This is a difficult budget, slashing at least $20 million after four years of cuts.  There are few easy targets, and many who support each service currently being funded.  I will work with my colleagues on the Council, considering all community input, to make decisions that provide the most services to the people and principles most in need of support.  We will be making choices such Mounted Patrol vs winter shelter for homeless women?  Mounted Patrol vs 9-1-1 operators?  Mounted Patrol vs after school programs for disadvantaged kids?  These are just a few examples of the stark realities – we don’t have enough money for all of the worthy programs currently being funded, and donations from Friends of the Mounted Patrol don’t come close to covering the ongoing expenses.

The challenge is not only the extra funding needed for the horses, rather prioritizing which police functions are more vital in crime prevention and community safety than others.  We likely need to cut at least 40 police officer positions.  So the choice is Mounted Patrol officers vs School Resource officers?  Mounted Patrol officers vs Gang Enforcement officers?  Mounted Patrol vs child abuse investigators?  Mounted Patrol officers downtown vs District Patrol officers in outer neighborhoods?

I would be interested to read Portlanders' priorities on these funding choice examples.  Please send your comments directly to me at Amanda@portlandoregon.gov  You are welcome to post your opinions here to discuss with others, however I will be using my time to respond to direct emails rather than interacting on the comment string here.

My comments when voting for the Ordinance:

This is an historic moment for human rights in the United States of America.  This is about public health and well being, the health of workers, their families and consequently the health of our community.  

I thank the members of the Everybody Benefits Portland coalition - led by Andrea Paluso, Sharon Bernstein, Lisa Frack and other staff from Family Forward Oregon. And thanks to coalition members:

• UFCW Local 555, led by Jeff Anderson
• Main Street Alliance, led by Lee Mercer and Jim Houser
• VOIS Business Alliance, led by Tony Fuentes     
• Oregon Working Families Party, led by Steve Hughes
• Working America, led by Amy Herzfeld and Tara Murphy
• Causa, led by Francisco Lopez
• Center for Intercultural Organizing - led by Kayse Jama
• APANO - led by Joseph Santos-Lyons     
• ONA - led by Sarah Baessler and Jenn Baker     
• AFSCME - led by Joe Baessler and Eva Rippeteau

There are many others who joined in this grassroots campaign. Thank you to every one.

 Supporters after the vote. Chief architect and craftsman of the ordinance,

my Chief of Staff Tom Bizeau, is out of the limelight on the far right

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Do what you believe in your heart is right, because you will be criticized anyway."

I believe in my heart that this is right.  It will provide people and businesses with a means to maintain their health, which means satisfaction in the job and consequently productivity, which means thriving, sustainable businesses. 

People matter.  Jobs matter.

There will be costs to businesses, and there are other ways that the Council will support businesses in the coming months.  This Code was crafted as simply as possible, to minimize the administrative burden on businesses.  Thanks to Bernie Bottomly of the Portland Business Alliance, and Heather Hoell of Venture Portland who along with others participated in the Task Force process which improved the Code details after the hearing on January 31.  Thanks to Commissioner Dan Saltzman who proposed the Task Force process and co-led it with me.  The standards adopted today are better because of that process.

Real change does not come without sacrifice.

The stories that I have heard from the workers who have had to come to work sick or be fired, or not be able to make the rent, or not be able to care for a child or a loved one, made me understand the scope of the problem that we are trying to solve.  These people now have names that I know, since many Portlanders both for and against the ordinance have participated in the public review.

Many businesses here in Portland already have paid sick leave benefits.  Sixty percent of all employees receive some paid leave.   These are the true pioneers of this regulation because they provided it without government having to ask.  Now, we need to take care of the other 40% who need protection and pay when they need to stay home due to illness. 

We have worked hard to accommodate the needs of businesses, especially the smaller ones. I believe the true cost of this benefit will be a minimal expense in comparison to all the other expenses that a business is confronted with.  And it comes with responsibilities.   Employees work for money and job security, the Employer needs good workers who know the job and can be good long term workers because it saves them money as well.   We are all in this together.  We need to care for each other, and this regulation seeks to do that. 

I am hopeful that the State will pass as good or better requirements state-wide as we are passing here today.  I am already lobbying to pass HB 3390 and SB 801.  As Senator Steiner Hayward said when I visited Salem on Friday, "It's not fair that employees in Portland should have a benefit that employees in Medford don't have."  The more workers covered by paid sick leave, the better.  I hope this will become a national standard.

I thank all my colleagues who recognize how important it is to Portland, to the State and to the people that are in real need of protection.  I thank all those legislators in the County and at the state who have supported and continue to strive for broad and lasting regulations outside the City of Portland.  

Our President, Barack Obama, said in his State of the Union speech this year:

"You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time - not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals. Let each of us now embrace, with solemn duty and awesome joy, what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom."

As an elected official, I make decisions based on facts and broad public input, seeking the long term public good for the whole city, with shared benefits and responsibilities for all Portlanders present and future. 

Thank you for engaging in making this decision with your Council.  I am happy to vote Aye.

The PURB reviews proposed water, sewer, solid waste and recycling rates and makes recommendations regarding adoption of the proposed rates from a citizen and business user’s perspective, to the Portland City Council.  Advised by high-level staff from the Portland Water Bureau, the Bureau of Environmental Services, and the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, the PURB receives administrative assistance from the Office of Management and Finance.   They also consider comments from affected ratepayers.  While the PURB's recommendation is advisory rather than mandatory in the rate-setting process, it is an important Board whose advice the Council considers carefully.   

The PURB is intended to be a 9-person board.  Currently, there are two vacancies: one at-large position and another member representing commercial/industrial ratepayers.  Ideally, one or both of these positions would be filled with someone with an engineering background. 

The PURB as a valuable, on-going resource to help gauge community sentiment on utility rates and related issues.  The PURB meets monthly at 4:30 PM, on the third Thursday of the month in the Lovejoy Room at City Hall. 

Please contact Patti Howard in my office if you are interested in volunteering for this important Board. 

Comments on the proposed policy should be sent to Matt Robinson and Chad Stover in the office of Mayor Hales.  You are also welcome to copy Dora Perry in my office, since Dora is tracking public safety issues with me.

"Missing from most discussion about gun violence are some stark facts  as to who tends to commit violent crimes. If we are choosing to target specific demographic groups for restrictions, rather than, or in addition to, weapons, we must acknowledge that alcohol and drugs are implicated in violent crime at a dramatically higher rate than mental illness.  

In homicides, armed assaults, and domestic violence, a huge number of perpetrators are either under the influence or have a history of alcohol and/or drug abuse. As noted in a New York Times article on Dec. 17, 2012, Dr. Richard A. Freeman reports that: 

"Alcohol and drug abuse are far more likely to result in violent behavior than mental illness by itself. In the National Institute of Mental Health’s E.C.A. [Epidemiologic Catchment Area] study, for example, people with no mental disorder who abused alcohol or drugs were nearly seven times as likely as those without substance abuse to commit violent acts." 

That bears repeating: People with no mental disorder who abused alcohol or drugs were nearly seven times as likely as those without substance abuse to commit violent acts.

Restricting the gun rights of anyone with any alcohol or drug offense history would be an important step in reducing the tens of thousands of gun-crimes and suicides that occur in our country every year.  I urge you to bring this perspective to the gun rights debates that will be happening in coming months."  

Thank you, Betsy, for this thoughtful comment.

"The RTP establishes a comprehensive policy direction for the regional transportation system and recommends a balanced program of transportation investments to implement that policy direction. The RTP is updated every four years, as required by federal law.  In between full updates to the RTP, it may be necessary to amend the plan in response to changing local conditions and newly adopted plans. To be eligible to build a project with federal funds, the project must first be amended into the RTP.

Comments made during this period will be presented to decision makers for consideration before taking action in May. Proposed changes to the RTP project list include projects in Washington County, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland, East Multnomah County and Oregon Department of Transportation projects along I-205.  You can also comment on analysis of how these changes may affect regional air quality. 

For project information or to comment online, see: www.oregonmetro.gov/rtp, mail comments to 2013 Amendments to 2035 RTP, Metro 600 NE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97232, or email to rtp@oregonmetro.gov. Comments must be received by Metro by 5 p.m., Monday, April 8, 2013."

Last week, I received a joyful email from Larry.  He writes:

<<I signed the necessary papers today to prevent my foreclosure.

Special thanks to Kaitlin Gaffney, Constituent Services Advocate from U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley’s office.  She provided me the crucial piece of information to prevent the foreclosure:  the Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative.

I completed my application on October 24.  I signed papers today, with another individual who also qualified.  She and I were the 3^rd and 4^th people to sign papers through the Hacienda Community Development Corporation non-profit.

The counselor noted that over 1,100 people have applied.  He stressed that others should also apply, since slots are still available.  See here to apply.

Funds came from the federal “Hardest Hit Fund.”  These funds, that prevent foreclosure, pay the arrears in full as a 5-year loan that is “forgiven” at the end of the 5-year period.  The State of Oregon maintains a “junior lien” on the property for the 5 years.  >>

As noted in a Huffington Post article,  

<<“Long a national leader in keeping its populace caffeinated, Oregon can claim bragging rights in another category: spending federal dollars to help its homeowners avoid foreclosure.

As of June 30, Oregon had drawn down $107 million of the $220 million allocated under the Hardest Hit Fund, a $7.6 billion program administered by the Treasury Department that pushes bailout dollars to housing agencies in states especially battered by the foreclosure crisis. Oregon has spent $63 million of the funds it has withdrawn, mostly in the form of no-interest loans to help unemployed homeowners make their mortgage payments, according to state housing officials.

.... Oregon -- long a national leader in espresso carts and artisanal cupcake bakers -- can add another feather to its cap. The state has proven relatively efficient at getting Hardest Hit Fund aid into the hands of residents in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure.

"We took a lot of homeowner applications at the beginning," said Margaret Van Vliet, the director of Oregon's housing finance agency, which oversees the state's program, in explaining why her state's program has distributed more aid than average. "We got out of the gate faster.">>

Margaret Van Vliet in the Huffington Post?  I know her!  She was Commissioner Fish's first Director of the Portland Housing Bureau, before moving up to the state.  Yay Margaret! Yay us!

So, there is still plenty of money left to assist qualifying homeowners in need of a new loan to prevent foreclosure.  Please pass this information to anyone who may need it.

Congratulations, Larry!  And thanks to State Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer, who joined me in encouraging Larry while he worked with Senator Merkley's great staff and with responsive mortgage experts at Wells Fargo Bank.  Also to Fernando Guzman, the Hacienda CDC counselor who helped Larry negotiate the process, and the State Legislature and staff who provided assistance.  Please pass on the information to anyone who may be eligible. 

I will file the Ordinance and Code proposal on Thursday 1/24, for posting on Friday prior to the hearing next Thursday, January 31st, in City Hall starting at 2 p.m.  There may be changes in the filed documents, compared with the previously posted versions, based on feedback received.

After the hearing next week, Commissioner Saltzman and I will co-chair a Task Force to identify and discuss potential amendments to the proposed Code.  I anticipate 11 - 13 people, invited by Council members to represent the broad range of stakeholder communities, meeting weekly for three weeks. A report from the Task Force will be posted.  Council members may choose to propose amendments identified in the report, or suggested by others submitted via open public input.  A second hearing will be held at the end of February to consider amendment requests, with a Council vote anticipated the first week of March.  The new standards would be implemented January 2014.

I hope the Legislature will pass a statewide Earned Sick Leave standard.  I am open to revisiting Portland's ordinance if that happens.  I will also lead the work to identify benchmarks and gather data before, during, and after implementation, likely with a monitoring committee comprised of Portland employers and employees.  If the Code is implemented in January 2014 as currently proposed, I will bring a follow-up report Council mid-2015.  I believe sick leave standards are necessary and reasonable, and I appreciate the constructive engagement of Portlanders on all sides to identify the details for the Code the Council will vote on at the end of February or beginning of March.

Informational Forum scheduled for January 23rd

Although an estimated 60% of employees working in Portland are currently provided paid time off when they are ill, up to 40% of Portland’s workers can’t take even a single day off to recover from contagious diseases, accidents, or major surgery.  Some are even threatened with losing their job if they don’t show up at work due to illness.   This issue is of particular concern during the flu season, and with recent outbreaks of Norwalk virus, with illnesses spreading when people who are sick don’t stay home to recover.  But almost everyone gets sick sometimes.

Like minimum wage and safe employment conditions, ideally standards on emergency sick leave would be set by the State Legislature. The Portland City Council adopted a State Legislative Agenda this week that includes asking for statewide Paid Sick Time regulations.  In the meantime, I am proposing a local measure that would be implemented for employees working within city boundaries.  My proposal will only go into effect if the Legislature fails to adopt standards that are equal or better in safeguarding public health and employee rights.  As a retired Registered Nurse, former public school mom, and now Commissioner in charge of wellness for over 5,000 City employees, I believe protected sick leave is an important element of workplace safety and public health.

My proposal would allow employees who work in Portland for more than 240 hours in a year to earn one hour of sick time per 30 hours worked, and then use up to five days of earned sick time per year for specified emergency absences.  Employees in businesses with six or more employees would be eligible for paid sick time.  Those working in businesses with five or fewer employees would not be paid for time off due to sickness, but they would have the right to use their earned sick leave without fear of retribution.

The proposed Ordinance and Code are posted here.

I will host an informational forum next Wednesday, January 23, from 6 – 8 p.m. in the PortlandBuilding, Room C on the 2^nd floor, 1120 SW 5^th Avenue.  This event will give an overview of the proposed standards, with an extended question and answer opportunity.  It is a public meeting, but for review of the proposal rather than a hearing designed for proponents and opponents to advocate for or against the proposal.

The Council will hold a hearing on the proposed Protected Sick Leave Ordinance and Code on Thursday, January 31^st in City Council chambers starting at 2 p.m.  

Following that hearing, I will convene a stakeholder Task Force which will meet weekly for three weeks to discuss the details and potentially propose amendments for Council members to consider presenting at the second hearing at the end of February.  Following the Council vote, administrative rules used in implementation of the new code will be adopted in collaboration with the City Attorney’s office and the state Bureau of Labor and Industries.   If adopted by City Council, the new sick leave standards would then be in effect January 1, 2014.

For more information from the Office for Community Technology, call 503-823-5385 during business hours.

In 2009, the City Council directed the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to work with residents, business owners and employees, nonprofits, schools, and other stakeholders in NW Portland to propose strategies for managing parking in the area. The initial directive was to return to Council in fall 2009; that timeline was extended. The Recommended Plan was publshed early in 2012.  Since then, I have considered input from many, many people concerned about the issues involved.  It is clear that we can all agree on one conclusion -- that we don't all agree.

Based on the feedback I've heard, I am proposing amendments to the Recommended Plan that I hope will set a path to moving forward.  I propose a phased approach, outlined here.  If adopted, the first phase will include adding permit parking south of Lovejoy and west of 19th, and also establishing a Transportation Management Association (TMA).  The TMA will include 17 voting members, with representation from a wide range of interests.  Members will be nominated by stakeholder groups and appointed by the Commissioner in Charge of PBOT  After each phase, the TMA must provide an evaluation and report to the PBOT Commissioner, who will send it to City Council. The recommendations may include changing the plan for the next phase.  Any two members of Council can mandate a public hearing to consider the recommendation of the TMA for the next phase, before it is implemented.

I am proposing that the second phase, if recommended by the TMA and accepted by the PBOT Commissioner and Council, is permits in the rest of the district.  The third phase, again subject to revisions by the TMA, PBOT Commissioner, and Council, is pay station meters in the commercial corridors of NW 21st and 23rd. 

I am proposing that CLASS Academy be included in the district, so that their staff, parents and visitors qualify for all benefits.  One of the member slots of the TMA is for a representative from the Metropolitan Learning Center (MLC) or CLASS Academny PTA, since these schools share the characteristic of attracting students from outside the NW area.

I am proposing all employees would be eligible to buy parking permits, rather than the proposal in the Recommended Plan which limits employee permits thus necessitating a bartering process. 

The current Zone K, which is in the northwest edge of the parking district, is unchanged.  Currently Zone L, near Burnside, has permit parking related to events at Jeld-Wen Field.  I want to hear input on how far north the stadium-impact zone should be, in the proposed first phase.

The Mayor's proposed Organizational Framework for the Transportation Management Asociation, its charge and membership, is here.  My proposed amendments to it, inserting the process for phased evaluation/reports/decisions, are shown in green strikethrough/underline.

I want to hear feedback on my proposed amendments, and I am open to suggestions for improvements.  If your comments are extensive, please send by email to me.

If your thoughts are turning to shopping, there are many worthy organizations offering thoughtful gifts that also give back to worthy causes in our community, at the Give!Guide web site.  Remember, when you shop at locally owned businesses, your money helps support Portland's economy to a greater extent than if you buy from out-of-state corporations.

From their web site:

"This meal is put together for the community, by the community and is about so much more than food...it's about service, compassion, change, and impact - truly neighbors loving and caring for one another.

This year we are hoping to make a larger impact by providing additional items such as hats, gloves, socks and toys at no cost to our guests. With the economic situation being what it is, we feel this is a significant way to make a difference during an important time."

The proposed Agreement is here.  It will be discussed at a public hearing in Council Chambers at 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 1.

My comments at the Press Conference announcing the Settlement with the US Department of Justice on their allegation that the Portland Police Bureau has engaged in unconstitutional use of force against people experiencing mental illnesses:

It is clear that while the County and the State are principally responsible for mental health care services, our police are often first responders to people experiencing mental illnesses in Portland, dispatched by the Bureau of Emergency Communications which I am in charge of.

For three years, I have been working with our community partners including MultnomahCounty, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Central City Concern, Lifeworks, area hospitals, people with lived experience with mental illness and their advocates, and others to work toward a system of care that provides appropriate and sufficient services for people experiencing mental illness.

This work through Safer PDX, formerly known as the Bazelon Project, resulted in my recommendations for improvements to our regional system of crisis and community mental health care which I shared with the Mayor and the United States Department of Justice earlier this year.

The City’s agreement with the Department of Justice confirms the need for many changes in our City.

The agreement cites:

“The absence of a comprehensive community mental health infrastructure often shifts to law enforcement agencies throughoutOregonthe burden of being first responders to individuals in mental health crisis.”

I agree.  This  is the reality in which we must operate, and we must improve the outcomes for people experiencing mental illnesses.

** Having a core group of police officers who choose to receive supplemental training and are dispatched to all 911 calls related to people with mental illness, is a valuable step in the right direction.

** The ability for PPB officers and qualified mental health professionals to work together on crisis prevention for folks who our officers interact with frequently will help connect those who need mental health services with treatment.

** And careful, principled collaboration sharing information about individuals who police officers come into contact with will help us and our partners more effectively care for the most vulnerable people in our community.

I am particularly hopeful that we can begin implementing many of the changes called for in our crisis and community mental health systems through partnership with the regional Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) and MultnomahCounty immediately. We have a unique opportunity to truly fix our system and provide coordinated care.

In the agreement, the Department of Justice states its expectation that the regional CCOs will establish, by mid-2013, one or more drop-off centers for first responders and public walk-in centers for individuals with addictions and/or behavioral health service needs.

The City will work closely with crisis and community mental health providers to pursue the establishment of these services.  We will also focus on how hospital emergency departments, community clinics or urgent care facilities admit highly acute individuals and focus care plans on appropriate discharge and community based treatment options.

The agreement notes, the City will participate on the mental health and addictions workgroups of the CCOs as well as review County Requests For Proposals for contracts for these services, to pursue the following improvements to the system:

** Increased sharing of information between agencies and organizations including the Bureau of Emergency Communications, Multnomah County, and health care providers to share information among first responders and providers to better serve people experiencing mental illness;

** The creation of rapid-access clinics so people in crisis have access to timely appointments for treatment and medications;

** Enhancing access to primary care providers for low-acuity patients, creating more capacity for acute patients in existing outpatient crisis mental health systems;

Pursuing the expansion of options and available capacity for 9-1-1 Operators to appropriately divert calls to qualified civilian mental health providers as first responders;

We have already initiated changes, and more will be forthcoming.  Last month, we set up a new number for people to call when feeling suicidal, or their loved ones to call. That number is 503-97-23456.  It goes to Lines for Life, formerly Oregon Partnership, where mental health care professionals and highly trained volunteers provide support over the phone.  Last year, Lines for Life handled 19,000 crisis calls, and 98% of them were resolved on the phone with no need to dispatch anyone.

** Expanding and strengthening networks of Peer-provided services, such as NAMI Northstar and Folktime; and

** Addressing other unmet needs indentified by Safer PDX and its community partners.

I will continue to work to support the implementation of these provisions of the agreement.  I believe they will help strengthen our system of care.  I will also engage with the Office of Neighborhood Involvement and the Office of Equity and Human Rights in community oversight processes.  The ongoing work must be transparent and accountable to everyone in the community.

I am thrilled with the level of interest in this proposal since Friday.  As I hoped, putting it on the Council Agenda has attracted more community members into the review and discussion of the problems and proposed solutions. Some Portlanders want more information about what I have proposed, others have suggestions for alternative mechanisms to achieve the goals of transparency, accountability, and improving good governance within the commission structure of Council. I have heard support for the concept both inside City Hall and from others, like this Oregonian Editorial.  I have also listened to folks who want more time and details prior to full Council review and decision-making.

To summarize, the proposal would move 12 staff out of the Bureau of Financial Services in the Office of Management and Finance, and assign them to work within Financial Planning's existing $1.7m budget to form a new City Budget Office, directly accountable to all elected officials. 

The remaining 646 staff, five bureaus, and $449 million budget for administrative functions of the City would continue to be under the direction of the Chief Administrative Officer in the Office of Management and Finance. 

Instead of holding the public hearing on Wednesday with brief testimony from citizens, I asked for the item to be returned to my office, so that more Portlanders have time to consider it and have opportunities to give meaningful input and discussion. Office of Management and Finance Director Jack Graham will work with me so that we can make the best decisions concerning this new proposal, as we move forward together.  

To receive email notification of public meetings and ways to give/receive input on this project, please contact Tim Crail at 503-823-3988.

 Photo by Karla Moore-Love

For more information on OHSU Magnet status, what it means and what it took to achieve it, see here.  Shared commitment to seek Magnet status was one of the outcomes of the OHSU Nurses strike, in which I was active from December 17. 2001 to February 13, 2002 -- 56 days that changed my life.  See here for comments on the strike, on the community blog I started in December 2006.

Later last Wednesday, I attended the OHSU Nurses' celebration at Doernbecher Hospital, and read the Proclamation again.

 Photo by Sharon Dunham

I was particularly impressed with the poster from 1NW, where I worked for 22 years in Inpatient Psychiatry.  From their exhibit:

Being part of the Magnet celebration as both a former OHSU nurse and current City Commissioner was a joyful experience for me.  Nurses rock!

This new structure will have minimal impact on the cost of budgeting, while potentially saving millions through better decision-making by Council.

It is a significant reform to our internal City structure, which will improve our budgeting process and lead to better, more accountable spending decisions. 

Under our Commission form of government, every member of Council has both executive and legislative responsibilities.  Elected officials will make better decisions when we receive direct assistance and information from independent budget analysts.  

The proposal includes hiring three utility experts, who will monitor Portland’s utility bureaus throughout the year and make recommendations about utility rates, contracts, and capital expenditures.  These positions will be funded by the utility bureaus within existing resources.  This concept was discussed during the 2011 Charter Commission’s consideration of an Independent Utility Commission. It will provide more expert oversight of rates and performance.

I look forward to the conversation at the public hearing on Wednesday, October 24^th regarding my proposal.  I encourage you to read the ordinance and proposed implementation Code.  Depending on public testimony and Council direction at the hearing on Wednesday, I may delay the vote to allow for deeper discussion of the initiative.  This is a significant change to the City’s internal structure, and as such deserves thoughtful and inclusive consideration.

For more information, please contact Tim Crail at 503-823-3988.

* City leadership will support a citywide effort to look at current service delivery efforts and how these efforts could be improved with the implementation of a 311 and common customer relationship management system;  

* The Bureau of Emergency Communications and Commissioner Fritz will form a citywide advisory committee, made up of staff and community members, to ensure that City bureaus’ needs and concerns, as well as those of the community at large, are addressed; 

* The citywide advisory committee will work with the 311 steering committee and the consultant in devising an implementation plan that ensures a successful organization wide implementation; 

* The City will learn from best practices of those cities that have already implemented 311 systems while tailoring our approach to the individual needs of our city and its community members

In other words, we're not going to re-invent the wheel, and we want community members to be integral to planning and implementing the system that is responsive to community needs. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Tim Crail.

I am very pleased the entire Council supports implementing 3-1-1. Mayor Adams had to miss the vote, but is solidly in favor. Like establishing the Office of Equity and Human Rights and carrying out its mission, the 3-1-1 system development and implementation will require active participation by all members of Council and by every bureau to create a successful, efficient and responsive service. The 3-1-1 project is another strategy to make the Commission form of government work better for everyone.

East Portland Expo, photograph courtesy of Event Coordinator Mark White

This year's event will be held this coming Wednesday, October 3, at the Oregon Convention Center.

In previous years, veterans living downtown (either in housing or outdoors) were able to use the Free Rail zone to get to the event.  TriMet has ended that program, and does not make exceptions on requiring fares for all passengers.  Central City Concern is providing tickets for their clients, but some veterans may not have access.  In order to ensure every veteran has transportation to this important event, I will give TriMet tickets to any veteran who needs one (or two, depending on how long you plan to stay at the Fair) for October 3.  Veterans are warmly invited to stop by the Office of Neighborhood Involvement on the first floor of City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Avenue.  Show the friendly staff in ONI your military ID, and ask for one or two tickets as needed. 

Pre-register for this year's event here. 

Thank you for serving, veterans.

Unless I hear new reasoning at the public hearing to decide whether the City should appeal, I believe we must take the next step to ask the Court of Appeals to look at the unique facts of the Frashour case, and ask the Court to overturn the decision of the ERB. I have also suggested to Mayor Adams that we ask the 2013 Legislature to amend any statutes that are not clear and reasonable, so everyone understands the lines of accountability and responsibility.

Photo by Marc Fernandes, staff for the Youth Commission from Multnomah County

Michael Kaplan, Executive Director of CAP, said on stage that early treatment when people are HIV positive is 96% successful in avoiding transmission of the virus to partners.  People can live long, productive lives after HIV infection with access to treatment.  The Walk is aimed at raising both money and awareness. Get tested! Get help!  For more information, see Cascade Aids Project.

This was Michael Kaplan's fifth and final walk as Executive Director.  He is moving to Washington D.C. after winning the position of President & CEO of AIDS United, a leading national organization focused on advocacy, grant making, and public policy.  Thank you for your service to our community, Michael.

 Michael Kaplan in red, with others invited on stage. Photo by Cameron Whitten.

One effective solution to these problems: Make it easy for people feeling suicidal, and/or people worried about them, to talk with mental health care specialists 24/7/365. 

Feeling suicidal? Don't call 9-1-1.  Call 503 - 97 - 23456. 

On Wednesday, the Portland City Council unanimously passed a Resolution establishing enhanced service by Lines for Life (formerly Oregon Partnership).  Working with Mayor Adams and Lines for Life leader Judy Cushing, I led the agreement to fund and publicize the great work of this non-profit, and the new number.  They take more than 19,000 calls per year, with 98% resolved by talking on the phone without the need to dispatch public safety officers.  They provide follow-up care, calling back after a few hours to check on progress, then sending postcards regularly to give ongoing support.  And they are suicide prevention experts. 

The City's more care-ful approach also includes posting new signs on bridges that are often locations for people jumping to suicide.  The one shown at the Council hearing (see this article in The Skanner) states, "We can help you cross this bridge" then gives the Lines for Life numbers.  The national Suicide Prevention Hotline number still works in Portland, too - that is 800-SUICIDE.  We are establishing the 503-97-23456 phone line with memorable numbers, in addition, to give people good choices.

Lines for Life also staffs the Military Help Line, and a teen peer counseling program.  Family or friends concerned about loved ones who seem to be going through a rough time are also welcome to call.  All these services are also accessed by calling 503 -97 - 23456.

Please pass this message along to everyone you know.  Approximately 20% of Americans experience mental illness at some point in our lives, so someone you know may need to know this number now or in the future.

Feeling suicidal? Don't call 9-1-1.  Call 503 - 97 - 23456. 

For more information

Blog: http://www.portlandonline.com/mayor/index.cfm?c=52750&a=411767 or http://bit.ly/SagiD9

Youtube: http://youtu.be/nzI6cqM41pk

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/49807715

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PortlandMayorSamAdams/posts/209464605851021

Tweet: http://bit.ly/S82XGU

On Monday, September 10, 2012, the public is invited to attend a celebration of recovery at the Hooper 40th Anniversary from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Left Bank Annex, 101 N. Weidler Street. All are welcome.  I will represent the City of Portland at the event; Lt. Robert King from the Portland Police Bureau, will also join the program. Free parking at the Garden Garage at the Rose Garden; public transportation is encouraged.

Alumni, staff, neighbors, and friends are welcome at the free celebration. Commemorative coins will be given to the first 400 people, attendees will be encouraged to document their clean date and guests will have the opportunity to share their Hooper story on video. In addition, Central City Concern will showcase 40 years of Hooper Center memorabilia and will honor Hooper Heroes, staff who have worked 20+ years in the program. In the photo below, a Central City Concern staffer assembles memorabilia and signage in preparation for the Hooper 40th Anniversary Celebration.

"Hooper" – known throughout the city as an entry point for drug and alcohol recovery – opened initially in October 1971 with support from a National Inebriate Grant.  Two program areas make up "Hooper" – Sobering Station/CHIERS located in NE Portland and Hooper Detoxification Stabilization Center in North Portland near the Rose Quarter. CHIERS staff are medically-trained and authorized to transport intoxicated people to the 24-hour Sobering Station for a few hours as a safe place to sober up. The Sobering Station serves approximately 6,000 people yearly.

