I’m proud of the great work we’ve done recently at Metro and for the opportunity to improve our region as we get ready for spring and beyond.
I was honored to be recently confirmed by my colleagues as Deputy Council President, Council liaison for social equity, liaison to the Metro Policy Advisory Committee, liaison to the Oregon Zoo Foundation, and chair of both the Central and North Portland Enhancement Committees.
Additionally, I joined House Speaker Tina Kotek as co-chair of an effort in North Portland to work with neighborhoods and industrial business to protect our air quality.
The Central Enhancement Grant Committee recently awarded over $70,000 to ten non-profit organizations serving Northwest Portland and the Cathedral Park Neighborhood. Awarded non-profits will remove invasive species in Forest Park, improve and develop playgrounds and park space, support our elderly and other neighbors in need, and sponsor symphonies in the park and summer camps. These grants are awarded each year, so if you have a project in mind, please consider applying in the fall!
Our Equity Strategy Program has made significant progress over the last several months. The 13-member Equity Advisory Committee is guiding our approach to define social equity and determine how best to measure outcomes. Six non-profit partners were contracted to help inform this work. Finally, we hired Pietro Ferrari as our new Program Manager in November. Pietro is the former executive director of Catholic Charities and Hacienda CDC and a seasoned advocate for equity, inclusion, and social justice. I am confident he will continue advancing this important work.
Together with my Metro colleagues, we’ve put in countless hours to protect our region’s livability. Some of our recent priorities have been to:
- Guide our land use policies to protect farms and forests
- Ensure our zoo is well run and our animals receive the best care available
- Manage the open space levy and bond funds to protect clean air, water, and urban wildlife areas
I look forward to keeping you updated on these items and to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Sam