Portland Seeks Input on Earthquake Plan

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The Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) wants to hear your thoughts about our city’s newly proposed earthquake response document.

Having grown into a major city long before scientists discovered its unique seismic vulnerabilities, Portland is now expected to experience a potentially devastating earthquake of magnitude 9.0 or greater. Work is underway to identify those vulnerabilities and make Portland a more earthquake-resilient city. This work–now embodied in the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management’s new Earthquake Response Appendix–will help lessen the severity of an earthquake’s impact on residents.  See pp. 53-54 on how to prepare your household.

The Earthquake Response Appendix is a supplement to the City’s Basic Emergency Operations Plan and a framework for Portland’s ever-evolving approach to earthquake response. Soon, this document will reach Portland City Council for consideration. In the meantime, PBEM is asking the public to thoroughly examine the appendix and provide feedback.

To learn more about the threats facing Portland’s energy, water, sewer, transportation, communication and building infrastructures; to understand the roles elected leaders, city officials, emergency responders, the private sector and community-based organizations play in the context of earthquake response; and to understand the partnerships established among public and private agencies to help support this response, please read the appendix by clicking here.

To provide insight and comments about the document, click here and fill out the feedback form.

Black History Month–Day 3

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In honor of Black History Month, here are few profiles of contributors to history of African descent:

Alexandre Dumas

(1802-1870), was a novelist; dramatist of French and Afro-Carribean descent who lived in France.  He was the author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, he also wrote 20 volumes of memoirs. 

Otis Boykin

Invented an improved electrical resistor

Few inventors have had the lasting impact of Otis Boykin. Look around the house today and you’ll see a variety of devices that utilize components made by Boykin – including computers, radios and TV sets. Boykin’s inventions are all the more impressive when one considers he was an African American in a time of segregation and the field of electronics was not as well-established as it is today. Continue reading →

Alberta Main Street Extended into King

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From Alberta Main Street:

It’s official! The Alberta Main Street target area now includes NE 10-15th Avenues. The original Alberta Main Street target area included NE 15th – 31st Avenues. The stretch of Alberta Street between NE 10-15th Avenues was not originally included in our application due to a restriction regarding Main Street programs operating within Urban Renewal Areas (URA). Last July the URA was expanded to include all of the commercially zoned property along NE Alberta Street. Existing Portland Main Street programs operating within the URA expansion areas have been granted the authority to continue program operations within the URA.

This provided an opportunity for Alberta Main Street to request a target area expansion to include NE 10th – 15th Avenues. Our request was approved in late 2011. A Main Street target area is defined as the geographically defined commercial district with discernible, logical boundaries of a manageable size and configuration. We would like to give a special thanks to the business between NE 10-15th avenues that have supported Alberta Main Street over the last year. Thank you for seeing the value in Alberta Main Street and helping to promote a vibrant business district and strong community.

Support the King PTA at Radio Room

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Join us in supporting the King School PTA raise funds to put on its first annual auction by coming out the the Radio Room on 11th and Alberta. The profitshare is on Wednesday, February 8th and runs from 5:30-8:30 but you can stay as late as you like! 10% of proceeds during the event go to King School.

Vernon Seeks Help Opposing 7-Eleven on Killingsworth

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From the Vernon NA:

The Vernon Neighborhood Association Board has officially decided to oppose the 7-Eleven development due to the existence of three locally and minority-owned convenient stores within one block of the proposed location, which would be threatened by a 7-Eleven. We are also concerned about traffic safety impacts on bicyclists and pedestrians, especially the children walking to Vernon School each day and those that use the Number 8 bus. We also feel strongly that a 7-Eleven will not help improve the safety and livability of our neighborhood.

However, according to City officials, the CS zoning at the location allows convenient stores to be built. Our plan is to put pressure on the City and the property owner (who is about to sign a 10 year lease with 7-11) to reconsider their decision. Neighbors around Portland have successfully been able to do this in the past. Your actions count!

How You Can Take Action(if you are opposed to the 7-Eleven)

  1. Please take our survey below
  2. Please consider calling and/or emailing Commissioner Fritz: amanda@portlandoregon.gov
    who oversees the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, and Commissioner Saltzman: Dan@portlandoregon.gov who oversees the Bureau of Development Services about your concerns
  3. You can contact the new owner of the property: MAJ Development: 360-823-5125
  4. If you have not already done so, please Like the Vernon Neighborhood on Facebook so you can stay updated
  5. If you would like to go door-to-door and talk to your neighbors to collect signatures in opposition, contact Adriane: adriane.ackerman@gmail.com, who is heading up our public outreach team.

Take this survey