The Southwest Portland Post., September 01, 2017, Image 1

Sen. Ron Wyden
confronted about Israel
Anti-Boycott Act at
Wilson town hall
– Page 2
EarthTalk: Could
global warming
really already be
a factor in the
evolution of wildlife
species? – Page 7
Multnomah
Days photo
essay
– Page 5
The Southwest Portland Post
Volume No. 25 Issue No. 11
www.swportlandpost.com
Portland, Oregon
Complimentary
September 2017
After outpouring of support, Gov. Brown decides not to veto Capitol Highway funding
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
It’s been a nail-biter the last few
weeks for community members who
have been working on the planning
for Southwest Capitol Highway
pedestrian, bicycle and stormwater
improvements.
At the end of the Oregon legislative
session, which adjourned in July,
lawmakers approved over $2 million
in state funds for Capitol Highway
from Garden Home Road south to
Taylors Ferry Road.
Community leaders praised
legislators for the additional funds
which would complete the project
and were awaiting Gov. Kate Brown’s
signature. No one expected what
might happen next.
In early August, Brown announced
she would veto the $2.2 million line
item from the transportation bill.
“The funds are needed to complete
all components on Capitol Highway
from Multnomah Village to Barbur
Boulevard,” said Chris Lyons, chair
of the Multnomah Neighborhood
Association’s Capitol Highway
subcommittee.
“We had been assured by our state
representatives that funding would
be included in the budget.”
The wheels of activism then began
in full force with letters from a variety
of individuals, elected officials and
local organizations giving Brown an
earful.
The City Council wrote a unanimous
letter of support. Congressman
Earl Blumenauer, a former city
commissioner and longtime bicycling
advocate, also sent a letter to the
governor.
“Since the veto threat was issued on
Aug. 8,” Lyons said, “we witnessed
an unprecedented groundswell
of support for Capitol Highway
including numerous residents, and a
diverse array of stakeholders.
“This coalition was instrumental
in demonstrating the importance
City officials, planners and Southwest Capitol Highway subcommittee members tour
the project site last summer. (Post file photo by Erik Vidstrand)
of the project to the governor, and
ultimately was successful in making
sure that the project will receive the
$2 million in state funding.”
The governor decided not to veto
the project’s funds. Brown wrote a
letter on August 15 to Secretary of
State Dennis Richardson explaining
her decision.
(Continued on Page 3)
Hillsdale community playground under construction at Rieke School
revving roto-tiller, clanking shovels,
casual chatter and a loose array of
rakes raking.
Volunteer parent Jim Meurer who
has two students at Rieke School,
a 2nd and a 5th grader, has been
championing getting things started
for several years.
Meurer and others raised a lot of
money for operations which started
last year. Almost $125,000 was raised
in a year.
The idea is to add to the current
playground with structures that will
appeal to both younger children and
older kids in the neighborhood.
The new area will include mounds
for kids to run up and down, a spinner,
a balancing device, slide and several
other pieces of equipment. There will
be room to add other things if and
when additional money can be raised.
Volunteer parent Laurie Hayes was
involved in the design of the new
playground and said she was excited
that her two kids would get to play
there this year.
On a day where temperatures were
expected to get up into the 90s, it was
a good turnout and enthusiasm was
high. “We’re grateful to have this
space,” said one volunteer.
Adam Light helped lead volunteers to build a new playground at Rieke School.
(Post photo by Jack Rubinger)
By Jack Rubinger
The Southwest Portland Post
About a dozen parents, volunteers,
and friends showed up on a hot
August morning to help shovel,
rototill, dig, rake, move dirt and catch
up on summer plans at Community
Care Day at Rieke Elementary School.
The goal was to help start building
the Hillsdale community playground
at Rieke School. There are about 300
families with children attending
Rieke School.
The goal was to get all the sod laid
before the playground equipment
arrived and before school started. At
9 a.m., huge rolls of sod were already
on site.
“The students will be super excited
to play on the new turf field,” said
Principal Sarah Lewins. “Rieke is so
fortunate to have such a supportive
community. The dedication of the
playground committee is noteworthy.
“They had a vision and got input
from all the stakeholders, raised the
funds, partnered with Portland Parks
and Recreation, and did a great deal
of the labor themselves. This project
benefits not just Rieke students but
the wider community who will have
this to play on for years to come.”
Adam Light has kids in the first and
third grades. “Meet Merry Tiller, the
roto-tiller,” said Light.
A self-described do it yourselfer,
Light helped conduct the “Suburban
Symphony” which included a
An artist’s rendering of the new playground at Rieke School. (courtesy Adam Light)
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