By Daniel Perez-Crouse The Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA) recently teamed up with JAM Makery LLC (partner of Open Urban Practice and Bridge Rats Artist Studios in the Central Eastside) […]
New Murals, Event Space and Urban Garden Renews Vacant Property Read More
By Marshall Hammond Monday, October 14, Multnomah County opened a new facility in SE Portland designed to “deflect” individuals arrested for low-level drug offenses into treatment services instead of jail.
County Opens Center to Deflect Drug Offenders from Jail Into Treatment Read More
By Jonathan Sommer, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post In recent years, Portland has seen freezing ice storms which caused mass power outages, shut down roads and led to numerous
Winter is Coming: How to Support Our Unhoused Neighbors Read More
I don’t use this space to communicate as a partisan Democrat very often, but in light of November’s election results I felt like that’s the only way I could accurately
Representatively Speaking – December 2024 Read More
By Marshall Hammond On September 26 a crowd gathered for a ceremony celebrating the grand opening of Francis + Clare Place, a 61-residence facility offering permanent housing and on-site supportive
Francis + Clare Place Offers Permanent Supportive Housing Read More
By Daniel Perez-Crouse The new Central Eastside headquarters for Literary Arts, which will greatly expand its offerings and its presence in Portland, is fast approaching completion for the fall. Its
Literary Arts Finds New Home in the Central Eastside Read More
By State Representative Rob Nosse As this month’s column is published a few days before the election (brace for impact!), I will save my reactions regarding the results for the
Representatively Speaking – November 2024 Read More
By Marshall Hammond Coinciding with the start of the 2024-25 school year, a group of youths aged 13 to 21 took up residence on the grounds of the Oral Hull
MYC Gives Youth a Voice in Policy-Making Read More
By Kris McDowell The Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) is one of six business districts that have been awarded a Major Impact Grant from Venture Portland. The City of
METBA Receives Major Venture Portland Grant Read More
By Kris McDowell September saw a return of more than 61,700 students back to Portland area campuses. With that return, traffic levels may be increased in certain areas or at
Back to School Safety For Drivers and Students Read More
By Kris McDowell At the end of August, state, city and community leaders joined the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to celebrate the groundbreaking of the 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance
82nd Ave. Project Underway Read More
By State Representative Rob Nosse The November election is not that far away. I know there is a lot of anxiety about it. I promise this will be the last
Representatively Speaking – October 2024 Read More
By David Mayne Significant progress has been made on the design for a new multi-story Cleveland High School, but a major hurdle remains: funding for construction of the school. That
Construction of New Cleveland HS Requires Passage of Future Bond Read More
By Kris McDowell Metro Council approved more than $2.5 million in funding this summer through the Nature in Neighborhoods capital grants program. Five projects in greater Portland were selected to
Depave Receives Metro Grant to Transform SE Street Read More
By Kris McDowell Prosper Portland has announced the 18 projects that will be the recipients of the $1.42 million Community Livability Grants for the 2024-25 fiscal year, leveraging more than
Community Livability Grants Awarded Read More
As you read this, we are only 60 or so days out from the November election. Right?!? With that in mind, this column and October’s will deal with topics that
Representatively Speaking – September 2024 Read More
By Beatrice Liebrecht As voters across the country gear up for another round of elections, Portland is making a significant stride in its electoral process. This November, Portland will debut
Portland Shifts to Ranked-Choice Voting, What Voters Should Know Read More
By Daniel Perez-Crouse The burgeoning artistic revival of the Central Eastside Industrial District just got a boost in the form of 10 newly commissioned murals under bridges and a rebranding
Central Eastside Gets “Avenue of Murals” as Part of Artistic Rebirth Read More
By Marshall Hammond The average rent for a studio apartment in Portland is $1,238 per month. The wage required to rent such an apartment without being rent burdened (spending more
How Do We House Everyone? Local Experts Weigh In Read More
By Jake Lubin With the rise of Fentanyl and other highly lethal drugs, the drug addiction crisis has become increasingly dangerous. For decades, and at every level of government, policy