Hooper Detoxification Stabilization Center provides residential, medical detoxification and stabilization for individuals over a 4-10 day stay. More than 2,000 people (many of whom are homeless and without insurance) start their drug/alcohol recovery process at Hooper Detox every year. Once individuals exit Hooper Detox, staff work to connect them with ongoing recovery support and housing if needed.

The event, sponsored by the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, coincides with National Recovery Month promoted by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); this year's theme for recovery month is "It's Worth It." 

The event flyer is available here. Please direct additional questions to 503-294-1681 or news@ccconcern.org.

Last week, I visited Far West Fibers Inc., the facility where all of Portland’s recycling - including the contents of residential “blue bins” - goes for sorting. Since the implementation of curbside composting and every-other-week garbage pickup, Far West Fibers' east side location has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of trash and diapers contaminating residential recycling bins. This mixing is detrimental to Far West Fibers’ operations. All the contents of our blue bins race across a conveyor belt and individuals manually sort out non-recyclables. I was fascinated by how quickly the belt and their hands moved.  It reminded me of the famous I Love Lucy Chocolate Factory episode.... except the amazingly skilled workers are picking out trash and dirty diapers, not candy.

I enjoyed the factory tour very much, and learned a great deal about recycling business operations. Seeing the process in action also helps me better understand and remember the rules of recycling. For example, I learned that the lids of plastic milk jugs can be recycled as long as they are screwed onto the rinsed-out jug. It is not necessary to remove labels from plastic, glass bottles, or metal cans.  Rigid plastic frozen food containers are OK, but paper packaging that has been in the freezer goes in the garbage.  It was also illustrative to see how plastic bags really do jam the machines, forcing them to stop everything and manually un-jam them every few hours.

Below is a picture of my very fashion-forward assistant, Milena, with President and CEO Keith Ristau, who was so kind to invite and take us on the tour.

Since curbside compost and every-other-week garbage pickup began last October, I have received both positive and negative feedback from Portlanders. I appreciate and consider all comments, and I am open to reconsidering or adjusting the program to make it work better for everybody. I have heard stories about neighbors offering space in half-full garbage bins when extra room is needed. I believe creative, neighborly solutions like these are the heart of what Portland is about.

Eric (shown) and Cindy hosted me on the river in their boat to help me count the participants in the attempt to break the Guinness World Record for number of people holding hands while floating on inner tubes. We had 492 in line, plus about another 100 in a second disconnected line. The world record is 550 all holding hands for 30 seconds, so next year we hope to break it if we can get everyone organized.

Thanks to Will Levinson the lead organizer of The Big Float, the Office of Healthy Working Rivers (sponsor, and Director Ann Beier participated), Eric, Cindy and boat-mates Dave and Laura, The Skanner/KBOO's Lisa Loving who helped with counting, and all 600+ who participated.

Photo provided by Sophorn Cheang at the Golden Leaf Education Foundation

The Golden Leaf Education Foundation will hold its third annual fundraising auction gala, "A Magical Night in Cambodia," on Saturday, August 4th, 2012 at the Scottish Rite Center (709 SW 15th Avenue) in Portland.  All are welcome at this event - tickets may be purchased via the link above.

Owner Shelly Sorenson (pictured below) is a native Portlander who attended Portland Public Schools, beginning at Chief Joseph Elementary and graduating with honors from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1981. 

As a member of the Columbia River Girl Scouts for ten years, Shelly Sorenson learned the value of setting goals and serving others.  She designed and created a business plan for her first vending cart at age 10.

In 1992, with the help of her mother and father, Shelly comined her passion for nutrition, customer service, and community-building and created Shelly’s Garden, a mobile food unit specializing in salads.  The following year, after expanding its menu since salads didn't sell so well in the rain, 'Shelly's Garden Honkin’ Huge Burritos' found its current home at Pioneer Courthouse Square.  Shelly cooks and sells from this cart, serving Portlanders and visitors from all walks of life, and she has built relationships lasting two decades.

The local food cart industry has grown in recent years, and today comprises more than 450 individual businesses and about 700 carts.

It is with great pride that we congratulate the owner-operator of one of our original food carts, which have transformed the food scene in Portland, on celebrating her 20th anniversary.

The City’s geographic connections extend to federally recognized tribes in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. The tribal governments with historic ties to use of the Columbia River basin and therefore to Portland, include the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde; the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon; the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation; and the Nez Perce Tribe. 

Leaders of the Warm Springs, Umatilla, Grande Ronde, Siletz, and Nez Perce governments.  The chairman of the Yakama Nation was unable to attend.

The Resolution passed unanimously by the City Council affirms Portland’s policy to implement programs and activities in ways that honor and respect tribal treaty rights, federal-tribal trust responsibilities, and traditional Native spiritual beliefs. Under the Resolution, the City will cultivate opportunities to partner with tribes in relationships of mutual respect to achieve economic, environmental, and other improvements. The Resolution directs the City to develop policies and procedures that support and affirm its commitment to government-to-government consultation with tribal government partners.

I authored the Resolution in partnership with Mayor Adams, assisted by Patti Howard in my office; Warren Jimenez formerly the Mayor's Chief of Staff; Steffeni Mendoza Gray in the Office of Government Relations; and community consultant Roy Sampsel, a Board Member of the Institute for Tribal Government at PSU.

Update 7/18/12: Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde web site news article is here.

Thursday, July 12, 10-11:30a at Central Precinct
1111 SW 2nd Avenue, 14th Floor-Wayne Sullivan Room

Saturday, July 14, 10-11:30a at Christ Memorial Community Church
1552 N Killingsworth Street

Tuesday, July 17, 6-7:30p at Capitol Hill Library
10723 SW Capitol Highway

Thursday, July 19, 6-7:30p at Midland Library
805 SE 122nd Avenue

For space and planning purposes, please RSVP by calling or emailing Officer Deanna Wesson-Mitchell, 503-823-0636. Additional information, including benefits information and training details, can be found on the Portland Police Bureau's recruiting website.

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** Register your National Night Out street party for the first week in August here!

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Nominations are open for the Making A Difference Awards 2012 which will be presented October 23 at the Connecting Communities Coalition's fall event, "Branch Out." The City honors individuals and groups making a difference in the Portland disability community every year with these Awards. 

Anyone who knows a business, organization, individual or youth who deserves recognition for work that promotes equity; breaks down barriers, both physical and social; encourages the elevation of the disability community through employment, art, access or health; or other examples that may deserve recognition is encouraged to submit a nomination. 

Nominations may be made on the form here.  The form also has information for submitting in person, by regular mail or email. The deadline for nominations is September 1, 2012.

I look forward to working with advocates on statewide coverage measures in the 2013 Oregon State Legislature.

I will host a fundraising event on Saturday and Sunday – June 23 and June 24 - from 11am-5pm, each day.

By Sam Adams

Mon, June 18, 2012 5:33pm

Additionally, I helped to co-author a resolution with Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn on human trafficking, which was also adopted by the Conference. This resolution calls upon Backpage.com and other classified services nationwide to implement in person age verification and end the use of such websites in the sexual trafficking and abuse of minors. It also calls upon Congress and state legislatures to pass laws addressing these abuses. (Click here for the full resolution)

Thanks to the US Conference of Mayors for all their work in advancing local priorities at a national level. I would like to thank all my fellow mayors for their consideration and support of these resolutions, as well as for the work they do on behalf of their citizens every day. 

"Parents of autistic children -- Tobi Rates, executive director of the Autism Society of Oregon, Shane Jackson, its lobbyist, and Tatiana Terdal and Anastasia Puha – attended the May 30 council meeting.  “I’m so excited for all the families this is going to help,” said Puha, whose husband works as a crew leader for the city’s maintenance bureau.  The City of Portland is the first public employer in Oregon to offer coverage for autism treatments, according to Terdal. Large private companies such as Hillsboro-based Intel already do. “This is a big question of equity,” she said." 

Many thanks to City of Portland family member Anastasia Puha, and community expert Paul Terdal and his wife Tatiana, for educating Commissioner Saltzman and me on this important issue.  And to Bureau of Human Resources Benefits Manager Cathy Bless, and the Citywide Labor Management Benefits Committee, for seeing the need and working with Commissioner Saltzman and me to act promptly to address it.  Next step: getting this issue on the City's priority list for the State Legislature to address statewide in January.

Saturday morning, I was inside Veterans Memorial Coliseum to watch the Queen's Coronation for the first time.  For the past four years, I've led the Grand Floral Walk, which promotes healthy exercise by walking the four mile parade route before the floats set off.  So usually I'm outside, meeting with other walkers (such as my friend Marilyn Loy, below) and getting in place. 

This year, I decided to experience the Coronation, and Rose Festival Director Jeff Curtis graciously set me up with a VIP ticket to be on the floor for the ceremony.  So I got to watch the Central Catholic fans go wild as Queen Kate Sinnott was named the Queen of Rosaria for 2012-13.

Much better photos and coverage here.   

Kate's father is Bill Sinnott, who retired from the Portland Police Bureau in 2006 to work with the Clean & Safe program funded by the Portland Business Alliance.  As this post on Bike Portland shows, he is an outstanding person and exemplary officer who earned the respect of the community. Later in the day, I attended the Royal Rosarians Grand Ball, and saw Kate and Bill take to the floor to lead the dancing, cheered by Kate's mom, Kathy.  Appropriately, to Abba's "Dancing Queen".

Special thanks to Prime Minister Rob Hungerford for introducing me at the Grand Ball as, "my friend, Commissioner Amanda Fritz".  And to Royal Regent, Ray Hanson, for bestowing on me the honor of Knight of the Realm of Rosaria last year.  I'm glad Mayor Sam Adams and Sheriff Dan Staton received that honor on Friday.

Opening the mail on Thursday morning, I found a beautiful banner featuring handmade Thank You cards from students in Heather Chaney's class.

As you can see, I proudly hung the banner in my office entryway, where it will serve as a daily reminder of kindness from my friends at Sunnyside Environmental School.  And also of my mother and other teachers who helped me learn that Thank You notes are appreciated. 

The historic clock in my waiting area is left at noon.  We had it "fixed" when I first took over the office, but it runs by its own time if we wind it up.  All the photographs that adorn my office are by my husband, Steve.  They mostly feature wild birds and river vessels, in recognition of my role founding the Office of Healthy Working Rivers.

During the Sunnyside class visit, I learned that without the City Council's intervention to provide funding for Portland's schools, third grade classes would have had 38 students next year.  I am proud to have been a member of the Council that provided significant support to all Portland school districts, at significant cost to City workers and other basic services. We need to join together to demand that the Oregon Legislature refer a measure to voters in 2013 to provide adequate, stable school funding for all Oregon school districts, ongoing. For the past 10 - 20 years, we've made cuts after cuts, and provided band-aid make-up measures.  It's time to fix the problem with a permanent solution.  Our children, including the wonderful students at Sunnyside, deserve it.

This week, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement's Director, Amalia Alarcón de Morris, sent the following message to the dozens of Portlanders who participated on ONI's Budget Advisory Committee.  Anyone interested is welcome to join the group, which meets for three hours twice each month starting in late fall.  Amalia wrote: 

Thank you for your participation in the 2012-13 budget process. In the fourth consecutive cut budget, the ONI network sustained more losses, notably a vacant half-time administrative assistant position for Crime Prevention, half the Small Grants money, and a 1% cut to all partner organizations. These constraints will make it more difficult for City staff, community partners, and volunteers to complete everything we want to get done.

But it could have been much worse.

Your advocacy in letters, emails, phone calls and at hearings helped our Commissioner, Amanda Fritz win back funding for a threatened Crime Prevention Specialist position, Disability materials, and Resolutions NW.

• While other bureaus took cuts of up to 8%, ONI escaped with reductions at 3.5%.
• ONI partner agency staff cost of living allowances, the first in many years, were specifically funded - Commissioner Fritz made this one of her priorities despite the BAC and partner staff once again nobly offering savings in this line item.
• Together, we won back the Crime Prevention position that was threatened right up to the last two weeks of the process. Council heard over and over that Samantha's outstanding performance in the position is greatly valued by neighbors, and that Crime Prevention services citywide are essential to community livability.
• Together, we saved funding for Resolutions Northwest.
• Together, we made sure the East Portland Action Plan continues with staff and grant funding.
• Together, we preserved at least half the money for Neighborhood Small Grants. 

Perhaps even more significant in the long run, Commissioner Fritz won unanimous approval for a Budget Note that specifies funding for Graffiti and Resolutions NW will be part of ONI's ongoing allocation in the 2013-14 budget. This converts more than $500,000 from line items we have to justify each year, into being part of ONI's core budget again. 

We want to express our gratitude to all our partners who invested time and energy in our budget process, and advocated for our bureau budget. And also to our Commissioner in charge, Amanda Fritz, who has fought so hard and so successfully on ONI’s behalf in difficult budget years. Her advocacy on our behalf, together with yours, resulted in a much better budget outcome than any of us imagined.

Amalia Alarcón de Morris

Bureau Director,Office of Neighborhood Involvement

Full details of the budget gains and cuts in ONI are posted here.

I attended the Franklin High School graduation this evening, to cheer for Serena Montehermoso who interned in my office two summers ago.  Congratulations to all Portland high school graduates, and their families and educators.

 Photo courtesy of Kelly White, BOEC

It seemed to me the crowd this year was the biggest yet.  Thank you to everyone who lined the streets, and to all who walked with me -- and son Luke who drove my husband's zebra car, which is always more popular with children watching parades than any politician.

 Photo courtesy of Steve Fritz

The Rose Festival is Portland's Official Festival, due to a Resolution that I initiated in partnership with Commissioner Leonard.  This special status was a factor in the Rose Festival winning the award for Best Festival in the World in 2011.  The City invests less than $100,000 in financial support for the Rose Festival.  It generates close to $50 million in economic benefit for the region - see this Porland Tribune article.  And it's fun, especially in difficult times when it's hard to take even one evening away from struggling to address the challenges faced by our community. The Realm of Rosaria is mythical, the City government is real.  I am happy to be both a Dame of Rosaria, and a Commissioner of Portland.

I support higher education and especially the service that PSU offers as the largest university and the only urban university in the state.  PSU is a great partner for the City of Portland. 

I agree with President Wiewel when he says that “to be competitive in a global economy, the metropolitan area needs to be more innovative, more creative and more entrepreneurial.”

School funding for higher education and primary education continues to be inadequate due to Measure 5, and a Legislature that refuses to act to resolve the inequities and the recurring shortfalls.  I can't support funding for buildings when we don't have enough money to pay the faculty to teach in them, or to provide tuition assistance for the students who will learn in them.

There are incentives for the various stakeholders in this URA:

• PSU receives money for both private and public construction projects in the campus vicinity. 
• Portland Public Schools gets funding to rebuild Lincoln High School and stimulate the private development for the rest of their property. 
• Multnomah County benefits with a Human Services building
• The City gets $46 million for affordable housing in an area that sorely needs it
• The Portland Development Commission is funded with $24 million for administrative staffing and overhead costs.

There are compelling reasons to support our regional university, PSU

• Synergistic aspects of this school with OHSU
• Business innovation
• Community research and outreach programs
• Government research and joint ventures
• Providing accessible high quality higher education for the surrounding region and a growing number of students

These things are happening whether we do the URA or not.  And, I don't believe it is fair for Portland's taxpayers to pay for building up a university which is a regional asset.

While I strongly believe the underlying problems with state funding of k-12 and higher education school funding must be fixed first, before we do any more buildings, for me the final decision turns on 2 issues.  

One, the interpretation of Blight is weak.  It is based upon underutilization of land, which could be much more easily made in many other areas of the City. 

Two, and more importantly, we the City and the taxpayers of Portland citywide, are forgoing $60 million in taxes that would ordinarily be available for use citywide in the General Fund. 

• We are already cutting back in many basic services like public safety, parks, and transportation. 
• Each year less goes to the general fund and more goes to paying off debt generated by Urban Renewal Districts. 
• Even proportionally when you compare the present value of money lost from the City in foregone revenue over the life of the district against what is then gained in year 2046 ($507,000), it doesn’t make sense to strap current and future city residents with that debt and with the reduction in city maintenance and city services.   

I applaud PSU and what it is endeavoring to accomplish as a regional and state university. I believe it is well on its way to achieving that goal.   This is not the time to take taxpayers' money from citywide basic services to earmark them for this project.   I must respectfully vote NO.

I asked Semiha why there is only one woman on her Council, given that the political parties have recognized that there should be more women in leadership roles in Turkey.  She smiled and said, "The men have to give up their places."  Different continents, same challenge.

The first community engagement event for the 2012 Rose Festival Court was volunteering to help clean up graffiti in the Central Eastside Industrial District.  It was delightful to work with the 15 amazing young women students who've won the right to represent their schools on the 2012 Court.  Thanks to Marcia Dennis and Dennis LoGuidice of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, the Rose Festival, and Rodda Paint's Lis Weller for supporting the activity painting out tags on SE MLK and around 3rd and 4th.

My team: (L-R) Rosie (St Mary's), Carter (Wilson), Mehek (Lake Oswego/Metro), Sade' (Benson), Cassidy (Lincoln). We painted over the tags from the former home of The Salvation Army's Adult Rehabilitation Center.  Don't mess with these young women, graffiti vandals!  They look nice, but they care passionately about our community. Once volunteers clean an area, I've found they take ownership of it.

Administrator Jackson made a memorable, funny, and endearing speech about the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act and the importance of clean rivers.  Then she said she had to take an early flight this morning to get back to D.C. to be present at events for her two teenage children.  In other words, she is a real person with values many Portlanders embrace. I was very impressed.  See this interview with the Oregonian's Scott Learn for more - I hope you agree.

Before the evening events at the River Rally, Administrator Jackson visited Harvey Scott School, where the students and community have created a rain garden. She said the children were asked who had heard of the Clean Water Act?  No response.  The National Estuary Initiative?  More blank stares.  The Columbia River?  She said the room lit up with enthusiasm. 

Rivers are essentially local.  We care about them because they are the Commons, belonging to all, in places we love. That was the core of the River Rally opening speech by Waterkeeper Alliance leader Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who talked about suing polluters to clean up the Hudson, and about the inequities in impacts of pollution for people of color and less affluent communities.

I am proud that the Office of Healthy Working Rivers staff did such a great job of working with the River Network and Waterkeepers Alliance to conduct the conference in Portland.  Thanks also to the City's Government Relations staff for helping to coordinate Administrator Jackson's visit.  And to Patti Howard in my office, for staffing me at the event. Rally Ho!  River advocates like to yell that, at frequent intervals.  I tried it at the end of my "Welcome to Portland" speech, and received a highly satisfactory response from the 700 participants.

Founded in 1979, WomenStrength has provided free self-defense classes for thousands of women in the Portland area. WomenStrength also offers personal safety workshops for both men and women, and launched its GirlStrength division for young women between the ages of 10 and 14 in 2008. Together, WomenStrength and GirlStrength provide invaluable instruction that can help you diffuse and escape a potentially violent or threatening situation. Click here to read the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault guidelines for choosing a women's self-defense course.

Preparedness, education, and awareness of one's surroundings can help women avoid and/or survive assaults in the community and at home. With proper training, the chances of surviving a violent encounter increase significantly. Training provided in self-defense classes has real-world, life-saving potential and should be taken seriously.

WomenStrength classes are taught in a sequence of three sessions, and it is essential to attend all three sessions in order. For information, click here. Please call 503-823-0260 to register. Encourage your friends, relatives, and loved ones to enroll with you - the information and training could save their lives too.  Upcoming classes are as follows:

Introductory WomenStrength Self-Defense Classes

Registration begins Tuesday, May 8th at 9:00 a.m.

Saturdays, June 2nd, 9th and 16th from 9:30am-12:30 pm

East Portland Community Center

740 SE 106th (Take I-205 to Washington/Stark exit.  Take Washington east to 106th. Turn right.  Community center is about 2 blocks down on the left.)

Bus line: 15, 26

Tuesdays, June 5th, 12th and 19th from 5:30-8:30 pm

St. Johns Community Center

8427 N Central (from I-5, take Lombard West exit. Drive to community of St Johns. 

Turn right on Leavitt which dead ends at the center. Center is behind the Safeway. Follow signs to gym) Bus Line: 4, 40, 75

WomenStrength Intermediate Class

Saturday, May 19th from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

*Note: Plan to bring your own lunch

Gateway Fred Meyer, PPB Contact office

1111 NE 102nd Ave, Suite F

(on the East side of the building, look for large Police Badge)

WomenStrength Intermediate Self-Defense Classes:

• are free.
• are held once a quarter at the Family Services Division 
• are for adult women who have taken a regular WomenStrength class or refresher within the past six months.
• are offered in one seven hour session for women who want to build on the Introductory WomenStrength Class. 

Call 823-0260 to register or for more information.

GirlStrength Classes

Sunnyside Environmental School — Ages 12-14

3421 SE Salmon St. Portland, OR 97214

Contact: (971) 570-8131

Dates: Wednesdays -- Apr 4th - Jun 6th, 2012

Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Si Se Puede—Yes We Can!       

6736 NE Killingsworth St. Balthazar Ortiz Community Center

Contact: (503)501-8851

Dates: Thursdays -- April 5-May 31st, 2012 

Time:  6:00 pm -7:30 pm

Registration information and requirements - as well as schedules for additional GirlStrength classes, workshops, and camps - can be found here.

Despite our school budget woes caused by decades of underfunding from the Legislature and Oregon's taxpayers, Oregon public schools are still turning out great achievers.

In addition to supporting NAMI through this luncheon, I also participate in the annual NAMI Northwest Walk event. Pictured with me at this year's kick-off event is Dave Dahl, who is President of Dave's Killer Bread, 2012 honorary walk chair, and a longtime NAMI supporter.

Photo credit: Wendy Sample

This year's NAMI Walk is on Sunday, May 20.  You are welcome to join my Walk team, here.  Join, Dave, me, and thousands of others concerned about people experiencing mental illnesses, by signing up for the 2012 Portland NAMI Walk.

Three members of my staff, Patti Howard, Tim Crail, and Milena Malone, participated in today's event by walking one mile from Southeast Portland (Patti) and four miles from Southwest Portland (Tim and Milena). They are pictured below, sporting commemorative pins received at the event's celebratory breakfast in the City Hall Atrium upon arrival.  

I am a member of the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition.  I have participated in previous demonstrations advocating for pedestrian safety and the joys of walking and using wheelchairs and strollers in Portland.  Unfortunately I was unable to join today's event, so I especially look forward to the next one.  This first Walk to Work Day seems sure to become an annual event, given the successful participation today.

Despite these positive gains, not all students saw improved graduation rates. Pacific Islander students' graduation rates, for example, are lower than the citywide average, and currently stand at 57%. Since 2007, Portland Public Schools has conducted targeted interventions for students at risk of dropping out. The ultimate goal is to ensure that every Portland Public Schools student earns a diploma.

The Oregonian published an article on January 27, 2012, announcing that 11,000+ students statewide dropped out of the class of 2011. The article notes that at 59%, Portland Public Schools continues to have one of the lowest graduation rates in the state of Oregon. Clearly, despite significant gains, there is much work left to be done to help each student reach his or her full potential.  A later article suggested better tracking of whether students transfer or drop out accounts for some of the stated improved scores.  But as this Op-Ed points out, that factor doesn't explain all the gains.  And it certainly doesn't account for other objective benchmarks, such has better than 100 more students enrolling as freshmen/freshchicks (the latter is my daughter's term) at Roosevelt High School in 2011, compared with 2010.

I will continue to partner with all three school districts located entirely in Portland, and with the four other districts with some students living in Portland, to sustain and improve upon the gains.  The 2009-12 Council under Mayor Adams has been unanimous in our support for school funding, internships, apprenticeships, and scholarships. Even in this dark recession, we funded 9th Grade Counts, Future Connect, business tax credits for internships, early childcare programs, SUN schools, and expansion of the Portland Public Schools Foundation to cover all of Multnomah County as "All Hands Raised."  We consolidated multiple leadership groups into the Cradle to Career collaborative.  And Council members show up repeatedly at school events, all over Portland.

The evidence is clear that these strategies are working to improve graduation rates.

Thank you for voicing your opinion by signing the on-line petition, which sent an email from you to me.  Unfortunately the petition was set up without transmitting your email address to me, so I am unable to reply to each signer individually.  I hope those who signed the petition see this open letter in response. 

About 10 years ago, when my daughter swam at Buckman with Portland Parks & Recreation's synchronized swimming classes, I was involved in saving Buckman Pool in a previous round of cuts.  I know the value of the pool at the school, especially until the City can fulfill the longtime promise of providing a community center at the Washington High School site.

It would be helpful if you have ideas for where else to cut in the Parks budget, which is under the leadership of Commissioner Fish.  All bureaus have been asked to propose cuts of 4 - 8%, due to the ongoing impacts of the recession.  The Council is required to balance the budget, both this year and in the five year forecast.  I would welcome your suggestions for other places to cut, in order to save Buckman Pool.  Please reply to Caitlin Lilly with your ideas.

There is a budget forum tonight at the Cleveland High School cafeteria (3400 SE 26th Avenue) from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.  Everyone is welcome to come and participate, to help the Council make very difficult decisions on where to find savings.

Thank you again for participating in this challenging budget process.

Chinese New Year celebrations aren't like American or British events, all clustered on one day.  Gatherings connected with the New Year span several months.  I had to miss the Lung Kung family celebration this past Sunday, as my own family was blessed by a beloved friend from Ohio visiting.  Event liaison Timothy Won was very gracious in understanding my torn loyalties.  The photo above shows Helen Ying (left of photo), longtime Parkrose School district staffer and Chinese community leader, enjoying the program at a previous event, the Lee family's celebration.  Special guest Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder is on stage, on the left in this photo.  Helen has participated with dedication on my committee creating the Office of Equity and Human Rights.  She and her husband Stephen Ying, along with many other leaders in Portland's vibrant Chinese-American communities, graciously extend hands of friendship to me and many others.

Late last year, I attended the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition Annual Meeting. This meeting provides members with an opportunity to celebrate the previous year's accomplishments, and thank volunteers for their service. This gathering, at Mercy Corps HQ in Old Town Chinatown, was particularly memorable because it was one of the last public appearances of Gail Achterman, who received an award for her lifetime of service to transportation issues in Oregon.

Pictured with me is Keynote Speaker Nicholas Johnson, who is one of our awesome Commissioners with the Portland Commission on Disability.

Photo courtesey of Stephanie Routh, WPC Executive Director

I have been an enthusiastic pedestrian advocate for many years.  Most trips start or end with a pedestrian experience, which included using a wheelchair or other assistive mobility device on the sidewalks (or at the side of the street, in neighborhoods like mine where there are few sidewalks). I appreciate the leadership of the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition and its visionary early founders, including Ellen Vanderslice and Doug Klotz.  I will continue to advocate for sidewalk construction and actions that promote pedestrian safety, for as long as I am on the City Council.

Regarding this report, the Portland Business Journal stated, "it makes sense that the City called for 'creative financial partnerships' to fund water improvement programs." The article went on to report that "it's a good sign that the ideas... have the endorsement of both Willamette Riverkeeper and the Working Waterfront Coalition." Click here to view this article in its entirety.

Several focal points are detailed in the report, including the importance of caring for existing facilities, increasing education and enforcement, and serving the full range of river recreation experiences. The vision and goals outlined in the report are as follows:

Vision: "A clean and healthy Willamette River is the pride of Portlanders who fish, paddle, sail, pleasure-boat, swim, experience nature, and sight-see on its waters."

Goals: "Increase enjoyment of, and direct experience with, the Willamette. Bring people closer to the river to foster an improved understanding of river history, economy, and ecology. Manage recreation in concert with other City priorities to secure a net improvement in river health. Provide for safe, enjoyable, and valuable on-water recreational uses. Ensure people enjoy the river by practicing environmental responsibility."

The graphic below outlines factors that shaped the River Recreation Strategy, including using appropriate sources of funding - ratepayer dollars for the Office of Healthy Working Rivers, and taxpayer dollars for Portland Parks and Recreation's component.  Commissioner Fish and I are spending taxpayer and ratepayer dollars wisely, to benefit multiple goals shared by many Portlanders.

"Thank you Mayor Adams for your leadership on this work. You have indeed followed in the footsteps of your mentor Mayor Katz in being an Education Mayor, and in making very clear that the City will do whatever we are legally allowed to do and whatever the generosity of the taxpayers of Portland allows us to do, in providing support outside of school hours and doing what we can to support programs in school hours.

I particularly note the 14% increase in graduation rates at Roosevelt High School.   I think that's in part due to the City's investment, the taxpayers' investment, of $200,000 into their new sports field.  Because, just like that we heard in testimony from the student at David Douglas who wants to get up to go to hip hop class, I know my son was always wanting to get up and get into school and get his grades done so he could go to football after class. Those things all matter. Thanks to Kali Ladd, an absolutely amazing leader at the education team, and the Mayor's whole staff for pulling it together and helping all of us recognize that investment in our youth is investment in jobs. It is investment in our future. We all need to succeed or none of us succeed."

One such City-funded program, Future Connect, is a collaborative scholarship program between the Portland City Council and Portland Community College (PCC). Launched in 2011, Future Connect is designed to reach lower-income, first-generation college students who demonstrate academic promise and are recent high school graduates. The program currently serves 150 first-year college students. In addition to scholarship funding, all Future Connect participants receive direct support and advising services in order to remain enrolled in school and earn degrees.

To date, the PCC Foundation has raised more than $460,000 toward the City's matching challenge, after the City Council invested $360,000 in scarce General Fund dollars.  I see this as a good investment in education, jobs, and equity. I recently received a packet of thank-you letters filled with success stories from students who have received Future Connect scholarships. Thanks to Future Connect, these students are now able to pursue their career goals through enrollment at Portland Community College. I am proud to have helped fund college for hundreds of students who are the first college attendees in their families.

