagues and voted yes on the proposed term sheet. It’s a non-binding document that empowers our team of negotiators to officially begin negotiating. It makes it clear where this council stands on a deal, but it is not a final deal. This has been a truly unprecedented process up until this point, with the Blazers refusing to come to the table like every other sports team in the history of stadium lease negotiations. The City has proven that we are serious about getting a good deal for Portland.

The final term sheet was improved massively thanks to the concepts that were originally introduced by Councilors Avalos, Green, Kanal, Morillo, and Novick, vetted by our team of lawyers and negotiators, and brought forward in an amendment package by myself and the D2 Councilors. The term sheet now demands rent as well as payments in lieu of property taxes. It requires community development in the historic Albina neighborhood. It requires strong protections for the workers who will be doing the renovation and the employees working inside the renovated stadium. It strengthens oversight and public accountability. These changes put us in a strong starting position for these negotiations, fighting for a real return on our investment. It doesn’t cut a blank check to a billionaire. It starts the discussion of how this City-owned stadium will be updated for the benefit of our economy and our cultural identity.

I still wish we didn’t have to be talking about the Moda Center right now, when we have so many other big challenges. But here we are. The Blazers are responding more seriously and civilly than they have until this point. There’s probably more work to be done in the next four months than can actually be accomplished, and our negotiators are going to be pressed for time. I will share information with the public and Portland City Council as often as possible, and we’ll be having a public work session on October 12th to give everyone an update on where things stand.

Policy Preview:

Budget Followup: My Presidential Recommendations

My goals in running the budget process this year were straightforward: more time for questions, more time to deliberate on the dais, advance notice on the process, and fewer amendments left on the cutting room floor. On paper, we did that. We tripled the work session hours. And yet, at times, it still sucked, and we still ended up with unfinished work.

The reality is that no matter how much calendar time I commit the Council body to, it will never be enough until we fix the structural information asymmetry in this building. The administration has granular detail on exactly what a specific maintenance team is doing or whether positions are filled. But what do we get in the budget book? Bureau-wide personnel and high-level line items. Twelve of us are trying to learn what these programs actually do by asking one amazing analyst, Owen Saites, to go fetch the data for us. And that is not a sustainable system.

To move from an impossible scramble to an actual policy-driven process, we need to implement four structural shifts that address our information bottleneck, our workload, and our timing:

• Implement Pre-Cut Baseline Presentations: Establish baseline service area presentations early in the timeline to educate Council and the public on organization charts, program allocations, and baseline costs before any budget cuts are placed on the table.
• Hold Joint Forecast Hearings: Convene early, collaborative forecast hearings with both the Council and the Mayor present to ensure both branches have equal access to financial conditions before the Mayor issues formal guidance.
• Add Independent Analyst Support: Provide Council with dedicated budget analyst support staff and independent legal counsel to independently unpack bureau recommendations and manage the informational workload.
• Centralize Public Engagement Capacity: Move away from relying on individual staff offices by building dedicated, all-Council resources within Council Operations to execute public outreach and listening sessions.

We need to rewrite the standard operating procedures of budget season if we want to stop playing catch-up every budget cycle. By implementing my recommendations in next year’s budget cycle, I hope we can make meaningful improvements to the process so that the public and Council are better informed and empowered to adjust the budget per our charter authority.

Dunphy in the Community:

Parkrose Plaza Follow-up

Sometimes we try something, and it works. Sometimes we try something, and we miss the mark. And when that happens, it’s okay: we don’t double down, we pivot and we try again.

And that is the story of the Parkrose Plaza, which officially came down on August 10th.

I recognize that the Parkrose Plaza didn’t work for a lot of folks. I also recognize that others used it, appreciated it, and enjoyed having a new gathering space in their neighborhood. Both things can be true. 

I am unapologetic about any investments in East Portland, particularly ones that bring more public spaces and community gathering places to our neighborhoods. We took a shot here, and we missed. That’s okay.

What matters is that we learn from the experience and keep moving forward. There are many more ways to create third spaces and activations that the entire community can enjoy.

I’d like to express my most sincere and heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the entire PBOT Public Realm and Street Activation Team for making this happen, and for shifting gears so quickly to address the community’s needs. Your partnership is endlessly appreciated.

I would also like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our Parkrose neighbors for your patience and willingness to try hard things, even when they don’t work, and for your dedication to ensuring East Portland is as strong as it can be.

