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Letter from City Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney about Columbia Pool demolition
Dear advocates and neighbors, I’m writing to share a difficult update on Columbia Pool. After extensive efforts to identify a viable path forward, Portland Parks & Recreation has informed my office that they are moving ahead with demolition of the Columbia Pool building. At this point, I do not have additional tools available to stop that…
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September 29: Virtual Town Hall with Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney
On Tuesday, September 29, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, Portland City Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney is hosting a virtual town hall. Her outreach announcement said, “That means the location could be your living room, the library, or wherever is most convenient for you to take a beat to chat with me about the issues that are top-of-mind for…
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District 2 Councilors push for Rose Quarter redevelopment despite ODOT funding woes
The three District 2 city councilors have made progress on redeveloping the Rose Quarter, even as the State of Oregon warned it cannot currently fund its share of the overall project. Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Sameer Kanal, and Dan Ryan sponsored a resolution to allow the Albina Vision Trust (AVT) to redevelop six city-owned acres near the…
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Tension builds as city’s Moda Center/Blazers deal nears Aug. 12 deadline
The controversy over spending approximately $600 million in public funds to keep the Portland Trail Blazers playing in town is heating up ahead of self-imposed Aug. 12 deadline set by the City of Portland. That is when the City Council is scheduled to approve the terms of a new 20-year lease with the Blazers at…
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Split City Council votes to save jobs, as Wilson casts tie-breaking vote
By Jim Redden The City Council compromised and finally voted to save dozens of jobs that had been cut from the new budget, but not without the squabbles that have characterized many previous hearings. On July 22, the 12-member council voted 10-2 to pass an ordinance restoring 30 jobs by adding $12 million to the…
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100 street sign toppers honoring Rosa Parks installed in Piedmont neighborhood
New commemorative street sign toppers honoring Civil Rights legend Rosa Parks are now up on Rosa Parks Way in North and Northeast Portland. One hundred sign toppers—designed by renowned painter, educator, and Piedmont resident Arvie Smith—were added to shine a light on the civil rights icon. The City of Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture Bureau…
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Public safety, homeless cuts dominate Portland budget debate. County budget vote set for June 4
Fire Station Engine 22, North Precinct staff positions tentatively saved The Portland City Council tentatively approved a budget that restored funding for the fire engine at Portland Fire & Rescue’s Station 22 in St. Johns in a May 20 vote. Funding for Portland Police Bureau support staff was also tentatively restored, including staff positions at…
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Pirtle-Guiney: “Let’s talk about the Moda Center and the Portland Trail Blazers.”
North and Northeast Portland residents are invited to learn about and respond to the controversial proposal to spend $600-plus million in public funds to upgrade the Moda Center on a webpage created by District 2 City Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney. Pirtle-Guiney, who represents North and Northeast Portland, announced the website in a May 8 email to…
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N/NE residents in sour mood over city service cuts
North and NE Portland constituents delivered an earful of complaints about the proposed city budget to District 2 councilors with two dominant themes: don’t cut St. Johns Fire Station 22 – and don’t give the Portland Trail Blazers a dime of city money for the $650 million Moda Center renovation. St. Johns resident Jenny Hoyt said…