I attended the matinee performance of Pirates of Penzance at Madison High School this afternoon.  It is wonderful!  Student stars John Brumbelow (Frederick), Lorene Butler (Mabel), and Hannah Rice (Ruth) were awesome. There are still three more shows next weekend, with some roles alternating in a second cast, and I urge you to attend.  Tickets are only $10, and the show is so fun and well done.  Congratulations to Music Director Jason Owens and Stage Director Glen Jacobs.

For dinner, my husband, son Luke (who tutors in Open Meadow's Step Up program at Madison) and I went to the Brickhouse Pizzeria on NE Sandy at 67th.  Owner Thana Martin gave coupons to all Pirates attendees, offering 20% of the day's proceeds to be donated to Madison.  Plus Luke gets Alaska Airlines miles for using his credit card there.  We were so glad we visited! The pizza is delish, and it's a relaxed, comfortable place. Luke enjoyed their "Rose City Hawaiian" with mandarin oranges and cream cheese in addition to the traditional pineapple, Canadian bacon and tomato sauce.  And I demolished the Margarita, with fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese.  Yum! 

President F.W. de Klerk, Gary Spanovich, and Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle

Last week, I had the honor of meeting and listening to Nobel Peace Prize winner President F.W. de Klerk of South Africa, who lectured as a benefit for the Wholistic Peace Institute.  He spoke on his work liberating South Africa from apartheid with Nelson Mandela, and on unilaterally stopping South Africa's nuclear weapons program.  It was a huge thrill to shake hands with and listen to this great leader.  In his after-dinner speech, he said:

"I am African.  I look like I'm European or American, but I'm African.  My family has lived in Africa for 300 years.  Whatever your preconceived notions about Africa, get rid of them.  And recognize that Africa has enormous riches in resources and people.  China and the rest of Asia has realized this and is investing in Africa.  America and Europe must do so too."

There are many perks in my job.  Meeting and learning from great people, either from abroad or from right here in Portland, is perhaps the best of them.  Many thanks to Gary Spanovich of the Wholistic Peace Institute for bringing President de Klerk to Portland and for welcoming me to the events.

The minimum requirements are:

• High School diploma or equivalent;
• 18 years old at time of hire, and
• Ability to type 45 words per minute. 

Please pass along this information to anyone who may be interested in a career answering emergency calls and dispatching first responders.  Starting salary even while training is $20.21 - $23.41 hourly.

The deadline is March 12 or when 150 complete applications are received, so speed and accuracy in responding are important..... just as they are on the job.

To celebrate Read Across America last Thursday, I read my favorite Dr. Seuss book, The Lorax, to students in the ACCESS School at Sabin on March 1st. I was joined by teachers Bill Wiesner and Theresa Egan, who teach third grade and fourth grade, respectively, for this event.  The last time I read The Lorax was to kindergartners when my daughter Ali was in in Mr. Casquiero's class at Markham Elementary.... which is a while ago given she will graduate from Willamette University in May.

The Lorax is meaningful to many, like here in a blog post on the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, and here referencing my would-be epic adaptation sent to the Oregonian in 1995.

Some of the most memorable lines of that beloved Dr. Seuss book is, "I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues. And I'm asking you, sir, at the top of my lungs...."

I often feel I speak on the Council for those who have tongues, but can't be in City Hall during the business week. Sometimes for those without tongues, like the salmon and yes, even the trees. I'm proud of coordinating the Council's work preparing to address cleanup of Superfund pollution. I'm happy to have garnered support to pass the Tree Protection policy unanimously last year.

And I remember daily the UNLESS of The Lorax:

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not." 

I hope you will join me in making life in Portland get better, through caring a whole awful lot. 

Thank you, ACCESS school, for asking me to read with your wonderful students.  One of them reminded me about the Burgerville fundraiser on Thursday March 8, when a portion of sales profits will go to local arts education.  As if I need further incentive to buy another Northwest Chocolate Cherry milkshake.....

The Scene and Heard section of the Oregonian may have been going for a while, but today is the first time I noticed it when my photo popped up with Northeast Portland icon Alice Blatt at the Columbia Slough Watershed Council event a few weeks ago.  The Oregonian invites all nonprofits to send publicity after events, saying:

If your nonprofit organization holds a fundraiser or other major social event, you're invited to submit up to three high-quality digital photos with their captions within two weeks of the event for possible publication in Scene & Heard. Please see the guidelines at oregonlive.com/living/index.s/scene_and_heard.html

I believe many Portlanders feel encouraged to know of good happenings, of which there are many along with the challenges and tragedies of our city.  Please take the time to publicize the great work being done by people in Portland.

After completion of a national search and an application review process involving stakeholders from the community as well as city staff, I announced on February 16 that Dante J. James will be the first Director of Portland’s new Office of Equity and Human Rights. He comes to Portland from Denver, Colorado, bringing over 20 years of political and legal experience as an attorney in private practice, non-profit director, administrative hearings officer, community organizer, government administrator and political consultant.

Dante has been active in social justice causes throughout his more than 25 years in Denver, serving on many political and community boards and commissions. He was most recently the Manager of the Small Business Office for the Regional Transportation District where he oversaw the District’s compliance with federal regulations regarding utilization of disadvantaged and small business on the build-out of metro Denver’s light rail transit system. 
 

“Equal access to opportunities in areas such as employment, economic development, and government contracting can only add to the status of Portland as a world-class city,” Dante said, when I asked him to summarize why the equity work matters. “I look forward to becoming a Portlander, and sharing my experiences to help ensure greater opportunities for all of the residents of Portland.”

Dante James, a U.S. Army veteran, previously headed a non-profit organization focused on training community activists, political candidates and elected officials on strategic approaches to effecting political and policy change. He was an appointee of Denver Mayor Wellington Webb leading the Mayor’s Office of Contract Compliance. For six years, he worked as advance staff for the Clinton Administration nationally and internationally. He taught high school in Japan, and was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado and the University of Denver College of Law. He worked as a Public Defender, and volunteered with Aurora, Colorado’s Teen Court. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas and his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Denver Sturm College Of Law.

* I personally answered 5,247 constituent emails, one at a time 

* My Constituent Services Specialist, Caitlin Lilly, responded to 1,546 computer-generated (hundreds all the same) emails on my behalf.   

* I replied to 262 paper mailed letters from Portlanders

* My staff documented resolution of 375 telephone calls to our office

* We answered 31 inquiries submitted via this web site

* We solved problems for 37 citizens who came to our office as walk-ins 

* I attended 391 community events

* We collected more than 1,000 pairs of socks, and more than 80 beanies, scarves and gloves, plus a waterproof coat and a nice pair of outdoor shoes, mostly from City employees, and delivered them to organizations supporting people experiencing homelessness

For my first three years in office,

 
* Of the 117 items I placed on the City Council Agenda, 116 passed unanimously. 

* I personally answered 20,096 constituent emails, one at a time

* I responded to 937 paper mailed letters from Portlanders

* My staff documented resolution of 1,065 telephone calls to our office

* We answered 265 inquiries submitted via this web site

* We solved problems for 88 citizens who came to our office as walk-ins 

* We gathered 3,143 pairs of socks, 47 blankets, 80+ hats/scarves/gloves, one coat, one pair of shoes, and 5 cans of soup, mostly donated by City employees (with great assistance in the sock category from the Sock It To Me local business), and passed them to organizations supporting people experiencing homelessness.

*  I attended 971 community events, visiting in 92 of Portland's 95 Neighborhood Associations. (Note: the 971 number does not count campaign events connected to running for re-election). I will have re-visited all 95 neighborhoods in my role as City Commissioner in charge of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, before the summer.

Since becoming engaged in Portland issues, I have participated in neighborhood-led hands-on volunteer service projects in 90 neighborhoods.

See previous reports from 2009 and 2010.  Taxpayers are funding the work done by my staff and me, and I want you to know some of the objective measurements showing we have been working hard for you.

Adopting the East Portland Action Plan (EPAP) in February 2009 was one of the first major projects I voted to approve in my first year in office.  Both the citizens nor the City resolved that after adoption of the Plan, we would not then let it gather dust on the shelf. Throughout the dark days of the recession, each year Council has allocated funding for a staff support specialist and small grants funding to assist the 63 volunteers and many varied committees of the EPAP ongoing working groups. 

The results have been spectacular, with hundreds of thousands of additional dollars leveraged through the active participation of hundreds of community partners.  

Pictured with me after the East Portland Action Plan meeting are Natalya Sobolevskaya, Melissa Payne, and Marie Manuel. Photo by Igor Sobolevskiy.

Lore Wintergreen, the EPAP's only staff person and possibly the only person who could have supported this work so care-fully, and Chris Scarzello of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability who has been working with the community on a pilot re-zoning project, testified at the hearing. They are clearly beloved and valued by the community.

I particularly appreciate the EPAP participants commitment to equity.  We can all learn from their example and experiences.  For instance, EPAP leaders decided that grant applications need not be submitted in English.  This simple choice has resulted in much wider participation in grants funded through the program, increasing community involvement and empowerment of immigrants and refugees.

EPAP Co-chair Katie Larsell sent me her closing comments, copied below, expressing EPAP members' recognition that while much more is needed, Council has heard and responded to East Portland's concerns with significant investments and allocations of attention and funding.  Thanks also to Co-chair Arlene Kimura, and all the 20+ people who participated in the presentation.  Katie's summary:

"Thank you Mayor Adams and City Council for being strong supporters of the East Portland Action Plan.  I hope you can see from our presentation, the variety and intensity of effort in East Portland.  I hope you know that we cannot do it without you.

In my introduction I listed our other partners such as Metro and ODOT, Trimet and Multnomah County, and we are grateful for them, but right now I want to focus on the City of Portland and what you have done.

First, the Mayor and the Council have supported the EPAP this past year with $280,000 which we have used for our Advocate position, operating budget, two grant programs and the East Portland Economic Development Assessment. The Office of Neighborhood Involvement has provided the EPAP program with ongoing support, while the Water Bureau has literally sheltered us in a centrally located and beautiful hydro-park facility.

In addition, the City has been investing in East Portland:

* The Bureau of Transportation produced the ‘East Portland In Motion’ strategy and are implementing $8M in pedestrian improvements – along with many other transportation improvements, including work on high crash corridors, LID outreach, and Safe Routes to School improvements.

* Under the guidance of Mayor Adams, Portland Development Commission worked with the community to build a Neighborhood Economic Strategy and brought the ‘Portland Prosperity Initiatives’ to four business districts in East Portland.

* Planning and Sustainability's 122nd Ave. work progressed from a first stage Pilot Project to a much needed Re-zoning pilot project.

*  The Mayor partnered with Parkrose High School to develop a community/school soccer field. [Editor's note: Actually I organized the funding, and Commissioner Fish with Portland Parks worked on the field development details. Mayor Adams has been a strong supporter of the project, for sure.]

*  The City established the City-wide Tree Project and the Bureau of Environmental Services also helped fund Friends of Trees plantings in East Portland, including along the I-205 Multi-Use Path.

*  The City established geographic mapping of the City Budget.

*  The Bureau of Development Services staffed the East Portland Enhanced Housing Inspector position to help maintain safe housing.

*  The Powell Butte Reservoir project is for the whole city but Commissioner Leonard has ensured that the work is done respectfully and with an eye to enhancing this beautiful park.

*  Parks acquired the Wilkes Headwaters and access properties to Raymond Park.

*  Commissioner Fish launched the E-205 parks improvement effort to add much needed amenities to East Portland Parks.

*  Commissioner Saltzman worked with the Bureau of Environmental Services to implement the Johnson Creek Floodplain Restoration Project and various Springwater Wetland's restorations in ways that address the serious need and enhance the area.

*  Portland Police partnered with Gresham Police to provide better service on the Gresham-Portland border.

*  Commissioner Fritz is leading the work to address Equity in Portland, which will serve the East Portland community well. 

That is a lot and we thank you.  We hope that we contributed to these projects as you have charged us, by providing “leadership and guidance” when needed.  We strive always to be good partners.

Thank you, Katie and the whole East Portland Action Plan team, for demonstrating how citizens and government working together can make a lot of progress with relatively little funding in a very short time.

The neighborhood hopes to get this fountain installed by Summer 2012. Tax-deductible donations may be made through the Hosford Abernethy Neighborhood Development website or sent to the following address:

HAND Piccolo Fountain

PO Box 15033

Portland, Oregon 97293-5033

Thanks to the volunteers in HAND for working to address a need, as Neighborhood Associations so often do.

Last Friday, I participated in a press conference conducted by NAMI Multnomah with Wayne Cho, a Canadian citizen who is running around the world to raise awareness of mental illnesses, in the Love World Run.  He started in Toronto and is now heading down the West Coast to Los Angeles.  I commended him for fundraising, and he laughed and said, "Actually I'm not very good at that part, I just run."  I relate.  Please visit his site to learn more about what he is doing and why.  Check out his blog for many beautiful photographs.  And if you can, send a few bucks.  I have found that even a $5 donation can be real encouragement.

The jacket I'm showing in the photographs was my father's, who completed over 100 marathons and ultramarathons, including winning the Boston Marathon for his age group in 1989.  My Dad, Max Jones, ran 118 miles in 24 hours at age 70, winning multiple world age group records.  His fastest marathon time was 2:57:06 at age 59. My father ran in several World Championships for Great Britain Veterans, in many Portland marathons, and in Nike Portland's Hood-to-Coast team.  He would have appreciated Wayne Cho's efforts.

Photographs by Jeri Shumate of NAMI, featuring NAMI Multnomah Executive Director Margaret Brayden as well as Wayne and me.

The City of Portland is situated in a geographic area over three seismic faults: the Oatfield Fault, the East Bank Fault, and the Portland Hills Fault. Each of these faults runs directly through heavily populated areas of Portland, and poses the threat of a catastrophic earthquake (9.0 magnitude or higher). According to geologists, the last earthquake of this magnitude struck Oregon in approximately January 1700, and the region is overdue for a big seismic event (aka earthquake catastrophe).

I've asked my staff in the Office of Neighborhood Involvement to develop more community-based trainings for family preparedness and neighborhood volunteering in the event of a major natural disaster.  While the Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) program run by the Bureau of Emergency Management provides intense training for volunteers able to devote dozens of hours to learning in-depth team leader skills, fewer than 4,000 of our 582,000 Portland residents have been able to complete the course and stay active in their teams.  We all need to know and be ready to act on the basics, since many experts believe we may need to fend for ourselves for three weeks (not three days) if a major earthquake hits the West coast. 

The majority of the changes would remove antiquated language or policies from the Charter document, as well as updating and/or clarifying content. The proposed amendments will appear on the May 2012 ballot for voters' consideration.  This package has been termed "housekeeping", however it includes many important changes.  Voter approval of these amendments will go a long way to updating the Charter.

Overviews of these nine proposed changes, with my personal comments under each one, are as follows:

SUMMARY OF FIRST PROPOSED AMENDMENT 

Amend Charter Section 1-106 by deleting the phrase "to the City Attorney"

The Commission recommends an amendment to Section 1-106 on tort claim notices, to make the Charter consistent with state law. The Oregon Tort Claims Act identifies who may receive tort claim notices for the City, including the City Attorney and other City officials. For consistency with state law, this amendment removes a requirement that service be made only to the City Attorney.

SUMMARY OF SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT 

Amend Section 2-105(a)(14): To appropriate annually to the Mayor two thousand
dollars ($2,000) as and for a discretionary secret service Fund, for which the Mayor need furnish no vouchers, and such appropriation shall be made.

This amendment would require that expenditures from this fund be accounted for in the same manner as other City expenditures.  It changes the name from "secret service" to "discretionary" to more accurately reflect the nature of the fund.

SUMMARY OF THIRD PROPOSED AMENDMENT 

Delete Charter Section 2-105(a)(50): To prevent the sale, circulation, display and disposition of obscene matter, including books, papers, prints, pictures, films and other material, and of obscene advertisements of any kind, and to punish any person who sells or offers for sale, displays or who circulates or disposes of such literature, books, papers, prints, pictures, films, advertising matter and other material, and to define and declare from time to time what literature, books, papers, prints, pictures, films, advertising matter and other material are obscene within the purposes and province of this provision. (delete in entirety)

Preventing the sale of obscenity has been pre-empted by the Oregon Supreme Court's interpretation of Article I, Section 8 of the Oregon Constitution. Deletion of this section of the City's specific powers will not impair the City's general powers and authority to protect and provide support for the City's public health, safety and welfare, and removes the illusion that the City has powers which it actually doesn't.

SUMMARY OF FOURTH PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Delete Charter Section 2-105(a)(51): To define what constitutes vagrancy, and to provide for the support, restraint, punishment and employment of vagrants and paupers. (delete in entirety)

This removes offensive and outdated language.  Deletion of this section of the City's specific powers will not impair the City's general powers and authority to protect and provide support for the City’s public health, safety and welfare.

SUMMARY OF FIFTH PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Delete Charter Section 2-105(a)(54): To prohibit the exhibition of deformed or crippled persons, and to prohibit all persons from begging upon the streets or in public places. (delete in entirety)

This proposed amendment removes outdated and offensive language.  The Oregon Constitution's provisions regarding free speech and expression govern panhandling and other forms of requests made on Portland's streets.

SUMMARY OF SIXTH PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Amend Section 2-108 – Emergency fund: There shall be annually appropriated and set apart the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) to be known as the Emergency Fund of the Council and the Council may use and expend such Fund, or any part thereof, in its discretion for any purpose it may deem proper or advantageous to the public welfare, and shall not be required to furnish vouchers showing the purposes for which such expenditures were made. No part of such Fund shall be used as compensation or additional salary or for the personal benefit of the Mayor or any Commissioner.

This amendment would require that expenditures from this fund be accounted for in the same manner as other City expenditures.

SUMMARY OF SEVENTH PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Amend Charter Section 2-206(b) to change the word "but" to "or."

This section specifies the elections process and timing for filling vacancies in elective City offices. The intent of Section 2-206 is to ensure that there is an election procedure to fill vacancies that may occur at any time during an elected official's four year term. Each of the three subsections - (b), (c) and (d) - is intended to apply to different periods of time during the four year term. While the wording of Subsection (b) is ambiguous, the City has interpreted Subsection (b) to apply to the periods of time not covered by Subsections (c) and (d). However, the City is concerned that Subsection (b) could be interpreted to apply only if a vacancy occurs both more than 100 days before the primary election in the fourth year of the term but also less than seventy-one days before the general election in the fourth year even though these two time periods do not overlap, rendering Subsection (b) meaningless. Changing a single word "but" to "or" in Subsection (b) would clarify its meaning consistent with intent and would ensure that vacancies occurring during the first three years of an elected official’s term are covered by the Charter.

Got that?  This is a great example of why I am so grateful to the Charter Commissioners for puzzling through so many intricate wording issues.

SUMMARY OF EIGHTH PROPOSED AMENDMENT 

Amend Section 13-301 to add term of office and vacancy provisions for Charter Commission appointments.

The Charter Commission recommends amending Charter Section 13-301 to provide that the Council shall appoint Charter Commission members to a term of office of at least two years, and may appoint members to additional terms or to later Charter commissions. The amendment further changes Charter Section 13-301 to define when a vacancy exists on the Charter Commission, and how a vacancy will be filled.

SUMMARY OF NINTH PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Delete Chapter 14, Exposition-Recreation Commission

The Charter Commission recommends deletion of Chapter 14 of the Charter, Exposition-Recreation Commission because the chapter is obsolete. The functions that were previously carried out by the City Exposition-Recreation Commission are now carried out by the Metropolitan Service District (Metro) through its Metropolitan Exposition and Recreation Commission under a 1989 agreement (as amended) among Portland and other government bodies. Any remaining rights or obligations of the former City Exposition-Recreation Commission vest in the City Council pursuant to the Charter and these agreements.

 ************************

The current Charter Commission members will serve until March 3, 2012.  They are considering several other amendments that might be sent to the November ballot, including language on an Independent Utility Review Commission, Instant Runoff Voting, the Human Rights Commission, and Police Accountability.  Any of these issues must be discussed in at least two Public Hearings before the Charter Commission may vote on an amendment proposal. 

The Charter Commission meets Monday, January 23 at 6 p.m. in the Rose Room on the 3rd floor of City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Avenue. All are welcome.  Contact Alex Villareal if you need ADA or translation accommodations in order to participate.  The Charter Commission's web site is here.

The following is a summary of the issues, authored by Herman M. Frankel, M.D., sent to me via email and posted with permission. It is an example of why, three years into my term, I still read and answer all emails myself.  Dr. Frankel writes:

Thank you for the Resolution establishing “as a position of the Portland City Council that corporations should not have the constitutional rights that natural persons possess, that money is not speech and that independent campaign expenditures and campaign contributions should be regulated.”

(The Resolution is accessible at www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=380652.)

Knowing that you have already received strong expressions of agreement from many other Portlanders, I’m grateful for the chance to make my contribution by submitting this written expression of support. Please let me do so by quoting Montana Supreme Court Justice James C. Nelson and US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

In the 12/30/11 Montana Supreme Court opinion rebuking the US Supreme Court Citizens United decision, Justice James C. Nelson wrote this:

“Corporations are not persons. Human beings are persons, and it is an affront to the inviolable dignity of our species that courts have created a legal fiction which forces people—human beings—to share fundamental, natural rights with soulless creatures of government." Just in case that wasn’t crystal clear, Nelson goes on to add that “while corporations and human beings share many of the same rights under the law, they clearly are not bound equally to the same codes of good conduct, decency, and morality, and they are not held equally accountable for their sins. Indeed, it is truly ironic that the death penalty and hell are reserved only to natural persons."

The Montana Supreme Court opinion is accessible here:

http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/MT-expenditures-decision.pdf

In his dissenting opinion in the 01/21/10 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United matter, U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens wrote this:

“In a democratic society, the longstanding consensus on the need to limit corporate campaign spending should outweigh the wooden application of judge-made rules. The majority's rejection of this principle "elevate[s] corporations to a level of deference which has not been seen at least since the days when substantive due process was regularly used to invalidate regulatory legislation thought to unfairly impinge upon established economic interests." Bellotti, 435 U. S., at 817, n. 13 (White, J., dissenting).

“At bottom, the Court's opinion is thus a rejection of the common sense of the American people, who have recognized a need to prevent corporations from undermining self-government since the founding, and who have fought against the distinctive corrupting potential of corporate electioneering since the days of Theodore Roosevelt. It is a strange time to repudiate that common sense. While American democracy is imperfect, few outside the majority of this Court would have thought its flaws included a dearth of corporate money in politics.”

The full text of Justice Stevens’s dissenting opinion is accessible here:

http://yubanet.com/usa/Justice-Stevens-Dissenting-Opinion-in-Citizens-United-v-Federal-Election-Commission.php#.Tw9GWiOtjbs

The Citizens United decision by the US Supreme Court is discussed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._Federal_Election_Commission

The full text of the Citizens United decision by the US Supreme Court is accessible here:

http://supreme.justia.com/us/558/08-205/

The Montana Supreme Court decision is discussed here:

Steven Rosenfeld. Montana High Court Says 'Citizens United' Does Not Apply In Big Sky State: State Supreme Court Issues Remarkable Ruling Against Corporate Speech

http://www.alternet.org/story/153623/Montana_High_Court_Says_%27Citizens_United%27_Does_Not_Apply_In_Big_Sky_State/

I’m grateful to you, and to the members of our City Council, for your continuing commitment to hearing the voices of our citizens raised in support of our civil rights, of our US and Oregon Constitutions, and of our democracy itself.

Let’s keep working together to make our city and our world a better, safer, and healthier place for everyone, one interaction at a time.

Warmly,

Herman

Herman M. Frankel, M.D. Director, Portland Health Institute Center for Building Caring Relationships
Member, Multnomah County Family Violence Coordinating Council
Member, Communities of Color Task Force of the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
Member, Oregon Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team

Mike Green, formerly of the Black Innovation and Competitiveness Initiative was the Keynote Speaker.  He ran through some compelling, depressing statistics and historical data.  For instance, that Alabama was the final state to change its Constitution to recognize the Loving v. Virginia case in the U.S. Supreme Court, legalizing inter-racial marriage.  Alabama didn't change its law until 2000... and 40% of its voters cast ballots opposing the change.  In 2000.

On a much more positive note, Mr. Green spoke of his current work, the America 21 Project.  He and his partners aim to create a pilot in Portland on entrepreneurship, capital development, and education.

 The Skanner Foundation breakfast always provides both inspirational speakers, and also announcement of scholarships for amazing students who have overcome significant challenges to succeed in school.  Two students honored today were Kelsey Haws, a senior at Open Meadow High School, and Shaniece Curry of De La Salle HS.  I particularly appreciated that U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley also took the time to congratulate these two outstanding young women.

As you may have heard, TriMet is facing a $12 to $17 million budget shortfall. Tough budget choices are ahead and we want to know what’s most important to you and your community. We created this discussion guide trimet.org/choices because we want you to be aware of our funding issues and the challenges they present.

Apart from the unsupported value statement regarding "unsustainable" health care costs for Union employees, this survey has a lot of data, and at the end allows suggestions other than those presented.  I urge you to give your input.

Thank you to every City employee and visitor to City Hall who contributed to our third annual Sock Drive.  We collected over 1,000 pairs of socks, and over 80 beanies, scarves and gloves, plus a waterproof coat and a nice pair of outdoor shoes.  And maybe other treasures for Transition Projects volunteers to find when they sort through the treasures.  The total is a little down from last year, because we only placed official collection bins in City Hall rather than at multiple locations.  Many thanks to employees who brought in donations from other City sites.

Special thanks to Sock It To Me sock company who once again donated 300 pairs of socks.  David Shaff, Director of the Portland Water Bureau, and Carmen Merlo, Director of the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management and her staff, also donated hundreds of pairs of warm socks to help clients of Transition Projects. 

This is what over 1,000 pairs of socks and dozens of warm hats looks like, stored in my conference room with the chair placed to show scale.  I especially appreciate the snazzy pair of zebra socks, which I hope will bring a smile to the wearer.

Many thanks to all who gave, to Sara Hussein on my staff for helping with the project, and to Mary Ann Schwab of the Sunnyside neighborhood for suggesting the concept in 2009.

Apprentices enter the program with a high school diploma or GED including a year of algebra, and start at about $15/hour, rising to $37/hour for qualified journeymen at the end of the course.  Most of the work week is spent on the job site learning from skilled workers, with supplementary classroom hours. 

Local 290 provides free classes for students in the Tigard-Tualatin School District, and would like to expand this program to other school districts.  It's crucial that students in middle and high schools see the practical application of subjects like math, and also that they are made aware of the many career options opened by following the apprenticeship program .... if they stick to their studies and graduate from high school.

At the events on Thursday, Intel Corporation was represented by Regional Government Affairs Manager Morgan Anderson, and the company was celebrated at the tour and holiday lunch since their multimillion-dollar expansion is providing hundreds of jobs in the trades.  Local 290 also has a special relationship with the Portland Winterhawks, which adds to members' satisfaction with the upcoming work on repairs, maintenance and upgrades to the Memorial Coliseum recently approved by Council with my support. 

 It was wonderful to see the justified pride and satisfaction in their work of John Endicott, Business Manager, who led the tour, and Jed Scheuermann, Assistant Training Coordinator. At the holiday lunch, an event I've attended every year since taking office, I sat with Agent Ron Woods from Eugene.  He gave thoughtful perspectives on multiple issues.  I also talked again with Ron Murray, a retired member of the Union who recently took a Constituent Slot in my office to give me information about his current passion of humane treatment of dogs in shelters.  I love it when multiple interests converge in my life.

Thank you, Local 290, for the education you provided to me today, and for the ongoing excellent training you provide to ensure good jobs in steam and air conditioning technology, drafting, pipefitting and plumbing, and great safe service for the people of Oregon.  Click here for Local 290's information for non-members, including a Top Ten list of why everyone should choose Union workers for pipefitting and plumbing jobs. 

The mural is the creation of artist Angelina Marino and her assistant Joel Heidel.  It was funded by grants from the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) and the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC). It depicts the history of land use in the Hillsdale area. 

I designed the ONI grants within the Graffiti Abatement budget, in partnership with ONI Director Amalia Alarcon de Morris,  Amy Archer our ONI Livability Programs and Operations Manager, and Marcia Dennis, leader of the Graffiti Abatement program.  Murals help deter graffiti vandals both by creating public art that is less likely to be tagged than blank walls, and by fostering community stewardship of public places so any graffiti is swiftly removed by neighbors.  Research has proven that rapid reporting and erasing of tags is the best way to control this vandalism.

RACC has helped fund and approve the installation of 45 public art murals citywide. Information on how to apply for a grant is here.  A workshop on the public art mural program will be held Saturday, February 11th at New Columbia, to help citizens learn about the different ways of getting a mural approved in the City of Portland.  More information on the Hillsdale mural, and how to register for the training, is here.  Over one thousand hours of professional and volunteer work went into the creation of the Hillsdale mural.  Special thanks to Sylvia Bogert of SW Neighborhoods, Inc., who guided the project.  Her email to me on a Sunday afternoon several months ago alerted me to a policy concern from the Portland Bureau of Transportation, that I then followed up on with Bureau Director Tom Miller with resolution of the log-jam.

I am bringing a report to Council on December 14, outlining vastly improved results in the Graffiti Abatement program due to the investment of General Fund money for an additional staff worker in ONI coordinating volunteer cleanups, and a second police officer to pursue vandals.  I hope we can continue funding grants to assist neighborhoods in graffiti discouragement efforts, in the upcoming budget.

"Last month, the Cultural trust celebrated its 9th birthday.  Nine years of supporting arts and culture in every corner, valley, plateau, and hillside of this state.  Nine years of being one of the most remarkable arts and culture support organizations in America's history.

