HAND
By Jill Riebesehl
Darkness has overtaken the Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood Association’s (HAND) monthly meetings on the St. Philip Neri campus. We will have a signboard outside the administrative building where we meet, so don’t be shy if the campus looks deserted.
Two big-city situations dominated the October meeting. A group representing the HAND and Brooklyn neighborhoods to monitor and answer neighbors’ questions about the Clinton Triangle safe rest village that opened this summer were welcomed to visit the site. They described it as clean, orderly, well-thought out and staffed. There are 180 people in residence, many of whom are surviving trauma. But already 40 people have become “document ready” for moving to rental housing. The drug-free sanctuary allows dogs, provides meals, has some open space, small storage space, permits guests and respects residents’ privacy.
This will arrive too late for anyone reading it and almost too late for public participation, but took up a good bit of our time and many thought it relevant to our neighborhood. Several of us attended an October presentation by the Office of Planning and Sustainability, which is preparing rollbacks to development standards. The deadline to get changes and comments before the Planning Commission was October 24. The next step would be City Council approval and then zone codes changes. Ideas had been solicited from builders and were advertised as ways to encourage more residential infill. The HAND Board, somewhat concerned, voted to submit a letter with comments and constructive suggestions.
Heather Flint Chatto, principal at Design + Planning and co-founder of the Division Design Initiative, attended our meeting and described several interesting innovative ways to think about and provide urban infill.
The HAND Board welcomes new members as well as neighbors and business people to our meetings to share their concerns and ideas. We exist to hash out ways to enhance our neighborhood. At the October meeting, we voted to organize as a tax-exempt, nonprofit, otherwise known as a 501(c)3. This federal status will establish us in the public eye as non-political, able to accept tax-free donations and exclusively dedicated to the HAND neighborhood.
We meet at 7 pm on the third Tuesday every month, except December and August, in the conference room of St. Philip Neri.
Montavilla Neighborhood Association
By Louise Hoff
Neighborhood associations are open to all residents, property owners and business owners in the neighborhood. Our goal is to build informed, inclusive and participatory neighborhoods that support our social and ecological well-being.
Organized neighbors can shape the future of our communities, including envisioning and enacting positive change. Through collaboration, we co-create the communities we want to inhabit.
Our elections are deferred until November because of the membership list not being updated in a timely manner due to all of the constraints we have had with two public meetings and monthly virtual meetings. If you cannot attend the online meeting Monday, November 13, 6:30 pm, please contact jacob@montavilla.org for ballot instructions.
Scott Simpson, who chairs our Land Use & Transportation Committee, has been very active bringing more attention to the need for more safe crosswalks on NE Glisan St. We are particularly concerned with the Greenway crossing at 70th Ave. and the need for a crosswalk at 80th Ave. On ‘parking day’ a temporary crosswalk was used to measure pedestrian crossing frequency.
Sarah Hartzel, our Southeast Uplift (SEUL) liaison, announced that SEUL community grants are available in November. She herself is interested in street painting ideas.
Montavilla Parks & Gardens Committee members Lisa Wilcke, Tree Steward volunteer with Portland Parks & Rec., Nick Day, Roger Warren and I hung the new tree tags on the 53 trees in our local CSS Arboretum, a Learning Landscape behind Clark Elementary School. This local treasure is open to the public. Our committee hopes to sponsor a special event to hand out maps and legends to guests.
We are all very sad to see Jacob Loeb, Chair, step down from his position at the next meeting, after fulfilling his tenure. He has brought so very much attention to us all about the many city projects happening on our streets. He is on several other boards and very active in the community. Matt Moore, who has provided so much great graphic design, is also stepping down after completing his tenure but promises he will still help out. Local Montavilla residents or business owners interested in joining our association or joining the board as a community member, running for office or starting a committee should go to montavilla.org and let us know.
Mount Tabor Neighborhood Association
By David Petrozzi
The Mount Tabor Neighborhood Association held our regular monthly meeting October 18 via Zoom. We hosted a representative from the Portland Police Department and enjoyed a conversation centering on how neighbors can access real-time dashboards for statistics on crime, as well as the department’s ongoing community outreach. Next was a thorough presentation from a member of the Government Transition Advisory Committee, detailing the most significant charter changes that will affect how Portland’s government is organized, as well as how citizens will vote in future elections. The meeting concluded with several updates on communications and general MTNA business.