County Partners With Out-Of-State Provider for Deflection Center Read More
By Jake Lubin Opening this fall at E Burnside St. and 44th Ave. is the new Osoberry School, a Kindergarten through sixth grade school that aims to provide an alternative
New Osoberry School Aims to Provide Alternative Learning Environment Read More
By Beatrice Liebrecht One of Oregon’s oldest standing amusement parks, located in the SE neighborhood of Sellwood, had over two dozen riders suspended in the air Friday, June 14. Known
“AtmosFEAR” Malfunctions at Portland’s Oldest Amusement Park Read More
By Daniel Perez-Crouse Oregon residents looking to reduce their waste with an alternative to one-time use to-go containers when bringing leftovers home from restaurants, and possibly their entire meal, now
Customers Able to Bring Reusable Containers to Restaurants Read More
By State Representative Rob Nosse I don’t talk about the outdoors that much in these columns but with summer here I think this topic just makes sense. As you all
Representatively Speaking – July 2024 Read More
By Marshall Hammond Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pedersen delivered her State of the County address to a large audience at OMSI on Monday, April 29. The address, which was
State of the County Address Highlights Homelessness and Addiction Treatment Read More
By Luke Susswood As immigration policy has become increasingly divisive at the federal level, there is a greater need for state and local governments to develop socioeconomic policy that guides
Immigrants’ Impacts on the Economy Read More
By Kris McDowell The Multnomah County Health Department launched a fentanyl awareness campaign in May, focused on preventing young people from initiating use and dying of drug overdoses. The “Expect
County Fentanyl Campaign Targets Youth Read More
By State Representative Rob Nosse I greatly appreciate that The Southeast Examiner is a newspaper where I learn about the goings on in our sliver of Portland and that it
Representatively Speaking – June 2024 Read More
By Marshall Hammond Central City Concern (CCC), a non-profit agency that serves low income and houseless people in Portland, is close to finalizing plans for a new 70-bed residential treatment
CCC to Open E Burnside Treatment Center Next Spring Read More
By Kris McDowell In its eighth cycle, Metro’s Community Placemaking program has awarded 10 community-led creative projects funds totaling $209,800. The program continues to support equity-centered arts and culture-based efforts
Metro 2024 Community Placemaking Grantees Read More
By Kris McDowell SE disability non-profit Community Vision has recently released “Access Denied: An Overview of the Housing Crisis for People with Disabilities,” a report to raise the awareness of
Housing Crisis Report for People with Disabilities Read More
By Kris McDowell As construction season kicks into high gear, the City of Portland urges travelers to use caution to save lives and prevent injuries to essential workers. Portland Bureau
Staying Safe in Work Zones Read More
By Nancy Tannler In July 2023, Portland opened the first of the city’s outdoor homeless shelters. The Clinton Triangle Temporary Alternative Shelter Site (TASS), 1490 SE Gideon St., provides a
New Temporary Homeless Site Proves Successful Read More
By Kris McDowell The site at 333 SE 82nd Ave. in the Montavilla neighborhood has been slated to be an alternative shelter for over a year, going through a couple
Montavilla Managed Alternative Shelter Read More
By Beatrice Liebrecht In the past decade, Portland has seen an increase in homelessness of around 65 percent. At the same time, the city has spent nearly $2 billion on
Central City Concern’s Significant Role in the Homeless Crisis Read More
By Kris McDowell In March, TriMet released their proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), which is now open for public testimony prior to TriMet’s May meeting in which the
TriMet Proposed 2025 Fiscal Budget Read More
By State Representative Rob Nosse Last month, my column was written roughly two weeks before the legislative session was predicted to adjourn. The column was published on March 1. The
Representatively Speaking – April 2024 Read More
By Marshall Hammond The Portland Water Bureau (PWB) expects to begin refilling Mt. Tabor’s Reservoir 6 this spring after completing repairs, prompted by the discovery of “voids” beneath the reservoir
PWB to Refill Reservoir 6 in Late March Read More
By Kris McDowell The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is encouraging people in Oregon to take steps to protect their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards from electronic theft. Electronic
Protecting EBT Food and Cash Benefits From Electronic Theft Read More
