A snapshot of Board actions and acitivies in late February, 2022
Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson
Commissioner Vega Pederson kicked off a conversation with recent immigrants and refugees about creating welcoming spaces in our new and refurbished libraries. She wrapped up improvements to the county’s wood smoke ordinance, changes that were done in partnership with Commissioner Jayapal’s office, and she spoke on Feb. 18 on OPB’s Think Out Loud about the new regulations and her work to improve air quality. She met with various transportation partners - including the Oregon Department of Transportation’s urban mobility office, state Representative Susan McLain, Metro staff, and advocacy organizations - about the proposed tolling project on I-205. She submitted a letter to ODOT detailing questions that she has about the project. She then attended the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation meeting, where a vote on the I-205 project was delayed for a month.
Commissioner Vega Pederson attended a Word is Bond “In My Shoes” walking tour of the Cully neighborhood, led by three young Black men who grew up in the neighborhood. As the former interim executive director of Hacienda CDC, which is headquartered in Cully, she is familiar with the changing neighborhood, but found the tour and the stories of the young men enlightening and inspiring. Commissioner Vega Pederson attended the Portland Business Alliance’s State of the Economy briefing, the Jobs with Justice Faith Labor Breakfast, the Kairos Spread the Love virtual gala, and the Interfaith Black Clergy Prayer Breakfast. She also met Transition Projects, Eviction Representation for All advocates, Sheriff Mike Reese, leadership from the health and community justice departments, and Portland city Commissioner Mingus Mapps, among others. She also co-chaired a meeting on child care.
Commissioner Lori Stegmann
Helping businesses expand, encouraging new growth and stability in Multnomah County is critical to improve the quality of life in our region. Commissioner Stegmann attended Portland Business Alliance’s State of the Economy, where they focused on business development and services needed to accompany the growth in our region. Commissioner Stegmann continues to engage the National Association of Counties around these issues as she represents Multnomah County in the Economic Mobility Leadership Network (EMLN). The EMLN reviews promising practices and local adaptation of policies to address housing instability, job growth, health and human services, community violence, and many other issues facing our communities. For more information about the Commissioner’s work around economic mobility, please visit her economic mobility site.
We have seen extremism and violence increase in our community. Community violence is a complex problem that requires thoughtful and intentional solutions. Solutions that Commissioner Stegmann has approached through local public safety and justice reform efforts. Last week she participated in Active Bystander Training with Ctrl+Alt+Del-Hate:PDX, an innovative initiative to help mitigate targeted violence and violent extremism in the Pacific Northwest. The training followed a convening hosted in February by the Commissioner to discuss roots of violence and interrupting extreme violence.
Commissioner Sharon Meieran
On Febr. 18, Commissioner Meieran coordinated a forum on houselessness in partnership with Imago Dei Church and Life Change Church. The purpose of the forum was to share information with faith leaders about the landscape of houselessness, innovative projects and initiatives that are responsive to the humanitarian crisis on our streets, and ways the faith community can get involved. Panelists included Commissioner Meieran, City of Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan, City of Gresham Councilor Vince Dixon-Jones, Marc Jolin from the Joint Office of Homeless Services, Matt Lembo of Beacon Village, Janet McManus from WeShine PDX, Tess Fields from Home Share Oregon, Caleb Coder of Cultivate Initiatives, and two individuals with lived experience of houselessness. View the turnout, engagement and potential for future partnership in this recording of the livestream.
Commissioner Meieran also participated in two Word Is Bond “In My Shoes” walking tours Feb. 21 and 26 through North Portland neighborhoods and Downtown. The walks were such a meaningful way to hear the stories and experiences of young Black men and learn about the neighborhoods in which they live. Commissioner Meieran is grateful to the youth who led these tours, for sharing their time and talents, and for the mentorship that Word Is Bond and Executive Director Lakayana Drury provides youth in our community.
Commissioner Susheela Jayapal
Commissioner Jayapal continues to collaborate with service providers, advocates, and other colleagues to work on housing and shelter solutions for Multnomah County. Last week she visited Street Roots’ future headquarters at the corner of NW Third and West Burnside. Multnomah County awarded Street Roots $450,000 from the Community Capital Fund, a new pilot project that supports capital infrastructure projects at community based organizations. This 4,124 square foot space includes a Wellness Center for newspaper vendors, which will include washer and dryers, showers, clothing and supply closet, and an outdoor meditation space. Later in the week the Commissioner joined Commissioner Ryan for a press conference where additional sites for the Safe Rest Villages were announced, including two in District 2, in the Sunderland Neighborhood and on the Peninsula Crossing Trail. These villages will add to an existing continuum of care in Multnomah County, where over 30 alternative and congregate shelters provide temporary housing and connect people to wrap-around services.
Commissioner Jayapal is participating in Black History Month by attending the Word is Bond “In My Shoes” Walking Tour in the Cully and Parkrose neighborhoods. These tours are guided by Black youth to highlight their vision and experiences in their neighborhoods; the youth are being paid through the County funded SummerWorks program. The Commissioner also celebrated the Black History Month and Futures Month Proclamation at the County, which highlighted Black health and wellness. As the Public Health authority, we will continue to learn from history, hold ourselves accountable for our actions, and provide competent, trusting care to the Black community.
Upcoming:
March 10, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Issue Forum on Climate Resiliency Interventions: Reducing the Impact of Urban Heat Islands with a Focus on a Climate Resilient Rockwood. Join Commissioner Stegmann as she leads a discussion with John Wasiutynski, Office of Sustainability Director, Multnomah County; Tina Núñez-Osterink, Natural Resources and Parks Planner, City of Gresham; and Dave Elkin, Landscape Architect and Owner of Juncus Studios about the climate resiliency interventions we can use to reduce the impact of urban heat islands. As part of the Green Gresham / Healthy Gresham Project, Juncus Studios has been hired to investigate interventions for downtown Rockwood to cool the urban environment. Register here.
March 15, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Constituent Conversation with Representative Anna Williams and Commissioner Lori Stegmann: Join Representative Anna Williams and Commissioner Stegmann for a virtual conversation about the 2022 legislative session, impacts to East County residents and critical investments to support houseless residents and reduce violence in our community.
March 17, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Join Commissioner Meieran’s next monthly virtual constituent office hour. The monthly virtual constituent office hour is a space where constituents can connect directly with Commissioner Meieran, and other constituents, and raise issues or ask questions. Sign up to receive the zoom link by completing this google form. The link to participate will be sent on the day of the event so don’t forget to mark your calendar.
