Good morning, everyone! I’m excited to share details about a special community event that Bethel AME EDC Bethel AME Church: our Garden Party is one of the City’s official “Party On Portland” events. There are two other POP events that we have networked with.
Many of you will remember the fantastic “National Night Out” parties we used to have – well, this is in that same spirit of bringing our community together rebranded by the City. We have invited city and county agencies, and city officials to join us for a fun evening of connection and conversation.
What’s Changed in Portland’s Government?
As you might know, Portland’s city government has undergone a big change. We’ve moved from a system where a few city commissioners managed different bureaus to a new geographic, rank-choice voting system.
What does that mean for us, in simple terms? It means we now have 12 city councilors elected from four different districts, instead of city-wide. The goal was to have city councilors more directly accountable to specific regional neighborhoods, Bethel Church is in District 2. If you live in Portland CSC can help you access town halls and meetings in the district where you live. This experimental form of government aspires to give BIPOC communities a stronger voice in city decisions. You’ll also now rank your choices for candidates, rather than just picking one, which helps ensure broader support for our elected leaders.
The Mayor’s role has also shifted. The City of Portland’s current Mayor, Keith Wilson, actually has strong ties to our very own District 2 – a Roosevelt Alumnus! He and a hired City Administrator are now responsible for the day-to-day management of the city, while the City Council focuses on setting policies and making laws.
Meet Your District 2 Leaders
We are in District 2, and we’ll have three city council leaders representing us directly in this new system. We’re inviting them to our party, and they are:
- Councilor Dan Ryan
- Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney
- Councilor Sameer Kanal
This new setup aims to make sure our specific community needs and concerns are heard loud and clear by those making decisions.
Why This Matters to Us
For Bethel AME Church and Bethel AME EDC, this new government could mean more direct engagement with our elected officials, helping us advocate for our programs and initiatives, including critical efforts like affordable housing development on church land. For our local economy, we hope this new structure will bring a more unified and strategic approach to supporting businesses and creating jobs in our area.
Four vital issues we could be highlighting are food insecurity, gentrification, the challenges faced to build affordable housing in our community, and the future of Columbia Pool. This historic North Portland gem is at immediate risk, and it’s crucial that our new, geographically-focused councilors prioritize its future.
Join the Party!
This “Party On Portland” is a fantastic opportunity to meet our new leaders, engage with city agencies, and connect with fellow community members.
Please mark your calendars for August 9th! We’ll have light refreshments, be painting our raised garden boxes, the food pantry will be open, fellowship, and important discussions about our community’s future. We really want to see you there, and your presence shows our strength and commitment as a community.
Let’s come together and make our voices heard! Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you there!
Bethel EDC 