Do you think that’s hyperbole?  You think that’s exaggeration?  Then let me counter with another question.  How many other states in these United States of America have a Cultural Trust? 

The answer is none.  None. Zip. Zilch.  Oregon is the one and only. Our Cultural trust is unique.

For Oregon Cultural Trust, for Chris D’Arcy, for Commissioner Nick Fish and every other OCT board member, I am grateful.

I begin with praise and gratitude for Oregon Humanities, for Cara Ungar-Gutierrez, for Kristy Athens who serves as the liaison between the public and the Oregon Poet Laureate - maintaining an OPL web site, relaying requests to me.

For Oregon Humanities, for Cara, for Kristy, I am grateful.

I begin yet again with gratitude for - and at this point you might reasonably ask how in the world I can say I’m beginning in yet another place, how can I possibly have so many starting spots?

How?  Because this gathering here today, this Resolution, is a consequence of community.

Community: something with many beginnings, many starting places.

A consequence of community. Of joined forces, shared passions, mutual dreams.  This resolution may say 'Oregon Poet Laureate Paulann Petersen Day,'  but it’s about confluence, about community.  The result of the efforts of many."

After hearing Ms. Petersen's speech, and the praise from her many supporters, I  commented something like:

Words in this chamber are often used to express discontent, and sometimes even seem to be intended to inflict hurt. Today we heard Paulann Petersen demonstrate the beauty of words, and why she is described as 'a journeywoman who teaches the art of listening.' She is also a woman of action - working hard all over the state.   Some people might consider the Poet Laureate job to be a meaningless title to pack a resume.  Paulann Petersen takes the job seriously and has provided service all over the state. 

I also acknowledge Mrs. Dorothy Hope Stratford, wife of the late Poet Laureate William Stafford, who by her action being here today warms my heart and gives me courage. Mrs. Stafford was so kind to me in my campaign in 2008, and I feel blessed that she is here in Council chambers encouraging us all by her presence. 

I appreciate Paulann's reminder that the word "Commissioner" is indeed a sturdy, reassuring word, and indeed it comes with both obligations and with opportunities. As Commissioner Leonard has shown, we have the opportunity to celebrate some of our great citizens.  Thank you so much for all you do, Paulann.

You are invited and encouraged to review and comment on the draft Strategy through Friday, December 9^th. To view or download the document, click here. Comments are welcomed by email or regular mail, or by taking a quick on-line survey (click here).

Please direct  questions to Rick Bastasch, Office of Healthy Working Rivers, 503.823.0275.

Home Free is dedicated to providing long-term, post-crisis support designed to prevent survivors of domestic violence from having to return to an abusive home. This program provides its services free-of-charge on a flexible and individualized basis. Both emergency services and transitional services are available through Home Free, as are specialized programs for teens, children, and families.

According to  statistics on VOA's website, 1 in 7 women in Multnomah County between the ages of 18 to 64 are physically abused by their intimate partner each year; domestic violence accounts for nearly half of all violent crime in Portland. Domestic violence is non-discriminatory - it affects people of every age, gender, race, income level, and sexual orientation. The importance of Home Free's services is clear.

Pictured below, after the event, are Ellen Lubrano (left) from Rose Haven, another great non-profit assisting women who live outside (many fleeing domestic violence), and Director of Home Free, Kris Billhardt.

The SCT program was launched in 2003, and has served more than 300 clients to-date. Its stated goal is "to reduce the incidence of crime within the City of Portland by offering treatment as an alternative to cycling habitual offenders through the criminal justice system without sanction and without addressing the underlying cause of their criminal behavior: drug and alcohol addiction."

According to the Portland Police Bureau, the program has played a role in significantly reducing crime in downtown neighborhoods. Since 2005, the impacted neighborhoods have experienced a 32% decrease in crime. The recidivism rate among program graduates has been reduced 91% and there has been an overall 43% reduction in arrests among all program participants.

SCT also cites a recent federal study that estimates a 7:1 spending ratio: for every dollar spent on treatment, the public saves seven dollars in criminal justice costs, including jail beds, probation and parole, courts and legal fees.  The real value of the program was voiced by those who have graduated.  "This program saved my life."  "I used to cause trouble, now I work and pay taxes." "My parole officer never gave up on me."  "I want to give back now I have my life in order."

Sixteen people graduated at the event this past week, celebrated by an audience of approximately 75 friends, family members, city officials (including me), and other supporters. In addition, five former graduates were honored for their ongoing dedication to recovery, and for maintaining sobriety of a year or more. Part of the ceremony is pictured below.

Julio was a 13-year-old student in the Rosi Hinton alternative program at David Douglas High School, found dead of trauma and gunshot wounds in an alley in outer NE Portland on the morning of Monday, November 7.  The memorial was held at the East Portland Community Center, where Julio's mom and brother said he loved to skateboard and play basketball.

Somebody, perhaps many people, can tell who killed Julio.  Those who know or can give any information, please call 9-1-1, or Crimestoppers at 503-823-HELP, or report online here.

Others who care about people struggling in our community, and children dying violently, can help by contributing to a fund set up by the Latino Network to pay funeral expenses when families cannot.  Ruma Perez, Program Manager for the Concilio youth justice work at Latino Network, told attendees about the fund this evening.

Donations to the fund, or to Latino Network programs helping children struggling to escape crime and violence, may be made on line here. 

Concilio Somos el Futuro is a network of youth providers and advocates who are working in partnership with the Department of Community Justice to reduce overrepresentation of Latino youth in the justice system. Over the past three years, Concilio providers have built a culturally specific system of care to support the successful reintegration of youth who are on probation in our community.

Those attending the ceremony were moved to hear all City of Portland flags will fly at half staff on December 1, to mark Julio's passing and bring attention to the violent world no 13-year-old should die in, especially in Portland.  I am glad I voted to support that symbolic initiative by Commissioner Saltzman. 

Another way to help is to volunteer to mentor kids in school.  Contact Oregon Mentors to find a match that suits you.  Or just say a kind word to a kid when you find an opportunity - and look for those opportunities.  It takes a village to raise a child.

According to its mission statement, "Sisters Of The Road exists to build authentic relationships and alleviate the hunger of isolation in an atmosphere of nonviolence and gentle personalism that nurtures the whole individual, while seeking systemic solutions that reach the roots of homelessness and poverty to end them forever." 

Note that anyone can make an appointment to talk with me for a half hour, for free, by calling my assistant Milena at 503-823-4124.  Bidding on this auction for lunch with me gives you more time to discuss whatever you like, and also I pick up the lunch tab.  Location downtown during the week, or in your neighborhood on a Saturday, at your convenience.  Remember, for all fundraising auctions, the real goal is making money to support a worthy cause.  If you win, that's like a "free gift" that goes along with your donation.  So look at all the great items on sale, bid early, bid often, and help raise money for Sisters of the Road. 

Since its inception in 1979, Sisters of the Road has operated as a vital part of the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood. The organization provides a safe space for building community, dining with dignity, learning from one another, organizing for justice and human rights for all, and empowering all who walk through its doors. Sisters of the Road also offers hot and nutritious meals, as well as a supportive work experience.  I greatly appreciate Sisters' staff, customers and supporters participating in important civic discussions in Portland.

The foundational U.S. Supreme Court decision on this question was issued in March 1941, in Cox v. New Hampshire.  This case involved a demonstration by Jehovah's Witnesses on a public street without taking out a permit. 

The Court stated (my emphasis):

<< Civil liberties, as guaranteed by the Constitution, imply the existence of an organized society maintaining public order without which liberty itself would be lost in the excesses of unrestrained abuses.  The authority of a municipality to impose regulations in order to assure the safety and convenience of the people in the use of public highways has never been regarded as inconsistent with civil liberties but rather as one of the means of safeguarding the good order upon which they ultimately depend.  The control of travel on the streets of cities is the most familiar illustration of this recognition of social need.  Where a restriction of the use of highways in that relation is designed to promote the public convenience in the interest of all, it cannot be disregarded by the attempted exercise of some civil right which in other circumstances would be entitled to protection.  One would not be justified in ignoring the familiar red traffic light because he thought it his religious duty to disobey the municipal command or sought by that means to direct public attention to an announcement of his opinions.  As regulation of the use of the streets for parades and processions is a traditional exercise of control by local government, the question in a particular case is whether that control is exerted so as not to deny or unwarrantedly abridge the right of assembly and the opportunities for the communication of thought and the discussion of public questions immemorially associated with resort to public places.  

...... If a municipality has authority to control the use of its public streets for parades or processions, as it undoubtedly has, it cannot be denied authority to give consideration, without unfair discrimination, to time, place and manner in relation to the other proper uses of the streets. We find it impossible to say that the limited authority conferred by the licensing provisions of the statute in question as thus construed by the state court contravened any constitutional right.>>

I am struck by the beauty of the prose, as well as the clarity of the decision.  The full decision on the case is posted here.

Everyone is welcome to attend the sale, whether City staff of not.  The Marketplace features a variety hand-crafted gifts from Portland-area artisans. Several types of dried herbs and smoked fish are also available. Your purchase goes directly to the artist or seller. The Native American Marketplace is open in the Portland Building today only.  Downtown is quiet today after yesterday's marches -- too quiet for businesses hoping for holiday shopping customers.  Please come see what's available - beautiful crafts at bargain prices!

I stopped by this morning and picked up the following items:

Sturgeon, salmon, venison sticks, a beautiful bowl, tea, and herbal remedies.  Most for gifts, although the turquoise bowl is currently on display at my office front desk.  Check out the selection at the Marketplace! 

I am disturbed by many aspects of what I heard, and yet warmed by other considerations.  The folks at the PVNA obviously appreciate Officer Truong a lot.  They say if he has down time while patroling their neighborhood, he knocks on doors and makes friendly conversation, getting to know his community.  It is troubling that the well-meaning protesters in the Occupy movement are taking resources away from residents in outer neighborhoods, and that there seems to be little recognition by some protesters that the taxpayers of Portland will be footing the bill for police coverage of protests, to keep the peace and maintain order.  It is concerning that officers working while sleep-deprived are in stressful situations day after day, night after night.  It is great that many citizens appreciate the patient peacekeeping the police have been providing. 

Council heard during testimony regarding proposed changes to the Independent Police Review process this afternoon, that some protesters felt the use of horses and batons by police this past weekend was unnecessary use of excessive force.  Most people on all sides want Portland to continue to be the model for the nation on non-violent protest and police protection of all.  I am concerned that tired human beings have a tendency to be less patient.  The protesters have had the opportunity to rest up since Sunday.  The police officers haven't.

Citizens should be aware that there are fewer police officers available for 9-1-1 operators to dispatch to non-life-threatening events in neighborhoods such as non-injury traffic crashes. If your concern can wait until business hours, please hold off and call 823-4000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The memo from OMF is posted here.  Main points: 

This is in response to your question concerning investing City funds in Credit Unions and local banks.  Investments are made in accordance with the City's Investment Policy as well as Oregon Revised Statutes.  The objectives of the portfolio are to preserve the principal and serve the liquidity needs of the City while generating the maximum return within those confines.  In order to achieve that objective, the City invests in a diversified portfolio of conservative investments, most heavily in US Securities or US Backed Securities.  While the vast majority of City funds are invested in federal securities, there is an element of our portfolio that invests money in banks.  As of October 31st, 2011 the City maintained the following bank balances:

**********

So the majority of the City's money, nearly $30 million, IS invested in a local bank, Umpqua.  A small amount is in Key Bank and US Bank - staff are researching those line items to tell me what they represent.  The amount in Albina is the maximum currently allowed by law, and was directed there during my service on the Council under the direction of Mayor Adams.

The contract with Wells Fargo to hold the City's checking account was passed in a public hearing before City Council on March , 2009.  A cross-bureau committee including an outside party unanimously selected Wells Fargo, which has held the City's account for 48 years.  Wells Fargo reduced the cost to the City in 2005 and again in 2009.

From the transcript of that hearing:

David Thurman, City Treasurer: Members of council. For the record, I’m David Thurman, City Treasurer. The items will authorize contracts with Wells Fargo merchant services as well as banking. For general banking and merchant bankcard services which encompasses a wide variety of services. These contracts will be authorized through March 2013, and there's a culmination of a R.F.P. [Request For Proposal] Process conducted last year, in which we received actually four proposals. They were reviewed by an evaluation committee and interviews conducted.

Adams: Which four?

Thurman: We received a proposal from Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Key Bank and U.S. Bank. As I said, the proposals were reviewed. We had interviews and Wells Fargo was selected. As they were the providing that was really able to provide us the best technical solution at the best price. The proposed contracts will be approximately $22,000 and $28,000 a month. And that encompasses the banking services as well the processing costs that go to the bank. In addition to those costs, there are the pass-through costs for credit card services that go to Visa and MasterCard. Those range between 1% and 3% on average city wide but those costs are consistent no matter which bank you happen to choose. Those -- both of those segments of costs vary depending on the city's monthly transaction activity. High peak times or lower peak times. So it’s safe to say, these are services that are basically utilized by every bureau throughout the city and critical to the ongoing business operations. With that, I’d be happy to take any questions.

Adams: Is there a reason why more of the locally owned banks didn't respond to the R.F.P.?

Thurman: Because the size and volume of the city account. We run in excess of about 50,000 to 60,000 checks a month. It's a high-volume, high-intensity account. And quite frankly, our accounts in some cases are bigger than the banks that would be proposing. So it's an issue in order to meet the qualifications, you need to be a fairly large, robust bank.

Adams: Conversation from council? Thank you very much. These are emergency items. does anyone to testify on items 312 or 313? All right. Karla, please call the roll.

Fritz: I appreciate the question about the local banks and the due diligence and also recognize Wells Fargo is reducing their pricing, so it looks like the negotiations went well. Aye. Thank you.

Fish: Aye.

Saltzman: Good work. Aye.

Leonard: Aye.

Adams: This gives me an opportunity to publicly thank you for your great ongoing work on our behalf. Thank you. Aye. [gavel pounded] 313.

**********

This contract with Wells Fargo is up for renewal and potential reconsideration in March 2013.  I hope citizens will participate in the discussion at that time.  This year, Mayor Adams and I, and likely other members of Council, are interested in pursuing a Responsible Banking Policy similar to that recently passed in Seattle.  Passing a version of this policy would give direction when the banking contract is re-considered.

Updated 12/17/11 - See this informative article by Brent Hunsberger in the Oregonian

The City of Portland, Oregon

SEEKS AN

Office of Equity and Human Rights Director

Recruitment No. 2011-00135

About the City Of Portland

The City of Portland is a full-service city with over 5,900 represented and non-represented employees and a budget of nearly $2.3 billion. Portland offers employees a competitive compensation package and participates in Oregon’s Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).

Lauded as one of the best places to live in America, Portland boasts a vibrant downtown, diverse neighbor-hoods, natural beauty, good schools, and friendly people:

• Listed in the top 25 arts and culinary destinations in the U.S.
• Named one of the best cycling cities in North America
• Known as one of America’s most walkable towns. 

Home to about 560,000 residents within 145 square miles, Portland maintains deep ties to the Pacific Northwest’s natural beauty. Mount Hood, the Cascade Mountain Range, and the renowned Oregon Coast are all just over an hour away. There are 37,000 acres of parks and green spaces within the metropolitan area, including 5,000-acre Forest Park, which is the largest urban wilderness in the U.S. Average temperatures range from 34° in winter to 80° in summer and the 37” of annual rainfall is less than Seattle, Houston, Baltimore, Boston, and Atlanta.

Position Description

This position is an exciting and challenging opportunity for a proven leader who will establish and direct the new Office of Equity and Human Rights.  This Office, created in September of 2011, represents the City’s next step in creating an environment in the workplace and ultimately in the Community where equity and human rights become part of everyday decisions.

The Office of Equity and Human Rights Director is a high-level manager responsible for directing the City in promoting equity and the elimination of disparities within City government, particularly as this pertains to race/ethnicity and disabilities.  The new director will lead the Office in educating and providing technical assistance to all bureaus to build capacity in achieving equitable outcomes and service.  The Director will work with community partners to produce measurable improvements to equity and inclusion in the City. The Office, under the guidance of the new Director will work to resolve human rights issues and issues rooted in bias and discrimination.

Under general policy direction from the Commissioner-in-Charge, the OEHR Director will plan, organize, manage and direct the implementation of equity and human rights systems and programs for the City.   The Director will oversee a beginning budget of over 1 million dollars, and supervise three to ten staff in the first year. 

The Director is accountable for developing, implementing, and executing short- and long-range work plans, policies and strategies to accomplish the mission and priorities of the City, as outlined in the adopted Portland Plan Equity initiative.  The OEHR Director serves as an advisor to the City Council on recruitment, contracting, legislative actions and education as they pertain to equity and human rights in the City.   The Director will establish and maintain effective working relationships with other bureau directors, elected leaders, key stakeholders, constituents, and customers of the City of Portland. The Director will oversee the formation of a community and staff advisory system, and will ensure the staffing of the Portland Commission on Disabilities and the Human Rights Commission. 

The Director must know how to foster an organizational culture of openness, transparency, and continual learning to ensure that good communication exists between the Office and other City Bureaus as well as with the community.   Responsibilities are broad in scope, allow for a high degree of program and administrative discretion, and are evaluated in terms of overall program outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

The incumbent is exempt from Civil Service and serves at the discretion of the Commissioner-in-Charge, subject to City of Portland Human Resources Administrative Rules and the Portland City Charter and Code.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate for this position will possess the competencies identified in the position summary, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities described in this ideal candidate profile. The ideal candidate profile reflects input gathered from a broad cross-section of community stakeholders specifically for this recruitment.

Leadership – Proven skill, experience and success in leading an organization in a multi-disciplinary, complex, and fast-paced urban government initiating a dynamic, systems-changing equity improvement initiative. Experience in facilitating, negotiating, and building consensus among diverse constituents and stakeholders with competing needs.  Proven track record in working with equity and social justice related programs, creating cohesive teams, establishing a strategic direction, motivating staff, working with diverse community constituents, and managing change particularly in achieving equity with respect to race/ethnicity and/or disabilities.  Committed to spending taxpayers’ money wisely to achieve measurable results.

Strategic and Visionary Thinking – A leader with a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, who is open to new ideas and can readily identify and prioritize issues and recommend and implement effective solutions especially in areas of race, ability and disability. Proven executive level ability to think systemically and strategically, make tough decisions among competing priorities, and guide organizational development through an environment of social and political change.

Diversity and Equity – Proven experience and demonstrated results in establishing and/or expanding a government equity initiative.   Experience successfully developing and delivering culturally competent services to diverse communities; working with minority, women, and emerging small businesses (MWESBs); adapting programs to reduce disparities and improve access for people of color and/or people with disabilities. Demonstrated commitment to ensuring everyone has access to opportunities necessary to satisfy essential needs, advance their well-being, and achieve their full potential.

Relationships – Ability to establish and maintain highly effective, collaborative working relationships with elected officials, bureau directors and managers, employees, the media, and diverse users of the City’s multiple service systems.  Strong commitment and ability to cultivate sustainable partnerships and resolve high-level issues with public and private sector partners, including other local jurisdictions, state agencies, non-profit organizations, community groups and the business community (both small businesses and large corporations).  Experience with and places a high value on community involvement.  Familiarity with the City of Portland, its citizens and cultural history, and its challenges and barriers with respect to equity work with a focus on race/ethnicity and ability/disability. Proven success working with multiple communities and interest groups.  

Communication – Inspirational leader with excellent verbal and oral communication skills, include experience communicating successfully with a broad range of stakeholders – Council, bureau directors, employees, and community partners. Passionate advocate and effective public speaker, with the ability to represent the bureau and City of Portland locally and nationally.  The Director must be able to articulate the mission and values of the organization, clearly explain information to a variety of audiences, negotiate and problem solve, and provide an understanding of social and economic benefits.  Multi-lingual and/or multicultural abilities would be helpful.  

Management of People – Experience supervising a diverse workforce, including union-represented employees. Skill in creating a culture of respect, collaboration, and accountability. Experience with full range of personnel management duties. Demonstrated skill in creating a workforce that reflects and respects the diversity of the communities it serves.  Ability to be firm and hold people accountable while maintaining relationships.  Ability to work with elected officials as well as peers, staff, and diverse community members.

Operational Management and Innovation –Demonstrated experience in evaluating needs, managing staff and resources, designing programs, a good understanding of bureaucracy.  Experience working with systems and implementing equity related programs.  A Proven track record of leveraging public-private partnerships and other resources.  Experience using statistical data, financial information, and outcome measures to develop budgets, evaluate operational performance, and strengthen organizational accountability and effectiveness.

Strong Political Acumen – Experience in dealing with complex, sensitive, and confidential issues. Ability to work with changing political and community leadership while involving and incorporating community input.  Demonstrated skill in addressing politically challenging situations with tact, diplomacy, and sensitivity.  Demonstrated ability to work across cultures and interest groups, with government as well as advocacy groups, with business leaders as well as non-profits and community volunteers, and with multiple ethnic advocacy organizations as well as with communities with disabilities.

Education and Professional Experience – Bachelor’s degree and five years of management experience required.  Advanced degree and additional workforce success leading equity changes in institutions preferred.

Compensation

The annual salary for the Office of Equity and Human Rights Director ranges from $102,648 to $146,952. Initial compensation level will depend upon qualifications and experience.   The candidate's total compensation package includes a City contribution of 95% towards medical, dental and vision elections, fully paid life insurance and long term disability coverage.  Optional benefits include additional long-term disability and life insurance, pre-tax dependent care and medical expense reimbursement accounts and Deferred Compensation (IRC 457).  The City of Portland participates in Social Security, including Medicare and contributes 6% of gross salary to an employee's individual account within the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System (in addition to funding an employee’s monthly pension benefit upon retirement).

Recruitment Activity Schedule

How To Apply

Apply at: www.portlandoregon.gov/jobs. Completed application packets must include:

• A Cover Letter summarizing how you meet the qualifications identified in the Position Description and Ideal Candidate Profile.
• A Professional Résumé, no longer than four pages in length, specifically focused on this position. 

 Please direct questions to:

Joseph Wahl, Manager

Employment & Development Unit

City of Portland

(503) 823-3517

All completed applications for this position must be in possession of the Bureau of Human Resources no later than 4:30 pm, Tuesday, December 6, 2011.  Please use our online application process, as we are unable to accept Faxed or e-mailed applications

Note: If you are requesting Veteran’s Preference, submit a copy of your DD214 / DD215 and / or Veteran’s Administration Letter Stating your disability.  If you are applying online, attach a copy of your DD214 / DD215 and / or Veteran’s Administration Letter Stating your disability to your profile.  Veteran’s Preference documentation must be received by 4:30 PM of the closing date of this recruitment.

Non-citizen applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at time of application. 

Minorities, women, and qualified individuals with disabilities are urged to apply. If you wish to identify yourself as an individual with a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and will be requesting accommodation, the requests must be made to the Analyst(s) named below or to the Human Resources Bureau Receptionist No Later Than the Closing Date of This Announcement.

DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS - 30001758

To view or download the PDF version of this job posting, please click here.

View of Chapman Park this evening, photo taken through the fence protecting the park while work is done to repair and restore it.  The floodlights helped campers pack up on Saturday, and now beautifully illuminate the gracious trees with their lovely yellow fall colors.

I am very grateful the protesters, police, politicians, and all the people of Portland worked together to bring a peaceful transition from the Occupy Portland camps in the parks, to the next steps of engaging more citizens in making important decisions in Portland, Salem, Washington D.C. and Wall Street.  This past weekend marked an important milestone in community and police relations in Portland.  Many people hoped for the best and feared the worst.  Portlanders showed we can inspire, guide, and encourage each other to be the best.

The work continues.  Please see my Next Up at City Council and Coming Down The Pike pages for some of the ways you can be involved.

I realize some may not agree with my opinion, so please note that earlier this week, Janus Youth Programs, one of the wonderful nonprofits that provides services to teenagers living outside in Portland, sent a letter to Mayor Adams outlining their concerns.  It states in part (emphasis mine),

"the political leanings of the original march and occupation have been overwhelmed by the large numbers of homeless youth and possibly runaway minors who have descended upon the area and, in some instances, brought the violent nature of street-based subcultures and internal hierarchies to the protest site. There are young people with significant developmental delays, mental illness and drug/alcohol abuse issues mingling with potentially predatory adults (and young children) in a largely unchecked environment."

"Yellow Brick Road has also observed a noticeable increase in escalated behavior bordering on hostility mostly from youth we recognized from HYC services (or street outreach), including some young people with serious mental illnesses who are intermittently serving as “peace-keeping” volunteers or security. While we are very supportive of young people having both meaningful voice and purpose, our years of experience with vulnerable street-affected youth tell us that this requires a great deal of structure and expertise or it is a recipe for disaster. For example, one young man we worked with recently broke his hand allegedly breaking up a fight at Occupy Portland in his role as “peace-keeper.” We have also met numerous youth who were voluntarily opting out of homeless youth services or refusing to access services as new clients because they felt they were getting their needs met adequately at Occupy Portland sites."

I have said for weeks that behavior matters.  The behaviors at the Occupy camps have become too dangerous to be sustainable or healthy for the most vulnerable people there, as well as for other Portlanders.  Significantly, the Janus letter notes that in their assessment, the camp organized by and for people experiencing homelessness, known as Right To Dream Too (R2D2) is a safe place for their clients.   Behaviors at R2D2 are well-managed, so far, and the organizers there are working with City staff towards building code compliance since they have permission to be on the private property.

Some Portlanders have emailed me saying the campers have nowhere else to go.  This infers all the campers are people experiencing homelessness, which is not true.  Some are.  Janus says they have capacity to take in the teenagers, and the City recently opened the winter shelters for adults experiencing homelessness.  Bud Clark Commons is now serving as the care coordination center.  JOIN is another great community nonprofit partnering to find services for those who need them.  The City allocated millions of dollars for these services, and has increased spending on them despite the overall budget cuts over the recession. 

Can the taxpayers of Portland afford to provide housing for all the people now living outside, including hundreds not in the Occupy camps, as well as several within the camps who came to Portland for the protest?  No.  Are we doing the best we can with available resources?  The Council believes Yes, however we welcome everyone's input into the 2011-12 budget process now in progress, so you can give advice on potentially better ways to allocate finite resources.

Per its website, "Central City Concern meets its mission through innovative outcome based strategies which support personal and community transformation:  

• Direct access to housing which supports lifestyle change.
• Integrated healthcare services that are highly effective in engaging people who are often alienated from mainstream systems.
• The development of peer relationships that nurture and support personal transformation and recovery.
• Attainment of income through employment or accessing benefits."

Pictured below with Central City Concern's Executive Director Ed Blackburn (right) are Emily and Joey Harrington, who generously provided a $10,000 matching grant from the Harrington Family Foundation.  It was fun to drop into an email to my older son later in the day, a reference to "as I heard while having lunch with Joey and Emily Harrington."  Emily is a Nurse Practitioner, Joey is a commentator for ESPN Radio after his NFL career.  Both graduates of Central Catholic High School, Joey and Emily are wonderful ambassadors and stewards of community spirit in Portland, so seeing their connection with our nationally-respected Central City Concern non-profit partner made me happy.  Donations to support Central City Concern's work may be made here.

A TEST is Coming...

Wednesday November 9, 2011

11:00 AM Local Time (2 PM EST)

Emergency Alert System Nationwide Test

On Wednesday, November 9 at 11:00 a.m., Oregonians will hear on your radios and see on your televisions a TEST of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

The TEST will last approximately 30 - 60 seconds. Normal programming will return following the TEST. This is a NATIONWIDE TEST organized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Additional information on the FEMA website

A behid the scenes article on the Bureau of Emergency Communications web site is here.

Repeat: Please do not call 9-1-1 during the test on Wednesday.  If we have a real citywide emergency, also do not call 9-1-1 for information.  Call 9-1-1 only if you need urgent police, fire, or medical assistance.

Call 503-823-4000 (eight-two-three-four thousand) for non-urgent information requests and communications, during business hours.

Call the non-emergency number, 503-823-3333 outside of business hours, however be aware the same operators answer the non-emergency number as take 9-1-1 calls so always consider whether your question/report should wait until regular office hours.

• Enrichment of our community and neighborhoods
• Participation in outstanding projects
• Providing a special service to the community
• Raising cross-cultural awareness
• Demonstration of responsiveness, creativity and civic values

The Spirit of Portland Awards were first held in 1985, and were instituted to honor individuals and organizations for work in our community. Over the years, the number of awards has grown to include multiple categories and honor more than 30 individuals, organizations, and businesses annually. For example, Lents, an East Portland neighborhood, was recognized as Neighborhood of the Year for its efforts to enhance livability through various education, urban renewal, parks, business development, and streetscape projects.  The 82nd Avenue of Roses Business Association, also in East Portland, received the Business Association of the Year award. 

The Portland Observer published this delightful account of the event.

Patrick Philpott at the Office of Neighborhood Involvement kindly provided the following event photos:

 Lents Neighborhood Association, Neighborhood Association of the Year Winner

Erika Silver, Emerging Community Leader Award Winner  

Gil Frey, Commissioner's Award Winner

Opal Strong, Community Harmony Award Winner

Oregon DREAMers, Youth Volunteer of the Year Winners

Incight's Scott Haley, Non-Profit Winner

Senator Bob Boyer, Commissioner's Award Winner

Terri Preeg Riggsby, Sandy Diedrich Environmental Award Winner

The other three Commissioners presented awards, too.  Mayor Adams was out of town on a trade trip in Asia.  The cost of the event is shared between all five Council offices.  Musical inspiration was provided by the Highland Gospel Choir.  It was a wonderful evening, filled with ilustrations of all that is right with Portland.

The Juneteenth holiday varies from region to region, but often involves barbecues, choir performances, traditional songs, parades, historic reenactments, and public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation.  Here in Portland, it now includes a parade and community gatherings.... because of the leadership of Mrs. Clara Peoples.

