HAND
By Jill Riebesehl
Hot time, summer in the city and there is lots going on. At our Hosford-Abernethy (HAND) July meeting, we agreed to support the Linnton neighborhood’s struggle over its noxious air quality. Also, the Board voted to support an ambitious proposal for murals on the Powell Blvd. and SE 17th Ave. underpass, which is awash in graffiti. Suggestions were made for the Portland Street Arts Alliance and the Portland Environment Management Office.
We anticipate a meeting with Urban Alchemy (UA) regarding the Clinton Triangle Temporary Alternative Shelter Site that will include the city, Brooklyn neighborhood and the Central Eastside. After many years’ expressing our concern, Fire Station 23 will be holding a celebration Saturday, September 2 for full reopening.
Another concern, decades in the making, is the stub of land off SE Division at 19th Ave. Now called Avalon Village, it is taking shape and will provide as many as 10 people at a time who are otherwise unsheltered, with services designed for their return to permanent housing. It has come together through a combined effort of many organizations and people. It will be run by the non-profit WeShine and is looking at a possible August opening, depending on city building permits. The HAND Board put the finishing touches on a good neighbor agreement among involved parties that will guide how to work together collaboratively.
Neighbors along a narrow section of SE 24th Ave. have asked for help troubleshooting dramatically increased traffic. It is one of the few cut-throughs between SE Hawthorne and Division Sts. and is not built to handle the complications of a new stream of vehicles and the many truck deliveries, which are damaging parked cars. After much discussion, the Board agreed that the city should be asked to do a traffic count.
On the big subject of Portland redistricting, although it is very much on our minds and a part of our ongoing discussions, we agreed there was not much to do at this time.
There will be no August Board meeting.
Montavilla Neighborhood Association
By Louise Hoff
Montavilla is afloat with orange cones right now because so much street and sidewalk reconstruction is underway. What an improvement for those of us wanting to cross the streets safely as well as those with a baby stroller or wheelchair.
Montavilla Farmer’s Market becomes more popular and important to our community; it takes place every Sunday 10 am-2 pm.
Harrison Park Community Garden, established by the Jade District to enable residents to grow special vegetables not available in most markets and to grow their own organic vegetables, will temporarily be torn out. Once the new school building is constructed, the public school system will allow a new garden to be created on the property. It will be managed by Portland Parks and Recreation.
Montavilla has also been selected by the county to host three shelters on 82nd Ave. The first “Safe Park Village” to open will be situated at 333 NE 82nd Ave. and run by Multnomah County and Straightway Services. The MNA Chair is meeting with Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) and the county to discuss good neighbor agreements and coordinate a public meeting for neighbors to get answers to their many questions. We hope to announce this meeting as soon as possible.
We also hope to announce a public meeting at a local restaurant for neighbors to meet, discuss issues impacting their lives in our neighborhood and learn more about the association and the role we play in our city government. It will also be a great opportunity to consider joining us on the Board.
Our next Board meeting is Monday, August 14, 6:30 pm on Zoom. The public can attend but not participate. Meeting information at montavilla.org.
Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association
By David Petrozzi
MTNA hosted our regular monthly meeting July 19 via Zoom. During our open discussion with neighbors, we agreed to further MTNA outreach by tabling at the upcoming Hawthorne street fair, as well as during the Mount Tabor Seventh Day Adventist Church’s community day. We voted to endorse a street closure for the September 21 International Peace Day Celebration taking place near SE 51st Ave. and Hawthorne Blvd., as well as helped brainstorm a list of city resources currently available to address livability and/or safety concerns related to neighborhood camps.
MTNA will work together with the Richmond NA as we explore moving toward a hybrid format for future monthly meetings, offering our membership both the opportunity to continue attending via Zoom as well as getting together in person. We spoke at length about the various changes to city government currently under implementation, with many members educating each other by sharing information they learned regarding new district maps, as well as the nuances and subtleties involved with the process overall, including recent amendments currently under discussion by City Council. Finally, we finished by agreeing to explore adding a neighborhood dumpster day to augment our very successful neighborhood cleanup held during the summer.
Make your voice heard and work to create an even better Mount Tabor! Bring your ideas and questions to our next monthly meeting, which will be held Wednesday, August 16 via Zoom. Please find links for this and all of our meetings, under the “Meetings and Events” tab of our website, mttaborpdx.org.
