Join us next Wednesday for our monthly board meeting!  If you have ideas about what you’d like to see the neighborhood association involved in, please let us know. Attending a meeting is not necessary to communicate with us – you can reach us at info@kingneighborhood.org, and we’ll respond to you quickly. 

Our meeting agenda for next week:

6:30 pm – Introductions, agenda, previous meeting minutes

6:40 – Backpack Program donations.

6:50 – Talking about bigotry and safety in our neighborhood.

7:00  – Honoring Marilyn Mauch, founder of the Northeast Backpack Lunch Program.

7:10 – Update from our by-laws revision working group, with conversation on proposed changes.

7:30 – Land use discussions:

• Oregon House Bill 2007 (see below)
• Considering historic districts in the City of Portland
• update from most recent Land Use committee meeting

7:55— Update on NA events: Oregon Humanities Conversations, Egg Hunt, Movie in the Park, King Spring clean-up, park picnics.

8:15 — Next steps in a communications plan for KNA.

8:20  – KNA finances.

8:30  — We adjourn!

Join us at 6:30 pm, Wednesday June 14th, at the offices of NECN, 4815 NE 7th Avenue, in the King Facility Building attached to King School… or email us to find out how you can participate in other ways!

HB2007: Read more about this proposal (being discussed among legislators at present) here; for the full text, visit here. We invite you to take time to read through this, before Wednesday’s meeting.

We recently sent this letter to City Councilmembers:

King Neighborhood Association writes you to express concern that the Graffiti Abatement program might have its funding cut, or reduced. I quote directly from the Pearl District Neighborhood Association’s website (http://www.pearldistrict.org/ever-increasing-graffiti/):

According to a recent report to City Council by Juliette Muracchioli from the Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s (ONI) Graffiti Abatement Program, high priority graffiti reports involving hate or gang tags have increased considerably from 2011 through 2016. Much of this increase has occurred in the past two to three years.

The cost of damages in Portland due to graffiti is now roughly $1.8 million.

For many years, Portland was nationally acclaimed for its Graffiti Abatement Program, but budgetary restraints no longer allow us that distinction. Graffiti abatement is essential in maintaining Portland’s quality of life and keeping neighborhoods safe and livable. The failure to properly enforce our graffiti laws encourages an influx of taggers from all over the country.

ONI is asking City Council to not only maintain current budget levels, but to expand it so that Portland can better combat this crime (Oregon Statue 164.381-388).

We join ONI in requesting that funding for Graffiti abatement continues at current levels, at a minimum.

Thank you.

The fine folks who organize the Vanport Mosaic project want you to know about:

LOST CITY, LIVING MEMORIES:
Vanport Through The Voices of Its Residents
May 27th and May 29th

Join for two FREE special screenings of the 10 NEW short documentaries part of Vanport Mosaic on-going oral history project, now in its third year. Through archival footage, historic photographs, and compelling first-person narratives, this collection of community-produced short films creates a rich and elaborate “mosaic” of the vibrant community that made up the city of Vanport.

Tickets are FREE, but seating is limited and RSVP is strongly recommended. Donations are gladly accepted at the door.

Saturday, May 27th
6:30 p.m.
Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church – 3138 N Vancouver Ave, Portland
RSVP here
We’ll open with music and the beautiful voice of Marilyn T. Keller, and Sen. Jackie Winters (flood survivor) will read the City’s  Proclamation for the Vanport Day of Remembrance. Prof. James Harrison will answer our questions about Vanport history.

Monday, May 29th
6 p.m.
Irvington Covenant Church – 4003 Northeast Grand Avenue, Portland
RSVP here
With special guest Shalanda Sims, director of Vanport, The Musical, performing a few songs from the play, and reading the City’s Proclamation for the Vanport Day of Remembrance. Remarks by Nick Fish. Prof. James Harrison will answer our questions about Vanport history.

Sewer pipe inspections continue throughout the project area. Spot repair work was delayed and is anticipated to begin soon in the Williams/Cleveland alley.

• Week of May 22 – crews will continue camera inspections at various locations
• Week of May 29 – crews anticipate beginning spot repairs and replacement of lateral connections in the Williams/Cleveland alley between Jarrett and Killingsworth streets

Current work phases include:

• Video inspection crews will flush sewer with water to clear debris and then insert a video camera to document pipe and branch connection conditions.

• Perform spot repairs to the main line sewer pipe. This involves excavating small trench sections to access the pipe.
• Replace lateral connections between the main line sewer pipe and individual properties.

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