Upon moving to Portland in 1945, Clara Peoples was surprised to learn that the Juneteenth holiday was unknown in this part of the country. She introduced the holiday to her fellow workers at the Kaiser Shipyard, and later helped to initiate Portland's annual citywide Juneteenth celebration in 1972. She has also given years of service as an active and dedicated community leader, helping fight hunger in our community as well as multiple other good works.

In honor of Mrs. Peoples' unwavering support of this holiday, as well as her work in the community as a whole, the 1st Annual Oregon Juneteenth Jazz and Heritage Concert was held on October 25th, 2011. I read a Proclamation declaring Mrs. Peoples the Mother of Juneteenth, from Mayor Adams.  Mrs. Peoples is pictured with me in this photo taken at the event by Water Bureau employee and community stalwart Tim Hall.

Senator Margaret Carter set an historic precedent upon her election to the Oregon Senate in 1984, becoming the first African-American woman to hold office in the Oregon Legislative Assembly. She came to Oregon as a single mom several years earlier.  Prior to entering politics, she worked as an educator for many years.  Though retired from teaching and from the Legislature, Senator Carter remains committed to supporting and championing education-related initiatives.

The Oregonian published this account of the event, as well as an overview of Senator Carter's career. A detailed description of the celebration by Portland Community College can be found here.  Photo courtesy of Kayla Victor.

As a former State Legislator, Portland City Council member, and County Commissioner, Gretchen has worked continually for decades with a bold vision of equality. She is particularly passionate and effective on affordable housing issues, and serves on the Home Forward (formerly Housing Authority of Portland) Board.  She was a founding board member of NEW Leadership Oregon, which teaches college-age women how to become leaders. Pictured with me, from left to right, are Katharine Kafoury, the Honorable Gretchen Kafoury, and Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury.

Per the PSU Center for Women, Politics & Policy's website, "the mission for the Center for Women, Politics & Policy is to increase women's leadership in public policy through targeted teaching and community service programs. The Center works toward this goal by promoting scholarship that examines the presence and role of women in politics and public policy and by providing diverse and inclusive service programs that will develop the next generation of women leaders who will serve the city, state, region and nation."

Women in politics are most effective when we support each other.  Gretchen truly deserves her Lifetime Achievement Award for exemplifying the best of political leaders in Oregon.

I had not been publicly involved in Occupy Portland discussions prior to Tuesday.  The Mayor is in charge of Police and Transportation, Commissioner Fish is in charge of Parks, and the City Attorney provides expert legal advice on behalf of the City.  This past weekend, I was invited to set a time to talk with protesters about community involvement and civic engagement in Portland.  Since this area falls under my responsibility as Commissioner in Charge of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, and supporting citizen participation is also my passion, I accepted the invitation.

Lesson # 1: It is very difficult to have a friendly conversation while talking through a bullhorn.

Lesson # 2: If using the bullhorn makes the conversation more accessible for all, use the bullhorn.

Lesson # 3: Holding a bullhorn for an hour makes a person's arm ache for the next 48 hours and counting.

Lesson #4:  A good public address system is quite useful in addressing a crowd.

Bullhorn management challenges notwithstanding, I enjoyed talking with Occupy Portland protesters and others gathered for the question and answer session.  People took turns and listened to each other and to me with respect, even with occasional disagreements within those gathered or with me.  See KATU for coverage and a short video clip.

It was interesting that the very first question asked was, "What do you see as the role of the media in this issue?"  My answer was the same as in any other venue: With the best will in the world, there is always more to an issue than can be written or talked about in a small space/timeframe, so if you see a media report that leaves you wondering, please contact me or my office to find out more.

I stated repeatedly throughout my visit that I was speaking only for myself, and that the Council as a whole has not taken a position on the Occupy Portland movement or the City's approach to it. 

The Mayor's Frequently Asked Questions responses are here.

My personal comments:

• I support and swore to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States, State of Oregon, and the City of Portland.
• I support the Constitutional right to free speech and free expression. 
• The City has the right and responsibility to set reasonable regulations that impose time, location and conduct parameters in which that free expression may occur.
• The City's laws and ordinances are all important, because each was adopted with a specific public purpose and long term good in mind.
• The City does not and cannot enforce every law and regulation uniformly, but must use discretion often, given limitations of time and resources.
• Either the passage of time, or a change in conditions, could result in a change in the decision not to enforce the anti-camping law at the Occupy Portland site. 
• Day-to-day operating practice does not alter the laws or the City's right to enforce them.
• The Occupy Portland movement demonstration camp is in a pair of City parks intended for all to enjoy during the day, and to be closed at night. With Occupy Portland, the two parks are now single purpose -- for this movement's participants' use 24/7. 
• Ultimately the Parks must be returned back to their true purpose for the use of all Portlanders and visitors. 
• I do not have a particular timeline or deadline in mind for this.  It depends.
• The parks will require repairs which at this point seem destined to be paid for by all the taxpayers of Portland. I appreciate the Occupy Portland members who have stated they will work on fundraising for this purpose. 
• I appreciate the efforts participants are making to self-monitor and promote a safe and clean environment in and around the parks.
• I appreciate the work of Portland Police officers, Clean & Safe security and cleaning staff, and other employees, contractors and volunteers who are providing services and maintaining public safety in this location.
• I appreciate the concerns of the Portland Business Alliance and others, who are using their free speech and freedom of expression rights to voice the desire for the City to end the occupation soon. 
• Many Portlanders share the value of allowing free expression on the full range of issues, including those connected with the Occupy movements. 
• I believe the demonstration in this place, time and manner must end at some point, ideally with participants engaging in other means of civic involvement in Portland and with our congressional delegation.

I invited those gathered in Terry Schrunk Plaza on Tuesday, to come inside City Hall on Wednesday morning to engage in Portland's open, participatory, effective democratic system by attending the regular City Council hearings.  While few did, I renew my invitation to those gathered, along with all Portlanders to engage your City Council.  

I encourage the Occupy Portland movement participants to take their message, energy, and passion inside, and work throughout our communities with other advocates already addressing issues the protesters care about. There are 582,000 people in Portland's 95 neighborhoods, many of whom might be allies.  If Occupy Portlanders were to articulate their message and attend gatherings in these neighborhoods, and local, state and national organizations devoted to the same purposes, many more may join the chorus.   Our congressional delegation needs to hear from many citizens about the problems we all face in these trying times, and we all need to work together to find both immediate practical solutions to survive the recession, and long-term sustainability of the economy and jobs base.   

I look forward to continued dialogue with all community members, on Occupy Portland and on the many challenges facing Portlanders in these tough times.

The Portland branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) held a rally outside the main Hoyt Street Post Office in Northwest Portland on September 27th. The event was led by Portland Branch 72's Vice President, Jerry Fitzsimmons (photo on right, by Bill Michtom), in response to the federal government's proposed reduction of US Postal Service number of Post Offices and days of delivery (proposed to be reduced, to eliminate Saturday service),

I spoke at the rally, after guiding the unanimous Portland City Council in submitting a letter to Postmaster General Donahoe expressing our concerns about the proposed regulation changes.

An excerpt from the Council's letter:

Dear Postmaster General Donahoe:

We write you today on behalf of our constituents in Portland, Oregon, who include both customers and employees of the United States Postal Service. We would like to raise awareness of our concerns regarding a USPS employment and pension practice and a proposed regulation change.

We understand that the financial crisis that the USPS is facing is due, in part, to an accounting issue that arises under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. The PAEA requires that the Postal Service move from funding its retirees’ health care costs out-of-pocket annually to prefunding these obligations. According to the Office of Personnel Management, this change produced an unfunded obligation of $48.6 billion at the end of FY2010. Congress acted to save the USPS by deferring $4 billion from the USPS’s FY 2009 payment, but the future economic health of the USPS cannot be ensured without the commitment of Congress and the President to permanently fix this problem.

Based on our review of the proposed changes to Title 39 of the Code of Federal Regulations, we are concerned that these policy changes do not reflect the values of Portlanders or the constituency that USPS serves. We are hopeful that there will be a public role in the decision-making process to close post offices. Portland’s long history of devotion to public involvement in decision- and policy-making has served it well.

Congressman Earl Blumenauer is sponsoring a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives designed to ensure retention of access to vital postal services. An additional lobbying effort is underway to prevent drastic cuts to the USPS. More information on the National Association of Letter Carriers' position, and federal lobbying efforts can be found at www.nalc.org.

Since its inception more than 30 years ago, De Paul Treatment Centers has provided evidence-based residential and outpatient services and offered a variety of treatment programs and support services.

September was National Recovery Month.  To honor those whose lives have been impacted by addiction, I attended the "Shine a Light on Addiction and Recovery" event hosted by De Paul Treatment Centers a few weeks ago. The event featured a moment of silence and reflection, a candlelight vigil, and a symbolic balloon release. A sizable crowd of supporters was present. Pictured with me are Sheila North and Kathleen Ris during the event.

I will always remember the sight of dozens of white balloons floating up and over the De Paul facility, illuminated by the moon and the urban lights so they looked like a swarm of fire bugs.  The wind that messed up my hair even more than usual was perfect for sending the balloons heavenward.

I am working with Multnomah County, the Portland Police Bureau, my 911 staff at the Bureau of Emergency Communications, and others, to provide appropriate mental health services to people experiencing mental health and addiction crises in Portland.  The mid-way report on the project is here.  Providing a better safety net is one of the most urgent challenges of our time, with so many Portlanders stressed and not coping well with the recession. I feel privileged to be in a place and time where my experience and background can help find cost-effective solutions that save taxpayers money and help sufferers return to productive lives with jobs and purpose. Thank you to the staff of De Paul for being essential community partners.

Under the leadership of Dr. Maggie Bennington-Davis and Dr. Bill Nunley at Cascadia Behavioral Health, we are half way through a three year workplan systematically examining and improving the system of response to people experiencing mental health crises in Portland.  The Safer PDX Steering Committee, on which I serve as the Council's leader on this crucial matter, also plans to determine how to use existing resources more effectively, to provide professional mental health care services for people needing them rather than relying on police to be first responsers in mental health behavioral crises.

Maxine Bernstein, often a critic of both Portland Police officers and mental health care professionals, wrote this article published in the Sunday Oregonian about positive outcomes and changes in Portland Police Bureau procedures and protocols resulting from the discussions in the Safer PDX project about appropriate treatment of people with mental illensses.  I am excited about the tangible results already being produced from the evidence-based approach and expert advice gained by multiple partners collaborating on the Safer PDX project.

Please take their survey here, to enable the organization to respond to the needs and desires of people who buy the newspaper - and those who don't, yet.

At this dinner, I was introduced to Mahn Saechao by Tiffani Penson, the Summer Youth Connect Bureau Support Manager. Mahn is the first Summer Youth Connect participant to transition to a permanent City of Portland employee.  She is now thriving as an
Procurement Assistant in Procurement Services.  Summer Youth Connect is the internship program initiated by Mayor Adams and funded with the support of the entire Council and City Bureaus designed to provide valuable work experiences in bureaus for youth 16-21 years old.  These internships provide  youth from all over Multnomah County with an opportunity to learn first-hand what city bureaus are responsible for and how they serve the community. thus introducing youth to possible career paths.  Our city staff welcome and enjoy mentoring these diverse groups of youth and find the experience very valuable for both staff and interns.

Many people challenged the Council for spending scarce funding on the youth apprenticeship and scholarship programs.  Mahn's story is just one example of how the investment paid off, providing a young person from Parkrose with a series of job opportunities, and the City with a new perspective and a bright hardworking employee.  Here is an excerpt from Mahn's account of her experiences:

College career connect counselor Meg Kilmer at Parkrose High School informed me my junior year of an internship opportunity with the City of Portland. Ms. Kilmer suggested I apply for the City of Portland School to Work Program. I submitted my resume and cover letter, and was hopeful I’d be selected as one of the five interns. When I met Tiffani Penson, the program coordinator for the School to Work Program, she said she saw a lot of potential in me and she wanted to help me be successful in my future.

On July 2nd, 2007, I was hired as a Community Service Aide with the Bureau of Development Services (BDS). I was placed in the Customer Service Center at BDS with Tiffani Penson as my mentor. Working at BDS, I learned a lot of basic office clerical skills, and learned how to communicate in a professional office environment.

In 2009 I received a phone call from Ms. Penson. She offered me an internship position as her Assistant in the Summer Youth Connect (SYC) Program she was managing... One month after the SYC internship ended, I received a call from Tiffani informing me there was a position with the Portland Bureau of Transportation working for Rich Eisenhauer. Rich has been a great mentor, he encouraged me to apply for all entry level positions. When I received notice that my position with Transportation was coming to an end [after two years], I was a little worried. I saw an entry level position as a Procurement Assistant, and Tiffani encouraged me to go for it. They offered me the position and I was extremely happy. I now knew that all my time spent working as a Summer Youth Connect intern was going to pay off.

Mahn’s full story can be found here, telling how Summer Youth Connect helped her find the pathway to a career in public service.  I also appreciate knowing of Tiffani's diligence as a mentor, seeing great potential in Mahn and staying in touch so she was made aware of opportunities to work in various City bureaus.  And I liked hearing how Chief Procurement Officer Christine Moody, Purchasing Manager Barbara Gibson and Construction Supervisor Kathleen Brenes-Moura helped Mahn and truly believe in the mission of investing in our young people.

High School students interested in being invited to apply for next summer's internship program may contact Tiffani Penson at 503-823-7785 or call 503-823-4000 next spring to be guided to the online application.

Through the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) Liquor Licensing Program, I worked with concerned neighbors and with business owners to strengthen the City Code that provides some local regulation of liquor licensed establishments.  Since enactment in 2004 thanks to Commissioner Leonard, the Time Place and Manner ordinance has provided a much-needed mechanism for neighbors and local law enforcement agencies to address problem businesses.  Time Place and Manner is the only avenue available to address problems at licensed establishments at the local level. All other regulatory authority is held by the state Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC).  I heard from many in the community that the 2004 ordinance could be improved, and asked Theresa Marchetti in ONI to bring a report and recommendations strengthening it to Council.

The new rules expand the City’s authority to include: 

• Drug activity, prostitution, and incidents involving death or the risk of death to be considered nuisance activities for the purpose of the code
• A violation and abatement process if three nuisance incidents occur in 60 days (rather than three in 30 days, currently the standard)
• A violation and abatement process if a single serious incident occurs at an establishment, including homicide, assault with a weapon, assault causing serious injury, reckless endangerment, and felony sexual offenses

Many people might assume since most of these problems are crimes, existing processes should have been adequate to manage businesses where the crimes occur.  The ordinance improves several areas where the current standards are insufficient to address problems.  For instance, in January 2010 a Portland police officer walked into an establishment and saw several lines of cocaine laid out on the bar, with rolled up dollar bills ready for use.  The officer was unable to determine ownership of the cocaine and was powerless to take action against the establishment.  Under the adopted changes, this situation would be considered a nuisance activity.

While the 2004 code has been an important tool in addressing problem establishments, the adopted improvements go further in authorizing the City's ability to abate serious livability problems.  This update requires non-compliant establishments to work with the City to resolve issues.  These changes will better serve the communities of Portland, and will allow intervention when licensees act irresponsibly or negligently at the cost of community livability. The new rules will allow City staff to intervene earlier, avoiding more serious problems later.

For more information about liquor license issues, contact:

Theresa Marchetti

Office of Neighborhood Involvement Liquor License Program

503-823-3092

theresa.marchetti@portlandoregon.gov

These improvements are not sufficient to address neighborhood impacts of licensed establishments.  More should be done by the State Legislature to allow more local control of liquor establishments.  For example, Senator Jackie Dingfelder and Representative Tina Kotek tried hard, but without success in the last Legislature to win what seem to me to be basic common sense bills, such as allowing local jurisdictions to close an establishment for 72 hours if a homicide occurs there.  We were also not able to win the right for local jurisdictions to limit saturation of liquor-sales establishments in neighborhoods. Although bills addressing these issues are unlikely to be proposed in the short 2012 session, I hope finding resolution to the observed and perpetual problems will be high on the City's Legislative Agenda in 2013.

Photo by Robert Wilson

The story of the Immigrant Statue, which I was honored to help unveil, is beautifully related on EastPDXnews.com by David Ashton.  See here for images of the statue.  At the ceremony, Commissioner Nick Fish gave a very gracious and heartwarming speech thanking everyone who was involved in the project. 

Anna Song Canzano of KATU gave a wonderful invocation speech telling how she grew up in Parkrose, graduating from Parkrose High School after helping her parents run the Prestige Inn on Sandy Boulevard.  She told about her experience at Parkrose High School with a construction bond measure that failed, then knocking on doors as a high school senior and persuading TV news cameras to visit the old school during heavy rains to film the buckets on the floor catching water from the leaking roof.  The second bond measure passed, and the new Parkrose High School was built on land formerly part of Rossi Farms.  I also heard Anna speak at the recent fundraiser for NAMI, an organization providing services and advocacy for people with mental illnesses, and she often gives her time and talents to other nonprofit causes, too.  She is clearly a woman who cares passionately about the wellbeing of the people of Portland, and very inspirational. 

Jaime Lim, publisher of the Asian Reporter and owner of First United Engineering which donated engineering work for the statue installation, was honored as the first Immigrant of the Year with the award of a trophy replica of the Immigrant Statue.  Jaime, too, does so much good in so many ways in our community.

The Immigrant Statue project's instigator and the leader behind the Centennial celebration is Joe Rossi, whose family still farms in Parkrose after being moved out of the center of Portland when Ladd's Addition was converted from farmland to homes in 1900.  Joe is a Portland and Parkrose leader whose humble and friendly approach to community support is valued by all who know him.  I am glad I have learned more about the Rossi family's contributions to Parkrose and now to Portland through my frequent visits and membership in the Parkrose Business Association (Spirit of Portland Award winners in 2010).

Senator Ron Wyden participated in both events, too.  Seen here with the Oregon Alzheimer's Association's new Executive Director, Kathleen Cody (center) and Katherine Jimenez, secretary of the volunteer Board of Directors, Senator Wyden kicked off the walk by stepping to the microphone and announcing, "I've been asked to speak for about an hour," then chuckling and pointing at a woman in the crowd who he said looked like she believed him.  I enjoy that kind of humor.

This is most of the Doris Verbout team at the Walk to Defeat ALS.  Leader Mike, the oldest son of Doris for whom we walk, had car trouble and didn't make it past the parking meter space.  It is heartwarming how the Verbout team welcomes me into their family for the event, even without my friend Mike.  I go to the ALS fundraiser banquet each year, too, and have always been assigned to a table with seven members of a family and one spare place.  There, too, I have been graciously included as "one of us", no matter where I am placed.  There is community in sharing the spirit of caring about an issue, especially a challenging and heartbreaking issue.  With my own family of origin far away in England, I appreciate being adopted into other clans.

I think I heard organizers say 2,700 signed up for the Alzheimers walk, and 3,500 for ALS.  Total funds raised will doubtless be posted over the next few weeks, on the Oregon Alzheimer's and ALS sites.  Special thanks to the Portland Police officers who keep us safe, and downtown residents and travelers who endure the disruption of closed streets for the events.  The ALS Walk has already far exceeded its fundraising goal, bringing in over $389,000 for research and support to families.  Nice going, volunteers and staff. 

This flag, photographed in the entry to my City Hall office set in flowers given to me at yesterday's Gateway Area Business Association event, was one of 343 + 72 = 415  placed and then given away at Fire Station 21 near the Hawthorne Bridge, in the Portland Tribute to Fire Fighters and Police Officers in New York who died after running into to the twin towers in an effort to help civilians getting out.  Their sacrifice was not in vain: 35,000 people worked in the World Trade Center; all but 2,016 of them escaped (numbers from KPTV).  We read the names of the 415 fallen First Responders today.  I noticed "Kathy" and "Moira" in the list, along with Joe, Michael, Leonard, Jose, and many others.

Reading the names of First Responders. Photo by Martha Pellegrino, Govt. Relations

KGW coverage and video of the event organized by Senator Wyden and his staff is here.

One of the saddest stories I heard today, at a different remembrance service, was that of the couple whose daughter was a waitress in the Windows on the World restaurant in the World Trade Center, while their son was a communications officer in the Pentagon.  Both died, in the separate coordinated attacks.  The distraught father soon after took his own life.  How could a mother and wife endure such tragedy?

The most inspirational testimony at the Fire Station 21 event was from Wes Loucks, a retired Fire Fighter who with three others from Portland caught the first flight to New York after the flying ban was lifted, to help out.  He said the Fire Fighters did not refer to the site as "Ground Zero" or "the pit" because they considered it hallowed ground due to the bravery of those who ran in. They called it "the pile", rather than the negative connotations of the other two references.  Fire Fighter Loucks said the Fire Chief of NYC tried to banish anyone who was not from New York from working at "the pile", but Wes gave him a little Portland Attitude (my words not his), and asserted the right of any first responder to assist.  Portland citizens' drive to volunteer prevailed.

Photo by Colonel Edward Fritz

Ten years after the attacks on the east coast, we remembered all who go to work each day knowing their jobs in public safety may put their life at risk.  Thank you, first responders.

At the event, GABA also presented its eleventh annual Gateway Citizen of the Year Award to me. According to GABA, Gateway’s Citizens of the Year have "demonstrated commitment to the community, advancing its commercial, economic, financial, industrial, safety, and civic interests.” The 2011 award winner was chosen by David Douglas Superintendent Don Grotting, Parkrose Superintendent Karen Gray, and Portland Christian Superintendent Annette Johnson. 

Photo by Colonel Edward Fritz

 Parkrose School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Fischer Gray, and GABA stalwart Fred Sanchez of Reality Brokers, presenting the award

“Gateway Area Business Association thanks Commissioner Fritz for being such a formidable force for good in our community,” said GABA leader Fred Sanchez.  This is the first time the Gateway Area Business Association has chosen to give their award to a politician who lives outside East Portland.  US Senator Jeff Merkley was the recipient in 2009. 

 Photo by Colonel Edward Fritz

I am honored to receive this award from the wonderful community leaders at GABA, Oregon’s oldest business association.  City commissioners serve the entire city, and I always remember that. The award recognizes my past, current, and future commitment to the people of East Portland.  My parents-in-law live at CherryWood Village by the East Portland Community Center, so East Portlanders are my family in fact as well as in my heart.

My wonderful parents-in-love, Colonels Edward and Emily Fritz

Photo by Ann Sanchez

See KATU's coverage and video.

It is especially satisfying that those most involved see the value of creating a new bureau and hiring three more staff, as an appropriate and necessary mechanism to reach for more equitable outcomes in Portland within City government and in the community.  Beth Slovic of the Oregonian noted the similarities in concerns about this office, with those expressed when Commissioner Saltzman established the Office of Sustainable Development in his first term.

At the end of the hearing, the other members of Council asked Mayor Adams and me to bring back a revised ordinance on September 21 at 11 a.m., including the Office of Human Relations and staffing for the Human Rights Commission in the new structure.  For the past week, the Mayor and I have worked with the Human Rights Commission, the Portland Commission on Disability which will also be staffed by the new entity, and members of the Creation Committee, to draft a revised proposal.

The draft calls for a single Office of Equity and Human Rights.  Draft ordinance and work plan language is posted here.  Please send comments and suggestions for amendments to Sara Hussein.

Ozvaldo, Tim, Danielle, and Jose Gonzalez of Miracle Theater

The entire evening and program was delightful. The keynote speaker was Alberto Ponte, Creative Director at Wieden + Kennedy.  His description of the diverse workers at the company resonated with the goals and philosophy of the Equity Initiative - he said at their company, "If you try to fit in, you don't fit in, because we are each so different".  And he said this diversity is what makes their work so outstanding.

Lincoln High School Jazz Ensemble

Photo from Caroline Marnoch & Bob Carey, parents of two of the musicians

There was much more than ice cream provided this year.  Lamb's Market at Stroheckers (since 1902), the neighborhood's beloved grocery store, donated a feast of burgers and dogs for both carnivores and vegetarians, plus salads, watermelon, and root beer floats.  Beaverton Bakery provided six types of cupcakes which disappeared as if by magic.  Many thanks to Lamb's Store Director Mike DiPari and his workers for donating both food and staffing for the event.  I know the neighbors  reciprocate by patronizing the store... especially in the winter when driving the steep roads into and out of the neighborhood is close to impossible. Thanks also to the Lincoln High School Jazz Band for providing beautiful music, to the Portland Office of Emergency Management and Bureau of Environmental Services for staffing information tables, and to all the children of the neighborhood who said, "please" and "thank you" so politely.  Fellow ice cream scooper Kelly Reese and I particularly appreciated that.

After the SWHRL picinic, I stopped by the Hawthorne Street Fair, tabled with House Democrats volunteers, and shopped.  A very nice set of experiences in Portland on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

This Saturday began with a couple of hours picking up trash in the Sumner neighborhood, north of Sandy and east of 82nd.

Scott Somohano, chair of the Sumner Association of Neighbors, with devoted litter patrol crew Molly, Tish, and Karen.  They go out every month picking up garbage in their neighborhood, and they've noticed there is less to pick up as time goes by and other residents and businesses begin doing the maintenance cleanup between the monthly events.  They gave me the litter grabber purchased at Parkrose Hardware.  Astute observers will note I was not exactly appropriately attired for litter pickup, but my Saturday afternoon events required the dress. 

Here we are, ready to set off from the Central Northeast Neigbors headquarters, with Scott's wife Heather in the straw hat (she took the previous photo).

We met and chatted with several Sumner neighbors while walking around picking up trash, also Scott conducted a survey of the 800 homes in the neighborhood to find out the issues people care about most.  Safety both from disorderly behavior and from lack of sidewalks, lack of a park, and the "Poopy Palace" business operating a wastewater disposal service near homes without a Conditional Use permit, topped the list.  We saw new sidewalks on NE 82nd installed with federal stimulus money directed to be used there by Mayor Adams.  April Bertelson in the Bureau of Transportation communicated with neighbors on the sidewalks and did great work.  Neighbors would like full sidewalks on Sandy as the next priority.

After Sumner, I went to another litter pickup on Hayden Island. 

I took this photo, but you can check with Pam Ferguson or Debra Porta, Island residents, if you doubt.  Lots of trash on West Hayden Island.  Many of the volunteers had also worked all morning cleaning up the east side of the island, and even scooping it out of the river by canoes.  This was my third trash pickup of the week.  I like picking up litter - the neigborhood looks so much better when it's done. The Parkrose Hardware grabbers would have made easier my litter collecting after Last Thursday on Alberta this past week with Don, Rochelle and the volunteers there.  I will donate some grabbers for Last Thursday.

Third event of Saturday was helping with a fundraiser lunch sale for Latino Network at the Concordia New Seasons.  Yes, I washed my hands thoroughly after the litter pickup work.  Plus, I was assigned to hand out literature about the crucial work of the Latino Network - one of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement's Diversity and Civic Leadership partners.  My new friend and Latino Network helper, Kate, took this photo of us with her phone, outside the store:

Lots of wonderful people stopped by and supported the fundraiser, including PDC's Kimberly Schneider-Branam and her husband John Branam, and former County Commissioner Serena Cruz-Walsh with her adorable four-year old daughter.

Last stop of the day was the Southeast Uplift street party and social.  Anne Dufay, Executive Director, has done excellent work with the Board at SEUL, and the party was a great success.  Extra space in their building is being rented to worthy non-profits who had tables at the street fair, including Mental Health America of Oregon staffed by Beckie Child, a colleague working on the Safer PDX partnership whose mid-project report was presented at Council on August 17.

SEUL's awesome Communications Manager Blythe Pavlik took time out from photographing the event to smile for the other end of the camera with me.

Thank you to all the neighborhood volunteers who helped with the events, welcomed and informed me.

My final task of the day was playing Assistant Pack Horse in schlepping my daughter's stuff to her dorm room at Willamette University in Salem, where she is a senior.  When people ask me if I miss the "helper" aspect of working as a Registered Nurse, I smile and say, "not much."

If there is a chance that we can save water ratepayers money, we need to take a timeout and review our options.

In light of the recent success of New York Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to win a stay on open reservoir coverage in New York, along with White House directives to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, clearly it is time to reassess Portland's LT2 Compliance policy.  We should start by asking for a change in the schedule for compliance, and the associated multimillion dollar construction projects. Those include the Ultraviolet treatment facility EPA is requiring to treat our Bull Run water even though it doesn't have the Cryptosporidium contaminant, and  underground facilities EPA says are needed to store treated water.  Thorough research by the Water Bureau has shown that treating our source water is unnecessary. EPA has not demonstrated that covering our reservoirs will improve public health, yet we know that it will impose extreme and unnecessary financial burdens on the ratepayers.

I have been working on this matter with multiple community partners since 2009, advocating for pursuing strategies that better control water rates. Citizens pushed successfully to save $500 million in 2009, with my leadership inside City Hall engineering a reversal of previously-unquestioned plans to install a costly filtration system for pristine Bull Run water.  I voted against the water rate ordinance the past two years, because the City was not doing enough to challenge these unnecessary EPA directives.  I proposed adding a budget note in 2011-12 seeking regulatory relief, with any resulting savings to go to decrease water rates, but was unable to win majority support on the Council.  I voted against the May 2011 contract for $80 million starting construction of a second tank on Powell Butte, in part because I believe more underground storage is not necessary if we gain regulatory relief from the state and the EPA.

I particularly commend Regna Merritt, Floy Jones, Kent Craford and many other citizens for their dedicated, intelligent, insightful advocacy on behalf of water users and ratepayers.  More than 80 individuals and groups from all interests - businesses, unions, environmentalists, neighbors -- ratepayers all -- have signed on to the Water Users group position on this matter, which includes asking for a time out, and seeking regulatory and/or compliance timeline relief.

