By Heather Flint Chatto
Richmond Neighborhood Association (richmondpdx.org) held its monthly meeting July 10 at Waverly Heights Church, SE 33rd and Woodward St.
Crime Prevention/Safety – Hot weather reminder to be careful of heatstroke and to check in with neighbors to ensure they are safe. Police are cautioning the community against leaving ground floor windows open at night or when away to reduce potential break-ins.
Community members noted recent break-ins of two local businesses on Division. Crime Prevention Specialists at the meeting distributed a resource list of public safety contacts, available at portlandoregon.gov/oni/safetyresources.
Transient Concerns – Resources include a Homeless Toolkit online where you can view reports and campsites by week. Project Respond can send people out to check to see what may be needed. If you call to report an issue, City Crime Prevention Specialists advised it’s better to describe behavior, not the person (e.g. there is garbage, fighting, bicycle chop shop, etc. vs. I see a homeless person). The former behavior would be a 911 call; however, for a homeless camp, call 503. 823.4000.
Community Events – July 22, the Division Clinton Business Association hosted the annual street fair and parade with help from the RNA as a sponsor. On August 26, the RNA, Sunnyside Neighborhood Association and HAND will host the annual free Movie in Sewallcrest Park: “O Brother Where Art Thou”. Pre-movie band at 6:30 and movie at dusk.
Sunday, August 27 is the Hawthorne Street Fair. Come out for food, music, and fun.
Butterfly Boxes, a support organization for refugees new to Portland, is hosting monthly community potluck dinners, to help get better connected and welcomed by community members. Meetings are held at Catholic Charities Building on Powell and 28th. Learn more: butterflyboxespdx.org.
Electric Buses on SE Division – Doug Allen asked the RNA to request Tri-Met to purchase electric buses for the Division Transit Project to minimize environmental impact. The RNA Board unanimously voted to send a letter to Tri-Met. More neighborhoods that show support for electric buses will increase the likelihood it could happen.
Richmond Neighborhood Committees – The RNA’s Graffiti committee will continue hosting graffiti cleanups and will post dates and locations on NextDoor. RNA voted to buy ladders for Graffiti cleanups. Volunteer by contacting RNA Board member Adam Meltzer, richmondgrtf@gmail.com.
The Division Design Committee will be hosting a public meeting this Fall to review the new Neighborhood Draft of the Division Design Guidelines. Learn more at divisiondesigninitiative.org or email ilovedivision.com to volunteer. The Land Use Committee is tracking the Division Transit Project. New Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will feature elongated buses and reduced and new transit stops on Division. See: trimet.org/division/openhouse/index.htm, and trimet.org/division/pdf/6_29_17_DTP_Draft_Roll_Plots.pdf for maps of the proposed station locations and designs.
The next RNA meeting will be Monday, August 14, at 3300 SE Woodward St., 7-9 pm. Land Use Committee meetings are 4th Monday of month, 7-9 pm at Waverly Church, SE 33rd and Woodward; contact Matt Otis (matt.otis@gmail.com) on land use issues.