Buckman Community Association
By Susan Lindsay
The Buckman neighborhood has been in the news lately related to Multnomah County’s Coordinated Pathways Center…otherwise known as the Deflection Center and with the addition of nearly 300 overnight shelter beds opening on SE Grand Ave. The Deflection Center, located at the former Precision Images building on SE 9th Ave. and SE Oak St., where persons found in possession or using illegal drugs (fentanyl, heroin and meth) are diverted from going to jail by agreeing to being “deflected” and brought to the center. However, the process has little to no accountability and after a year has, by all accounts, severely underperformed. Various elected officials have taken note of the poor showings of completion as well as the expense of the program and are interested in making changes. As this is county-wide “drop off” program, any changes to it obviously affect the area residents and neighboring businesses too. District 1 County Commissioner Megan Moyer is proposing a list of increases in who can refer and drop off persons at the center. She will be in attendance at our January 8 meeting to inform neighbors of her ideas and proposal and to hear about any concerns.
Regarding the new shelters, these are being funded as part of Mayor Wheeler’s plan to end unsanctioned camping on public property in tents, tarps and RVs. One shelter is led by City Teams on SE Grand Ave. near SE Stark St. and will hold up to 80 men a night. The other, managed by Transition Projects, will be in the former US Bank building on SE Grand Ave. and SE Alder St. This program has a 200 person capacity. Both programs are overnight shelters only and all will discharge everyone about 7 am. So far, despite requests for information, we have not heard what the plans are for those persons during the daytime, though some guarantees are being made to assure that the immediate adjacent area will monitored more closely. We’ve been told that both shelters are “recovery” focused, but we have not received specific information as to what that actually means. The Transition Projects shelter will be all genders and pets are welcome, and we plan to stay connected with their management team going forward.
Looking ahead, we are happy to announce the BCA Board’s application for a Summer 2026 Movie in the Park has been accepted by Portland Parks and we will be hosting a movie again at Colonel Summers Park! This year, we decided to combine our resources and have our picnic on the same day as movie night which will be either August 2, 8 or 9, depending on Parks’ decision process. It costs the BCA a lot in terms of cash and volunteer effort to produce these positive, neighborhood enhancing activities and we can accept tax deductible donations from individuals and businesses via our fiscal sponsor, Southeast Uplift Inc. Please reach out if you are interested in donating time and/or funds to make these fun events happen!
At our last meeting we hosted State Representative Rob Nosse who said that during the upcoming “short” session as a result of the new federal tax law, Oregon budget cuts need to be made, including his area of expertise, behavioral health and he is not looking forward to this.
Buckman Community Association meetings are held every second Thursday of the month at 1137 SE 20th Ave. (enter at keypad on SE Salmon St.). For time on the agenda or inquiries, reach us directly: buckmanboard@googlegroups.com. While we encourage in person attendance, our meetings are also hybrid and the link is on our website, buckmanpdx.org.
HAND
By Chris Eykamp
The Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood District did not meet in December (as is customary). We’re watching a couple of issues, primarily the relocation of the People’s Depot bottle redemption center to HAND, as well as flare-ups of a couple of recurring camping problems elsewhere in the neighborhood.
HAND continues to support the work of the Human Access Project, which is working to make the river more swimmable. To that end, that project has cleaned up a lot of the rubble along the stretch of river just south of the Hawthorne Bridge, creating a swimming beach where once there was only debris and brambles.
The HAND Board wishes you a happy New Year, and invites you to join us in 2026 on the second Tuesday of every month. To join our mailing list, please send an email to handannounce+subscribe@googlegroups.com.
Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association
By David Petrozzi
Happy Holidays! Although the MTNA does not meet in December, we look forward to seeing you in the New Year, Wednesday, January 14, online via Zoom or in person at Taborspace. Check our website, mttaborpdx.org, for more details.
Richmond Neighborhood Association
By Allen Field
The Richmond Neighborhood Association (RNA) Board met December 8 via Zoom. Meetings are usually in person at Central Christian Church, 1844 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd. the second Monday of the month, 7–9 pm, except January. Everyone is welcome to attend in person or via Zoom. The Zoom registration link is at richmondpdx.org and on every agenda, which is sent to the RNA listserv. Meetings are recorded and posted on the RNA’s website, richmondpdx.org. To join the listserv, email richmondnasecretary@gmail.com.
Most of the meeting was the “Know Your Rights When Dealing With ICE or Law Enforcement” presentation by Erin McKee, Oregon Justice Resource Center. A video of the training is on the RNA’s website and was shared to the listserv and Nextdoor Richmond. A “Know Your Rights” webinar by OJRC is also on YouTube at youtu.be/Y6I4x5PAZl0.
Volunteers are needed to help deliver the quarterly Richmond News newsletter. If you don’t receive it, no one delivers to the route you live on. Contact rnanewsletter@gmail.com to help with deliveries.
The next meeting is February 9. Join us to get more involved in your neighborhood.
South Tabor Neighborhood Association
By Cathy Kudlick
Welcome to 2026, South Tabor Neighbors and Southeast Portland!
We were pleased by the enthusiastic turnout at our December South Tabor Happy Hour at Lay Low Tavern despite the torrential rain. Neighbors debated the pros and cons of the proposed new DQ construction just outside of South Tabor on SE Division St. and SE 58th Ave. We also heard that people are eager to learn about how ICE sweeps are impacting our neighborhood. Stay tuned for related-information sessions at upcoming meetings.
Keep up with STNA by signing up for the low-traffic discussion list at southtabor.org. And while you’re there, check out the latest edition of The Crow that just flew in, this one related to history. If you have an idea for something you’d like to contribute to a future issue, email communications@southtabor.org.
Best of all, come meet your neighbors Thursday, January 15, 7 pm (and every third Thursday of the month after that).
We need each other more than ever!
Sunnyside Neighborhood Association
By Gloria Jacobs
Happy New Year! In December, the SNA hosted a special General Meeting to discuss traffic safety issues on César E. Chavez Blvd. and SE 30th Ave. Representatives from PBOT’s Vision Zero, a senior PBOT traffic engineer, as well as Councilmember Morillo and representatives from Council VP Tiffany Koyama Lane’s office attended.
Work will soon begin on the southern end of the four-lane section of César E. Chavez Blvd. between SE Powell Blvd. and SE Holgate Blvd. Unfortunately, work on the northern section, starting at NE Sandy Blvd. is still a long way, and many budget dollars, away. But, there is some good news. PBOT will use its emergency authority to lower the speed limit on César E. Chavez Blvd. from 30 to 25 and add two radar signs.
SE 30th Ave. has seen some recent “improvements” that don’t appear to help much with safety. Spurred by neighbors, the SNA Board will sign on to a letter to PBOT seeking remediations and further monitoring to ensure changes are effective. Area neighbors are raising money to purchase crossing flags. You can contribute at gofundme.com/f/keep-se-30th-and-salmon-safe-for-pedestrians.
Connor Lirot is a new Board member and the new chair of the Land Use & Transportation Committee. If you have concerns, please reach out at lutc@sunnysideportland.org.
A huge thank you to everyone who has donated to keep our print newsletter going! In the last six weeks we’ve received just under $1,000–about 50 percent of our goal. Donations can be made via Give Lively (tinyurl.com/395trwzw) or by check to SEUL, 3534 SE Main St., Portland, OR 97214, made out to The Sunnyside Neighborhood Association.
Share ideas/concerns and see meeting schedules/agendas at sunnysideboard@googlegroups.com and on Facebook (facebook.com/SunnysidePortland).