With this new development by the EPA for New York, I am again asking my colleagues on the Portland City Council to join together with these citizens and others, in asking the EPA to allow the City of Portland to reopen and make changes to our compliance plan and schedule.  I concur with the letter Commissioner Leonard has sent to our Congressional Delegation seeking their assistance in reviewing our options moving forward. 

One of the emails I read yesterday, captured perfectly the reasons I voted against the Regional Flexible Funding proposal the Council approved last Wednesday, in a hearing that was supposed to take 30 minutes and instead lasted 2.5 hours (hence my hurried departure at 1 p.m., since I had been scheduled to leave for Ashland at noon). 

Let me preface this by saying I wholeheartedly support three of the four projects in the Resolution.  Those three, the infrastructure improvements for all modes in the freight project and those on SE Foster and SE Division, definitely meet the criteria of safety and equity required by the federal and Metro mandates for the funds.  I asked that the proposal could be split into four, so I could vote in support of these three.  My request was denied, so I had to vote No on the whole Resolution.

The project approved by the rest of the Council, allocating $2 million in precious federal funds to a bike rental project downtown, does not meet the goals of improving equity or safety, in my opinion.  With permission, here is what my thoughtful correspondent wrote, explaining why.  I am not posting the writer's name because I get paid for reading and hearing vitreolic responses, the writer does not.  I endorse the following:

I support the inclusion of the Barbur Streetscape Project, the East Portland Active Transportation and Areawide Improvements, and the Foster Road Safety Enhancements in the City's Regional Flexible Funds (RFF) application to Metro.  

As you know, this year Metro has established equity as a criterion for the Regional Flexible Funds, and each of these projects will help move the region toward a transportation system with more equitably distributed resources. I urge you to take a deeper look at the proposed Bike Sharing Program, particularly in these times of scarce resources and lean budgets.  When the bike sharing proposal was introduced at a recent Metro Transportation Policy meeting , it received more criticism and doubt than ANY other RFF proposal that was presented.  Here are a few concerns and questions that I think need to be addressed regarding the Bike Sharing Program:

1. It is unclear who the target user is for this project?  People who own bikes or don't own bikes?  People who work downtown?  Bike commuters who ride the MAX?  "Interested but concerned" Portlanders?  It's not clear who this project is designed to benefit, therefore it's impossible to know whether or not this is intervention will lead to the desired outcome.  Is there any data to show market demand for this program? 

2. Why should we have a bike sharing program that only benefits the Central City, particularly when we already have a "Free Rail Zone" in downtown Portland?

Thank you, thoughtful citizen, for sending your comments and giving me permission to post them.  I need to add, that this is NOT a "Bike Sharing" program.  It is a Bike Rental program, which will now be subsidized with $2 million in public money.  If it is likely to be successful as a business enterprise, it seems to me that private entrepreneurs would be providing the service.

I voted in support of an amendment that will perhaps direct other funds to projects on Barbur and in Sullivan's Gulch, both of which were deemed higher priorities for the here-and-now ederal RFF funds than the bike rental program.  If other funds are or will be available, I wonder why these other projects were not already on their way to implementation.  I also worry about what will not get done, if these projects now jump to the head of the queue. 

It is true that Mayor Adams has allocated more funds than any Mayor in recent memory, for sidewalks in all parts of Portland, particularly outer East and deep Southwest in areas annexed 40 years ago and still lacking basic city services.  I greatly appreciate his partnership in this endeavor, and his promise to have the Bureau of Transportation respond to my request for an estimate of the total cost to provide sidewalks where there aren't any, on all Major Transit Streets.  Still, we know the needs and cost are huge.  One mile of sidewalks in SW on Capitol Highway, a Major Transit Street, will cost over $19 million.  With such great needs, we simply don't have $2 million to spare on something that might be nice, but isn't essential and doesn't promote safety or equity.  And that's why I voted No on the Resolution for allocation of Regional Flexible Funds last week.

Not everyone shares in the riches and opportunities offered in Portland.  Disparities are not only still present, but also they are worsening.  Inequity hurts us all.  It hurts business vitality, hurts our economy, hurts our neighbors, hurts our community.

The problem is clear.  The need is urgent.  The time to act is now.

The Public Review draft of the Ordinance to estabish the rationale and purpose for the Office of Equity is here.  The draft Initial Work Plan is here.

Please send comments and suggestions for amendments to Sara Hussein in my office, by noon on Monday, August 29.  Sara will also be happy to add you to the mailing list fo this initiative on request.

The Public Hearing asking Council to adopt the proposed Ordinance will be Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers, 1221 SW 4th Avenue.  Please attend and voice your opinions.

We had a friendly discussion about joys and challenges experienced by New Portlanders and longtime immigrants - many of the Somali leaders have lived here for 20 years or more.  A recent Colored Pencils exhibit at the Multnomah Center in SW Portland was noted as a highlight, along with the rapid progress of the newly-formed Somali American Youth organization.  Difficulty getting a franchise to form a new taxi cab company was mentioned as a frustration.

Right to left: Lul Abdulle, Fatma (3-1/2 yrs), Halima Mohamed, Amanda Fritz, Uma Abdullahi and Musse Olol.

Uma was Madison High School's Rose Festival Princess.  When she stood next to me, I exclaimed, "Wow, I get to stand next to the Princess!" To which she promptly and graciously replied, "Wow, I get to stand next to the Commissioner!" If you read the Oregonian's article about Uma, you'll see why I was happy to be with her.

All the participants in SACOO are inspirational in their personal stories of survival and now success in Portland.  I am glad to be their Commissioner in charge of Neighborhood Involvement and the New Portlanders program in the Office of Human Relations.

This past week marked the MAX Red Line’s 10th year and 10 millionth ride. Transit ridership to PDX is up more than four times over previous bus service to the airport. 

According to TriMet's page on the Red Line, the $125 million cost was funded by a public-private partnership of TriMet general fund (36%), Bechtel/CascadeStation Development Company, LLC (23%), Port of Portland (23%), and the City of Portland (18%).  No federal dollars or new local taxes were used.

I was on the Planning Commission when this project was approved.  There was much angst over the incongruence of the deal including an area of big box retail on a light rail line -- CascadeStation, pretentiously named with no space between the words.  Although this shopping center has added traffic on roads in Northeast Portland, on balance the convenience and increased transit ridership on the train to the airport seems worth it.  MAX from the airport is a selling point in attracting tourist and convention business, as I know from serving on the Visitor Development Fund board.  I credit Mayor Vera Katz and her then-Chief-of-Staff Sam Adams for making the Airport MAX project happen.

The Airport Way urban renewal area has seen significant growth over these years, from an assessed value of $150 million to more than $1.2 billion. Over the past three years, the district has contributed $56 million back to the county, school districts and other taxing jurisdictions.

For more information about the Airport Way urban renewal area visit here

For more information about the MAX Red Line visit here. 

It's very satisfying to see projects proving successful that I worked on as a community organizer (such as the Tree Protection Project), and during the seven years I served on the Planning Commission.  Citizen participation coupled with leadership by elected officials can make a real difference in Portland.

The kick-off party was held last week outside City Hall.

In yet another improvement in the NNO program planning, Stephanie Reynolds (behind the podium), the Office of Neighborhood Involvement's wonderful Crime Prevention Manager, arranged for the annual Public Safety Awards to be bestowed at the NNO kick-off.  Among the winners was the SMASH (Students Making Ads for Student Health) team of students from now-closed Marshall High School, for a project aimed at reducing drug use.

Photos courtesy Luke Fritz, Marshall High School/Step Up staff 2009 - 11

I am happy to be the champion and Commissioner in Charge of community engagement in Portland, through both the Office of Neighborhood Involvement and the Office of Human Relations and its New Portlanders and other programs.  Since taking office, I have re-visited almost all our 95 Neighborhood Associations, and many communities beyond boundaries such as residents who live on the rivers, and cultural/ethnic groups.  Last year, I went to NNO parties in outer Northeast Portland. In 2009, I visited multiple neighborhoods in outer Southeast. 

Tonight, I stopped by the Downtown Neighborhood Association celebration in the Park Blocks by PSU, then headed to outer SW Portland.  I visited the Neighborhood Association parties in Crestwood at Dickinson Park, Marshall Park at (yes) Marshall Park, and Arnold Creek at the church grounds opposite Jackson Middle School.  Thanks to Portland Police Lieutenant Scott Johnson for giving me a ride back to my car after the Marshall Park event, after I took the wrong trail out and ended up a long way from where I parked. 

Thanks to all the neighbors who welcomed me so warmly, and to Stephanie Reynolds and all the ONI team for making this week another spectacular success for community-building in Portland.

Added 8/3/11: Here is a photograph of Pennington Award winner Fern Wilgus of the Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association, community stalwart Keturah Pennington, Stephanie Reynolds and me, courtesy of Teri Poppino, ONI Crime Prevention Speicalist:

After that, I went to the Columbia Slough Watershed Council's annual Regatta, where anyone may borrow a kayak or canoe free of charge and get out onto the smooth waters of the Columbia Slough. Clean waters, I am happy to report, thanks to much work by many since Alice Blatt, Linda Robinson, Susan Barthell, Chuck Harrison and others co-founded the Council.  I appreciate the expertise of CSWC Education Director Sheilagh Diez steering our double canoe and sharing her enthusiasm for the Watershed Council's work.  I saw a father with his two young children paddling around, who had also been at the East Columbia Neighborhood Association picnic yesterday. Portland has many fun, free activities for families to enjoy.

Then on to the Ramona Street fair off SE 92nd/Foster (after a quick change in the 122nd Avenue Burgerville restroom from canoe-wear to fair-wear.... also a good excuse to lunch on a fresh NW raspberry shake).  Nick Christensen, the Lents Neighborhood Association Chair, greeted me and we celebrated the success of this event that is just three years old.  It combines local craft sales and musical performances with the Lents Farmers Market that operates Sundays at 92nd and Foster throughout the summer.  I bought four pounds of cherries for $8, and these beautiful flowers for $9.

My final event of the day on Sunday was a fundraiser BBQ in North Portland for Jobs With Justice, an organization I've participated in since the unions and other members helped the OHSU nurses win our 56-day strike in 2001-2.  Such a wonderful evening for a potluck outside, especially with folks who work passionately for social justice and equity in our city.

A person walks by a house where a parent is painting the exterior walls, accompanied by a small child.  The child is smearing paint unevenly, getting both walls and child very messy. The passerby says jovially to the parent, "I bet you could get that job done faster if you had better help!" The parent says, "Thanks, but I'm not painting a house, I'm raising a child."

I thought of that story on Saturday, when I spent the morning weeding at Roosevelt High School, alongside about 1,000 volunteers who had signed up from Southlake Church in Lake Oswego, and the North Portland community, to help clean up the grounds and buildings.  The job as posted was getting the school in great shape inside and out before the start of the school year.  The church has led this service project for several years.  Pastor Kip Jacob (L) and Music Director Wilson Smith (R) organized and participated in the transformation.

But the real work of the project isn't cleaning a school building, it's supporting the Roosevelt High School community.  On both jobs, a spectacular success.

I've helped on this cleanup several times before, as noted by Steve Duin in the Oregonian.  My particular specialty is weeding flower beds, tree wells, and those annoying grasses that spring up in cracks in asphalt/concrete walkways.  I was working on the latter when another volunteer walked by and said, "Attending to the details - nice!  It makes a difference."  True to type, even in volunteer work, I thought to myself.

One of the great things about the way this clean-up works is that everyone looks around and pitches in doing whatever is needed.  So folks weeding leave the weeds in piles on the walkway, and someone comes by and takes the weeds to the dumpster in a wheelbarrow, and they disappear as if by magic.  And then someone else appears with barkdust dumped on the flower bed, and yet another person with a rake shows up and gets it spread out.  All this happens without anyone saying, "Hey, these weeds need to be taken away" or "I need barkdust here, please!" 

Three hours later, the grounds are pristine, the building is repainted, the whole place looks like people care about it.  As they do.  I particularly liked going back to a treewell I'd weeded, to see not only barkdust spread but also pine cones artfully decorating it, probably (but maybe not) by one of the many children present.

Southlake Church began supporting Roosevelt with just the grounds cleanup.  Their volunteers expanded their assistance to help with mentoring students and attending sports games to cheer the Roughriders.  The City of Portland helped RHS by providing $200,000 in a two million dollar project to renovate the sports fields and put artificial turf on the football field.  The North Portland business and neighborhood community, with RHS alumni, came together to support the school in the stadium project.

Why does this matter, and why did the City dedicate scarce resources during the recession to something "optional" like a sports field?  Well, for one thing, Measure 5 limits the direct funding local taxpayers are allowed to contribute to in-class teaching services, so we have to find other ways to provide additional support to our wonderful public schools - the City of Portland isn't allowed to buy additional teachers.  And for another, leaders realize that most students don't wake up thinking, "Oh hooray, it's math today!"  They are more likely to be motivated to go to school by the promise of a homecoming football game in the evening, in a state-of-the-art stadium that makes them look like the In Crowd to the visiting students.  Especially when they know the bleachers will be full not only with parents and students, but also with the cheering throngs from their sponsor church, Southlake, and the North Portland community and other supporters -- like me.

Add in a dynamic Principal, Charlene Williams, and wonderful teachers, and the results prove the hypothesis was valid.  Over 86% of Roosevelt seniors graduated in 2011. Nearly 150 went on to college, many with scholarships.  The 2010 freshman class was 160 students.  Enrollment for fall 2011 is already over 250.  Roosevelt is on the rise, thanks to the Principal, teachers, students families, faith-based and community volunteers, and support from the City of Portland.

 Photo courtesy of Jonna Papaefthimiou, Office of Mayor Adams

The East Portland Expo this past weekend was a huge success, thanks to the leadership and energy of Mark White, President of the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association.  Mark is appropriately center of this photograph, in the yellow t-shirt.  Dozens of community organizations participated in the East Portland Expo with booths, refreshments, and entertainment. 

Performances on the main stage were coordinated by Colored Pencils, formerly a community collaborative initiated in partnership with the Office of Human Relations, now an independent, thriving non-profit led by Nim Xuto.

Pictured here are (left to right):

*  Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO youth volunteers)

Photo by Anne Downing, David Douglas High School teacher

The African-Asian team, winners of the final at the Portland Immigrant and Refugee World Cup held at Delta Park over the July 4th weekend.  Sixteen teams competed, up from 8 last year.  The event is a partnership between Portland Parks & Recreation, the Office of Human Relations New Portlanders program, and Portland Fire & Rescue whose staff provided both coaching and emergency medical assistance.  Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, Kenya, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, and various Central American and Asian countries were represented, by youth who live in the Portland Metro area.  The African Youth Community Organization (AYCO) also provided valuable assistance and partnership. 

Special thanks to Alejandro "Alex" Vidales of Portland Parks & Recreation, Renault "Polo" Catalani in the Office of Human Relations, and Anne "Anne" Downing of David Douglas High School for providing the government staff support and pulling it all together.  See this coverage in the Oregonian for more on why we invested City resources in this project.

Photo by Anne Downing

I got to start the kick-off for the final, using my Dad's whistle from his volunteer refereeing and wearing my England shirt. Sadly there was no England team in the tournament, and girls didn't play when I was growing up so I would not be any help if there was. My brother, who is a referee in England, later informed me that by the rules, the game should be restarted after a ceremonial whistle-blow.  Given language differences and the fervor of the play, it would have been hard to stop the players once they had started.

Notwithstanding my opposition on economic grounds when considering whether to convert PGE Park from baseball to soccer, I am enjoying the Timbers season very much.  My kids and I watch every game on TV, and we went to the friendly against Ajax Amsterdam.  Ajax was my favorite continental-Europe team, thanks to Johann Cruyff whose poster was on my college dorm room wall -- because he was such a great player.  So I particularly enjoyed seeing them live again.  The standard of play at the Immigrant and Refugee World Cup was very impressive, even after watching MLS all season. The Timbers should put some serious scouting effort into recruiting # 4, who scored the first half goal in the final.

You are warmly invited to join the committee of citizens and city staff working to achieve inclusive, collaborative public involvement, with meaningful engagement by community members in decisions made by the staff and elected officials in the City of Portland.

The City of Portland believes that collaboration between the City and the public will result in the best policies and decisions for all of Portland.�@On Feb 27 2008, City Council approved the creation of the Public Involvement Advisory Council (PIAC). The committee develops recommendations to Council and bureaus regarding how to improve citywide public involvement.  The PIAC is the first standing City board on public involvement.  Its role is to:

* Review and refine past recommendations regarding citywide public involvement.

* Develop guidelines and policy recommendations for citywide public involvement, to be presented to City Council for approval.

* Provide support and advice to City Council and City bureaus with implementation of shared public involvement guidelines and best practices.

* Encourage ongoing collaboration between the community, City bureaus and City Council in the development of shared public involvement guidelines.

The Public Involvement Best Practices Program in the Office of Neighborhood Involvement provides staff support for the PIAC. The PIAC is comprised of 34 members, from both City bureaus and the community.

Download an application here, and please forward this post to anyone who may be interested.

The west side citizen representative subsequently resigned, and a retiring agency member of the User Board who lives in the designated area was appointed to serve as the volunteer member for the west side.

Recently, a second inner-eastside citizen began attending User Board meetings at the invitation of the new chair, Police Chief Ken Johnson of Fairview.  There was uncertainty over which volunteer should serve.  On Thursday July 7, the BOEC User Board met for their regularly scheduled meeting.  The members discussed the contested citizen representative seat.  Each candidate made a brief statement, then the Board discussed and voted.  Barb Hedlund was approved by the Board, with one dissenting vote.

Although usually I would consider it healthy to have two candidates contesting this position that has often gone unfilled in the past, I am concerned that the media has distorted information on this matter.  I am pleased that the User Board, using their independent judgment, confirmed the original nominee for this volunteer position.

Please email me if you are interested, using Technology Committee Volunteer as the subject of your message, and stating within the email your experience and expertise with technology systems.  Applications will be processed as received, so please contact me soon.

I also expect to nominate two replacement members for the 2011 Charter Commission, due to resignations of previous members who I nominated.  The City Attorney has advised the Council to prepare an ordinance to specify when vacancies exist and how vacancies will be filled, since the Charter is silent on those questions.  I would like to hear from anyone interested in serving on this Charter Commission, while the ordinance is being prepared under the leadership of Mayor Adams.  Please email me, using the subject Charter Commission Volunteer for your message, telling me why you are interested and how you can contribute to the Commission's work.

Information posted by the 2011 Charter Commission is here. 

My assistant, Milena, has provided staff support to the Commission for the past six months.  Commissioner Dan Saltzman has volunteered to provide staffing for the Commission as of July 1.

The City is also accepting applications for trainee fire fighters and emergency medical technicians in Portland Fire & Rescue.  See here for all current open recruitments for City jobs.

Yvonne Deckard, the City's Bureau of Human Resources Director, announced last week that the City's hiring freeze ends June 30.  The hiring freeze, which allowed exceptions with authorization, was imposed to reduce labor costs during the recession. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was given an honorary knighthood by the Royal Rosarians.  The Rosarians are the folks you see in cream suits, some with colored capes, in almost every parade in Portland.  They are the official Greeters and Ambassadors of the City of Portland, the City of Roses.  They travel to events outside Portland, and representatives often meet and greet dignitaries and delegations coming in at the PDX airport.  No public money is spent on their work.  The volunteers serving in the Rosarians donate and fundraise to pay for uniforms and events.

I'm not sure what the qualifications for being made an honorary Knight of the Realm of Rosaria are, other than being nominated by the Rosarian Prime Minister and then filling out a form saying "yes, please, that would be lovely" or words to that effect.  The Prime Minister this year is Ray Hanson, and I am very grateful to him for the honor. 

The ceremony was conducted in the Washington Park Rose Garden amphitheater, and the knighthoods were bestowed by the 2010 Queen of Rosaria, Victoria Dinu.  I've seen Queen Victoria at many events over the course of her year's reign, and I consider her a superstar whose career I will watch and encourage with great interest.

The following photographs are graciously provided by Bill Barry, who volunteers taking photographs for the Rosarians and also has a private photography business, as well as working in real estate.

Queen Victoria knighting me, aided by Royal Regent Sue Klobertanz and Prime Minister Hanson.  The white roses in the foreground remind participants of the House of York in the English civil war, the War of the Roses.  I chose the rose City of Leeds as my favorite, as it is named for my home town in England and I am pretty sure no other honorees will hail from there.  Leeds is about the same size as Portland, and also has clay soils where roses grow well.  I plan to plant several City of Leeds roses in my yard here, once I have time to garden again.  For you a rose in Portland grows, town that used to be my home.

There was a surprise guest knighted at the end of the ceremony - the Oregon Duck.  The Oregon Ducks National Championship football team were Grand Marshals of the Grand Floral Parade this year.

I was thrilled, and managed to be first in line to get my photo taken with him or her afterwards.  

Here is the official photograph, with the 2011 Court, Queen Victoria, the Rosarian leaders, and the new knights and dames.  

I suspect some will deride this event and my report of it as a waste of time and funding.  No public money was spent on the ceremony, and I'm writing it up on Sunday evening when my brain simply isn't up to tackling more difficult work.  Most of the Knighting Ceremony honorees are out-of-town dignitaries and local sponsors, who were given a unique-to-Portland ceremony they will talk about for many years.  For many of us local folks, it was a break from reality and a chance to celebrate our special community - sometimes weird, sometimes wonderful, but rarely dull.  I find occasional short escapes from normal routines help in returning to the never-ending challenges with renewed vigor.  Thank you, Royal Rosarians.

For those who find such information dull, here is a photo taken on the evening of the Starlight Parade,

Photo by Steve Fritz

*******

My speech at Jefferson High School following the Juneteenth parade on 6/18/11:

Today, we remember and celebrate the end of legal slavery in America, as the date the news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865.

A few years ago, not many Americans were aware of the Juneteenth celebration.  That number is growing rapidly as the celebrations grow and more states formally recognize Juneteenth as a holiday.  The remembrance in Portland was started and continued by Ms. Clara Peoples, formerly a Vanport shipyard worker.

Even as we celebrate this event from nearly 150 years ago, we also realize that injustices and inequities did not end with the abolishment of slavery.  We recognize that nearly 50 years after the Voting Rights Act and major Civil Rights legislation was passed, slavery still exists in Portland.  Day Laborers stand on the street named in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, not knowing whether they will be paid at the end of their work day.  On other streets in Portland, women and men are forced to sell their bodies multiple times daily, with few options to allow them to escape.  And much work remains to eliminate the institutional inequities and racism that remains in American society.

In his book Stride Toward Freedom, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote:

"I do not want to give the impression that non- violence will work miracles overnight. Men are not easily moved from mental ruts or purged of their prejudice and irrational feelings. When the underprivileged demand freedom, the privileged first react with bitterness and resistance. Even when the demands are couched in non-violent terms, the initial response is the same... The non-violent approach does not immediately change the hearts of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them a new self-respect; it calls up resources of strength and courage that they did not know they had. Finally, it reaches the opponent and so stirs his conscience that reconciliation becomes a reality."

Those words were written in 1958, the year I was born.  The privileged are still reacting with bitterness and resistance.  Hearts still need to be changed.  Reconciliation remains a work-in-progress.

The Equity Initiative and the new Office of Equity that Mayor Adams and I are creating is a recognition that we must do more to eliminate the inequities that exist.  There are many people in our community who remain left behind from the prosperity and opportunities that exist for the majority.  Please join us in our efforts, because we must succeed.  The alternative is unacceptable.

Enjoy this day of celebration, and let’s keep moving forward. 

Meanwhile, I noticed this blog has too much writing and too few illustrations, so here is a pretty photograph of the Willamette from John's Landing, taken by my husband, Steve.

Asset Forfeiture for Drug Treatment (HB 3151)

Brownfield Redevelopment (HB 3325A) 

Speed Limits (HB  3150A) 

Recreational Immunity (HB 2865A) 

Multi-Unit Housing and Transportation-Oriented Development Tax Abatement (SB 322A) 

Industrial Lands (SB 766A) 

Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) (HB 2523A, HB 3582) 

Licensed Security at Establishments and Events serving Alcohol (SB 878A) 

Primary Care Workforce Package (HB 2401A, HB 2397A, HB 2400A) 

Tax abatement for low-income housing projects developed by non-profits (HB 2354) 

Farmworker Housing Tax Credits (HB 2154B) 

Bike Signals (SB 130A) 

Bar Licensing (SB 36A) 

Confidentiality Exemption for Business Recruitment (SB 437) 

Truck Idling (HB 2081A) 

Vehicle Sharing (HB 3149A) 

Access Management (SB 264A) 

Billboards (SB 639) 

Local Purchasing (HB 3000A) 

Architects and Engineers Quality-Based Selection (HB 3316A) 

Human Trafficking (SB 425A) 

Police Reserve Officers (HB 3153A) 

Enterprise Zone Sunset Extension (HB 3017A) 

Bottle Bill (HB 3145B) 

Transportation Planning Rule (SB 795A)

Plastics Toxin Bisphenol-A (SB 695A) 

Biodiesel Additives (HB 2827)

9-1-1 Caller Privacy (SB 346)

Clean & Safe Security program

The Portland Timbers kicked off their much advertised soccer season with Clean & Safe directing fans to the stadium destination from the district. With an estimated 20,000 fans for each of the two games in the downtown area, Clean & Safe officers assisted fans with parking and directions. Officers said both events were successful and great for downtown.

Multnomah Animal Control teamed up with Clean & Safe police officers on April 13 for a dog control mission. In three hours, the four-person team contacted over 25 individuals and issued 16 citations for animal violations.

The Office of Neighborhood Involvement Graffiti Summit on April 19 was a great success and the Clean & Safe District was the recipient of a primary sponsor award for helping fund the summit.

Clean & Safe security patrols made 11,400 citizen contacts. These include:

• 3,577 business assists and referrals
• 5,072 pedestrian contacts
• 28 arrests by Clean & Safe police bicycle officers
• 55 exclusions
• 51 enforcement non arrest problem solving activities

Clean & Safe Cleaning Statistics

Clean & Safe Cleaning Statistics for the last 30 days:  

• 1,775 bags of trash removed
• 3,605 graffiti tags removed
• 426 citizen cleaning responses
• 729 needles and items of drug paraphernalia removed
• 2,259 restroom inspections and cleanings
• 132 shopping carts returned

Celebrated since 1985, the Spirit of Portland award ceremony is an important way for the City to recognize and celebrate those who make a positive difference in our community. Each year, there are 20 to 30 winners in various categories. The exact date, time and location for 2011 Awards ceremony is not set, but the event will be held early in November during the evening and at a venue in the community so more people can attend.

Nominations are due in the Office of Neighborhood Involvement by 4 p.m. Friday, August 5. Nomination forms are available at the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI), 1221 SW Fourth Ave, Room 110, Portland OR 97204, or at the seven neighborhood district offices. They can also be downloaded from the web at Spirit of Portland 2011 here.  

Nominations may be made in the following categories:

Business Association

Community Harmony

Community Policing/Public Safety Emergency Preparedness

Emerging Community Leader

City Employee of the Year

Humanitarian

Independent Spirit

Large Business

Neighborhood Association

Non-Profit Organization

Outstanding Partnership

Public Involvement

Sandy Diedrich Environmental Stewardship

Small Business

Youth Volunteer

The award recipients are chosen by a selection committee composed of representatives from the Mayor’s and City Commissioner’s offices, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, the Neighborhood District Coalition offices, Diversity and Civic Leadership Program partners, Business Associations, non-profit community organizations and past award winners.

Nominees will be evaluated in each of the following areas:

* Participation in outstanding projects

* Enrichment of our community and neighborhoods

* Providing a special service to the community

* Demonstration of responsiveness, creativity and civic values

* Raising cross-cultural awareness

nominating forms. Please submit your nominations soon and share this information with others who may be interested in nominating someone for a Spirit of Portland award

For more information, please contact

Patrick Philpott

Resource Center Administrative Coordinator

Office of Neighborhood Involvement

1221 SW Fourth Avenue, Suite 110

Portland, OR 97204

Phone: 503.823.3881

Fax: 503.823.3050

TTY: 503.823.6868

To help ensure equal access to City programs, services and activities, the City of Portland will reasonably modify policies/procedures and provide auxiliary aids/services to persons with disabilities. Call 503-823-4000, or the City's TTY at 503-823-6868, or the Oregon Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900 no less than five (5) business days prior to the event. 

Here is the column I was planning to submit before reading Ted's:

If you call 9-1-1 to ask for help on the worst day of your life, for instance if a loved one is having a medical emergency and dies, would you want journalists to be the ones deciding whether to post and broadcast the tape of your call on the Internet, radio and TV?  Or would you want to have the right to give your permission for the tape to be released and broadcast?

I believe the caller to 9-1-1 should be the one to decide whether to release the tape of the call to the media for public broadcast.  Often highly sensitive medical information is discussed in emergency calls.  Callers are asked about drug and alcohol use and history.  The unusual behaviors of people with mental illnesses are often described.  Senate Bill 346 gives callers the right to choose whether to allow media broadcast of their 9-1-1 call. 

Far too often, 9-1-1 calls are played for their prurient nature.  The broadcasters’ association code of ethics for 9-1-1 calls is only a series of questions to consider rather than clear direction as to whether or not broadcast of a recording would be appropriate.  The association has no oversight or ability to reprimand those who ignore or interpret their voluntary code in an objectionable manner. 

Broadcasters are trying to make this about the 9-1-1 operators, but it is not.  It is about you, the caller, who has just been the victim of a crime, or witnessed a crime, or has a family member having a medical emergency or mental health crisis.  Should your privacy be protected so that YOU control whether your call is broadcast to the world on perhaps the worst day of your life?  That is what this Senate Bill 346 attempts to accomplish.

Under the proposed legislation, calls could still be broadcast if the caller gives permission to release the tape to the public.  The tape would be available for use in law enforcement, training purposes, lawsuits and labor disputes.  Transcripts of the call would also be available to the public.  To be clear: if a caller believes that an operator did not manage the call correctly, the caller could grant permission for the recording to be released and broadcast.  In situations where the caller would like the call broadcast due to the heroism or bravery shown, they could also provide their permission.

