Author Archives: King Neighborhood Association

The 2009 Graffiti Summit

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The 2009 Graffiti Summit
Keeping Our City Streets and Neighborhoods Friendly
Thursday, May 14, 2009
9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
McMenamins Kennedy School
5736 NE 33rd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97211

The Portland metropolitan area has quietly earned its international reputation for sustainable livability. The deepening economic recession challenges the entire spectrum of funding for essential public services and difficult decisions are being made about priorities and funding levels. There are some essential services and programs which, due to their tiny budgets and efficient operation, can be undervalued and all too easily discarded with disastrous unintended consequences. Graffiti Abatement is one such program.

The 2009 Graffiti Summit is an opportunity to quickly scan the breadth and efficacy of regional graffiti abatement efforts and explore how those efforts can be sustained in these difficult times.

The City of Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement and the Portland-based non-profit Friendly Streets are co-sponsoring the 2009 Graffiti Summit on May 14, from 9:30 to 1:00 (lunch provided) at the McMenamins Kennedy School. Registration is free, but seating is limited to 110 persons. Neighborhood, business and community leaders from throughout the greater Portland metro area are invited to participate with the Graffiti Abatement Task Force in assessing and planning region-wide efforts to sustain a successful program of graffiti suppression. Attendance is free.

Come help us address these vital and urgent questions:
*What funding and staffing levels will be sustained in local government graffiti abatement budgets? (The City of Portland is making a 50% cut in its Graffiti Abatement program…effectively eliminating free cleanup for private property, i.e. small businesses, owner-occupied residential homes and non-profit agencies.)
*What improvements can be made in partnerships with local business, neighborhood and volunteer organizations?
*How will law enforcement and prosecution efforts be sustained?
*What are the opportunities for attracting stable new funds to employ more people in graffiti abatement?
*How can we systemically strengthen the roles of building owners and property managers in fighting graffiti?
*Are there ways, even with declining resources, that we can improve communications, documentation and coordination of abatement efforts?

Maintaining a beautiful and vibrant urban environment requires focused commitment and much hard work. Success is built on systemic programs that realistically manage the daily details of taking care of business. The 2009 Graffiti Summit offers an opportunity to make certain that Portland’s famed livability does not suffer the destructive influence of vandals. You are invited to attend; your participation can make a difference.

Marcia L. Dennis
Graffiti Abatement Coordinator
Office of Neighborhood Involvement
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 110
Portland, OR 97204
Ph: 503-823-5860
Fax: 503-823-3050
www.portlandonline.com/oni

Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Gateway Plans

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mlk-gatewayPDC Open House
May 28, 2009
The Portland Development Commission invites you to join us at an

Open House on Thursday, May 28, 2009
from 5 – 7 p.m.
at goodbuild showroom,
2106 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
(corner of NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Tillamook)

This is an opportunity to view and comment on the three design options for the Gateway and Heritage Markers project and meet with the designers of the Gateway site.

If you have questions about the project, contact Irene Bowers at bowersi@pdc.us or 503.823.2419.

We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Gateway and Heritage Markers project visit our Web site.

Site Concepts
Download concept plans
(1.5 MB PDF).

Jazz Music Series at Curious Comedy Theater

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round-midnightCherry Extract Music presents a late-night, locally grown jazz music series, titled ‘Round Midnight, which showcases some of Portland’s world-class musicians, talented up-and-coming bands, vocalists and spoken word performers. ‘Round Midnight will be held every Saturday from 11:30pm to 1:30am at Curious Comedy Theater, 5225 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Vanport Square. This Jazz series helps to support jazz and art programming at Jefferson High School.
Saturday, May 9: Cary Simms & Company, featuring smooth jazz saxophonist Cary Simms, whose music is full of emotion and funk. While growing up in Oakland, Cary developed an ear for melodies by spending hours listening to gospel, jazz and rhythm & blues. He was mentored by several Portland musicians, including Dennis Springer, Thara Memory, Janice Scoggins and Ricky Callier and Cary has played with internationally known gospel and vocal artists, including Yolanda Adams and comedian Jonathan Slocum and numerous talented local musicians, including Farnell Newton, Eddie Fontaine and Brian Ward

Saturday, May 16: Nae!Nay! & Friends, featuring spoken word poet, playwright and vocalist S. Renee Mitchell, who is a former award-winning columnist for The Oregonian. Renee developed her striking performance style after moving to Portland in 1998 and making a strong impression at numerous spoken word cafes. She has since started singing and has recorded three CDs and several iTunes singles with her business partner David Ornette Cherry, both co-producers of the ‘Round Midnight series. Renee has performed with many local jazz musicians, including Thara Memory, Linda Hornbuckle, Janice Scroggins, Ron Steen, Devin Phillips, Farnell Newton, Eddie Fontaine and Cary Simms.

See you Saturday ‘Round Midnight at Curious Comedy. To see a complete schedule of performers, go to http://www.roundmidnightpdx.com

King Farmers Market Opens

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King Famer's Market

King Famer's Market

What an amazing experience! Our first King Farmers Market felt like the festival we hoped it would be—a celebration of community and abundance and the spirit of this place on Earth where we are privileged to live. We don’t have the count yet, but I know that Portland Farmers Market and the vendors were absolutely blown away by the number of people streaming into our market. Shane Baker of Gala Springs Farm figures that he sold a third more today than he did yesterday at PSU. He was one of several vendors who sold out. The Draper Girls sold more apples today than they have at any market location ever. The Hacienda tamale ladies were out of product before 1:00. Mike, the Breakfast Burrito guy was as well. Sol Pops had to make two trips back to their factory to restock. Everyone said they will bring a lot more next week.

People were having a ball. After they did their shopping, they didn’t want to leave. They sat listening to the music (there will be three bands next week, including some jazz) or picnicked on the grass in the park while their children played on the playground. We have a recurring neighborhood gathering where friends will meet and hang out together.

I am so grateful for our Council. In just five weeks they have formed themselves into effective, productive teams, figured out what needed to be done, and made our market a roaring success. Much remains for us to do, but today, I hope they are enjoying warm feelings of accomplishment.

David Sweet, Co-chair
King Farmers Market Advisory Council
503-493-9434

Check out pictures from the market at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neighborhoodnotes_pdx/sets/72157617660503468/

Urban Design with Soundscape in Mind

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On Tuesday May 19th, the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) and the City of Portland, Bureau of Development Services (via the Noise Control Office) are jointly holding a symposium entitled, Urban Design with Soundscape in Mind. The symposium will focus on what planners and the public at-large can do to address urban noise impacts in an urban setting before they occur.

The day long May 19th, 2009 symposium is the outcome of a year long Noise Control Task Force study in 2000 that led the City Council to direct the Noise Control Office to hold a symposium to explore design solutions to community noise issues and the desire within the ASA to disseminate technical information in a way that will provide a direct benefit to the public at-large. The event that is planned will be one of the first of its kind to explore noise impact solutions through a multidiscipline filter that includes urban planning, architecture, good governance, acoustical design, and environmental enforcement strategies.

The symposium will include speakers such as the author and first Noise Control Officer of the City of Portland’s Noise Ordinance, Dr. Paul Herman, Michael Mills, the City of Portland Ombudsman, Dr. Briggitte Schulte-Fortkamp from the Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Engineering in Berlin, Germany, an international leader in the topic of Soundscaping (the use of subjective and objective data about noise in addressing urban noise problems), Ken Kaliski of Resources Systems Group, Inc. of White River Junction, Vermont, an expert on the development of noise mapping in an urban setting, Gary Siebein from the University of Florida School of Architecture, another leader in the use of Soundscaping techniques to address urban noise problems, and others.

The day long symposium has been developed to include public participation at a minimal cost but it is just one part of a week long national conference that is happening in downtown Portland from May 18th to the 22nd, 2009 which is also open to the public (but at a much higher cost to attend) should there be interest.

http://asa.aip.org/portland/urban_design.pdf

Please be aware that registration must be made on-line by May 8, 2009 to obtain the lower registration rate of $25.00 for the day long event which will include lunch and beverages. Registration after that date and at the door will cost $30.00 and will be payable in cash or by check.

I look forward to seeing members of our community at this event. If you have general questions please call the Noise Control Office at the City of Portland at 503-823-5829 or call me at 503-646-4420.

Kerrie Standlee, ASA Organizer of the Urban Design with Soundscape in Mind Symposium and
the Acoustical Engineering Representative to the City of Portland Noise Review Board