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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2017)
Dear EarthTalk: Why do rooftop solar panels have to be so big and unsightly? – Page 7 What it feels like to swim across the Willamette River in the summertime – Page 2 MULTNOMAH NOTEBOOK: Small drone flies over neighborhood members during presentation – Page 3 The Southwest Portland Post Volume No. 25 Issue No. 8 www.swportlandpost.com Portland, Oregon Complimentary June 2017 Hillsdale volunteer organizes 25th Avenue trail restoration project By Jack Rubinger The Southwest Portland Post Andrea Wall is on a one-woman crusade to restore, revitalize and reconnect people and plants along 25th Avenue in Southwest Portland. Wall lives near this community trail in a hybrid solar house she helped to build in 1980. She said that the trail is choked with invasive bushes and trees and has storm water issues with an upslope parking lot flooding a home down below along the trail. Wall contacted the city, met with three women working for city agencies who assured her that there was help available including grant monies to help solve the problems and encouraged her to try. Wall applied for and received a Bureau of Environmental Services mini-grant of $500 to plant native flowers, shrubs and trees. (Continued on Page 6) Volunteers gather for a photograph while working to restore the 25th Avenue trail on April 30. (Photo courtesy of Andrea Wall) Local legislative representatives hold town hall at Multnomah Center By Erik Vidstrand The Southwest Portland Post On one of the sunniest days of the year, over a hundred constituents packed a small classroom to hear the latest news from local legislators. They were also there to voice their concerns on a full range of livability issues such as affordable housing, demolitions, and density. Held at the Multnomah Arts Center on April 29, the town hall featured Rep. Margaret Doherty (D- 35), House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson (D-36), and Rep. Ann Lininger (D-38) The 79th Legislative Session has been meeting since February. Audience members donned lapel pins, buttons, and T-shirts with various slogans like Moms Demand Action (for Gun Sense in America). D o h e r t y, a f o r m e r t e a c h e r, represents portions of Tigard, Garden Home and Multnomah Village. Doherty is pushing a bill for more mental health professionals to be assigned to lower school grades. Williamson represents parts of downtown Portland and Southwest to the Washington County border. She discussed the budget deficit of over $1.6 billion. “Approximately 350,000 Oregonians may lose their health insurance,” Williamson said. “We’re looking at cost containment to retain public safety funds.” “We’re looking at a business tax rolling out as well,” Williamson said. Rep. Lininger, who represents parts of Southwest including Hillsdale, and most of Lake Oswego, spoke about growing the economy with beer-wine-cider incentives and streamlining regulations. “I want to increase penalties for some types of crimes,” Lininger said. “I also want to address gun safety including a bill that has bipartisan support keeping guns out of the hands of people who have had suicidal tendencies.” The Oregon Senate has approved a bill that would require a person to surrender his or her firearms if a judge rules that an individual poses a threat to themselves or the people they live with. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death among Oregonians and is one of the state’s “most persistent public health problems,” according to a 2012 report from the Oregon Health Authority. After each of the representatives completed their short speeches, it was the audiences turn. The issue discussed the most was House Bill 2007, a bill sponsored by House Speaker Tina Kotek. According to 1000 Friends of Oregon, this bill takes significant steps by making abundant, diverse, and more affordable housing available to more people of all ages, ability, income, and backgrounds in every neighborhood. According to the 1000 Friends website, “Recognizing that ‘families’ come in all sizes, ages, and socio- economic backgrounds, the notion of a ‘single family zone’ as a neighborhood with only larger detached homes on larger lots must catch up with today’s families.” House Bill 2007, with an (Continued on Page 6) Subscribe to The Post and help us keep the presses rolling! Form on Page 2. The Southwest Portland Post 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 Oregon legislative representatives Ann Lininger, Jennifer Williamson, and Margaret Doherty address town hall constituents on April 29. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