Currently, callers have no right to privacy. I believe that is wrong.  Senate Bill 346 is common sense legislation designed to protect victims and provide privacy to callers.  I urge the Legislature to pass it.

Some of the media coverage would lead you to believe otherwise.  Here are the facts.

Buying a new computer to provide dispatching services between calltakers and front line providers (police, fire, and medical services) in Multnomah County was approved by the User Board in 2006.  The User Board is an advisory group at BOEC comprised of members from the agencies BOEC serves - Portland Police and Fire, Gresham, Fairview, Wood Village, Troutdale, and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.  The User Board considered the options of patching the old system or buying a new system in June 2006, and acknowledged the need for BOEC to buy the new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) platform.  In 2006, a County-wide bond measure was recommended by the User Board as the funding mechanism to pay for the purchase and installation of the new system.  After further discussions including the User Board in 2007, the Portland City Council decided in 2008 to fund the purchase by Portland only, rather than trying for a County-wide bond. 

When I took office and was assigned BOEC in January 2009, I heard about the "we could  patch the old system for $500k" assertion, and looked into it.  I came to the same conclusion the User Board had, that buying a new computer was necessary.

Think about it: Is the home computer you use today the same as the one you were using 17 years ago? How about your work computer?  Likely not.  Computers today can do so much more than those of the 1990s.  And the old computers are hard to maintain, indeed may not even be serviced by their original manufacturer.  That's what we were looking at, for the 9-1-1 center.  I think we all agree, the 9-1-1 computer has to be reliable. Lives depend on it.

I concurred with the previous Commissioner in Charge of BOEC, Randy Leonard, that the new CAD was essential.  We selected Versaterm from the companies that responded to the Request For Proposals to sell us the new CAD, in part because they already serve Seattle and Sacramento, creating a West Coast network potential in the event of a major regional disaster such as a catastrophic earthquake.  They have provided CAD systems to other large cities serving multiple jurisdictions and agencies, including Salt Lake City, Vancouver B.C., and Halifax.  Versaterm has an impressive track record and we were confident that the system would function properly when implemented.  It does.

The implementation process was set up with an internal process manager, an independent paid consultant to oversee ongoing quality assurance, and a technical advisory committee including community members.  Commissioner Leonard and I collaborated on the oversight, providing additional checks and balances from two Council members instead of one.  We gave Council a full briefing in an open, televised public work session in fall 2010, and thereafter provided Council with monthly updates on assessments and progress towards implementation.

I authorized delayed implementation of the new CAD for two weeks in April, when preparatory checks revealed a needed adjustment. We fixed the problem, and went live with the new computer on April 17^th.

The new computer works as expected. 

The new computer was budgeted to cost $16 million. It has been purchased and implemented for $14.5 million.  This cost was entirely covered by Portland's taxpayers.  None of the capital funding was passed to our partner jurisdictions.

Because BOEC serves all of Multnomah County, but is operated by the City of Portland, there is an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with our partner jurisdictions that sets the percentage each must pay for operations.  The percentage is based on population.  Portland pays 80%, Gresham pays 12%, and the remaining four jurisdictions pay a total of 8%.  The new computer necessitates increased costs associated with operation and maintenance.   We need system experts on call 24/7 to correct any problems as soon as they arise.  Portland pays the lion’s share of these cost increases, however every jurisdiction will be expected to pay their portion, as specified in the IGA.

As with any new complex computer system, problems may surface, resulting in down time.  The old CAD had over 60 incidents of problems documented from January 1, 2011 to the conversion on April 17, and crashed once.  With the Versaterm system, only one intermittent problem occurred, resulting in three outages before the problem was isolated and corrected. Staff at the 9-1-1 center are trained to operate when the computer is down, under the old and new system, and no impact to services resulted from the downtime.

BOEC users are bound by contract to pay the charges Portland assesses.  We work hard to minimize those charges.  We are motivated to reduce computer maintenance costs, as soon the system proves to be stable.  We also work to keep other costs down.  In 2010, we negotiated a new labor contract which saved money for Portland and our partner jurisdictions.   

The new system is not the same as the one our police officers and fire fighters are accustomed to.  During this initial training/orientation period, it may require police officers to pull over to read the computer screen in their car, instead of reading while driving.  Police officers have radios, and 9-1-1 dispatchers give information over the radio as well as on the computer screen.  The front-line users are giving BOEC requests on adjustments to the new system such as font size, and we will respond to their requests as soon and as well as we can.  BOEC takes pride in providing great service to both callers and responders.

The staff at BOEC have performed like heroes with the new computer system.  Almost all front-line providers have risen to the challenge and worked with us, rather than criticizing.  I don't understand how anyone could call this new computer purchase and operation "a fiasco" when it was implemented on time, under budget, and works as expected. 

I realize some people find it hard to believe government can do anything right.  To try to turn this success into a failure is simply wrong, and political posturing at its worst.  This is one complex City of Portland computer project that was planned and implemented as close to perfectly as is humanly possible.  I thank Commissioner Randy Leonard, BOEC Director Lisa Turley, Project Manager Lisa Vasquez, and the entire team for their diligence and the excellent outcome on this work.  If you have reason to believe otherwise, I cordially invite you to make an appointment and come and talk with me about it.

Thanks to Street Roots Director Israel Bayer for printing the column, sending the link, and engaging the community in thoughtful review of the challenges and opportunities offered by Oregon's freedom of speech and expression values.

Wahoo!  Our Capitol Hill ES Playground project is one of ten finalists to win up to $15,000 toward new playground equipment. We were competing with 118 applications!

Now we need your help! To receive the grant we need you to vote for our playground project as your favorite. 

It’s really simple, just go to http://projects.kaboom.org/vote_2011 and find the event title “CAPITOL HILL ES PLAYGROUND.”  You can watch a quick video about our playground project, register on the KaBOOM! website.  Then click the big “VOTE” button.  It couldn't be easier.

*You can vote once every 24 hours from now until May 10!  Bookmark the link above and vote again tomorrow.

Our kids need your help!  The more times you vote, the better our chance to win the money for our playground project.  We would really appreciate it if you could send this along to your friends and family.

We thank you, and the kids thank you for all of your help! 

Cathie

http://projects.kaboom.org/vote_2011

CAPITOL HILL ES PLAYGROUND VIDEO

PORTLAND, OREGON

Lots of delightful photographs on KATU here.  Kudos to Ken Turner for having founded and nurtured such a wonderful community-building event.

Last week saw the Legislature’s first major deadline as Thursday, April 21^st was the last day for bills to move out of policy committees in their chamber of origin. Committees that are not subject to these deadlines include the Revenue and Rules Committees in each chamber as well as the Joint Tax Credit and Ways and Means Committees. Bills that were not moved to the floor or a committee that is not subject to this deadline are no longer in action, though legislators may still introduce new priority bills.

Click here for a summary of the City’s major legislative activity over the past two weeks, covering the following topics:

Brownfield Redevelopment 

Industrial Lands

Film and Television Production Incentives 

Farmworker Housing Tax Credits 

Recreational Immunity 

Primary Care Workforce Package 

PERS 

9-1-1 Audio Recording Non-Disclosure (SB 346A) 

Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) 

Solar Installations in Commercial and Residential Zones 

Plastic Bag Ban 

Licensed Security at establishments serving Alcohol 

Tax abatement for low income housing projects developed by non-profits

Bike Signals 

Internal Investigations of Public Safety Officers 

Bar Licensing 

Building Energy Performance Scores 

Bottle Bill

Right to Repair 

Minimal Level of Public Safety in Distressed Counties 

Alcohol and Public Safety 

Forest Park Transfer of Ownership 

Land Use Appeals 

Copier Data

Andrea Meyer of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) supported adoption of the Resolution.  She said at the hearing, "The Resolution is the beginning of the conversation, not the end.  It builds on the 2005 Resolution and provides additional protections."  She asked Council to make the required annual report to the public as transparent and detailed as possible, including data and statistics she listed. She also clarified that we are not joinng the JTTF or deputizing Portland Police officers. 

In my comments at the vote, I said I am proud of Portland, and I am proud of Portlanders, for the open, transparent, thoughtful process we have conducted over five months under the Mayor's leadership. Mayor Adams set out a careful process that gave me much more information on which to make my decision. I learned a lot from all participants.  All my staff in my office, our wonderful intern Vanessa Holguin, and multiple citizens who participated in person, by letters and emails and on the phone, helped inform my decision, as did careful advice from the Human Rights Commission, League of Women Voters, and Copwatch.

I am concerned about civil rights and human rights, and I believe these rights have been and can be violated in these types of investigations.  We need to approach every investigation with the concept of first doing no harm to cityzens who are expressing their rights to free expression and free assembly.  I believe this Resolution makes that clear.

The JTTF is already operating in Portland.  The FBI is already doing investigations in Portland.  I want our Police officers, sworn to uphold the Oregon Constitution, Oregon laws, and this Resolution, to be informed about what the JTTF is doing. 

I especially appreciate the Mayor agreeing to my request that the annual report in January will be a public document, open for public review and comment.  I want to see in it the data and statistics requested by the ACLU in this hearing, in that report.

I particularly thank Andrea Meyer (ACLU) and Dwight Holton (U.S. Attorney) for their work on this historic Resolution, and my colleagues on the Council and the citizens of Portland for shaping it. 

This Resolution is clear that we are not rejoining the JTTF, with a standard MOU.  It’s crafted to be very Portland, and very clear about what our expectations of our officers, our police chief and our Commissioner-in-charge are.  As a package and as an agreement which is pretty historic, I think it moves us forward and it does make us safer  It specifies how Portland Police officers will protect civil liberties in Portland.  In the end, when the ACLU and Brandon Mayfield tell me they are generally OK with the Resolution, even though probably none of us thinks it's perfect, I believe these experts that civil liberties in Portland are safer with this Resolution than without it.

In 2009:

* I personally answered 7,945 constituent emails, one at a time

* I responded to 323 paper mailed letters from Portlanders

* My staff documented resolution of 449 telephone calls to our office

* We answered 201 inquiries submitted via this web site

* We solved problems for 32 citizens who came to our office as walk-ins 

* We collected 563 pairs of socks to help people living outside

* I participated in every one of the 1757 items on the Portland City Council agendas, and took zero sick days

* I attended 294 community events.

In 2010:

* I personally answered 6,904 constituent emails, one at a time

* I responded to 352 paper mailed letters from Portlanders

* My staff documented resolution of 241 telephone calls to our office

* We answered 33 inquiries submitted via this web site

* We solved problems for 19 citizens who came to our office as walk-ins 

* We gathered 1,580 pairs of socks, 47 blankets, and 5 cans of soup, mostly from City employees, and delivered them to organizations supporting people experiencing homelessness

* I participated in 1,632 of the 1,643 items on the Portland City Council agendas.  I missed only one Council meeting, when I was in England for my mother's 80th birthday.

^{* I took 12 weekdays off, took zero sick days, and attended events on 52 weekend and holiday days.}

* I participated in 286 community events.

In my first two years, I have attended events in 85 of Portland's 95 Neighborhood Associations.  I hope to visit the remaining 10 by the end of the year.  With the Bridgeton weeding party on the triangle at N Marine Drive/N Gantenbein this past weekend, I have participated in neighborhood-led hands-on volunteer service projects in 90 neighborhoods.

Web site statistics comparing 2009 and 2010 were previously posted here.

The Mayor and I did our best**, with a stirring rendition of the Backstreet Boys song, "Larger than Life", aided by Lyrics Sticks (TM) -- the black squares looking like oversized popsicles or miniature music stands -- invented by my assistant, Milena.

**When I say we did our best, I mean it was the best we could do with five minutes practice backstage before the event.  We don't get a lot of free time in our day jobs.  We promised to practice at least twice as much if we are invited back next year. 

Leaving the stage after humilating ourselves.  It was a very fun event, raising over $35,000 for Camp Fire programs.  And it turned out infinitely better than my last fundraising stint for the organization.

Sam watching the fundraising count with Kenan Ginsberg, School Based Program Director of Camp Fire Columbia. 

Thanks to Lucas Balzer for all the above photographs, and Kristin Trainor, VP of Development & Communications for helping to set up the event and providing information before and after it.

For more on Camp Fire Boys and Girls programs, see their web site here.

Rachael and Dan explained that these workers can experience substantial savings when purchasing a home, by buying using the Homes for Heroes team of professionals. A dedicated group of Lenders, Real Estate Professionals, Home Inspectors, Movers, Home Warranty and Insurance Providers, together with a vast network of home-related service professionals, have all agreed to drastic reductions in the cost of their services in order to help our local heroes buy homes in the communities they serve.

The Homes for Heroes program is becoming wildly popular across the country, and I am excited it is now available to our Portland heroes. For more information call 503-287-1361 or visit the Portland Homes for Heroes web site.  Many thanks to Rachael and Dan for taking time to come to Council on a Wednesday morning, and to Hunter Harris who helped draft this blog post.

If you'd like to tell Council and the citizens of Portland watching on Portland Community Media's Channel 30 about something great, see here for instructions on how to sign up with the Council Clerk.

 Rosemary Anderson High School scholarship recipients

On Saturday evening 4/2/11, I had the privilege of attending the annual award ceremony and fundraiser for the Roberta Phillip Scholarships, given to graduating seniors of Rosemary Anderson High School.  The event, hosted by Lewis & Clark College School of Law, also celebrated the partnership between the law school and high school with law students volunteering as mentors for the high schoolers.  I met some delightful young people, and many good-hearted older folk encouraging and supporting them. 

I learned about Rosemary Anderson High School after the murder of Billy Moore, who had been Prom King at the school's first prom last year.  This year's prom theme is, "Long Live The King".  Students are doing a project sending photos of Billy all over the world. They remember him fondly and honor his memory, seeking to emulate how he turned his life around.

Roberta Phillip is a graduate of the L&C Law School who now serves as Senior Policy Advisor to Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogan.  She epitomises the virtues of people who weren't born here, but chose to make Portland their home and therafter giving their best efforts to help make it a better place for all.  I thank everyone who contributed to the event, and to the mentoring program this year.

The David Douglas students to the left are Maria Hernandez and Cintia Ponce-Ulloa.  They were really, really good sports - I did far more whining and complaining about the weather and mud than they did.

All photographs by staff from DDHS, who also participated gamely. 

Anne Downing, amazing David Douglas High School teacher of English as a Second Language.  More than 50 immigrant and refugee youth participated in three Friends of Trees plantings this year.  Staff helped kit them out in boots, raincoats, etc., since some had never participated in anything like this in their previous countries.

My boots and shovel, proving I did in fact help with the planting, as well as speaking at the opening rally at Eastminster Church in the Russell neighborhood.

Marcus Mundy, Charlene McGee and me.  If we look cold, it's because it was 22 degrees at this work party for the African Women's Coalition/Urban League's Urban garden at North Beech/Albina in February.  I helped put out the cardboard, then vamoosed (I'd promised my staff I wouldn't stay, since I was getting over pneumonia, but I felt like a wimp).  A dozen hardier volunteers worked all morning putting down lime and compost, and building raised bed containers to prepare a vacant lot for gardening this year.  Those folks are truly dedicated.  I'm hoping for warmer weather for the planting party in April.

Photograph courtesy of Kyle Weismann-Yee, Communications Associate. Advocacy and Civic Engagement Department, Urban League of Portland.

9-1-1 Privacy (SB 346) - A hearing will be held this Thursday, March 24 at 8 a.m. on a bill introduced by Senator Diane Rosenbaum at the request of constituents and the City of Portland, to require permission of the caller (or the caller's parent/guardian) before 9-1-1 audiotapes are released to the media and others making public record requests.  Transcripts would still be available, as would the tapes for specified public purposes.  The intent is to provide more confidentiality for people calling 9-1-1 to ask for help, only to find later their call was broadcast without their knowledge or permission.  I plan to testify at the hearing.

Alcohol and Public Safety (HB 3295) – The Police Bureau joined a bipartisan group of legislators, neighborhood activists and other public safety officials in urging the House Judiciary Committee to advance HB 3295. The legislation provides law enforcement with the ability to do emergency closures of bars for up to 72 hours, includes specific references to serious crimes that should be considered in Liquor licensing decisions, and requires one member of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to have a background in public safety. Currently of the five members, one is required to be an industry representative, the others are undesignated.  The restaurant industry is opposing this legislation.  The bill has not yet been scheduled for a work session.  I talked with members of the Judiciary Committee about it when I visited Salem last Tuesday afternoon.

Alcohol Servers (HB 2361) – This bill would allow the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to apply a reasonable person standard in imposing a sanction for servers who have sold alcohol to an intoxicated person. Currently the standard is having “knowingly,” sold alcohol; meeting this standard required proving a culpable mental state. At a hearing on March 9^th, I sent written testimony in support, and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement's Theresa Marchetti spoke eloquently.  A work session has been scheduled for March 28^th.

Industrial Lands (SB 766) – This bill and potential amendments being discussed by a legislative work group would require that the City “mitigate” for any new development standard that reduces employment potential in specified industrial areas, despite multiple local planning objectives or state or federal planning mandates.  On Thursday, March 10^th the Senate Business, Transportation and Economic Development Committee held a public hearing on the bill.  At the hearing, the City testified in opposition to preemptions that SB 766 would place on the City’s ability to modify or adopt new development standards, including environmental protections, in industrial areas.

Speed Limits (HB  3150) – On a vote of 45-14, the House passed HB 3150, a City of Portland initiative that will allow cities to set a speed limit 5 MPH less than the existing state limit on bike boulevards.  Now in the Senate, the bill has been referred to the Business, Transportation, and Economic Development Committee. 

Enterprise Zone Sunset Extension (HB 3017) – The House Revenue Committee amended and moved to the House floor with a ‘do pass’ recommendation, this bill which extends the Enterprise Zone program through 2025.  The amendment the Committee adopted stripped out an income tax credit provision that supports rural enterprise zones because it will be included in another bill. Removal of the provision prevented the bill from also having to go before the Joint Tax Credit Committee.  I am a big fan of Enterprise Zones.

Plastics Toxin Bisphenol-A (SB 695) – On Tuesday, March 15^th, the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on SB 695, which would ban the chemical bisphenol-A (also known as BPA) from children’s beverage containers and infant formula, as well as require labeling for food products sold in metal cans that are lined with plastic containing BPA. Commissioner Saltzman testified in support of the bill.

Tuition Equity (SB 742) – This highly publicized piece of legislation, which would make Oregon students that are not U.S. citizens, eligible for in-state tuition at Oregon universities, is now on its way to the Senate floor.  At a hearing on Thursday, March 17^th, the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee moved the bill with a ‘do pass’ recommendation.  At a public hearing on March 3^rd, a letter was submitted from Council in support of the bill.  This is an Oregon-only version of the DREAM Act that came close to passing at the federal level last year.

Towing (SB 539) – At a hearing before the Senate Business Transportation and Economic Development Committee the City offered opposition to a provision of this bill that would limit the retrieval of items for an individuals car to those of an “emergency nature” rather than all of their belongings, should the individual be unable to pay all of the costs associated with towing and storage. This provision would cause undue harm to individuals that are homeless and living out of their vehicles. In their testimony the Oregon Tow Truck Association pledged to amend this bill to address concerns that the City raised.

Fireworks (SB 69) – The City Fire Marshall joined other fire marshals in testifying in support of this bill aimed at reducing injuries form fireworks.  Specifically, this bill would bring the regulation of fireworks under the office of the State Fire Marshall and require licensing of fireworks dealers.  The bill is scheduled for a work session on March 22^nd. 

Satellite Urban Renewal Areas (SB 217) – On Tuesday, March 14^th, the Senate Business, Transportation and Economic Development Committee held a public hearing on this bill which would allow the City to allocate urban renewal funds for building schools outside of urban renewal areas. Senator Rod Monroe and Representatives Jefferson Smith and Mike Schaufler testified in support of this bill.  Additionally, a letter in support was submitted by Mayor Adams and Commissioner Leonard. An amendment to limit the bill to allowing urban renewal funds to be used to build a school in the David Douglas School District was presented. The legislation was opposed by a broad group of stakeholders including the Association of Oregon Counties, the Special Districts Association of Oregon and the Association of Oregon Urban Renewal Agencies.

If you care about any of these issues, or others, please contact your State Senator and Representative.  Messages from constituents are particularly meaningful.  Find out who your legislators are, here. 

Nadia Martinez, a senior at Marshall High School pictured here with my son Luke who teaches and tutors with Open Meadow's Step Up program there, was named this week as Marshall High School's last ever Portland Rose Festival Princess.  Read Matt Buxton's article in the Oregonian here.

Luke calls Nadia "one of my wonderful seniors" at the Renaissance Arts Academy small school at Marshall.  In addition to being a great student academically, Nadia is captain of the varsity soccer that went to the state playoffs.  She is also on the cheer team -- as is our office summer intern in 2010, Serena Montehermoso.   Competitive cheer routines require intensive discipine and amazing athleticism.  When Luke played football and my younger son Maxwell played basketball at Wilson, I enjoyed watching the cheer squad as much as the games on the field/court. 

Nadia volunteers at Marshall Campus SUN Center activities and at Red Cross blood drives, and helps students at Lent K-8 School learn to read. I wish her all the best as she represents Marshall proudly on the Rose Festival Court at all Portland Rose Festival activities.

• NE 37th and NE Fremont
• SE Yamhill and SE 32^nd
• SE 65th and SE Reedway
• N Greeley & Holman (Rosa Parks)
• SE 70th and Flavel  

According to information from PGE, Clearwire has withdrawn its application for SE 39th and SE Knapp (& SE Ogden). An application for this site was not filed with the City. Other potential sites, for which applications have not been filed with the City, may also be on hold, but the City does not have written confirmation of those sites.

In the meantime, Clearwire has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to maintain and enhance their 4G wireless service in the Portland area through existing, active Clearwire sites but does not yet have a definite timeline for its additional build out at locations not yet applied for or built in the Portland area. At this point, Clearwire has not yet announced any definite timeline for moving forward on existing permitted but unbuilt locations and has elected instead to withdraw its permit requests (which have a limited duration).

The Office of Cable Communications and Franchise Management will be happy to keep interested citizens informed as additional information is developed.  Email Jennifer Li to ask to receive news as it becomes available.

In other news:

It was an honor to serve as the Commissioner in Charge of the Office of Cable Communications and Franchise Management for the first two years, two months and two days of my term in City Hall.  The nine people in the Office bring in over $71 million in cable and franchise payments for use of the public rights-of-way.  This money is the second greatest contributor to the General Fund, after property taxes, and is used to pay for services like police, firefighting, parks, and community involvement.  The "Cable Office" also staffs the Mount Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, and works with our treasured partner, Portland Community Media.  I learned a lot from staff and citizens engaged in these endeavors, and it was a pleasure leading the bureau.

One of the issues we worked through with staff, industry representatives, and citizens over the two years was defining and refining the administrative process for review of permit applications for wireless facilities.  An overview is here.  Recently, we heard from one of the most active applicants, Clearwire, that they have withdrawn some of their requests due to changing business plans, as noted above.  Clearwire also agreed to work with the City to attend to many issues of concern raised by neighbors, such as noise and visual impacts, and an improved process for community siting discussions.  And Senator Merkley's office is moving forward on implementing the Council's request for more study of potential health impacts of wireless facilities.  I am happy to report these points of significant progress on contentious issues connected with wireless facilities, as I hand off the Cable office to my friend and colleague, Commissioner Saltzman.

Debbie Aiona wrote on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Portland today:

"Some discussion has focused on why Portland has engaged in repeated public debate of the city’s participation in the JTTF.  In our view, it is due to the fact that the Portland City Council is responsible for both legislative and administrative functions and city contracts appear on the weekly council agendas.  This provides a level of transparency not available in other communities.  FBI General Counsel Valerie Caproni said she was hoping for sunshine when she came to Portland.  We can’t always count on sunny days here, but as a community we do value the sunshine that comes from a city government and police force that is open and accountable."

I hope it doesn't snow on Thursday.  If it does, watch Cable Channel 30 or streaming video on line, if you can't make it to City Hall, so you can follow the debate and decisions.  Send Council your personal messages by email or phone tomorrow, Wednesday, to give us time to consider your thoughtful advice before the public hearing on Thursday, February 24 at 2 p.m March 10 (updated 2/24: rescheduled to give more time for consideration of options)  Please note that it's most helpful to give your own thoughts in your own words, even if it's just a single sentence with a reason for your request, rather than forwarding a prepared message from an organization, or simply urging me to vote Yes or No.

Some might say that making public policy is like making sausages - sometimes it might be preferable not to know what goes into the final product.  And certainly, there can be some drawbacks to the Commission form of government, dependent on who is elected and how each Commissioner chooses to conduct the public's business.  I believe this review process in 2011, involving everyday citizens and national experts and everyone in between, in discussing the Joint Terrorism Task Force, has showcased the merits of the Commission form of government.  It has brought us closer together as a community.  Council members and citizens alike have listened to different viewpoints, and come to understand more about what others value and fear. 

I am grateful to Mayor Adams and all participants for engaging in this debate.  Regardless of the final outcome, I believe the discussion itself has made Portland safer.

Short biographies of the twenty members of the Commission are here.  A summary of why a Charter Commission is being convened so soon after the previous Charter Review process is posted here.

I was particularly impressed with awards given to police officers who were attacked with a meat cleaver which struck between the officer's belt and body, yet the assailant was taken into custody without use of force.  And the incident where a citizen had murdered his partner with a butcher knife and came at the officers with the same bloody weapon, yet they used a tazer instead of guns in the face of grave personal danger, to bring successful closure in that traumatic situation.  And the story of a civilian and two officers who held on to a woman dangling from a 17 story building, saving her from committing suicide.  I figure over the course of my 22 years working in inpatient psychiatry at OHSU, I probably met 10,000 people whose lives had been saved by Portland Police preventing them from damaging themselves or others.  We don't hear about those folks, when we see the headlines about the few mentally ill people whose stories end in tragedy for both the sufferer and the police officers involved.

Less dramatic than the life-saver reports, perhaps, but reaching more people with longer lasting effects, the awards honored the service of the GirlStrength program, which I hear is proposed to be funded as part of the ongoing Police Bureau budget.  This program teaches girls in Middle Schools and High Schools how to avoid and protect themselves in situations where they are in physical danger.  Like the WomenStrength program, it's awesome.  If you're female and live in Portland, you will benefit from taking the WomenStrength program of three 3-hour classes.   My daughter and I took them together, and we both found the course highly worthwhile.  The classes are not free - they are taxpayer funded, so no additional cost to the participants.  And well worth the investment of taxpayer dollars for the basic service of safety preparedness for women in Portland.

I am very glad the Police Bureau recognizes its heroes, both men and women.  By the way, do you know that in Greek mythology, Hero was a woman?  How come the guys stole our word and made the women be "heroines"?

"My team's goal for this web site is that it will become one of your favorite places for finding out information quickly, and for giving feedback on projects and issues you care about..... I believe the people of Portland, when given accurate, inclusive information that isn't full of acronyms and insider-speak, make good choices about what's worth spending time and money on, and what isn't. As a community organizer, I experienced problems with finding that accurate, clear data. It shouldn't be so hard for citizens to find out what is going on in City government. I promised during my campaign for City Commissioner to work to make it easier, and this site is part of the process of honoring that commitment."

Based on the site statistics counted for 2010 compared with 2009, my staff and I seem to be achieving at least part of those goals.  The following numbers are those recorded for external users, i.e. computers outside the City of Portland network.

                                     2009                      2010

Total page views            271,461                   854,439

Front page visits              41,472                    54,642

Calendar page visits       115,142                   550,285

Blog pages viewed           58,567                   121,063

While some of the increased traffic may be from having more content posted, so search engines have more scope to find the target information, it looks like more Portlanders are using the site to find information this year than last. 

A greatly enhanced feature in 2010 is the Coming Down The Pike tab, thanks to my assistant Cary Turkon who searches City web pages and announcements daily for opportunities for public engagement that we believe may be especially meaningful and interesting for Portlanders.  That page earned 53,427 views in 2010. 

The full breakdown of which tabs gathered views in 2010: 

The single most popular post so far is Lower Cost Comcast Options, with 7,297 viewings.  Next most read was my July 2009 monthly calendar, for unknown reasons, with 5,503 views.  Thanks to Cary, Amanda Mansfield in 2009, and since March of 2010 to Milena Hermansky for keeping my schedule easily available to anyone interested.

Some issues that have been popular in my email inbox didn't necessarily see a corresponding level of interest in information posted on my blog. For example, $20 million "for bike projects from sewer rates" ? explaining my research and reasoning on perhaps the most controversial issue of 2010, attracted only 1,714 readers.  One of our team's most satisfying accomplishments of 2010, the amendments discussed in What to do with West Hayden Island, drew 1,055.  On the "What Happened" page, Process for review of Cellular facilities in neighborhoods was the most read with 992 views.

My staff and I will keep working to provide you with accurate, timely information, as we head into the second half of my term.  One of my goals for 2011 is to find ways to allow the City Council's weekly meeting Agenda to be posted earlier than Friday afternoon, so both citizens and my team and I have more time to review and comment on the items on the Agenda.  Another goal is to estabish better feedback mechanisms after City Council meetings, so citizens can more easily find out what happened on each agenda item and what the gist of the discussion was, without having to view the video of the entire Council session.  Even more than before I was elected, I firmly believe that Portlanders - including the five members of the City Council, and the elected City Auditor - make good choices when given accurate, inclusive information with adequate time to research and consider options before making decisions.  My staff and I will continue to use this site to help in that process.  Please keep visiting.

