phone: 503-823-3589
Email: nick@portlandoregon.gov
1221 S.W. 4th, Room 240, Portland, OR 97204
Supporting DACA and Dreamers
Oct 4, 2017 at 2:51 PM
October 5, 2017
This afternoon, Council passed a resolution supporting our Dreamers, also known as recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The resolution also calls on Congress to pass the "DREAM Act," creating a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients. It further provides a grant of $50,000 to the Oregon DACA Coalition to help offset the costs of DACA renewal fees.
There are 800,000 Dreamers nationally: 11,000 call Oregon home. President Trump’s decision to rescind DACA was foolish, cruel, and short-sighted.
Special thanks to our own Mariana Garcia Medina for helping to draft the resolution. She is a valued member of the Fish team at City Hall and a Dreamer. And to our panelists, including Andrea Williams, Executive Director of Causa Oregon; Leonardo Reyes, founder of the Oregon DACA Coalition; Jimmy Dogo from the New Portlanders Commission; and Daniel Franco-Nuñez from the Human Rights Commission.
You can read the resolution, Commissioner Fish’s statement on President Trump's decision to rescind DACA, and Mariana's testimony.
The Weekly Catch
Oct 6, 2017 at 9:54 AM
Our Summer of Hate: Guest Opinion
Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana in The Oregonian
DACA Resolution
Supporting DACA and Dreamers
Nick Fish Blog
Portland's Chipping in $50,000 to Help Local DACA Recipients
Dirk VanderHart in the Portland Mercury
Water Updates
Cryptosporidium Detected in Bull Run Drinking Water
Portland Water Blog
City: Crypto Found Again, but Water Safe
Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune
Hit-and-Run Driver Breaks Water Line in Gresham
KOIN 6 News
Housing Emergency and Renter Protection
Portland City Council Extends Housing Emergency, Relocation Assistance
Ericka Cruz Guevarra in OPB
The City Extends Its Strongest Renter Protections—But Passes on Closing a Big Loophole
Dirk VanderHart in the Portland Mercury
Portland City Council Extends Renter Protection and 'Housing Emergency' Policies
Jessica Floum in The Oregonian
Boards and Commissions
UPDATE: Fish wants press restrictions removed from proposed conflict policy
Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune
Policy Proposal That Would Muzzle Volunteers from Talking to the Press Will Be Amended
Rachel Monahan in Willamette Week
In Other News
Helping Salmon in Our City: Culvert Removal and Replacement in Portland
BES City Green Blog
Youth-Designed Bike Lane Art Hits the Streets of Portland
PBOT News Blog
Mercy Corps Shares Photos from Puerto Rico, Advice on How to Help
Suzanne Steven in the Portland Business Journal
City and State Raise Red Flags About Superfund Process
Oct 10, 2017 at 8:52 AM
October 10, 2017
On Friday, the State of Oregon and the City of Portland raised a number of concerns about the Superfund process, including the prospect of years of further delay.
In January, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final cleanup plan – or "Record of Decision" – for the Portland Harbor Superfund site. The Record of Decision was a major step forward in the Superfund process, and reflected the input of a diverse group of stakeholders, including federal, state, and local governments, tribes, neighbors, businesses, and the broader community.
EPA is now getting ready to make big decisions about how to proceed with the cleanup, including how to measure the current health of the river so we can evaluate our progress along the way.
The City has learned that a number of private parties have asked the EPA to reconsider fundamental decisions that have already been agreed upon, a process that could delay cleanup work by a decade or more.
Rather than revisiting these decisions, the City is encouraging EPA to uphold the original cleanup plan and move quickly toward implementation.
Background
Letter from Oregon DEQ, October 5
Letter from Mayor Wheeler and Commissioner Fish, October 6
Letter from Yakama Nation, October 6
Governor Brown Press Release, October 9
DEQ Press Release, October 12
Senator Ron Wyden Press Release, October 16
Joint Statement from Mayor Wheeler and Commissioner Fish on EPA ROD, January 9
Media
EPA 'Remains Committed' to Working with DEQ, Tribes on Portland Superfund Cleanup
Andrew Theen in The Oregonian
$1.05 Billion Willamette River Superfund Cleanup Faces Delay After EPA Revises Plan, State Says
Andrew Theen in The Oregonian
New EPA Plan Could Delay Cleanup of Portland Harbor Pollution
Cassandra Profita in OPB News
Oregon's Congressional Push to Get EPA to Clean Up Polluted Portland Harbor
Cassandra Profita in OPB News
EPA Delays Signing Controversial Portland Harbor Superfund Agreement
Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune
DEQ Says EPA "Opening Up Process" in Superfund Row
Pete Danko in the Portland Business Journal
Now Trump’s Messing with the Willamette River?
