October 3, 2013

The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) released a beautiful new video showing off the benefits of turning your roof “green.”

Ecoroofs replace conventional roofing with a living, breathing vegetated roof system. They significantly decrease stormwater runoff, save energy, reduce pollution and erosion, and help preserve fish habitat.

Ecoroofs also have a financial benefit. They double, and sometimes triple, the life of the roof’s waterproof membrane. Commercial properties with green roofs are more desirable and competitive in a tight real estate and rental market. They are an amenity for building tenants and residents, and they improve the view for tenants of neighboring buildings.

October 4, 2013

Yesterday, The Oregonian’s Steve Duin featured a story on a recent Hollywood Theater screening of the powerful documentary American Winter.

American Winter follows eight Portland families during the Great Recession. It highlights the struggle too many families face every day to keep a roof over their head, put food on the table, and pay their medical bills.

Duin writes how the story breaks down many stereotypes about poverty in our country.  He writes:

These children — a churlish segment of the population and the U.S. House of Representatives would have you believe — are the wards of the ‘nanny state.’ Their parents — college-educated, many of them, and recently laid off from solid, well-paying jobs — are the lazy, selfish "welfare queens" who are bankrupting the U.S.economy.

American Winter strips that nonsense to the bone.

The film’s tagline says it all: “In the richest country on Earth, millions of families have been left out in the cold.” One job loss, one emergency room visit, one unfortunate accident, and a family trying to live the American Dream can easily slip into an American nightmare.

To learn more about American Winter or to order the DVD visit the www.americanwinterfilm.com

Steve Duin: A timely evening with 'American Winter'

Steve Duin in The Oregonian

A timely evening with 'American Winter'

Steve Duin in The Oregonian

The Today Show visits Harper's Playground

Casey Parks in The Oregonian

Sources Say

In the Portland Tribune

Right 2 Dream Too: Commissioner Amanda Fritz's plan to move homeless camp to Pearl District turns political

Andrew Theen in The Oregonian

Convention Center hotel closer to breaking ground

in NW Labor Press

Neighbors Question Whether City Got Market Value for Water Bureau Land

Aaron Mesh in Willamette Week

EPA Suspends $125,500 Fine on Portland Harbor Companies

Aaron Mesh in Willamette Week

October 8, 2013

The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) was awarded the 2013 Oregon Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) Julian Sustainability Practices Award!

The award recognizes outstanding contributions made to promote sustainability in public works in Oregon.

BES received the award in recognition of their Tabor to River program.

Tabor to River covers 2.3 square miles from Mt.Tabor to the Willamette River in Southeast Portland. This area has a combined sewer system that mixes sanitary sewage with stormwater runoff. Very heavy rains can cause sewers to back up into basements, flood streets, and overflow to the Willamette River.

Tabor to the River combines innovative stormwater management techniques with sewer repairs and improvements. The work will stop basement flooding, manage stormwater more naturally, and begin to restore the health of our watersheds.

Goals of the program include:

• Planting 3,500 trees

• Adding 500 green streets

• Building 100 private stormwater projects
• Repairing or replacing 81,000 feet of sewer pipe
• Removing invasive plants from parks and natural areas
• Improving wildlife habitat, cleaning the air and making neighborhoods healthier

To learn more about the Tabor to River program, visit BES’s website.

October 9, 2013

This morning, Nick was proud to join the rest of City Council in awarding a grant to support Janus Youth Programs’ Village Market.

The Village Market is a corner store in the New Columbia community. Until 2 years ago, there was no source for groceries within a mile of New Columbia. In a neighborhood where many families are lower-income and travel by bus or on foot, accessing affordable food was a challenge.

The Village Market is committed to providing quality, fresh, healthy, affordable groceries for our North Portland neighborhoods. It serves as a model for the region, and helps build the case for healthy food access for all neighborhoods.

City support of the market will cover operational costs of the project as it moves toward financial self-sufficiency.

To learn more about the Village Market, visit their website.

Portland City Council, Multnomah County chip in to keep Village Market alive

Casey Parks in The Oregonian

Village Gardens will raise money for market gardens, incubator kitchens at University of Portland fundraiser

Casey Parks in The Oregonian