Special thanks to Matt Stuart of Sock It To Me sock company who helped with the collection process in multiple locations.  Sock It To Me also contributed two cases of socks.  Founder Carrie Atkinson's business is featured in a video on Mayor Adams's site here.  David Shaff, Director of the Portland Water Bureau, also donated multiple pairs of warm socks to help clients of Transition Projects and Dinner & A Movie this winter. 

Many thanks to all who gave, to Sara Hussein on my staff for leading the project, and to Mary Ann Schwab of the Sunnyside neighborhood for suggesting the concept last year.

For more information, see here.

Thanks to Andrea Cano, Vice Chair of the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs, for passing along this request and opportunity.

However, 

• the voters chose not to change the form of government
• the recession hit, with more than 10% of Oregonians out of work and many families struggling to keep food on the table and roofs over heads
• City bureaus have been required to make significant cuts in staffing and services to citizens
• the Portland Plan is in progress, with citywide, broad outreach to discuss who we are and what we want Portland to be in 2035 -- a process expected to take at least one more year before final review and adoption of the Plan by Council 
• the last Charter Review process cost $600,000 

For all these reasons, the Council is planning for a two part Charter Review process.  We will appoint one Charter Commission by Resolution on December 15, to start work in January 2011 as required by the Charter.  We have asked appointees to limit the scope and timeframe to three topics (see below) and six months.  Then, we commit to appointing a second Charter Commission soon after conclusion of the Portland Plan, to look at wider policy changes that might be forwarded to voters.  Participation on the first Charter Commission will neither advance or detract from a citizen's opportunity to be appointed to the second one.

More information on the 2011 Charter Commission, in a Question and Answer format, is here.  The Resolution to be voted on this coming Wednesday, December 15, is here.  The list of appointees to the Commission is here.

The 2011 Charter Commission is being asked by the Council to address three issues as its priorities:

1) Define a list of minor housekeeping amendments, to put on the ballot in May or November of 2011.

2)  Develop a list of issues with policy implications, to be discussed by the second Charter Commission formed after the conclusion of the Portland Plan.

3)  Provide advice to the Council on how to encourage participation and applications to be appointed for the second Charter Commission.

Note, once the members have been appointed, the Commission gets to decide its own rules of procedure and scope of work.  I explained the proposed two part process to each nominee, and I hope the Charter Commission members will choose to follow the Council's requested directions.  In January, the Commission will hold its first meeting (all meetings will be public, of course) and a web site will be established to share information to and from other Portlanders as the process moves forward.

Some have commented that it is more than a little incongruent for someone who is a policy geek, Charter language wonk, and passionate supporter of broad, inclusive community engagement to coordinate the appointment a Charter Commission without requesting applications to serve, while also limiting participation to those already known to the Council, and requesting a short, constrained process in 2011.  I agree, it's not the way I usually like to see Portlanders engaged a public process.  

So let me be very clear: The Council is requesting a two-part Charter process.  This first Commission is being asked to provide a quick, pragmatic win to voters, offering amendments that will be non-controversial and allow Portlanders to continue to focus on surviving the recession.  The Portland Plan process will continue, and focus the limited resources of citizen and staff capacity, funding and time, to define what Portland is now and what we want it to be in 2035. 

Then the second Charter Commission will conduct the necessary broad-based public process that will provide the vehicle to define and offer significant policy amendments to voters. 

I believe support of two Charter Commissions, with the Portland Plan linking the two, gives Portland citizens more opportunity to effect changes in the Charter.

* Update added 12/17/10:  A kind Portlander who served on the last Charter Commission informs me that another reason for requiring a Charter Commission in 2011, was that previous Charter Commissions were limited to the charges and scope requested by Council.  The last Commission wanted a robust discussion of whatever Portlanders might want to discuss, in 2011.  My reasoning that the recession and the ongoing Portland Plan would make that broad discussion more meaningful, deep, and diverse after the conclusion of the Portland Plan still stands.

This event will showcase short videos and media work created by people experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty in Portland.  It is presented in partnership with the Multnomah County Cultural Coalition (A Program of Oregon Cultural Trust), Portland Community Media, Neighbors West Northwest, and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement.

A selection of work to be shown was created as part of Portland Community Media's SmartAccess media education and access program. Participants created short digital stories and documentaries as part of the Empowered Voices Media Project.    

Event information:

What: Street Stories Film Festival

When: December 11th, 12-2 PM

Where: Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st Ave, www.cinema21.com

Admission: FREE!

This information provided by Portland Community Media, a partner of the Office of Cable Communications and Franchise Management, and forwarded by Brian Hoop of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement.  A Neighborhood Small Grant awarded by Neighbors WestNorthWest helped fun the project.

The deadline has been extended to MONDAY, DECEMBER 13 at 5 p.m. to apply for the Oregon Historical Society independent citizen oversight committee. Interested applicants have another week to submit application materials to the Office of Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen. Materials submitted must include a resume and explanation of qualifications.

All candidates should embody the following attributes:

• Commitment to process related to accountability of levy funds
• Experience and/or sufficient understanding of budgeting processes

Measure 26-118 creates a five-year local option levy of $.05 per $1,000 assessed property value to benefit the Oregon Historical Society, which preserves and displays Oregon's collection of historical documents, photos, and other artifacts. Multnomah County voters passed this measure in the recent general election. This measure also requires Chair Cogen to assemble an independent body that will review all expenditures related to the levy and make sure the funds are used for their intended purpose. The committee will represent the diversity within Multnomah County's various communities and will meet twice each year to review the Oregon Historical Society's allocation of funds.

Please submit materials by 5 p.m. on December 13 to:
Office of Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen
Attention: Emerald Bogue
Address: 501 SE Hawthorne, Ste. 600, Portland, OR 97214
Email here.

Information forwarded by the Local Public Safety Coordinating Committee:

 

The National Prisoner's Family Conference is heading to Portland February 23-25, 2011.

FACTS

Brief bios of all the Spirit of Portland Award winners are here.  More than 150 people attended the awards ceremony, hosted by all members of the City Council and held at the Lloyd Center DoubleTree Hotel on November 8.

A sweet video clip of coverage by KGW of Youth winner Rebbecca Kirk is here.

The 2010 Spirit of Portland Awards marked the inauguration of a new category, the Sandra Diedrich Award for Environmental Stewardship.  Sandy was a beloved community leader and Portland Parks employee who founded the No-Ivy League in Forest Park.  The committee selected Ed Kerns of Lents to be the first winner of the award.

The last award of the evening was given to Clarence Harper, who was re-awarded his 2008 Spirit of Portland Award after it was destroyed.  See the story in The Skanner here (pdf). The Royal Rosarians also re-awarded Mr. Harper his honor from their organization.  It was an exceptionally moving part of the Spirit of Portland Awards ceremony.  Special thanks to Office of Neighborhood Involvement staff Dennis LoGiudice and Lisa Leddy for initiating and coordinating the replacement of Mr. Harper's awards.

One of my favorite memories of the Awards ceremony in November was captured by David Ashton of EastPDXnews.com - showing my mother, Pamela Jones, visiting from England:

My mum doesn't live here, but she volunteered answering the phone in my office for the two weeks she was visiting.  A person doesn't have to be born here, to have the Spirit of Portland.

Starting November 30, Portland Community Media is offering a Digital Storytelling workshop that will teach the basics of Final Cut Pro and Photoshop, while you work individually on a project about your neighbors, your street, your nieghborhood. See full workshop details below.

Digital Storytelling: Portraying A Neighborhood

Mainstream media’s emphasis on passive entertainment has some cultural critics, educators and media makers questioning if society is losing the art of telling stories. In this six-session training, participants will learn to use photos, video clips, voiceover and music working in Final Cut Pro and Photoshop to tell a story about your neighbors, your street, your neighborhood.

Workshop dates: November 30, December 2, 7, 9, 14 and 16, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30PM to 9:30PM

Trainer: Brenda Grell was born and raised in Los Angeles and received a BA in Art Practice and Women's Studies from UC Berkeley. In 2006, she obtained an MFA in Digital+Media from the Rhode Island School of Design. Her videos have been shown at the LA Freewaves, Pacific FIlm Archive, Artist's Television Access, and the RISD Museum of Art.

Register now online at www.pcmtv.org, or by visiting Portland Community Media during public hours of operation. This information is from Portland Community Media.

Please use the contact information above for questions and comments on the specifics of the program.  Comments for general discussion are welcome here. 

On Monday, November 8, 2010, students from Reynolds High School will have the opportunity to hear from five veterans, each of whom were involved in historical events. Students will hear presentations in the Auditorium and in individual classrooms from second through sixth periods.

The guest list includes:

Alex Jefferson, Tuskegee Airman serving in World War II. Marine. The Tuskegee Airman were Army Air Corps flyers from World War II. The unit was the first African American military aviators in the US Armed Forces. At the time the military was racially segregated. the Tuskegee Airman were subject to racial discrimination within and outside of the military. In 2007, members from the unit or their surviving family members received the Congressional Gold Medal.

Leo Champagne, the last surviving veteran who raised the original flag at Iwo Jima during WWII. A 42-person Marine platoon assaulted Mount Suribachi. Leo's commanding officer ordered him to carry the American Flag in his pack and to raise it when the location was secured. He dug up a flag pole with a Japanese Flag on it and attached the American Flag. He and 3 other Marines raised it. A commanding officer later ordered a larger flag to be raised. The raising of the second, larger flag went on to become a very famous photograph. Of the 42-person Marine unit, only 11 survived to leave the island.

Eight members from the Blackfeet Veterans, some of whom served in the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Iraq & Afghanistan, will attend. They wear Blackfeet war bonnets and uniforms and are the most requested color guard in the US. They presented the colors at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in Washington DC on Memorial Day.

Robert Delsi, a Marine from the Apache tribe who served in Vietnam. Robert received a Purple Heart for injuries he received during an ambush attack.

Jose Hernandez,Vietnam Veteran, Dropped out of 3rd grade and worked the agricultural fields until joining the Navy. He went back to school earning GED and the his degree in college. Mr. Hernandez will speak in Spanish.

Reynolds High School is pleased to welcome and honor these Veterans as part of the history, social studies and cultural awareness offerings. The community is welcome to attend the sessions offered in the auditorium.

Visitors and media representatives should check in at the Main Office 30 minutes prior to scheduled start to receive proper identification.

Schedule for Presentations:

Check in 8:35-8:50am for Alex Jefferson, Tuskegee Airman: 9:05 to 10am.

Check in 9:30-9:45am for Leo Champagne, Iwa Jima: 10:00 to11am.

Check in 11:55-12:05am for Jose Hernandez, Vietnam: 12:20 to 1:15pm

Check in 12:50-1:05pm for Blackfeet Veterans Honor Guard & Robert Delsi:

1:20pm to 2:10 pm

Hope to see you there. Please share with any Veterans you know.

• Never  (2010) 63%,  (2009) 63%
• Once or twice  (2010) 26%, (2009)  26%
• 3 to 5 times (2010) 7%, (2009)  6%
• 6 to 10 times (2010) 2%, (2009) 2%
• More than 10 times (2010) 3%, (2009) 2%

Question 26:  Opportunities to influence government decisions

Decline in the Very Good and Good categories, improvement in neutral

• Very good (2010) 4%, (2009)  5%
• Good (2010) 24%, (2009)  27%
• Neutral  (2010) 42%, (2009)  39%
• Bad (2010) 17%, (2009)  17%
• Very bad (2010) 13%, (2009)  13%

I appreciate knowing the objective data.  I'm glad to know more citizens are involved, and sad to hear many don't feel there are adequate opportunities to influence City government decisions. I will keep working to improve on both measures.

Dear Beaumont Portland (AF) Families,
 
As you are aware schools have become more creative in ways to support the needs of high achievement for students. Our library has been in dire need of new books, technology and media instruction. Through our new 8th grade elective, Media Literacy; the students have written a script, produced a video and submitted their product to a contest. The contest is through Bing Corporation called "Our School Needs Contest". We received the news this morning that out of 700 entries across the country, the Beaumont video has made the finals. We are the only school in Oregon. We are one of only 15 finalists. The entire student body is really excited about this. The final winner will be based on votes only. Below are the directions on voting.  Thank you in advance for supporting the students of Beaumont.
 
Beaumont Middle School has made it into the FINAL ROUND for the Bing "Our School Needs" $100,000 grant. In order to win we need to collect the most online votes. You can find the 3 simple steps to vote for our school at this website.

 
You can vote once a day starting today until November 5th. Please vote for our school and tell your friends and family to vote as well.
 
Elizabeth Casson-Taylor
Beaumont Middle School
Principal
503 916-5610

The Amanda Awards for this past week's events:

*  Most inspirational speaker (tie)

- State Rep Val Hoyle (D- Springfield) at NARAL ProChoice Oregon at the Hilton;

- Former state legislator Norma Paulus at New Leadership Oregon at the Portland Art Museum;

- Clackamas County Commissioner Ann Linneger at Emerge Oregon at the Hilton;

- Andrew Colas at the Minority Enterprise Development/Business Development Institute Awards held at the Convention Center

I heard many other wonderful speakers.  It's hard to get up in front of a crowd and speak from the heart.  I appreciate everyone who does.

*  Most Creative Award Trophies (tie) - New Leadership's Shattered Glass Ceiling, and Portland Campfire USA's Exploregon team leaders, which included a gold-painted boom-box, and a Care Bear holding a talking turtle.

*  Best Motivational Entertainment - Michael Allen Harrison and young piano students' trio at The Salvation Army's "All About Kids" event at the Oregon Zoo

*  Most fun in being a participant rather than an audience member - Acting as a Soup Judge at the SE Works event at the Melody Ballroom, which involved tasting fifteen original-recipe soups, with fellow judges Kerry Debuse of Genoa Restaurant fame, and Genevieve Boutelle-Martin of Dave's Killer Breads.  Fun and delicious!

*  Most urgent of all the urgent needs - Assistance for children living outside, supported by Dinner & A Movie, whose event was held at Sunset Presbyterian Church off Highway 26.

*  Best video illustrating the work (tie) - REACH Community Development, The Salvation Army "All about Kids", and Dinner & A Movie.

*  Best faith-based event (tie) - The Salvation Army, Portland Adventist Community Services, and Dinner & A Movie

And for the food - the old line about rubber chicken at events isn't true in Portland.  There are many establishments that do delicious catering with fine service - thank you to all the cooks and servers.  Besides, after 20+ years of cooking dinners for my family, any meal cooked by someone else is a treat to me.

*  Best Chicken - PSU's New Leadership Oregon, at the Portland Art Museum

*  Best Salmon - Oregon Native American Chamber at Columbia Edgewater Country Club (I know, I've never been there before, either)

*  Best Vegetarian - Portland Adventist Community Services at the Embassy Suites Airport

*  Best Buffet (tie) - Emerge Oregon at the Hilton, and Campfire USA's taco bar at, and donated by, NW Natural

*  Best Sandwich - REACH Community Development at the Governor Hotel

In case you're wondering, note that I pay for my tickets to fundraiser events with my personal money.   I hope you will consider donating to causes you believe in, too.  Even a little helps, if everyone pitches in.  Please check out the links above.  Not all the organizations announced their fundraising totals at the events, but those that did showed how generous Portlanders can be - even in tough times.  The Salvation Army event raised $200,000, and Portland Adventist Community Services raised $100,026.  As the MC said, special thanks to the person who gave the $26 to put them over their goal.

I go to these events and others like them to donate, to honor the work of staff and volunteers in the organizations, and to let participants know that this Portland City Commissioner values what they do.  I return home, every time, with profound gratitude for all the wonderful people who work so hard to make things better in Portland, and feeling like I received more than I gave.

I note with awe that single tickets to the event celebrating the awards run $1,000 and up. The most expensive ticket I've purchased to a fundraiser dinner in Portland is $250, and most run $150 or less.  Yet another reason I'm glad I live in Portland.  Nonprofit workers and government staff here work hard to stretch every dollar and volunteer hour donated. 

One of the functions of the committee is to review data from police reports documented in connection with enforcing the Sidewalk Obstructions ordinance.  In the three month period, June through August 2010, 55 verbal warnings, 7 written warnings, and 8 citations were issued in relation to the Sidewalk Obstructions ordinance. Of the 8 citations issued, 5 were to the same individual and 2 were to another individual. There were 8 unrelated arrests made for warrants (6), drug possession (1) and failure to obey a peace officer (1). The warnings/citations were issued by the same few officers, which is expected and desired as these are the officers regularly working downtown who have received detailed training on sidewalk management. 47% of the individuals that received warnings/citations were in the 18-30 age group. 81% of individuals receiving warnings/citations were male.

More details and analysis of the data posted here.  At the September meeting, it was decided to ask police officers to track the weather at the time of the incident more closely.

Data from September will be reviewed at our next meeting on Monday, along with input from the Human Rights Commission whose members are also monitoring the data.  Please join us if you are interested and able. 

Thank you to all who sent in comments and/or testified at the hearing.  In response to testimony while respecting the data collected showing types of beverages most often consumed outside, Council amended the restriction on sales of bottled wines to apply only to fortified wines, excluding named types of dessert wines such as port and sherry.  Boxed wines would still be restricted under the adopted proposal. 

The petition now heads for consideration by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, given sole jurisdiction to approve or deny it under Oregon law.  The OLCC will hold at least one public hearing, which I will publicize on this site.  I appreciate the unanimous support of my colleagues in moving this petition forward, and the excellent collaborative work between the Office of Neighborhood Involvement and Portland Police Bureau, coordinated by Liquor Program Specialist Theresa Marchetti.  Sara Hussein and Tom Bizeau in my office also contributed significantly to the project.

Thanks to Kristen Hagstrom, staffer at Southeast Uplift, for the information and obtaining permission to post the link.

The area downtown proposed for the AIA has 1% of the land area in Portland but 58% of the reports of street drinking and calls for service for police/medical services related to intoxication.  Note, drinking alcohol outside in unregulated areas (i.e., not in sidewalk restaurants or in permitted street-closure areas) is illegal, public intoxication is not - unless it progresses to disorderly conduct or other such behaviors.  Our laws in this regard regulate the actions, rather than the state of being.

My intent in proposing to ask OLCC to enact an Alcohol Impact Area is to reduce the public safety impacts of street drinking in downtown Portland.  Fewer calls for police service for intoxication would mean more time for police to attend to other problems, and result in fewer interactions between public safety staff and citizens that could end in undesired outcomes.  Further, alcohol use and addiction is not helpful in solving the real problems of people living outside, and can impair both their own and service providers' ability to address the root causes. 

Reducing the availabilty of specific types of alcohol within a defined boundary, based on the data, has been found to significantly reduce the public health and safety problems associated with street drinking.  There are several successful Alcohol Impact Areas in Washington.  Experience in Washington has informed our proposal.  For example, there the AIAs were found to have minimal effect on surrounding neighborhoods not in the AIA.  If displacement happens here, we will address problems as they arise - with lower concentration of stores selling the targeted products in other areas, it's easier to solve issues with voluntary approaches working with individual retailers.  We tried a voluntary approach for downtown, but too few outlets participated to make the program work.

The Office of Neighborhood Involvement's data and background information is on their web site here.  A summary (Word document with map) with responses to Frequently Asked Questions, which I sent to my colleagues on the Council this weekend, is here.

Please send comments to all members of Council - our email addresses are here.  Note, the Council's action on Wednesday will be to decide whether to ask OLCC for an Alcohol Impact Area. OLCC makes the final decision, not Council, and changes to the proposal can be made at the hearings before OLCC.  Thank you for participating in the public review and discussion regarding this issue.

Update 9/17/10: The Council voted 4-0, with Commissioner Saltzman on  vacation, to move the petition to OLCC.  In response to testimony at the hearing which was supported by the data collected, we removed the restriction on bottled wine over 14% alcohol content, except for fortified wines excluding named types of dessert wines such as port, sherry, madeira, etc.

The latest advance is the availability of an "Opt Out" choice.  Sign up here.

More work continues on this issue.  Updates will be publicized here and in The Curbsider newsletter delivered to households via the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability's Solid Waste and Recycling program.

 Taken on NE 3rd, 9/12/10

Think this is a minor problem? Think again.  The Portland Business Alliance funds and supervises crews to pick up trash, including cigarette butts, from the Clean and Safe district downtown.  From their July report:

Westside Community Court Work Crew statistics for July: The cigarette butt count continues! A relief crew leader got a competitive urge and picked up over 7,200 cigarette butts on July 20. A health benefit of this project is that several former crewmembers report they have quit smoking. A monthly total of over 35,000 cigarette butts were removed from the District.

Over seven thousand butts in one day. More than 35,000 in a month.  Please, smokers, take your butts to a disposal recepticle either in the street or back inside.

Sara pays attention to details - her computer screen shows the National Women's Health web site

In February 2010, City Council accepted a grant award in the amount of $2,500 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health in support of community health education activities during the 11th annual National Women’s Health Week. In addition to the federal funding, in kind donations, including volunteer time and materials, worth about $6,500 were donated to our office to provide free health care classes in the community to low income women and women living outside.  The only cost to taxpayers was allocating Sara's time devoted to the project, and a small amount from my office budget to print and laminate cards informing women where to find free health care resources.

The project held two different types of workshops.  One was a women’s health education workshop, called "Healthy Habits for Healthy Women", designed for women living outside, taught them about health care issues specific to women.  Two of these workshops were held at shelters, the other at an outside church gathering for people living outside.  The second type of workshop, called "Eating Healthfully on a Budget", was a nutrition education workshop for women in transitional housing living at the Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter, and held at the Oregon Food Bank.  The women learned how to purchase and cook healthy meals on a tight budget. 

In order to accomplish this project, our office partnered with several Portland-area organizations:

• Dinner and a Movie Youth Program
• HomePDX
• Multnomah County Public Health Department’s Community Capacitation Center
• Oregon Adult Immunization Coalition
• Oregon Food Bank
• Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
• Rose Haven Women’s Shelter
• Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter (SAFES)

Over 125 women attended these workshops! Our office received a lot of positive feedback from participants, including being able to walk away knowing more about steps they can take to protect themselves and their health. Several of our partner organizations told us they plan to continue offering similar workshops to their clients, and to involve women living outside in more group discussions about health and safety.

The final report was presented to Portland City Council on Wednesday, June 16th. A copy of the final report can be found here (pdf file - sorry, I try to avoid posting pdf files, but this one has some interesting bar charts).  Well done, Sara!

 Thanks to Kristen Hagstrom, Deputy Director, SE Uplift, for the following information.

Southeast Uplift has announced the projects to receive $8,486 in grant funds allocated by the City of Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement through the 2010-2011 Graffiti Abatement Community Grant Program. In an attempt to get funds out to the community as soon as possible during favorable weather, SE Uplift was the first coalition to announce the grants.  Neighborhood Associations, businesses and community-based organizations were eligible to apply for community-driven improvement projects with an emphasis on graffiti prevention, graffiti abatement and/or addressing locations chronically tagged with graffiti. Ten grant proposals were received by SE Uplift, requesting a total of  $16,345.  SE Uplift's Board of Directors approved the selection committee's recommendations to fund seven outstanding projects.  Four of the projects will support the creation of new community murals with protective coatings to ensure sustainability and prevent future graffiti tagging.  The three remaining projects will support community-based graffiti cleanups.

The funded projects are:  

Montavilla Neighborhood Association, Montavilla Graffiti Cleanup Partnership.  

Amount funded: $1500.  For more information, contact Fritz Hirsch at 503-568-7804.

Our Happy Block Coalition, Our Happy Block Mural.  

Amount funded: $2250.  For more information, contact Terah Beth Vargas.  

Two Rivers Aikikai, Murals at SE 30^th & Belmont.  

Amount funded: $1000.  For more information, contact Spiros Koyanis at 503-449-6859.  

Brooklyn Action Corps, Brooklyn Pedestrian Bridge Mural, Landscaping Facelift and Graffiti Cleanup Kit Project.  

Amount fund $2046.  For more information  contact Mike O'Connor at 503-233-8565.

Creston-Kenilworth Neighborhood Association, Creston-Kenilworth Graffiti Cleanup.  

Amount funded: $345.  For more information, contact James McConnell at 503-336-4575.  

 Funding will be used to purchase graffiti removal supplies for quarterly volunteer cleanups.  Neighborhood volunteers will focus efforts on chronically tagged  locations along SE Gladstone, SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, Holgate Blvd and Powell Blvd.  The grant funds will help to improve the livability of the neighborhood and  support community building activities.

Congratulations to all the funded partnerships.  Thank you to everyone who applied and those who reviewed the applications.  Contact the volunteers listed to see how you can be involved in the projects.

Our Office Mission:

As public servants and advocates, we provide effective leadership by using resources wisely, promoting cityzen* engagement, listening to and analyzing input, and sharing information and access.

* "cityzen" denotes a person who lives, works, pays, plays, or prays in Portland, regardless of whether they are a Citizen of the United States of America eligible to vote in Portland.

My role:

As an elected official, the Commissioner makes decisions based on facts and broad public input, seeking the long term public good for the whole city, with shared benefits and responsibilities for all Portlanders present and future.

At the end of the day, in my opinion there was not enough evidence to mandate that marine industrial development on West Hayden Island should definitely be allowed, and not enough evidence to require permanent protection of the entire area for regional environmental preservation needs. 

There were many passionate, well-informed people advocating for each position, but in my opinion neither side sealed the case for why their recommendation MUST be followed.  So I supported the Resolution ordering further study within clearly defined parameters and evaluation criteria.  This study will be paid for by the Port of Portland, which according to Executive Director Bill Wyatt receives 97% of its funding from the businesses using its services, and only 3% of operating funds from property taxes paid in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington Counties.

The amendments my staff and I prepared before the hearing, based on citizen comments and staff analysis, are here.  The amendments require: 

• 300 acres is the maximum allowed for any development, including all existing utility corridors; 
• Increased assessment of potential redevelopment on existing marine industrial sites before allowing new development on West Hayden Island;
• More analysis of Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Federal Emergency Management Administration floodplain requirements, and other regulations protecting endangered species and floodplains;
• The development cannot affect shallow water habitat;
• Impacts on East Hayden Island residents must be more fully calculated and considered in analysis of whether to move forward, including air quality and noise as well as potential traffic problems
• The analysis regarding whether the site is feasible for industrial marine development must include a cost-benefit analysis to the public.  This will include evaluation of whether the increased cost of redeveloping on existing industrial marine brownfields might better meet the City's sustainability goals and be worth the additional investment of public money.  So in addition to considering whether site development is economically feasible and environmentally permissible, the process must consider the benefits and costs to the citizens of Portland.

The Council passed this Substitute Resolution, plus amendments by Commissioners Fish and Saltzman.  Commissioner Fish added an item to the Now Be It Resolved section, to add:

k) The proposal should include analysis of options for restoration and long-term care of the proposed natuaral areas, including models for financing both. This analysis should include, but is not limited to, ownership of the natural area, remediation and mitigation opportunities, and the creation of an endowment for operations and maintenance of the land.

Commissioner Saltzman amended the Resolution in response to citizen testimony, to clarify that the Council is only willing to consider deep water marine industrial development on the site, not other industrial or river-related uses that don't need the deep channel.  The words "deep water" were added before each use of the words "marine terminal" in the Resolution.  Council unanimously approved this amendment, also.

The ongoing study will evaluate whether a commercially viable, environmentally permit-able deep water marine terminal can be designed given the defined parameters.  Commissioner Fish asked Port Director Bill Wyatt if he thinks it is possible to do that.  Bill's answer was, "It will be challenging, but you've certainly given us the incentive to find out."  I believe those opposed to development also have significant incentive to continue highlighting issues if the criteria listed in the amended Resolution are not met or not fully examined.  Allowing development on West Hayden Island is by no means a done deal, with the passing of the amended Resolution.

During the hearing, I asked how much fill might be needed to elevate proposed development out of the 100-year floodplain.  Answer: 4.5 million cubic yards.  Wow.  I was told about 25 - 30% of that amount can be added via piped dredge spoils under existing permits.  The rest would have to go through an extensive federal permitting process.

I asked if the Port plans to sell or rent the proposed new terminals.  Answer: lease.

What kind of commodities might the new terminal(s) be used for?  Answer: Not set, except that they will be rail-oriented so likely products like grain and autos rather than containers.

My summary comments on the Resolution and future process are here.  Please read them and the revised resolution before commenting on this blog post. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in this process, particularly those who gave their time and talents on the Citizen Working Group.  I am also hugely grateful to Tom Bizeau, my Chief of Staff; Ann Beier the Director of the Office of Healthy Working Rivers; and Patti Howard my Rivers advisor, for their diligence and thoughtful analysis throughout this process.

The week after next, on Thursday, July 29th at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, the Council will take public testimony on the future of West Hayden Island.  The project web site with information about the options is here. 

Should West Hayden Island be annexed from Multnomah County?  Should the Port of Portland, the landowner, be allowed to develop a marine industrial terminal and railway?  Should it be kept and restored as wildlife habitat?  Please send in your comments to every member of the Council, and attend the hearing if you can.  Public testimony can make a huge difference in the decisions made on July 29th.

My husband Steve's photographic portrayal of the choices:

  Leave it for Bambi?

Develop it like Swan Island and the west bank of the river along Naito Parkway?

 .... or some of both?

What is your advice and opinion?

Public safety has been and should continue to be the top priority for spending General Fund money provided by taxpayers to fund basic services in the City of Portland. If the serious deficiencies recently detailed in Portland Fire & Rescue's facilities and apparatus had been highlighted during the budget process, I would have asked more questions and perhaps made different choices in allocating the 2010-11 General Fund budget.  I firmly support maintaining and improving fire service, staffing, and equipment in Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R), and emergency preparedness in all City bureaus.  These are basic services that are among the highest priorities for a city to provide to its residents, workers, and visitors.

I appreciate the work that went in to composing a bond measure for the Fire Bureau, Emergency Response Center, and emergency responder radio system upgrades.  I believe the members of the Council all share the same goals of maintaining public safety in every neighborhood, and we value the good work of City staff in providing excellent service to Portlanders.