Dirk VanderHart in the Portland Mercury
Trump Administration Threatening Actions That Would Delay Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup, Local Officials Say
Rachel Monahan in Willamette Week
Trump Undermining Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup, Oregon Officials Say
Pete Danko in the Portland Business Journal
Oregon Authorities Accuse EPA of Delaying, Weakening Portland Harbor Cleanup Plan
Joe Douglass in KATU News
Oregon: US Gov't Backtracking on Portland Harbor Cleanup
Andrew Selsky for The Associated Press in The Seattle Times
Oregon's Congressional Push To Get EPA To Clean Up Polluted Portland Harbor
Jefferson Public Radio
The Weekly Catch
Oct 13, 2017 at 12:03 PM
Permanent Supportive Housing
Portland and Multnomah County Will Look at Pairing Housing with Services to Keep Homeless Housed
Jessica Floum in The Oregonian
Superfund
City and State Raise Red Flags About Superfund Process
Nick Fish Blog
Governor Brown Urges EPA to Move Forward with Cleanup of Portland Harbor
Governor Brown Press Release
Oregon Delegation Urges Prompt EPA Action on Portland Harbor site
Senator Ron Wyden Press Release
EPA 'Remains Committed' to Working with DEQ, Tribes on Portland Superfund Cleanup
Andrew Theen in The Oregonian
$1.05 Billion Willamette River Superfund Cleanup Faces Delay After EPA Revises Plan, State Says
Andrew Theen in The Oregonian
EPA Delays Signing Controversial Portland Harbor Superfund Agreement
Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune
DEQ Says EPA "Opening Up Process" in Superfund Row
Pete Danko in the Portland Business Journal
New EPA Plan Could Delay Cleanup of Portland Harbor Pollution
Cassandra Profita in OPB News
Now Trump’s Messing with the Willamette River?
Dirk VanderHart in the Portland Mercury
Trump Administration Threatening Actions That Would Delay Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup, Local Officials Say
Rachel Monahan in Willamette Week
Trump Undermining Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup, Oregon Officials Say
Pete Danko in the Portland Business Journal
Oregon Authorities Accuse EPA of Delaying, Weakening Portland Harbor Cleanup Plan
Joe Douglass in KATU News
Oregon: US Gov't Backtracking on Portland Harbor Cleanup
Andrew Selsky for The Associated Press in The Seattle Times
Oregon's Congressional Push To Get EPA To Clean Up Polluted Portland Harbor
Jefferson Public Radio
Portland Water Bureau
Portland Submits Crypto Plan to Oregon Health Authority
Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune
Housing
City's Plans for Affordable Housing Bond Prioritizes Minorities, Families and At-Risk Households
Jon Bell in the Portland Business Journal
Director's Desk: Portland Housing Bond Framework Charts Course for Change
Israel Bayer in StreetRoots
The City Finally Has an Idea of How to Spend Its Housing Bond
Dirk VanderHart in the Portland Mercury
Portland to Decide How to Spend $250M For Affordable Housing
Conrad Wilson in OPB News
Portland Sets Priorities for How to Spend $258 Million Affordable Housing Bond
Jessica Floum in The Oregonian
In Other News
No More Stalling: All User Restroom Opens at Southeast
River Flora in the PCC Bridge
8 Arts Picks: Vanport Drama, Classical Music, Art Exhibits, More
Amy Wang in The Oregonian
Laika, Portland Art Museum Team Up to Take You Behind the Scenes of 4 Oscar-Nominated Films
Amy Wang in The Oregonian
Council Commits to 2,000 New Supportive Housing Units
Oct 18, 2017 at 10:36 AM
October 18, 2017
Today, Council adopted a shared vision of adding 2,000 new units of supportive housing in the next 10 years. Supportive housing combines deeply affordable and safe homes with intensive services for people struggling with mental illness and/or addiction.
About two-thirds of the people living outside in our community report a mental illness, addiction, chronic medical condition, or some combination. These women and men face significant barriers and are at greatest risk of dying on our streets.
Fortunately, we know what works – supportive housing. Today’s action is a commitment to our most vulnerable neighbors. Although it won’t solve our housing crisis or end homelessness, it will make a difference in the lives of the people we serve.
This bold vision builds on recent actions the Council has taken to address our housing crisis: opening new shelter beds, extending the housing state of emergency, enacting historic renter protections, and making significant new investments in the Joint Office of Homeless Services.
Nick's resolution was co-sponsored by Mayor Wheeler and Commissioner Eudaly. And it builds on a strong partnership with Multnomah County, the State of Oregon, Home Forward, and other community non-profits.
Tomorrow, the Multnomah County Commission will adopt the same resolution.
You can read the resolution and Nick’s statement here.