And of course, the most profound thank you goes to Historic Parkrose for being up for giving it a shot when we came to them last year and asked, “so, what do you think? Could it work?”

The end of this pilot is not the end of the conversation. In many ways, it’s the beginning. This experience has given us a better understanding of what our community wants and needs. It has served as a crucial reminder that what works in the central city may not be what works in East Portland.

I’m looking forward to taking what we’ve learned and using it to create more thoughtful, welcoming third spaces and public space activations the whole community can enjoy. 

African Immigrant Forum

I had a great time at the African Immigrant Forum alongside my colleagues Councilor Pirtle-Guiney, Mayor Wilson, and Senator Jama.

The forum was hosted in partnership with PIRC, SOAR Immigration Services, and community partners, which served as a powerful reminder of what community looks like when we stand together and stand up for our rights. I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear directly from members of a community that has been so deeply affected by ICE actions across our region.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, shared their experiences, and continues to fight for a more welcoming and just Portland. We’re stronger when we stand together.

Community for Positive Aging

Teacher Tiffany and I took a Tuesday field trip to tour the Community for Positive Aging (formerly known as the Hollywood Senior Center) to learn more about the community they’ve built for older adults.

Roughly 60% of the community they serve depend on public transportation, and even more (between 65-75%) of their regular visitors also live with a disability. Food insecurity is a huge, rising need in this community, however older adults are often underrepresented in conversations regarding food accessibility.

The Community for Positive Aging seeks to change that by hosting regular community meals and events catered to the needs of older adults.

Every Tuesday, they host a congregate meal for the community, where older folks can come gather with their neighbors and chat over a fresh, hot meal. The Community for Positive Aging also hosts regular events such as tai chi and storytelling time, helping our older community stay active and find kinship. Even better, all events and meals are offered completely free of charge to visitors.

We need more places like this in Portland. Third spaces, where people can gather and connect and feel a sense of belonging without emptying their wallet, are increasingly hard to find, especially for older adults who may have unique mobility, transportation, accessibility, and medical needs.

I am grateful the Community for Positive Aging exists and for the work they do to make sure older Portlanders have a place to belong. As a Council, we must think intentionally about what it means to be an age-friendly city, and I’m committed to working alongside Councilor Koyama Lane to advance policies that make Portland a better place to live at every age. Stay tuned for an age-friendly townhall from our offices! More details to come in next month's edition.

We’re Almost There: Help Bring Parkrose Grocery Home

Parkrose Grocery Store is less than $7,000 away from reaching the $30,000 fundraising goal to help bring a grocery store back to the neighborhood.

Don, the former owner of the shuttered Parkrose Grocery Outlet, has been working tirelessly to open this store, and this campaign has been a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when a community comes together. These funds will help cover critical startup costs, including the first month’s rent and other early expenses needed to get the store ready to serve Parkrose once again.

If you’ve already contributed, thank you. And if you haven’t, now is a great time to help us get across the finish line. Whether it’s $10, $50, $150, $300, or whatever you can afford, every contribution gets us closer to reopening a neighborhood grocery store.

Community supporters giving at higher levels will also receive special reopening benefits:

• Silver Community Supporter — $150–$299
  Receive a Silver card with a 5% discount for one year after the store opens, plus early access during the pre-opening period.
• Gold Community Supporter — $300+
  Receive a Gold card with a 10% discount for one year after the store opens, early access during the pre-opening period, and recognition in the community mural or supporter display.

To receive Silver or Gold benefits, please include your full name, email, phone number, and preferred recognition name when donating.

This is a community contribution campaign to help reopen an essential neighborhood grocery store, and we’re less than $7,000 from our $30,000 goal. Let’s get there together.

The donation campaign ends September 30, 2026, and you can donate here! Since there is a $1,000 max contribution on the platform utilized, please reach out to our office for larger donations and we can help facilitate a connection.

Opportunities of the Month:

Starting a business? Prosper Portland’s got you covered!

Interested in starting a business? Prosper Portland has a range of resources to help you get started!

Their 9-step guide to starting your business is a perfect place to start your journey, where it walks through the steps involved in starting a business, from the initial plan all the way to the hiring of employees and ongoing management of your business (business management also has a more in-depth dedicated page here). If you’re interested in some industry-specific tips, their industry guide has got you covered. They even have a special page dedicated to permitting your business.

Confused about how to register your business with the Revenue Division? They also have a resource for that. Wherever you are at your business journey, Prosper Portland has a wealth of resources and business liaisons with expertise to help walk you through the process.