North Tabor Neighborhood Association
By Kim Kasch
The North Tabor Neighborhood Association (NTNA) had a hybrid (in-person and virtual/Zoom) neighborhood meeting Tuesday, July 18. We discussed having a workshop during our next neighborhood meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, August 15, 6:30 pm via Zoom, where we will refine ideas for our Emergency Preparedness Summit, which is scheduled for our Tuesday, September 19, 6:30 pm.
We also discussed block parties scheduled this summer in our neighborhood, including one at Fathers House, located at 337 NE 47th Avenue, Saturday, August 19, 11 am-3 pm.
SE Uplift has expanded their community committees to include a civic engagement and climate justice committee. Visit seuplift.org for meeting times and dates.
In an effort to promote neighborhood businesses and community centers, NTNA is spotlighting local organizations. We are asking for residents or representatives to submit a photo and short business blurb to board@northtabor.org to be highlighted in the “Local Spotlight” section of our North Tabor Neighborhood Newsletter.
If you do not receive our digital newsletter, you can sign-up at northtabor.org. Please plan to join us at our monthly meetings, the third Tuesday of every month, which are listed on our website.
Richmond Neighborhood Association
By Allen Field
The Richmond Neighborhood Association (RNA) held its monthly meeting May 8. Meetings are the second Monday of the month 7-9 pm, except January. Meetings are now held in-person at Central Christian Church, 1844 SE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd.; people can also participate via Zoom. The link to pre-register for Zoom is on the agenda, which is posted to richmondpdx.org and the RNA Announce listserv. To be added to the listserv, email richmondnasecretary@gmail.com. The RNA now has an Instagram account: @richmondNAPDX.
Eric Swehla, the Richmond Co-NET (Neighborhood Emergency Team) coordinator, summarized the NET program and will be attending the RNA monthly meetings to keep the community updated on emergency preparedness issues.
The Board voted to combine the Land Use and Transportation and Sustainability Committees.
The RNA, with Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood District, will show “Hidden Figures” at Sewallcrest Park (SE 32nd Ave. and Market St.) Saturday, August 19. The movie starts at dusk (about 8:30 pm) with pre-movie entertainment by Friends of Noise teen showcase stating at about 7:30 pm.
The next RNA meeting is Monday, August 14. Everyone is welcome. Come and check out a meeting.
South Tabor Neighborhood Association
By Cathy Kudlick
Everyone is welcome at our next in-person Board meeting, Thursday, August 18 (meetings are always the third Thursday of the month) where we’ll be planning for future neighbor events and discussing Portland city government changes. For details, including location, visit southtabor.org.
Sunnyside Neighborhood Association
By Gloria Jacobs
The SNA board lost a ton of experience and history this year with three people deciding to leave: longtime board member (and former president) Matt Lembo, treasurer Vincent Dawans and at-large member Emily MacCadden. Thanks to all three for their service!
Several new folks have gotten involved. We welcome Kendra Hansen (treasurer), Eric Miller (secretary), Andru Morgan and Mike Thelin. If you see these folks around Sunnyside, stop to say hi and thank them for their involvement.
If you have issues that the SNA can take on, or projects that SNA can help you with, please reach out via email to either board@sunnysideportland.org or president@sunnysideportland.org.
On July 15, a woman was tragically killed on SE Cesar Chavez Blvd. near the library. We all know that the Sunnyside-stretch of Cesar Chavez has some of the narrowest, least protected sidewalks and that drivers frequently drive recklessly through this area. One issue that we can continue to advocate around is pedestrian safety and traffic calming.
Our neighborhood main street festivals are coming up, with the Hawthorne Street Fair (hawthorneblvd.com) Sunday, August 27 and Belmont Street Fair (belmontdistrict.org/belmont-street-fair) Sunday, September 9.
The next Sunnyside Neighborhood Association Community Care meeting will be August 3, 6:30 pm at Southeast Uplift (3534 SE Main St.) We hope to discuss the first draft of our “incident protocols” for the Sunnyside Shower Project.
Have you ever dreamed of having your own paper route? Each month, about 60 dedicated volunteers deliver the neighborhood news to every household and business in Sunnyside. Most routes cover one or two blocks and take about 20 minutes to deliver. The newsletters will be delivered to your door. Interested? Please contact Diana Deumling at dianadeumling@gmail.com.