By Representative Rob Nosse Long time readers know I have to submit this column the week before it goes to print. Normally in politics, that is not too much of
Representatively Speaking – March 2024 Read More
By David Krogh The Multnomah County Library system is the fourth busiest in the US, but ranks 102nd in terms of floor area square footage. There are 19 branch libraries
Belmont Library Renovations and Addition Read More
By Nancy Tannler Oregon’s Governor Tom McCall (1967-1975) loved our natural beauty and easy access to nature. In order to preserve this grandeur, he convinced the Oregon Legislature to sign
All Stages, Wages and Ages — Housing for the Eastside Read More
By Jake Lubin For the last two years, Franklin Talks was integrated into every Franklin student’s school year. Four times a year, Franklin took 90 minutes out of the day
Franklin Talks Will Not Be Returning This Year Read More
By Kris McDowell The Oregon Legislature passed hundreds of bills in the last session, revising some existing transportation laws and creating new ones. Many changes went into effect on January
New Laws for 2024 Promote Safety on Oregon’s Roads Read More
By Kris McDowell According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), Oregon’s poorest families pay more in taxes as a share of income than any other group in
Who Pays the Most Taxes? Read More
By Marshall Hammond A new kind of housing development aimed at serving the most vulnerable members of Portland’s houseless population is scheduled to break ground on city-owned land at SE
Construction to Begin on SE Division St. Micro-Village Read More
By Audrey Lynch Talk A Mile is a non-profit organization in SE Portland that strives to create opportunities to foster positive conversations between young Black leaders and Portland Police Bureau
Talk A Mile: An Organization for Conversation Read More
By Daniel Perez-Crouse Located in SE Portland at 5120 SE Milwaukie Ave. at Mitchell St., The Willamette Center has returned after over a year of being closed and is now
Willamette Center Reopens After Renovations to Support Homeless Community Read More
By Kris McDowell Plaid Pantry, the Oregon company many know as a neighborhood convenience store, has been exploring electric vehicle (EV) charging for a few years and this past November
Plaid Pantry Dips Toes into EV Charging Read More
By State Representative Rob Nosse Before you start reading, I want to express my deep gratitude to The Southeast Examiner for providing me the opportunity to share my thoughts in
Representatively Speaking – January 2024 Read More
By Daniel Perez-Crouse Despite being a little “sad” leaving their initial location on N Williams St. after over six years, the Dos Hermanos Bakery has moved to SE Portland to
Beloved Wholesale Bakery Moves to SE to Expand Read More
By Mo Damtew Brentwood-Darlington’s Errol Heights Park (SE 52nd Ave. and SE Tenino St.) is expected to reopen in December, transformed for the better, following a large Portland Parks &
Errol Heights Park Reopens Following Major Restoration Read More
By Metro If we look around our homes, most of us will likely find some type of hazardous waste, and nobody wants to have hazardous waste sitting around. Sometimes it’s
Easy Ways to Get Rid of Hazardous Waste Read More
By State Representative Rob Nosse In October I wrote about the fact-finding trip I was taking to Portugal. I decided to take the trip in spite of some criticism for
Representatively Speaking – December 2023 Read More
By Marshall Hammond A large empty lot and a chain link fence are nearly all that remain of a troubled complex of vacant medical offices at 4511 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Uncertain Future For Vacant Lot on SE Hawthorne Blvd. Read More
By Jesse Miller On Tuesday, September 26 the Portland Federation of School Professionals (PFSP) union voted not to ratify their contract with Portland Public Schools (PPS). The turnout came to
PFSP Union Returns to Negotiations with PPS Read More
By Jonathan Maus Three months after a woman was killed while waiting for a bus on the corner of SE Cesar Chavez Blvd. and Taylor St., the Portland Bureau of
New Diverter Coming to Deadly Intersection Read More
By Daniel Perez-Crouse Mt. Tabor’s Warner Pacific University (WPU) was recently selected by the US Department of Education to receive a five-year, $3 million grant under the Title V Developing
Warner Pacific University Receives $3 Million Grant Read More
By Luke Susswood Last month, Portland Public Schools (PPS) revealed “Equitable Grading Practices,” a proposal aiming to limit racial disparities in grading. If approved, new guidelines would ban grades for
PPS Proposal to Remove Racial Bias in Grading Read More
By Nancy Tannler On one of the last hot Fridays of summer, the Hawthorne Pop Up Plaza and World PARK(ing) Day were celebrated at SE 37th Ave. and Hawthorne Blvd.
