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.

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

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

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

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.

Media

Supportive Housing Saves Money and Saves Lives

Ted Wheeler, Deborah Kafoury and Nick Fish in The Oregonian

Supportive Housing Saves the Lives of Portland’s Chronically Homeless

Nick Fish in The Oregonian

Helping Portland's Chronically Homeless is a Choice to Save Lives

The Oregonian Editorial Board

Portland and Multnomah County Will Look at Pairing Housing with Services to Keep Homeless Housed

Jessica Floum in The Oregonian

Portland City Councilors to Pass Resolution to Add 2,000 Affordable Housing Units

KATU Staff

Portland Wants To Build 2,000 New Units Of Supportive Housing

Amelia Templeton in OPB

Portland is Plotting to Set Aside 2,000 Apartments For Its Hardest-to-Reach Homeless Residents

Dirk VanderHart in the Portland Mercury

Council Sets Goal of Creating More Supportive Housing

Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune