Category Archives: Public Safety

KNA Seeks Safer Crossing at MLK/Failing

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The King Neighborhood Association has requested that the City of Portland make pedestrian safety a higher priority at Failing Street. A high number of vehicle pedestrian conflicts and an ever-increasing number of residential units in the area spurred the letter. The letter states:

Several near-fatal accidents have occurred at this intersection in recent history, one involving a young mother carrying her child across the street, and an aggressive driver sped up and honked at the pedestrian; another when an elderly gentleman was clipped by a car but fortunately not gravely injured six months ago. The King Neighborhood Association invites you to find a way to help us mitigate the unsafe crossing now in place at this intersection.

The association requests that, at a minimum, a marked crossing be installed. Other, more expensive options include a pedestrian activated signal.

Click here for the full letter..

FoLT to Hold Open Meeting at Kennedy School

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Friends of Last Thursday will convene a meeting of its various subcommittees and Steering Committee this Thursday, April 21st beginning at 6:00 pm. The Kennedy School Community Room will be the venue. Participation is open to all. FoLT is seeking volunteers to fill out its many open committee assignments.

SALT Committee to Discuss FoLT Agreement

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The new community leadership organization (Friends of Last Thursday, or FoLT) which seeks to lead the planning of Last Thursday with city mentorship is seeking community members to serve on its steering committee. Last week FoLT distributed an agreement for prospective members to sign indicating that they are supporters of the event and will work to keep it going without additional regulation. A number of community members have expressed concerns that the bar for participating with FoLT in an oversight role as laid out in the agreement is too high.

The FoLT steering committee is apparently down to six members at present, after two of them, Bill Leissner and Jeanne Giles, were removed due to their refusal to sign the agreement. Mr. Leissner said in an email that he and Jeanne were the most outspoken members concerning neighborhood impacts and that he understands that the Community Impact Committee has been eliminated. There will be a discussion of Last Thursday issues at the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods’ SALT (Safety and Livability Team) meeting tonight, Monday April 18th, 6:30 pm at NECN, 4815 NE 7th avenue.

View the calendar announcement here.

Read the Friends of Last Thursday agreement here.

Mayor Adams Pledges City Help for Last Thursday, Neighborhoods

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Along with Commissioner Fritz, Mayor Sam Adams sent his own letter to KNA regarding the city’s policy with regards to Last Thursday. The two letters, which arrived in close succession, present a window into a strategic city policy that aims to avoid having the city take sides. The city, those who put on Last Thursday, and the people who enjoy Last Thursday’s unique flavor would like the festival to continue to play it’s role in keeping Portland weird.

Toward the end of giving Last Thursday non-city governance, Friends of Last Thursday is an organization being formed with help from the city to make the event resolve its issues while still being of the community. The city is establishing its own Last Thursday Coordinating Team consisting of representatives from Friends of Last Thursday, members of Mayor Adams’ and Commissioner Fritz’s staff, and an event coordinator who will be a paid city employee.

The mayor pledged that all city agencies will work together to make sure the event meets expectations for safety and livability.  He states that the city is developing new procedures to ensure enforcement of parking and fire safety regulations. 

A “Global Good Neighborhood Bar Agreement” is being developed to deal with impacts that result from the high concentration of liquor licenses on Alberta and other streets in the residential neighborhoods.  He promises that the city will work closely with the OLCC to with alcohol issues.

Finally, the four affected neighborhood associations are asked to join the governing board of Friends of Last Thursday by selecting a delegate to the Steering Committee. The KNA eagerly awaits the coalescence of an organization able to fully address neighbors’ concerns about this monthly festival.

Read Mayor Adams’ letter here.

Read the application to serve on the FoLT Committee here.

Shots Fired Near Alberta Street Market

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Last night around 7:30 pm, shots rang out on Alberta Street striking the glass in the bus shelter at 9th in front of the Alberta Street Market. Four males were seen to flee on foot up 10th Avenue, pursued by a car that circled around after them. According to a witness, someone in the car shouted: “I’ll kill you!” but there were no apparent injuries. Police closed three blocks of Alberta to investigate and traffic was diverted.