Hawthorne Embraces the Kiosk Culture Read More
By Parachute Strategies Commitment to reducing waste through recycling, reuse and repair remains a widely held value in greater Portland. For decades, Metro and local governments have invested heavily in
Metro Study on Reused and Repaired Home Goods Read More
By Representative Rob Nosse Given that Ballot Measure 110 (BM 110) has received national news coverage every week this summer, I think it’s imperative that I make my thoughts on
Representatively Speaking – October 2023 Read More
By Kris McDowell For the 2023-24 fiscal year, Prosper Portland has awarded $865,000 in Community Livability Grants to 15 projects from community-based organizations in four Tax Increment Finance (TIF) districts
Prosper Portland Awards Community Livability Grants Read More
By David Mayne Starting this fall, Portland Public Schools (PPS) will begin design and planning work to transform Cleveland into a next generation high school. The two-year process will include
Planning Begins on New Cleveland High School Read More
By Rob Nosse Last month in this column I talked about important bills we passed during the legislative session. This month I’m going to talk about a bill that didn’t
Representatively Speaking – September 2023 Read More
By Marshall Hammond On Thursday, July 6, Governor Tina Kotek signed a bill capping rent increases on Oregon residences at 10 percent or seven percent plus inflation, whichever is lower.SB
Rent Stabilization Bill Becomes Law Read More
By Kris McDowell The Clinton Triangle Taskforce, comprised of a diverse mix of representatives from the Central Eastside Industrial Council (CEIC), Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood Association (HAND), Brooklyn Action Corps (BAC) and
Clinton Triangle Good Neighbor Agreement Read More
By Representative Rob Nosse I am glad I waited until August to write about the conclusion of the 2023 Legislative Session. Back in May I was pretty much of the
Representatively Speaking – August 2023 Read More
By Nancy Tannler The seventh annual AARP Community Challenge Grant worth $3.6 million is being distributed to 310 quick-action projects across the country. Three of these grants were awarded to
AARP Challenge Grants Awarded to Local Non-Profits Read More
By Nancy Tannler Portland is set to receive $500,000 in federal grant money that will be used to solve some of the railroad crossing issues in inner SE Portland. This
Railroad Holdups Frustrate Drivers, Pedestrians and Cyclists Read More
By Kris McDowell Portland’s Independent District Commission (IDC) is in the process of establishing four geographic districts for City Council elections. Defining the boundaries of those geographic districts is one
Draft Maps for Redistricting Released Read More
By Representative Rob Nosse I had hoped to write a legislative update about how session was going (or how it ended as we are “officially” done on June 25) and
Representatively Speaking July 2023 Read More
By Marshall Hammond Concerns over homelessness, crime and behavioral health are at the forefront of Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson’s proposed annual budget for fiscal year (FY) 2024. The
Multnomah County’s Proposed Budget Read More
Gideon Street site as of the end of May. Left photo as seen looking south; right photo as seen looking west. By Nancy Tannler On July 1, the Gideon Street
Outdoor Shelter Experiment to Open in Hosford/Abernethy Read More
By Sophie McEwen, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post Of all the Portland Public Schools’ (PPS) health curriculum, the nutrition portion has received the most criticism from students and parents
PPS Nutrition Curriculum Changes Read More
By Hannah Erickson The most recent land acquisition made with funding from Metro’s 2019 parks and nature bond measure and capital funds from the City of Portland are an important
Metro Partners with City to Protect Urban Salmon Corridor Read More
By Marshall Hammond It was a day Medford resident Andreas Met had been awaiting for years. On March 22, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a license to grow psilocybin
Psilocybin Growing Licenses Issued Read More
By Kris McDowell This year’s National Cohousing Open House Weekend is Saturday, May 6-Sunday, May 7 and a number of cohousing communities across the country will be hosting open houses,
Cohousing Open Houses Read More
By Nancy Tannler In the April Brain Awareness lecture series, Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) presented an online talk titled, “Is prevention of Alzheimer’s disease possible?” Dr. Aimee Pierce, associate
Possible Prevention of Alzheimer’s Read More
By State Representative Rob Nosse We are around what I would consider the midpoint of the 2023 legislative session. Admittedly, a lot of the heavy lifting is done toward the end
Representatively Speaking Read More