We invite you to join us at our next monthly meeting Wednesday, November 15 via Zoom. You can find links for this and all of our meetings under the “Meetings and Events” tab on 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, October 17. We discussed having an Emergency Preparedness Summit in the near future at one of our upcoming neighborhood meetings.
Also discussed was the proposed draft to change requirements for developers in the City of Portland (including a change to not require them to inform neighborhood associations of their plans), as well as the proposed implementation of new tolls to pay for bridges in Oregon.
Alex Cherin, SE Uplift, came and discussed the many community committee offerings of the organization, as well as information regarding opportunities for grants funded by SE Uplift. Visit seuplift.org for more information.
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 and please plan to join us at our monthly meetings, every third Tuesday of the month, which are listed on our website.
Richmond Neighborhood Association
By Allen Field
The Richmond Neighborhood Association (RNA) held its monthly meeting October 9. Meetings are the second Monday of the month, 7-9 pm, except January, held in-person at Central Christian Church, 1844 SE Cesar 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.
Nathan Vasquesz, Multnomah County Candidate for DA, attended the meeting. He summarized what he sees as problems with current DA, highlighting statistics, and explained how his approach would be different. Much Q&A followed.
The Board voted to send a letter to Commissioner Rubio and Home Forward over Home Forward’s management and operation of Peaceful Villa, and policy gaps on oversight and public process in Home Forward’s redevelopment of the Peaceful Villa affordable housing complex at SE 47th Ave. and Clinton St.
The Board discussed changes to its Group Agreements guiding how meetings are run.
If you would like to help deliver the quarterly Richmond Newsletter, contact richmondnasecretary@gmail.com.
The next RNA meeting is November 13. Everyone is welcome. Come and check out a meeting and learn about ways to get more involved in your community.
South Tabor Neighborhood Association
By Cathy Kudlick
The South Tabor Neighborhood Association continues to bring together neighbors, local businesses, city officials and nearby neighborhood associations to address shared safety concerns. On November 16, 7 pm come meet neighbors and State Representative for House District 46 Khan Pham at All City Church (2700 SE 67th Avenue). For additional details visit southtabor.org. And while there, be sure to join our mailing list!
If you can’t make this meeting, try another one. We meet the third Thursday of every month at 7 pm.
Sunnyside Neighborhood Association
By Gloria Jacobs
The Sunnyside Neighborhood Community Care committee is organizing a Winter Clothing Drive for our houseless neighbors Saturday, December 9 in the basement of the Sunnyside Methodist Church/The Groves on SE 35th Ave. and Yamhill St. Volunteers will be on hand to collect donations of winter clothing and gear 10 am-1 pm. The main event will be held 2-6 pm. Please donate (for all genders): pants, jeans and sweatpants; sweaters and sweatshirts; T-shirts–short and long-sleeved; long underwear; new underwear (men’s and women’s); new or lightly worn socks (wool preferred); raincoats/winter coats; boots, tennis shoes and hiking shoes; tarps, tents and sleeping bags; and warm hats, gloves, scarves and belts (no children’s clothing or dressy/formal clothing). If you would like to help publicize the event or if your workplace wants to donate gear, clothing or gift cards, please email Diana Deumling at dianadeumling@gmail.com.
Our next General Meeting is on November 9. There will be several presentations. Officers from Central Precinct will provide an update on public safety. Cascadia Action, a nonprofit that advocates for clean air, will attend. They, along with neighborhood associations and other stakeholders, are fighting companies in North and NE Portland over air quality and have asked the SNA to endorse letters written by the neighborhoods most affected by the most dangerous industrial polluters in the city. You can read the letters at tinyurl.com/45a29dnj. For more information, visit portlandcleanair.org. Plans are underway to renovate the Belmont Library and add an addition for a total of 15,000 square feet, more than doubling the available square footage. Library director Vailey Oehlke and the project architect will provide an update and want to hear the neighborhood’s thoughts on the most important features for the renovated building.