1) Other neighborhoods support Overlook on homeless camps
2) Other news about homeless camping
3) Overlook Neighborhood Emergency Team meeting (Monday, Feb. 8)
4) Preparedness: Where resilience begins (Saturday, Feb. 20)
5) Celebrate North Portland 2016 (Saturday, March 12)
1) Other neighborhoods support Overlook on homeless camps
The Overlook Neighborhood Association has been working with neighborhoods throughout the city to encourage Mayor Charlie Hales and the rest of City Hall to develop a serious, effective strategy for helping our city’s homeless residents. Several neighborhoods have endorsed a letter urging the city to include reasonable restrictions for permitted camps and to engage more with neighborhoods.
In addition, the North Portland Neighborhood Chairs issued a statement of support. It condemns the city’s failure to work with Overlook on the Hazelnut Grove camp. From the letter:
The decision to unilaterally sanction the formation of Hazelnut Grove without a public process was misguided and has created a lack of trust of the City by other neighborhoods in the position to consider space for encampments. The lack of planning for Hazelnut Grove is in high contrast to the planned long-time encampment on the border of our district, Dignity Village. The hasty formation by the City of Hazelnut Grove and the continued poor communication with those encamped and the surrounding community has placed an undue and unexpected burden on these residents. Members of the Overlook Neighborhood Association have been put in the role of fending for themselves as the City, with no apparent plan, makes administrative decisions and develops policy without engagement.
2) Other news about homeless camping
The Overlook Neighborhood Association Board this week formed a task force to coordinate response and strategy on issues related to homelessness and camping. Three board members (Chair Dannielle Herman, Cynthia Sulaski and Chris Trejbal) will join three other neighborhood residents most directly impacted by the camp.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Portland City Council will hold a work session that about homelessness. Mayor Charlie Hales’ Chief of Staff Josh Alpert will present information about the homeless state of emergency. He reportedly will address questions that have been raised by neighborhoods about camps such as Hazelnut Grove in Overlook. He also will explain city policy and plans for homeless camps going forward.
There will be no opportunity for public testimony at the meeting, but it will be open to the public. Overlook neighbors interested in the issue are encouraged to attend.
City Council Work Session
Monday, Feb. 8, 3-5 p.m.
City Hall (1221 SW 4th Ave.)
City Council Chambers, Second Floor
3) Overlook Neighborhood Emergency Team meeting (Monday, Feb. 8)
Come meet your neighbors and talk about emergency preparedness. Join the Overlook Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) on Monday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Lucky Lab. And mark your calendar for the March 14 meeting, which will be part of NET’s Skills ’n Drill series at Patton Park.
Send questions to overlookprepares@gmail.com.
Overlook NET meeting
Monday, Feb. 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Luck Lab (1700 N Killingsworth St.)
4) Preparedness: Where resilience begins (Saturday, Feb. 20)
Awareness that we are underprepared for disasters, such as a Cascadian Subduction Zone earthquake, has been steadily growing over the past year. Fortunately, Overlook’s Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) has also been stepping up its activities to help enable all of us to become more resilient in our homes, on our streets and across our neighborhood. On Saturday, Feb. 20, Overlook will hold a Resilience Summit, as a way to bring neighbors together and quickly touch on the high points of preparations underway with first responders, experts and neighborhood volunteers.
Although many of us are too busy to help with NET, the hope is that this summit is an opportunity for everyone to learn what’s already been done and how we can collectively prepare as individual homes and as a united neighborhood.
The morning session will feature presentations and discussion by first responders and other community leaders, while the afternoon will offer a series of hands-on demos and short 30-minute workshops. Lunch will be available at a reduced cost by local restaurant superstars, New American. This event is open to anyone and everyone. Come when you can and stay for as long as you like.
Overlook Resilience Summit 2016
Saturday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Beach Elementary School (1710 N Humboldt St.)
5) Celebrate North Portland 2016 (Saturday, March 12)
The sixth annual Celebrate North Portland takes place March 12. North Portland residents will come together once again to recognize the individuals, organizations, and companies that make North Portland such a great place to live and work. This year’s theme is “Celebrate North Portland – Oscar Night.” Watch out for the paparazzi as you arrive on the red carpet, and come enjoy a fun evening to recognize your neighbors.
Celebrate North Portland is an event to appreciate and recognize the many people that have dedicated their time and energies to making our community such a great corner of the world. The dinner and entertainment are designed to recognize these many wonderful people.
Tickets are on sale now online.
Celebrate North Portland 2016
Saturday, March 12, 6-9 p.m.
University of Portland, Bauccio Commons (5000 N Willamette Blvd.)