By Daniel Perez-Crouse Over 100 representatives from 60 neighborhood associations across Portland squeezed into the Laurelhurst Club March 9 for the 2023 Neighborhood Summit. As stated in its press release,
Neighborhood Summit Brings City and Residents Together Read More
By Nancy Tannler A big change is underway in the Richmond neighborhood as residents grapple with the redevelopment of Peaceful Villa–situated between SE 46th and 47th Ave., between Clinton and
Peaceful Villa Makeover Read More
By Francesca Silverstein, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post The Housing Authority of Portland, also known as Home Forward, has been awarded nearly $1 million to invest in a community
Nearly $1 Million Awarded to Aid Older Children in Foster Care Read More
By David Mayne The Portland Public Schools (PPS) School Improvement Bond Program began construction work in 2013 and has compiled an impressive track record of upgrading and rebuilding schools across
PPS School Improvement Program Celebrates 10 Years of Revitalizing Schools Read More
By Nancy Tannler There are an estimated 8,200 homeless youth in our state–many of them in need of immediate assistance. The recently completed $9 million interagency funds transfer from the
Building a Future for Homeless Youth Read More
By Hazel Karon Snow, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post The Portland Public School district (PPS) is redrawing boundary lines and changing the way immersion programs are laid out all
PPS is ‘Strengthening the Southeast Schools’ Read More
By Daniel Perez-Crouse City Council recently made progress amending the Shelter to Housing Continuum package (S2HC) that addresses issues prohibiting shelters from being built. Commissioner Carmen Rubio said the need
City Council Amends Zoning Laws to Support Building Shelters Read More
By State Representative Rob Nosse The pandemic was not kind to many parts of our state’s economy and culture. We all know that our healthcare systems and our education systems
Representatively Speaking March 2023 Read More
By Nancy Tannler The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) began developing a network of bike boulevards back in the 1980s. They experimented with aggressive traffic-calming projects on streets like SE
Neighborhood Greenway Expansion Plans Read More
By Audrey Lynch, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post The Education Related Day Care (ERDC) program announced its commitment to expand its care to more homes and families across Oregon
Child Care Services Expand to Better Serve Oregon Families Read More
By Jack Rubinger The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has adopted the final set of administrative rules needed to launch the nation’s first regulatory framework for psilocybin services. Angela Albee, Oregon
OHA Sets Stage for Psilocybin Services Read More
By Kris McDowell Back by popular demand, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is releasing new neighborhood greenway signs. With silhouetted figures biking, walking their dog and playing pick-up soccer,
Free Greenway Yard Signs Available Read More
By State Representative Rob Nosse Most of you already know I have been in working in our Capitol in Salem since early January as the Oregon Legislature is now officially “in
Representatively Speaking February 2023 Read More
By Daniel Perez-Crouse With funding from Verizon, and the support of other community organizations, Hacienda CDC has opened three free learning and tech centers to offer digital access and workforce
Hacienda CDC and Verizon Open Learning Centers Read More
By Jack Rubinger After 25 years of calling the Presbyterian Church of Laurelhurst home, the Portland Tillamook Cooperative Preschool must relocate. In October, the Tillamook Board of Directors received notice
Preschool Seeks New Location Read More
By State Representative Rob Nosse I hope you all enjoyed the holidays with your friends and loved ones. Happy New Year! I am excited for what this year will bring and
Representatively Speaking January 2023 Read More
By Nancy Tannler Even though 44 percent of Americans own some kind of gun, violent crime rates have been on a steady decline since they peaked in 1991. It was
Angels Watching the City Read More
By Jack Rubinger Several neighbors have noticed the n-word being written in pen on many street signs in inner SE along SE 30th Ave. between Division and Salmon, and on
Racial Slurs Cropping Up on Traffic Signs Read More
By Lula Hugo, Franklin High School’s The Franklin Post Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is attempting to expand its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program to encompass Portland high schools,
Safe Routes to School Expanding to Include High Schools Read More
By Daniel Perez-Crouse Anyone who’s driven by or walked around Laurelhurst Park during the last couple of years has probably noticed the off-and-on encampments lining it nearby, especially on SE
Sports Additions Coming to Laurelhurst Park Read More
