September 3, 2019 

Join us in welcoming Herico Phillip Aiten to the Fish team! She is our Constituent Relations Coordinator.

Herico was born on the Island of Saipan, but her family comes from the Island of Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia. Her family migrated to Oregon when she was 6 months old and since then, Portland has been her home.

Herico is a first-generation college graduate from Portland State University with a B.S in Social Science. She has been involved with many student organizations while in college, including the EMPOWER scholarship, Mentoring Alder Portland State program (MAPS), Student Activity & Leadership Programs, The Women’s Resource Center, and volunteered with the PSU Islanders Club.

Prior to the city she was also an intern for Multnomah County for a year and a half where she learned more about public service and government relations.

September 3, 2019

On Saturday, Nick attended a birthday celebration and tribute for the late Charles Jordan at his namesake community center.

Charles was the first African-American City Commissioner, a longtime Director of Portland Parks & Recreation, and a fierce advocate for parks and recreation.

The event featured activities for kids, community center class demonstrations, a Parks Teen Force basketball tournament, a performance by the Bethel AME Church Choir, cake and refreshments, and more!

During Nick’s first tour of duty as Parks Commissioner, he proposed renaming the University Park Community Center after Charles Jordan. Council unanimously agreed, and Parks held a rededication ceremony on July 22, 2012 – which Charles attended.

Special thanks to Michelle Harper and Dion Jordan for organizing the inspiring celebration of Charles Jordan’s life and legacy.

September 5, 2019  

Today, Nick toured The Standard’s 11th annual Volunteer Expo. Over 100 nonprofits packed Pioneer Courthouse Square for the annual event designed to showcase community service opportunities.

Nick visited booths for the Portland Parks Foundation, Pittock Mansion, the Japanese Garden, Harper’s Playground, Rose CDC, The Grotto, SOLVE, Growing Gardens, Human Solutions, P:ear, the Children’s Cancer Association, and more.

Special thanks to The Standard President and CEO Greg Ness, Senior Director of Public Affairs Bob Speltz, and all the nonprofits who participated.

The 11^th Annual Standard Volunteer Expo

Commissioner Fish Blog

Charles Jordan Tribute

Celebrating Commissioner Charles Jordan

Commissioner Fish Blog

Happy Birthday, Commissioner Charles Jordan!

Zane Sparling in the Portland Tribune

Celebrating the Legacy of Former Portland Commissioner Charles Jordan

KATU News

Parks

Murmurs: Neighbors Privatize Portland Parks Programs

WW Staff in Willamette Week

Environmental Services

Following the Lead of the Diving Girl

Bonnie Tsui in The New York Times

Airbnb

Portland Reaches Rental Data Sharing Agreement with Airbnb

Amelia Templeton in OPB News

Airbnb to Share Data with Portland for Tax, License Enforcement

Elliot Njus in The Oregonian

Changes Underway for Short-Term Rentals in Portland

FOX 12 News Staff

Portland Officials Say an Airbnb Rental Hosted Too Many People. Homeowners Say Part of the Problem Was “Racial Animus.”

Rachel Monahan in Willamette Week

Housing

Council to Consider Even More Residential Density

Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune

Portland Seeks to Address Worries About Infill Housing Plan with Anti- Displacement Push

Michael Lloyd in The Oregonian

 In 'Locked Out' Report, Rep. Blumenauer Calls for More Federal Housing Help

Maggie Vespa in KGW News

Neighborhood Code Update

New Rules Spark a Civic War at City Hall

Bill Gallagher in the Portland Tribune

Sources: Public to Get Say Civic Engagement Reforms

Jim Redden in Portland Tribune

Arts

Portland’s Most Imperiled Arts Organizations Are Turning to Women to Save Them

Shannon Gormley in Willamette Week

In Other News

Portland Oil Terminal Looks to Pipe Biofuels

Cassandra Profita in OPB News

Portland Auditor’s Office Wants to Hire a City Employee to Monitor Campaign Advertising

Rachel Monahan in Willamette Week

City Council Grants $60,000 to Mentally Ill Victim of Police Shooting

Alex Zielinski in the Portland Mercury

Glisan Street Loses Two Car Lanes

Zane Sparling in the Portland Tribune

Video: Person of Interest Sought in NE Portland Fire That Burned Homes, Businesses

Nate Hanson in KGW News

Are You Really Ready for the Big Earthquake?

Alison Rodgers in KGW News

No One Injured After Ceiling at Portland Art Museum Ballroom Collapses

Jatati Ramakrishnan in The Oregonian

September 12, 2019

Yesterday, Council approved two important parts of the Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup.

The first project is to move forward on designing the cleanup at Willamette Cove. Willamette Cove is a unique and important site on the east bank of the river – one of few places with public access to the river. The City is partnering with the Port of Portland, the State of Oregon, and the U.S. Department of Defense on cleaning the site, which was a major shipbuilding terminal during World War II.

The second project is an Information Management Plan that will guide data collection and sharing from each of the individual sites in the Superfund area. The Information Management Plan will ensure consistent, timely, and transparent information for the public, government agencies, local businesses, and Superfund parties.

In December 2018, the United States Environmental Agency (EPA) announced that the entire Portland Harbor Superfund site needed to meet significant milestones toward the next phase of the cleanup by the end of 2019. This phase, called Remedial Design, is when scientists and engineers design the technical elements and work plans for the actual cleanup.

Special thanks to Annie Von Burg at the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES), BES Director Michael Jordan, and the entire Superfund team for their continued work toward a cleaner, healthier river; and to Cassie Cohen from the Portland Harbor Community Coalition and Bob Sallinger from Portland Audubon for testifying in support of the projects.

Background

Council Presentation

Media

Portland City Council Votes to Fund Cleanup Plan on Superfund Site

Ted Sickinger in The Oregonian

Council Approves $3.475 Million More For Portland Harbor Cleanup

Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune

           Willamette Cove