Youth Civic Engagement Survey - Portland City Auditor Elections Office

If you’re a Portlander between the ages of 18 and 24, the City Auditor’s Elections Office wants to hear from you!

They’re conducting a short, anonymous survey to better understand what motivates young people to participate in civic life and how the City can do a better job reaching and engaging young Portlanders in the future.

The survey takes about five minutes to complete, and your honest feedback will help shape how our city government connects with young people in our community.

The survey is open through September 11. And if you complete it and fill out the short form afterward, you’ll have a chance to win a free tote bag and Elections-branded swag!

The survey can be found here, and any questions can be directed to Sedona.Ortega@portlandoregon.gov.

Your voice matters, and I hope you’ll take a few minutes to share your perspective.

DMA Transit Matters

Transit does so much more than just get us from one place to another. It can also help create safer neighborhoods, vibrant public spaces, and stronger local economies.

District Midway Alliance is hosting a conversation on September 12th from 8:30AM-1:00PM on how to make this happen. This half-day conference will bring community members, transportation leaders, and local partners together to explore community-driven solutions for safer, more connected, and more vibrant neighborhoods, with a particular focus on East Portland.

We’ll talk about how transit can support equitable placemaking, strengthen local businesses, and create public spaces where everyone feels welcome.

We’re also excited to welcome JT Flowers as our keynote speaker, who will share insights on building stronger, more connected communities.

Space is limited, so please RSVP to hold your spot here!

Black Business Month

Did you know August is Black Business Month? Established as such in 2004 by historian John William Templeton and engineering entrepreneur Frederick E. Jordan, its purpose is to empower minority business owners and address disparities in financial backing. August was chosen as it marks the birth month of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, a pioneer of Black entrepreneurship.

Multnomah County Commissioner Shannon Singleton has launched a Black Business Month Scavenger Hunt to celebrate the occasion! The Scavenger Hunt features clues for each of the Black Businesses/events hosted on the link above.

Participants are encouraged to solve clues, which will lead them to the featured businesses and events. There’s even some businesses featured that are City Council District 1 specific!

Here’s some clues that will lead you to some amazing, Black-owned, District 1 businesses:

• Need some therapy or wellness consulting from a Black woman? Talk to Jhaizmine.
• The City of Roses has its own Black-owned garbage and recycling collectors here at our disposal.
• This business specializes in workplace culture change.

If you post photos of your scavenger hunt on social medias, we encourage you to tag the business, Commission Shannon Singleton’s office, and use the hashtag #SingletonsScavengerHunt.

The full scavenger hunt along with clues can be found here!

Friends of Rocky Butte Tunnel Concert

Friends of Rocky Butte is hosting a tunnel concert on September 12th, from 2:00PM-6:00PM, and it is exactly what it sounds like: prepare for a night of music inside the Rocky Butte Tunnel!

And as a special surprise… if you’ve ever wanted to see me perform, now is your chance! My set begins at 3:40 PM.

Walking and biking to the concert is encouraged. It is a 0.3 mile distance to the tunnel from the intersection of Rocky Butte Road and 92nd Avenue, with 200ft elevation gain. The street will be closed to car traffic during the concert.

This is a free community concert inside the Rocky Butte tunnel. The acoustics of the tunnel will provide a memorable musical experience, with a chance to gather with friends inside an urban volcano!

Bring a lawn chair and food to share! Full event details can be found here.

Free Trees for East Portland!

I’m excited to share a great opportunity for Portland residents to bring more shade, cleaner air, and beauty to our neighborhoods. Through Portland Parks & Recreation’s Trees for Residential Streets program, eligible residents can receive free trees, professional planting, and three years of free watering and care.

The program is focused on neighborhoods that have fewer trees and less existing tree canopy, helping make our communities cooler, healthier, and more walkable. Trees can be planted in front yards or along residential streets, on both public and private property.

For the 2026–27 program year, eligible D1 neighborhoods include Argay, Centennial, Glenfair, Hazelwood, Lents, Mill Park, Parkrose, Parkrose Heights, Powellhurst-Gilbert, Russell, Sumner, Sunderland, and Wilkes.

Sign-ups are open year-round, and trees are planted between November and March. Urban Forestry will visit your property to determine the best planting locations and provide you with appropriate tree species to choose from.

If you live in one of the eligible neighborhoods and have space for a tree, I encourage you to take advantage of this program. It takes just 5–10 minutes to sign up, and there’s no cost to you.

Learn more here!